Catholic Times is pleased to recognize the following religious order sisters who have lived in or served in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and are celebrating a significant jubilee in 2019. The following biographies were compiled from information submitted for publication by the religious orders.   Read More

The Illinois Army National Guard officially has a Catholic chaplain to serve the men and women who serve our country. Father Mark Tracy of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois was officially sworn in as a commissioned officer during a swearing-in ceremony April 29 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.   Read More

At the end of each school year, catechists in parish school of religion (PSR) programs and teachers in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are honored for special service anniversaries. Honorees for 2018-2019 receive a certificate. The catechist certificates are signed by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and Christine Malmevik, director of the Office for Catechesis. Teacher certificates are signed by Bishop Paprocki and Brandi Borries, superintendent for Catholic Schools. Overall, 146 certificates were issued. Catechists Ashland St. Augustine Parish Troy Smith, 5 years Beardstown St. Alexius Parish Alejandra Borjas, 10 years Camerina Castro, 10 years Blincia C.… Read More

At Mass we hear verses like Matthew 25:36: “I was in prison and you visited me” and Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives … .” Have you been waiting for an invitation? The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has been asked to partner with the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, in expanding a correctional literacy program throughout our diocese. The SOARING Inmates Helping Inmates (SIHI) program assists offenders helping other offenders to read at a higher… Read More

Father Robert T. Bolser, CSV, passed away April 28 at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. He was 74. Father Bolser was born April 1, 1945, in Urbana, the son of Catherine (Quinlan) and George Bolser. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Stephen Bolser and his sister Judith Ann Reale. He is survived by his brothers Father Charles Bolser, CSV, John Bolser and Joseph Bolser and his sisters Mary Catherine Bolser and Colleen Von De Bur. Read More

ST. LOUIS — Sister Mary Margaret Prenger, OSU, died peacefully April 9 at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. She served many years in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. She was 96 years old. The daughter of Frederick C. Prenger and Blanche Marcelle Marion Prenger, she was born Edna Marie Prenger on March 11, 1923, in New Orleans. Sister Mary Margaret graduated from Ursuline Academy of New Orleans and attended Ursuline College there. She entered the Ursuline Sisters in July 1942 and made her vows in January 1945. Read More

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Alan Russell died May 2, at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield. She was born in Springfield in 1931, the only child of Leslie and Margaret (Cusker) Russell, who named her Audree Ellen. She made her profession of vows in 1951 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield. Sister M. Alan will be remembered by hundreds of high school graduates as a favorite math teacher. She first taught junior high school and high school math at St. Augustine, Richmond, Mich., from 1966-1968. She taught math at Sacred Heart Academy from 1969-1983, and from 1983-1989, she taught at Rosary High… Read More

God speaks through our thoughts and feelings. It is of fundamental importance to know our thoughts and arguments and to understand where they come from in order to discern which to follow. The interaction between thought and feeling is important because it permits us to verify adherence to God or to the realities that take us away from God. Feelings can betray the effective adherence to God. I can have a good thought of Gospel content but associate it with a negative feeling. The question becomes: What is it that resists this thought that is good in itself?   Read More

Bishop Paprocki's public schedule for the weeks of May 12 and 19. Read More

Hey, Father! Why do Catholics have the crucified Christ in their homes and churches and even sometimes wear it around their necks? Read More

Daily events occuring throughout the Diocese Read More

I am a cradle Catholic. Like many Catholics, I prefer to sit comfortably toward the middle or back of church. Tuesday of Holy Week, I attended the chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. In my new role with the curia at the diocese, I was tasked with taking a few photos. Unfamiliar with the best way to do this, while being discreet, I decided to sit in the front pew — the dreaded front pew. As I settled in, it suddenly hit me that people may watch the front pew to know when to sit and… Read More