Father Zach Samples and Father Paul Lesupati are all smiles after their ordination.By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

It was a beautiful Easter season day both outside and inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception May 28 as Bishop Thomas John Paprocki ordained Father Paul Lesupati and Father Zachary Samples to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Over 65 priests, a number of deacons, and hundreds of family members and friends were at the Cathedral as the two men, who both attended Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology but came from quite different backgrounds, took their vows to the priesthood, were ordained, and then shared a common joy that day. 

In his homily, Bishop Paprocki called the ordination Mass “a glorious occasion for all of us and for the entire Church.” He explained that Father Lesupati came to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois after Father Jeff Grant, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield, met the young social worker while he was on sabbatical in Kenya.  Smiling, Bishop Paprocki gave credit to Father Grant and said, “Note to priests, if you ever go on sabbatical, you will be expected to bring back at least one seminarian!” 

Zach Samples, the younger of the two men, was a “home-grown” seminarian, born in central Illinois and baptized by Father Dan Bergbower at Our Lady of Lourdes in Decatur. Speaking once again with a smile, Bishop Paprocki said, “Good job, Father Bergbower, it stuck!” 

On a more serious note, Bishop Paprocki noted that as a priest a man offers himself to Christ, so Christ can use him as an instrument of salvation. “Every priest is a missionary,” he said, “because every place is a missionary place.” He said that now, as priests, the two men are “standing where Christ stood.” “It is an adventure and a sublime destiny.” 

As a priest, Father Lesupati said, “I am so excited and I am looking forward to celebrating the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation, the sacrament of mercy, and celebrating the Eucharist. I am also excited to serve the people of God as a priest, journeying with them by listening and accompanying them in their day-to-day struggles.” 

Father Samples had a similar statement. “I often joke that it is ‘company policy’ for a future priest to say that he is most excited to celebrate the Mass. This is obviously not a joke — it’s a reality. Without question, I am most excited to celebrate Mass, to confect the Eucharist, and to bring Christ to his people in a very real way. I’m also excited to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, to meet people in the midst of their struggles and pain, and to bring Christ’s light into that darkness. Finally, I am just ready to fully invest in parish life, and to put into action all that I have learned during these years of seminary formation.” 

Beginning July 1, Father Lesupati will be a parochial vicar at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, while Father Samples will be parochial vicar at St. Peter Parish in Quincy and associate chaplain Quincy Notre Dame High School.

The following is an undated homily given by Bishop William O’Conner, who served our diocese from 1949-1975. This was provided to Catholic Times by the Office for Archives and Record Management for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Tonight, my dear friends, when darkness shall have once again triumphantly descended, routing the light of the day and claiming the city as his own, to reign unchallenged through the silent hours while the tired city sleeps, a taint red glow will faith­ fully and valiantly defend the altar of this church against the night-long siege of the surrounding shadows. Tonight, in all the Catholic churches of the city, in all the Catholic churches of the land, other vigilant sentinels will keep the altar bright, though the rest of the church be enveloped in impenetrable darkness. Why is this unusual custom so universally observed? Why has each church such a luminous sentry ever on guard; as a guard of honor, it would seem, tor it is evidently a futile protector? And why is this tiny flame so distinctive of our churches? For each of us would know with satisfying certainty that he was in a Catholic church, were he to see scarcely anything else but this little red flame on guard before the altar. And why is it that at night this tiny light should help to produce in men the same feeling of reverence and awe which the characteristic holy stillness of a Catholic church brings during the day?

These are questions which any observant non-Catholic might ask. He would naturally say to him­ self that this unusual custom must have a meaning, that this strange impression of his in Catholic churches must be due to some definite and constant cause. Surely every Catholic could answer these questions. He need but state this one basic truth, that a Catholic church is in a true and most wondrous sense the house of God. Yet how strange to his own ears may sound these words that express the truth to which he has assented all his lite. Perhaps only then will the vivid realization of just what this tremendous truth means and implies flash across his mind and hold him entranced and fearful. He is asked to explain why the light of the sanctuary lamp is never extinguished. He is asked to explain the strange impression of vitality and of awe that a non-Catholic feels when he enters a Catholic church. He answers, but his answer cannot but provoke the curious interest of the inquirer. The resultant questions and answers must force upon the Catholic himself the realization of the practical meaning of this wondrous fact. He answers, "The light of this lamp burns night and day, because it signifies that God is really present in this church." Then the flow of question and answer begins, "Is not God present everywhere?"

"Yes, but on our altars, God is present in a different manner. Jesus Christ, the God-man, now gloriously reigning in Heaven, is really, actually, physically present in this church, as truly as when in Galilee he went about among men, doing good."

"But where on that altar is the God-Man, Jesus Christ?"

"He is in the tabernacle, behind that bright metal door."

"But how can anyone believe that a man could get into a small chamber such as that?

"Our Lord is there present under the appearance of bread."

"How is that possible?"

"By the power of the words which the priest says over the bread, the substance of bread ceases to exist, although the appearances of the bread remain, and Our Lord becomes present under those appearances.  

"Who gave the priests this power to bring God from Heaven to earth?"

"Christ Himself, and He not only gave them this power, but He commanded them to use it."

"Is that why this light is always burning?"

"Yes. When a Catholic sees this light, he knows that Christ is present on the altar. He genuflects to adore Him."

"Is it in this that Catholic churches differ so much from other churches?" 

“Yes, that is the reason of that curious double impression of a real though mysterious presence and of reverence."

"Can the Catholic Church prove her teaching about Christ's real presence?"

"Yes, the Church proves her teaching by the testimony of Infallible Truth, Christ Himself.”

You see my dear friends, how quickly our habitual belief in Christ's real presence in the Blessed Sacrament can be sharpened into a practical, conscious realization of its actual significance, now, at this moment, in this very church. The questions of a non-Catholic force us to bring our minds to think of this truth of our faith, force us to understand clearly what we believe in order to explain such Catholic customs as genuflecting and the sanctuary lamp. It is at such times of clear advertence that we rebuke ourselves for growing accustomed to the presence of Our Lord, so accustomed that we are scarcely conscious of what we mean when we genuflect, so accustomed that entering the church no longer means coming into the house of God, into the dwelling-place and audience chamber of Our Lord Jesus Christ. But we must not be discouraged. 

Our Lord does not demand this actual and clear realization at all times. He knows how prone to habit is our human nature and how inclined to became absorbed in tangible, material realities. But surely, we owe at least an occasional reflection to Him Who gives Himself as our spiritual food, Who stays with us here on earth that we may never feel God is far away and does not think of us. Nor need we wait until the questions of some inquirer force on us such reflection on the reality of Christ's presence. Sunday Mass, Benediction, any service of unusual meaning and interest, such as the sight of children making their First Communion, or a newly ordained priest celebrating his first Mass, should serve to bring home to us anew the tremendous truth that our God is not far from us, that He has in a most marvelous manner taken up His abode with the children of men.

But, my dear friends, this realization of Christ's real presence, even with its consequent renewed fervor of love and devotion, is not all that we owe to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Our duty is only partially fulfilled when we have made this effort to pay Our Lord the conscious homage of our mind and heart. It is equally our duty to know the reason why we can and must, as reasonable men, believe in Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament. For the proof of this doctrine is as strong and solid and satisfying to the reason as her doctrine itself is satisfying to the religious yearnings of the heart. Christ's infallible Church has defined as a truth to be believed by all Catholics, that Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament truly, really, and substantially. For the Catholic, that is enough; that is the best possible proof. But we must not forget that there are other solid and certain proofs of this doctrine whose force even they must admit who do not acknowledge the claim of the Catholic Church to divine institution and to infallibility in matters of faith. It is this rational justification for his faith in the Blessed Sacrament that a Catholic should be prepared to explain to seekers after the truth. Does he not owe it to our Lord to wish to make known this greatest gift and expression of His love and of His generosity?

"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took break and blessed, and broke and gave to His disciples and said, ‘Take ye and eat. This is My Body.’ And taking the chalice, He gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, ‘Drink ye all of this. For This is My Blood of the New Testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins’” (Matt. XXVI,26-28).

In these words from St. Matthew's gospel, the Church finds a clear proof of Christ's real presence. This same solemn institution of the Holy Eucharist is narrated by St. Luke and St. Mark likewise. St. John provides an independent and equally strong argument when he tells at great length in the sixth chapter of his gospel, how Our Lord foretold and promised to give Himself as the "Bread of Life" about a year before His passion.

Then it was that He said so plainly in order to prepare the minds of His apostles for the actual institution, "I am the living bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world." And then it was that the Jews understood His words in their literal meaning, for St. John tells us how "the Jews murmured at Him because He had said I am the living bread which came down from Heaven.’"

Other strong proofs of the teaching of the Church are to be found in Holy Scripture, to say nothing of the argument from the clear and unanimous testimony of the Fathers of the Church, who witness the unbroken tradition and faith of the ages. But we will center our attention on Christ's words as given to us by St. Matthew. Let us see how clearly they show that Our Lord really gave His Apostles His Body to eat and His Blood to drink.

On what occasion were these words, "This is my Body, This is My Blood," uttered by Our Lord? They were spoken the last night of Our Lord's life on earth, only a few hours before He was captured by the Jews. Surely then if Our Lord wished to deliver an important message to His Apostles, a message He wished them to remember throughout their lives and to teach all men, He would use the simplest and the clearest possible language. Any other style of speech might be misunderstood; only plain speech would be understood clearly. In these solemn moments, then, Our Lord takes bread and says, "This is My Body." He could not mean these words to be understood in any other than their natural and obvious sense. For He knew the implicit faith and trust of His Apostles in Him; they would most readily believe His every word. He knew that they were not highly educated scholars, but humble, unlettered fishermen, who were not inclined to look for any hidden meaning in such plain speech. Further, He foresaw that they would understand Him literally; that they would believe that they were to eat not bread, but His very Body and that, fulfilling His command to do themselves in commemoration of Him exactly what they had seen Him do, they would teach this literal meaning of His words to all men. Now, if Christ did not mean just what His words clearly signify, He would have had to correct His apostles then and there. He, the God of Truth, could not allow or permit His Church to err in such a matter. But does He correct the Apostle's interpretation?

No, He rather insists the more that He means exactly what they understand. For He takes the chalice of wine and says, "This is My Blood, which is shed. Drink it." It is impossible that the apostles would have understood these words in any sense but their natural sense. It is equally impossible for our Lord to have expressed more simply or more clearly His real presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

These are the points to be remembered clearly. Just as we know Jesus Christ is God, because He said that He was God, and proved it by His miracles, so we believe that this same Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, is present under the appearances of bread in the Blessed Sacrament, because He said so. Who can say that we have not true proof for this marvelous doctrine when we have the words of Jesus Christ Himself? 

This then should be our resolution. To reawaken our realization of what Our Lord’s presence among us means and to renew our intellectual grasp of the reasons for our faith in this mystery. Then, by our living faith and fervent devotion, shall we give Our Lord the perfect service of our minds and hearts, and, perhaps, bring to His love, new souls for which He hungers.

Join the National and diocesan movement to revive devotion and belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist 
By Andrew Hansen
EDITOR

Launching on the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 19, Catholics across the United States and our diocese, will begin a movement to invite Catholics into a deeper understanding and devotion of the holy Eucharist. This movement of Catholics is about healing, conversion, formation, and becoming a unified Body of Christ by focusing on encountering the real Body of Christ, present to us in the Eucharist.  

In 2019, a Pew Study indicated what many had long suspected. Few Catholics, approximately 30 percent, fully believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This stark reality inspired the bishops of the United States to action. More than an event or a program, they envisioned a true revival to rediscover the Eucharist through a deep commitment of prayer, pilgrimage, and worship on the part of the entire Church in the United States. The advent of the pandemic only accelerated these plans, revealing their urgency and importance. Too many Catholics still have not returned to Mass to celebrate the central mystery of the Church.

Over three years and beyond, every Catholic diocese, parish, school, apostolate, and family is invited to be a part of renewing their faith to the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

In our diocese, here are just some of the things the Eucharistic Revival will entail over the next several years (mark your calendars for some of these!):

• Corpus Christi Eucharistic processions on June 19 at your parish or a parish near you;
• Catholic Times’ Build a Church Lego Contest happening now for students (www.dio.org/buildachurch);
• Launching Eucharistic adoration or expanding Eucharistic adoration at parishes;
• Parishes hosting the traveling Eucharistic Miracles of the World display;
• Video series on the Eucharist and national speakers coming to parishes; 
• A diocesan Year of the Eucharist starting Dec. 8. This Year of the Eucharist coincides with the celebration of the 100^th year of the transfer of our diocese from Alton to Springfield. A special Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul in Alton kicks off the diocesan Year of the Eucharist Dec. 8 with the concluding Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8, 2023;
• A diocesan Eucharistic Congress at the BOS Center in Springfield on Oct. 28, 2023. National speakers, Bishop Robert Barron and Scott Hahn, will give talks in the arena. Other events focusing on the Eucharist and other topics will also take place at the BOS Center before a special Mass in the arena where nearly 8,000 Catholics from our diocese will attend; 
• The first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States in almost 50 years will take place July 17-21, 2024 in Indianapolis. 

May 20, 2022

I fully support and earnestly commend Archbishop Cordileone’s action in regard to Speaker Pelosi. All politicians who promote abortion should not receive holy Communion until they have repented, repaired scandal, and been reconciled to Christ and the Church. 

Full Letter to Public

By Andrew Hansen
EDITOR 

Families looking for a unique Catholic adventure that combines scripture, prayer, and climbing in nature’s beauty now have an opportunity to do so in Central Illinois. Mercy Tree Adventures, which launched this spring, is taking families to new heights literally and spiritually. 

“Adventure isn’t a part of life that we grow out of or benefit by leaving behind us,” said Carlos Tejeda, who co-founded Mercy Tree Adventures with his wife, Elena, and who are parishioners at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. “When properly understood, adventure is actually part of God’s plan for living a fully human life – and it’s an ingredient in how one matures as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Events like these are important because they help strike the right balance of calculated risk for the sake of growth while in real, not fabricated, relationship. When was the last time your family smiled, laughed, worked, prayed, and talked together without screens, comfort, and consumption being prominent? Come check out what gets sparked in your heart, mind, and soul when you’re trusting your family, surrounded by the majesty of creation and vulnerable before God!”

Mercy Tree Adventures specializes in technical tree climbing, using ropes and harnesses, like arborists do, but the kinds of adventures don’t stop at tree climbing. They also facilitate rappelling in caves, go-kart racing, radio-controlled car challenge courses, jet-skiing, kayaking, hiking, relay races, geocaching, digging pits, marksmanship, paintball, bonfires, explosives, directional tree felling, and log splitting. Tejeda says the point of these activities is to make it easy for a man to extend or receive an invitation from a friend or acquaintance that he respects, and they strive to host unique events that make men grin on their face and in their heart.  

“This opened heart stance is fertile soil for conversion to take root in a man because we foster encounters in God’s creation and read Scripture,” Tejada said. “We call it ‘Lived Lectio.’ Lectio Divina is Latin for ‘divine reading,’ the practice of prayerful meditation on sacred Scripture. Lived lectio is about encounters with God's Word so that participants become fully alive in Christ for their own sake, their spouse, children, the Church, and the world.”       

In 2019, the vision for Mercy Tree Adventures started for Tejeda, who is trained and certified to help people climb trees, has a degree in forest science, and has worked as a climbing arborist for 16 years. One verse from Scripture in particular kept popping in his mind, "Turn the hearts of fathers to their children" (Luke 1:17). The verse became a prominent part of his prayer life. Tejeda says that Mercy Tree Adventures “then became a doubling down on this promise of the Lord - namely, that everything rides on the degree to which fathers turn their hearts to their children.” 

“We started Mercy Tree Adventures in order to specialize in setting men up for success in their prayer life, married life, and family life,” Tejeda said. “We are eager to become a favorite tool in the evangelical arsenals of parishes, schools, retreat centers, fraternal organizations, seminaries, campus ministries, and homeschool coops.”

The Tejedas will drive to communities so their events are always local and accessible. They offer half-day, full-day, and weekend long events. To book an adventure, go to mercytreeadventures.org.

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

On Saturday, May 28, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will ordain two men as priests for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois during a Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The ordination will be attended by their individual families and friends as well as the rector, vice rector, and associate director of spiritual formation from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, where both men attended seminary.

Earlier in May, soon to be Fathers Paul Lesupati and Father Zachary D. Samples took time to share thoughts on their ordination and vocation to the priesthood. (Editor's note: So as to avoid confusion, we are listing both men as "Father," even though they will become priests on May 28.)

Father Paul Lesupati

A Kenyan by nationality who came to America at the invitation of Father Jeffrey Grant, Father Lesupati now calls Father Grant’s parish, Blessed Sacrament in Springfield, his home. 

Because of COVID restrictions, Father Lesupati’s immediate family will not able to travel to his ordination, but some Kenyans from his home diocese who live in Wisconsin will be able to come to Springfield, along with some other Kenyans from North Carolina, Virginia, and St. Louis. 

Father Lesupati, who will celebrate his 44^th birthday in June, will choose Father Grant to vest him at his ordination. “He was a great influence in my vocation as a priest,” Father Lesupati said. “He is my mentor.  He has influenced me in many ways — with his prayer life, compassion, kindness, and zeal for pastoral care of the soul. His parishioners always come first. He is a role model priest for me. He is always at the service of the people of God.” 

The parishioners at Blessed Sacrament are also dear to Father Lesupati, and he has felt welcomed by them.  “I appreciate the people of God who through their prayers and support have helped me reach the altar of God. I have learned a lot from Blessed Sacrament; the parishioners have their own unique way to give witness to Christ. I welcome their hospitality.” He has particularly been impressed by one parishioner who always greets as many people as he can before Mass, during the Sign of Peace, and outside the church. “George is a witness of this great hospitality I have seen in Blessed Sacrament,” he said. 

“I am also so grateful for Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, for ordaining me and for his fatherly care he has shown by accepting me as a diocesan priest. I appreciate the many priests who have supported me in my summer assignments and those who have encouraged me to focus on my vocation. Many thanks go to Father Brian Alford, Father Jeff Grant, Father John Titus, and Father Dean Probst. I want to thank all the people of God for your support and prayers. God bless you and know that you are in my prayers.” 

The newly-ordained Father Lesupati will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at Blessed Sacrament on May 29.  In June, he will be traveling to Kenya to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving with his family members and parishioners of St. George Parish in Laisamis. Father Grant and Father Probst will accompany him. When Father Lesupati returns to Springfield, he will be parochial vicar at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. 

“I am excited to work at the Cathedral as parochial vicar. It is a new experience for me,” he said. “Cathedral is the womb of the diocese. I trust in God’s providence to always guide me to shepherd his flock. I am looking forward to being a shepherd among the flock the Lord has entrusted to me. I am excited to serve the people of God, accompany, and advocate for them.” 

Father Zach Samples

More than anything right now, Mt. Zion native Father Samples, who is 30 years old, feels overwhelming gratitude at his ordination to the priesthood. Primarily, he says he is thankful for his parents, David and the late Lori Samples. “Both my father and my mother have loved and supported me in countless ways. They instilled strong values, morals, and faith into me at a very young age, and have guided me along the path of my life every step of the way,” he said. “My late mother was especially instrumental in helping to form me in the faith. My father has proven to be a steadfast supporter of me during these years of seminary formation. From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to them, and to the rest of my family, more than I can adequately put into words.” 

Father Samples is thankful for Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, Msgr. David Hoefler, Father Brian Alford, Father Chris House, and other diocesan leaders “for the countless ways they have supported me over these years of seminary formation.” “They have opened countless doors, have been good sounding boards, and have become mentors that I know I can count on moving forward.” 

He is also most appreciative of the people in the many parishes he’s been involved with. “Their prayers, words of encouragement, and support have really sustained me during the highs and lows of these last six years. I could not have done it without them.

“Finally, I have to thank Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, especially our rector, Father Denis Robinson, OSB. Father Denis and the entire faculty and staff that comprise Saint Meinrad provide an invaluable service to the Church universal, and to our local Church. The formation they provide is simply exceptional and has prepared my brother seminarians and I for a life of priestly service. It is not an understatement to say that my years at Saint Meinrad changed the directory of my life by helping me to come to a better understanding of who the Lord has called me to be … leading me to fall deeper in love with Jesus Christ, His people, and His Church.”

Father Sample’s father, sister Meghan Roberts and her husband Tyler Roberts, his grandmother Lois DiMarzio, aunts, uncles, friends, priest mentors, men, and women religious, and friends from various parishes he’s been involved with, were all invited to the ordination. 

Father Samples will choose Father John Titus, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Mattoon and St. Columcille Parish in Sullivan, and dean of the Mattoon Deanery, to vest him at his ordination. “Father John was chaplain of the Newman Catholic Center at Eastern Illinois University during my time there and was the first person to really help me see that the priesthood was a very real possibility in my life. He helped me to stop and ask what it is that God might be asking of me and calling me to. It’s not only about what ‘we’ want, it also about what God wants for us. Once I started asking that question, it became very clear that He was calling me to priesthood. Father John helped to reveal that to me, and I am grateful for that beyond measure.”

Father Samples will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on May 29 at St. Patrick Church in Decatur. He will spend the month of June celebrating Masses of Thanksgiving at various places around the diocese and traveling to the ordinations of his classmates from Saint Meinrad.  He will take a short vacation with a few of his seminary friends before beginning his first assignments as parochial vicar at St. Peter Parish in Quincy and as associate chaplain of Quincy Notre Dame High School. 

Editor’s note:  See the June 12 issue of Catholic Times for more coverage of the ordination of these two new priests. 

By FATHER MICHAEL TRUMMER 
Special to Catholic Times 

Are you need of healing, any kind of healing? All are welcome to attend The Night of Healing at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Saturday, June 4. 

A Healing Prayer Workshop kicks off the day from 9 a.m. to noon in the Cathedral atrium that is open to anyone. Participants will learn about why and how to pray for healing. The Night of Healing prayer service begins at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to be prayed with for healing. People can stay as long as they wish that night.

Why a Night of Healing? 

As Christians, we often offer prayers for one another at a distance, which is good. However, there is a real power when we gather together in person to prayer for one another. We often avoid praying with one another in person because we are less familiar with it, and sometimes we have a hard time being vulnerable. However, when we have the courage to be vulnerable, prayer becomes more powerful and we experience the love of God in a way that doesn't happen when we pray for one another at a distance. When we come together to pray at a healing service, there is a higher level of expectant faith in God's power. Prayer for healing is abundantly present in the life of Jesus and his disciples. The early Church fathers, such as St. Justin Martyr, St. Irenaeus, and St. Augustine, talk about the healing miracles present at their time. St. Francis Xavier sent newly catechized children in small villages to share the Gospel and perform healing miracles. St. Catherine of Siena, a laywoman, raised the dead. Healing prayer is part of our tradition but not everyone is aware of this. 

Who Is It for?

Really, it is for anyone who wants to come. Primarily, we focus on praying for physical healing, although people often experience emotional healing. It is intended for an individual in need of prayer to actually be there, although one can stand in proxy for a loved one that needs prayers. Even if one is not in need of prayer, it is still a beautiful service to go to. The healing service is at a Catholic Church, but anyone is welcome, not just Catholics. The Night of Healing is not a healing Mass, but a healing prayer service.

What Happens at a Night of Healing?

The Night of Healing begins with a time of singing and praising God. Praise increases the power of our prayer and reminds us of how good God is, which helps us believe in God's healing power. After praise, there is a reflection/homily. Then, we address common questions about healing prayer and obstacles to healing. The prayer team will then share conditions that we believe God is going to heal during the healing service. Before prayer teams, we pray for everyone as a larger group, because it is our firm belief that God works through every believer because of the Holy Spirit, not just special or talented prayer leaders. After praying as a group, prayer teams will spread out throughout the church to offer prayers for individuals. The prayer teams have experience in praying with people for healing. If you have not been prayed over by a prayer team before, it is a really powerful way to experience God's presence and love. There is no official end time. The prayer leaders will stay as it takes to pray with everyone. 

For questions, email Father Trummer at . 

While visiting the gravesites of several deceased loved ones recently, my wife came up with a question involving ours. I purchased a gravesite near my parent’s site, in a non-Catholic cemetery, in the 1980s, before I married and became Catholic. Can our gravesite be hallowed by a priest?
- Charles in Granite City

Yes, it is possible for your grave in a non-Catholic cemetery to be blessed either by a priest or by a deacon. This would typically occur when the mortal remains of either you or your wife are placed in the grave, whichever one of should fall asleep in the Lord first. The Order for Christian Funerals provides for the blessing of a grave in the Rite of Committal (cf. no. 218A).

Indeed, not only may your grave be blessed, but it should be blessed. The Church blesses graves because, as we pray over unblessed graves, when the Lord Jesus spent three days in his tomb, He “hallowed the graves of all who believe in you and so made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection even as it claims our mortal bodies.

Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Ashland and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Springfield Catholic grief therapist authors new book to help people grieve healthier and better comfort those who lost loved ones

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

Losing a loved one is painful. How we handle that loss depends on each person. But are we grieving in a healthy way? What should we do if the pain is still just as apparent today than when the loss occurred? And what about comforting others who have lost a loved one — what should we be saying and not saying? 

Because it can be so challenging to handle grief well, whether it is our own grief or someone else going through a loss, Dr. Dee Stern of Springfield published a book in January to help. The book — Comforting the bereaved through listening and positive responding, What are the bereaved trying to tell us? — tackles a variety of topics from how we can better deal with a loss of a loved one to better understanding what someone who has lost a loved one is feeling. 

Dr. Stern’s credentials on this topic are comprehensive. She has a doctorate in psychology, has a master’s degree in psychology and pastoral studies, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a certified grief therapist, and a certified hospital chaplain. She is also a part-time parish/bereavement minister at the Church of the Little Flower in Springfield where she is a parishioner, and she also a chaplain at HSHS St. John’s Hospital where she facilitates three grief support groups.

Catholic Times Editor Andrew Hansen interviewed Stern to get advice for all of us. 

As a society, we don’t seem to be handling loss too well. What are we doing wrong?

A century ago, people were born, lived, and died in the same communities. Everyone in the community knew everyone. Neighbors watched children grow up, get married and have their own children. Then as they grew older, they died and were buried. When someone in the neighborhood died, everyone knew it, and it affected the whole community. Today, we don’t seem to have that same connection. When someone dies, we may not know them or perhaps even make an effort to contact the family of the deceased. That support that used to be there, today is just not present. 

Today, people are more involved in a “me and I” attitude and spend more time texting, emailing, and calling each other rather than talking face to face with the bereaved to offer their sympathies. Why does this happen? Could it be people don’t know what to say or are afraid the bereaved will talk about their loved one and begin to cry and others will not know what to do or say to them? We are not in a society today where a lot of people lend a hand to their neighbor, but rather care only about themselves and not the consequences that occur because of their decisions. 

What advice do you have for people so when a loss of some kind comes, they are better prepared to grieve in a healthier way?

If you are talking about a death, or any kind of a loss, it is good to have a plan. In fact, have plan A, B, and maybe C. If A doesn’t work, try B or C. For a death, have a good insurance plan, a will, and power of attorney for health care and finances. Have a funeral home in mind, a prearrangement for a funeral, cremation, or grave side burial. If you have a lot of things already taken care of before a death, it is much easier on the family left behind to deal with all these decisions. 

As for as grieving, everyone grieves differently and what works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for another person. Sometimes, it helps to fall back on what helped in the past to get you through a stressful situation. If you have something that has helped you in the past, it could very well help you again when a death occurs. No one can predict when a death will occur, even if the doctor says the person has only hours to live, they could live for weeks, months, and even years. It is also important to have someone to talk to about what you are experiencing — not to get advice, but simply to support and listen to you.

There is the saying “time heals all wounds.” Is there truth to that?

The saying you are referring to, “time heals all wounds,” is not really true. It is not time that heals wounds, it is what you do with your time. If you do nothing, your healing will take much longer. Think of a cut. If you don’t take care of it, it could get infected, and you could have multiple problems. However, if you do take care of the cut, healing takes place. Grief is like that. If you don’t deal with it, there can be many complications. If you talk with someone who will listen and not give you advice, you will be helped as you grieve. 

What if someone feels like they just can’t get over a loss despite it happening a long time ago. Does that mean they are grieving wrong?

First of all, you never get “get over a death,” rather you get through it. Remember, everyone grieves differently and what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for someone else. It does not mean that someone is grieving wrong if they are struggling with grief even if has been a long time ago. 

Going back to the last question, what has the person been doing to get through the loss of their loved one. If they have not been doing anything and thought they could grieve without help, they may need to talk with someone or get some help from a grief therapist or even attend a grief group. However, there is no time limit on grief. Grief takes as long as it takes. For some people, grief takes several years, for others, a lifetime. Remember, it is in the telling of the story that the healing takes place. In other words, when you talk about your loved one, healing takes place, but when you keep all that inside, your healing takes longer and could have complications along the way.

Part of your book addresses better understanding what someone who has lost a loved one is feeling. What should one say and not say to a person who has lost a loved one to comfort them?

There are so many things not too say to the bereaved that usually causes them pain and a great deal of hurt and that they may never forget. It is interesting that most people remember the negative things people say to them and not always the positive things, because the negative things are always so hurtful. 

Some examples of what not to say, are these real comments that were made to the bereaved: 

• “Don’t you feel better to know that God needed another flower in His garden, and He chose your child?” 
• “You are young enough to have another baby anyway.” (This person suffered a miscarriage.)
• “Aren’t you glad your baby died, because you don’t know what it would have grown up to be like.”
• “You are young enough that you can find another fish in the ocean.” 
• “Now that Bob died, you can have some free time and not have to go over to the nursing home, so we can go shopping again.” 
• “It was God’s will that you daughter killed herself.”
• “He was always in pain, and was going to die anyway, but now he is in a better place.” 
• “It was only an animal; you can always get another one.”
• “You have to get over it, and stop being so sad all the time.”  

Things to say to the bereaved: 

• “I was so sorry to hear that you husband died. He was a wonderful man.” 
• “If you ever need to talk, I am a good listener.” 
• “You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.” 
• “I can’t begin to imagine how you must feel since your wife died.” 
• “I will always remember her smile. She could light up any room.” 
• “Your son was a wonderful guy, and I will never forget him.” 
• “Your husband was sure a hard worker and everyone really liked him at work.”   
• “Your mother was such a wonderful person and always so welcoming to everyone she met.” 

The bereaved want to hear positive things and stories and memories about their loved one who died, not anything negative.

If a friend or family member is going through a loss, what actions should we do and what should we not do to help that person grieve better?

A good thing to do to help the bereaved is to listen to them and allow them to tell their story over and over again. Another thing is to mention their loved one in a conversation or relate a memory or story to them of their loved one. This is very important and helps them realize their loved one has not been forgotten.       

Something that you should not do is to give unsolicited advice to them. Also, do not rush them through their grief and don’t push them to do something they are not ready to do such as go out to eat, go to a party, go to a grief group, or get help, etc.  

Never ask them how they are because many times they really don’t know themselves. Rather, ask them how their week is going. 

How important are rituals to help people grieve better?

Rituals are important because they bring God, family, and the deceased together. Special prayers can be said, and people can offer their sympathies to the family in a quiet and sacred environment. It is a time to remember and reflect on the life of the deceased and a chance to say goodbye to a friend, family member, or colleague and tell the bereaved family stories and their memories of the deceased that they might not know about. 

Sadly, many Catholics are choosing to not have a funeral Mass. From the perspective of a healthier grieving process, how important is that funeral Mass?

I believe a funeral Mass is really important, especially if the deceased was someone who went to church and was devoted to God and the Church. If the body is not present, it is called a Memorial Mass, which is also important, especially if the deceased or family has requested it. (These Masses) are a time of prayer, remembering, and reflecting. Before or after the Mass and the burial, it is a good time to talk with family and friends or colleagues of the deceased and tell them stories or memories about the deceased.

For some, there might be the inclination to “show strength” by not crying or keeping things bottled up after suffering a loss. Can that be harmful?

Not everyone cries when there is a death, yet there are some people who cannot stop crying, while others cannot seem to cry. That is OK because that is where you are at that particular time. It does not mean something is wrong with you. However, sometimes when you least expect it, tears will come. It could happen at any time, now or months later. 

When someone is grieving, there seems to always be someone who thinks the bereaved should be strong. That is not true. Your loved one has died and now you are on your own. When a death occurs, your whole body can be depleted —physically, mentally, and socially — and for some, spiritually. Sometimes, people tell the bereaved to be strong for their children and not cry in front of them. That is so wrong! You cannot be strong for others when you are grieving. You must first take care of yourself, then others. Remember in an airplane when the mask is lowered for oxygen, you are to put the mask on your face first, then your child. If you are not OK, you cannot help others. It is OK to cry in front of your family because it gives them permission to cry with you instead of keeping that inside and being afraid to cry in front of you. 

To those who are bereaved, never apologize for how you feel. It is not you that is concerned about strength, it is everyone around you. They simply do not know what to say or do with you when you are sad. So, down the road when you are able, take some of that control back and tell those around you what you need and want from them. It may be just to listen to you or for a hug, or a shoulder to cry on. Only you know what you need. Do not allow others to tell you how you should feel or what you should do, because it is up to you.

To purchase Dr. Stern’s book, Comforting the bereaved through listening and positive responding, what are the bereaved trying to tell us?, go to archwaypublishing.com.

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor 

She received a standing ovation. Her family, including her husband, siblings, and children made sure they were there to see it. Every student gave her a hug. That was the scene at St. Mary Catholic School in Brussels after Maureen Tepen, the third/fourth grade teacher and fifth/sixth grade language arts teacher in the small, rural school, was announced as the winner of the 2022 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois during a surprise celebration and award presentation at the school May 4. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki presented Tepen with the award.

“God is so good, God is so good,” Tepen said, as she fought back tears from the podium during the event. “I decided to be a teacher when I was in first grade, and I had this little seed in my heart that I wanted to teach kids, and to have a spot they knew they could come to be encouraged and grow.”

Then, looking at all the students in the room, Tepen said, “I just love every single one of you students. You have done so much for me. You helped me to grow, and every day I get to see growth in you. You say that I help you become the best version of yourself, but it’s you guys that help me be the best version of myself. God has given each of you so many talents. I want you to find that talent and live it in your life. Keep God first and foremost in your heart and mind.” 

The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award recognizes one Catholic teacher who is making a big difference in the classroom, who authentically lives out what it means to be Catholic and instills the Catholic faith into her students, and who embodies St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded Catholic schools in the United States.

Tepen has taught for 27 years in Catholic education, including 21 years at St. Mary in Brussels, five at St. Francis Xavier in Jerseyville, and one at St. John in Carrollton. 

The Office for Catholic Schools and Office for Communications for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, organizers of the award, received a record number of nominations — 72 teachers in all — from principals, teachers, parents, priests, previous students, and current students this year. A team consisting of former educators in the diocese poured through the nominations and read all the stories of impact about each teacher, narrowing the list to five finalists. In the end, Tepen rose to the top. 

A common theme throughout the nominations for Tepen, who belongs to St. Joseph Church in Meppen, part of Blessed Trinity Parish, is she is “Christ-like” and inspires her students to become the “best versions” of themselves.

“Mrs. Tepen is a loving person, and one time when I did not know how to do my work, and I was getting mad, she came over and said everything would be OK,” said Riley Pohlman, a current student of Tepen. “She spent a long time helping me, and I finally got it. She was so patient and calm the whole time. I was happy that she took time to help me. At church, she reads, sings, and she goes to church every single weekend, and she does it all for Christ.”

“Mrs. Tepen treats everyone like her own family and is someone you should go to if you’re having a rough day,” said Dayton Brundies, a previous student of Tepen. “She is very selfless and loves donating to the less fortunate. Mrs. Tepen is truly a saint and is dedicated to her religion. She has inspired me to take my religion more seriously.”

“Her knowledge of the Bible and the Catholic faith is infinite,” said Rachel Wilschetz-Hartman, a colleague of Tepen. “Her dedication to God and her faith is exemplary. Her love for God is witnessed at Mass, in school, and with her family. She volunteers for all the extra activities, is in charge of our missions collections, and she handmakes collection boxes and successfully encourages students to donate money for the less fortunate. I am appreciative of her patience, uplifting advice, and support throughout the years. She has influenced me to examine my relationship with God and deepen my faith.”

“The genuine love Mrs. Tepen has for being a teacher shines through in the heart-felt projects she incorporates into her lessons, like the Christmas angels, self-portraits, and Mother’s Day yarn flowers,” said Becky Lorts, principal at St. Mary School. “She infuses faith-filled activities throughout all subjects she teaches. Her classroom is warm and nurturing. She inspires others to grow in their faith and spirituality. She is an excellent role model to others, not only in words but actions. She is a witness through her faithful participation in the sacraments. As her administrator, I look to her when I need guidance and even reassurance if I’m having a difficult day, because she is the epitome of kindness. St. Mary School is very blessed to have her as a veteran teacher, and I am so blessed to call her my friend.”

There are 43 Catholic schools in the diocese (36 elementary, seven high schools). Stay tuned in early 2023 as Catholic Times will announce how to submit a teacher for the 2023 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.

What is the origin of the concept of purgatory? Some Catholics and Protestants insist that purgatory is absolutely never mentioned in the Bible or by Jesus Himself.  
Nancy in Springfield 

Witnessing the majestic revelation of the new and heavenly Jerusalem, the visionary John foresees the nations of the earth passing through its gates while explicitly noting, “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does abominable or deceitful things … ” (Revelation 21:27).

No sin will be allowed into the presence of all-holy God. Yet we sin, and so will need to be purified in order to pass through the gates of Heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms this: “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1030–1).

While the term “purgatory” is not mentioned in Sacred Scripture, the concept of a post-death purification of sin and its effects can be found in both the Old and New Testaments. The Book of 2 Maccabees, 12:41–45, for example, tells of deceased Jewish soldiers found to be wearing amulets of a pagan god, and thereby breaking the First Commandment. The surviving soldiers first pray for their dead comrades and then take up a collection to send to the Temple in Jerusalem to pay for sacrifices to expiate the sins of the dead.  

Interestingly, Second Maccabees was written about 100 years before Christ, and so the idea of purification after death would have been known and believed in by many Jews during Jesus’ lifetime. While our Lord never mentions this notion explicitly, neither does He deny or correct it.

The Gospel of Matthew, in fact, may be cited to show Jesus supported the teaching of purification of sin after death. In 12:32 He says, “And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Setting aside the question of the unforgivable sin, Jesus discloses that some sins may be forgiven in “the age to come.” Considering the way Jesus uses this term in other places (Mark 10:30, 13:39-40; Luke 18:20, 20:35; Matthew 28:20), He is certainly referring to a time of life after death and so provides a divine foundation for the Church’s current teaching on purgatory. 

The concept of purgatory originates in our need to be absolutely free from sin to enter into Heaven. Yet, people do die imperfectly purified, as witnessed to in the Scriptures. It is necessary, then, for God to provide a way of purgation, or purgatory, for those souls to enter into His presence. Such is found explicitly in the Old Testament and implicitly in the teachings of Jesus Himself. So, make sure to pray for the souls in purgatory so that they may more quickly gain admittance to Heaven.

Father Seth Brown is pastor of Mother of Dolors Parish in Vandalia and St. Joseph Parish in Ramsey. He is also chaplain of Our Sorrowful Mother’s Ministry, chaplain of the Vandalia Correctional Center, and research theologian for the Diocesan Curia.

Below: Watch and hear directly from Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of Italian saint, St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962) and Pietro Molla (1912-2010), on why she chose Springfield to establish the St. Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla International Center for Family and Life. She met with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in Rome April 29, 2022.

As part of his trip to Rome last month, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki met with Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla on April 29 to discuss the St. Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla International Center for Family and Life, which will be located in Springfield. Their visit together also included the celebration of Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica with Dr. Molla and other clergy from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois who were also visiting Rome. From left to right: Troy Niemerg (seminarian), Deacon Rob Sgambelluri, Dr. Molla, Bishop Paprocki, Father Dominic Rankin, Father Christopher Trummer, and P.J. Staab (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parishioner).

By Andrew Hansen
EDITOR

The daughter of one the most popular modern day Catholic saints announced plans to establish an international pilgrimage site and center in Springfield to help spread knowledge of and devotion to her holy parent’s virtues and, thus, to promote the holiness of the family and respect for the sanctity of all human life. 

The Saint Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla Foundation, a North Dakota non-profit corporation founded by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Father Timothy P. Elliott, founding pastor of the Saint Gianna Catholic Church in Wentzville, MO, and Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of Italian saint, St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962) and Pietro Molla (1912-2010), will establish the St. Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla International Center for Family and Life, which will be a peaceful place of prayer, learning, study, and spirituality for pilgrims. 

“I learned from my saint mom and holy dad to have deep faith and unwavering confidence in divine providence,” Dr. Molla said. “The establishment of this international center is one of those times I am trusting in God to show me the way and all those who are involved in the project. I am filled with humility to start this international center so we can promote and help families grow holier together.” 

Gianna was canonized a saint by Pope St. John Paul II in 2004. At her canonization was her husband, Pietro, and children, including her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, whom she saved. They both met the Holy Father as this picture shows. It was the first time a husband witnessed his wife's canonization. Today, Saint Gianna is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children. Her feast day is April 28.Dr. Molla said that she chose Springfield because of Bishop Thomas John Paprocki’s faith filled leadership and his steadfast commitment to defend innocent life, Springfield is in the United States where there is much devotion to her holy parents, and because of Springfield’s central location, especially it being within driving distance of St. Louis and Chicago. Ultimately, she said, “It was God who chose Springfield.” Molla said she plans to live on the grounds once the center is open and when she is in the U.S.

The St. Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla International Center for Family and Life will be located near the St. Francis of Assisi Church and The Evermode Institute (4875 Laverna Rd, Springfield, IL 62707), which the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois announced its establishment in March, as part of the transition of ownership and care of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis’ convent and associated buildings and grounds. The Evermode Institute, a new center for Catholic spiritual and intellectual formation, will also soon include priests from the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey. 

The St. Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla International Center for Family and Life will include: 

• a replica of the spousal home of Gianna and Pietro as it was in Ponte Nuovo of Magenta in Milan, Italy (with the help of the original photos and films);
• a pilgrim center, located between the replica of the spousal home and the replica of the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Counsel, to be built in different phases, and according to the needs that arise;
• a replica of the original Chapel of Our Lady of Good Counsel with attached rectory as it was in Ponte Nuovo of Magenta (with the help of the original photos); 
• a shrine church of St. Gianna;
• a rectory for visiting clergy;
• a Way of the Cross and Way of the Rosary.

St. Gianna and Pietro, engaged, on the snow of Livrio, August 1955.“For years, Dr. Molla has been searching for a site to honor her holy parents and promote holy marriages and families, and if you want to see first-hand how divine providence can work, the story of how this all came together is the perfect example,” Bishop Paprocki said. “I happened to meet Dr. Molla in a shared car ride to a conference at the Napa Institute in California in 2019. That time in the car helped us form a friendship that resulted in Dr. Molla later reaching out to me asking about having this international center in Springfield. Then, in January, when a trust under the care of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois assumed ownership of the property of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, we announced plans to establish The Evermode Institute and having the Norbertine Fathers from Orange, Calif. establish a community there. By us having these faith enriching endeavors in place, it was an easy decision for Gianna to decide this international center should be built near the St. Francis of Assisi Church and The Evermode Institute. 

“The excitement of what is shaping up in Central Illinois is proof the Holy Spirit is guiding all of this. To think, Central Illinois will have The Evermode Institute, the St. Gianna and Pietro Molla International Center for Family and Life, our own Venerable Father Augustine Tolton in Quincy who is on his way to sainthood, and Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen in Peoria — this region of America will provide so much grace to people around the world who visit.” 

The center is expected to bring tens of thousands of pilgrims to Springfield every year from all over the world as St. Gianna is known as a saint for mothers, families, healthcare workers, and the pro-life cause, as she herself had four children, was a pediatrician, and died from complications after giving birth to her daughter Gianna. 

St. Gianna is known as a saint for mothers, families, healthcare workers, and the pro-life cause, as she herself raised four children, was a pediatrician, and died from complications after giving birth to her daughter Gianna Emanuela. In the picture: Gianna with Pierluigi and Mariolina, Ponte Nuovo of Magenta, Milan, 1959.While pregnant with her fourth child in 1961, St. Gianna felt much pain, which led to the discovery of a benign tumor in her uterus. Doctors discussed having an hysterectomy or an abortion together with the tumor removed to preserve St. Gianna’s life. Instead, St. Gianna chose to have only the tumor removed, understanding this could save her child but lead to further, perhaps deadly complications for her. St. Gianna’s faith gave her perfect clarity and confidence in this critical moment of choice. Both the baby and St. Gianna survived the surgery but knowing she could lose her life delivering her child, St. Gianna prayed to God and told Pietro, "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate, choose the child. I insist on it. Save the baby." 

On April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela Molla was born. Over the next week, however, St. Gianna, the mother, dealt with further serious complications. Despite several treatments, St. Gianna died a week after giving birth by septic peritonitis. Her selfless act of love of choosing the life of her child over herself had been another astounding demonstration of her deep faith. 

As word spread of St. Gianna’s greatest act of love, the Catholic Church opened her cause for sainthood and faith-filled people from around the world started asking to St. Gianna for her intercession, leading to two Church approved miracles. She was beatified in 1994 and canonized a saint in 2004 by Pope St. John Paul II. At her canonization was her husband, Pietro, and children, including her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, whom she saved. They both met the Holy Father. It was the first time a husband witnessed his wife's canonization. Today, Saint Gianna is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children. Her feast day is April 28.

As Pope St. John Paul II said of St. Gianna, she was "a simple, but more than ever, significant messenger of divine love."

Want to learn more? Check out these links:

• Letter from Cardinal Raymond Burke
• St. Gianna and Pietro Molla Foundation, Center for Family and Life Moves Forward 
• 5 Things St. Gianna and Her Husband Teach Us About Dating, Marriage and Love
• Married to a Saint: The Holy Marriage of St. Gianna and Her Husband, Pietro

Effective July 1, 2022
(unless noted otherwise)

Pastor Emeritus

Reverend John P. Beveridge is appointed Pastor Emeritus of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Collinsville, Illinois, from Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Collinsville, Illinois.

Reverend Monsignor David S. Lantz is appointed Pastor Emeritus of Christ the King Parish, Springfield, Illinois, from Pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Taylorville, Illinois; Saint Rita Parish, Kincaid, Illinois; and Holy Trinity Parish, Stonington, Illinois; from Chaplain, Taylorville Correctional Center, Taylorville, Illinois; and from Chaplain, Springfield Chapter of the Catholic Physicians Guild/Catholic Medical Association. 

Pastor

Reverend Albert F. Allen is appointed Pastor of Saint Mary Help of Christians Parish, Effingham (Green Creek), Illinois, while retaining his appointment as Pastor of Annunciation Parish, Shumway, Illinois, from Pastor of Saint Anthony Parish, Effingham, Illinois, effective August 10, 2022.

Reverend David Beagles is appointed Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Parish, Robinson, Illinois, and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Oblong, Illinois, and Chaplain of the Robinson Correctional Center, Robinson, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar of Saint Francis Solanus Parish, Quincy, Illinois.

Reverend Michael B. Haag is appointed Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Collinsville, Illinois, from Pastor of Saints Mary and Joseph Parish, Carlinville, Illinois; Saints Simon and Jude Parish, Gillespie, Illinois; and Saint Joseph Parish, Benld, Illinois; Parochial Administrator of Saint Louis Parish, Nokomis, Illinois, and from Chaplain of Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois; while retaining his duties as a Member of the Diocesan Finance Council. 

Reverend Peter C. Harman is appointed Pastor of Saint Anthony Parish, Effingham, Illinois; Bishop’s Delegate for Health Care Professionals; and Chaplain, Springfield Chapter of the Catholic Physicians Guild/Catholic Medical Association; from Rector of the Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy, effective August 10, 2022.

Reverend Piotr Kosk is appointed Pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Taylorville, Illinois; Saint Rita Parish, Kincaid, Illinois; and Holy Trinity Parish, Stonington, Illinois, and Chaplain, Taylorville Correctional Center, Taylorville, Illinois; from Parochial Vicar of Saint Paul Parish, Highland, Illinois.

Reverend Florent Emmanuel Kanga, S.A.C., with the assent of his religious superior, is appointed Pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Farmersville, Illinois; Saint Maurice Parish, Morrisonville, Illinois; and Saint Raymond Parish, Raymond, Illinois; from Parochial Vicar of Saint Louis Parish, Nokomis, Illinois; Saint Mary Parish, Farmersville, Illinois; Saint Maurice Parish, Morrisonville, Illinois; and Saint Raymond Parish, Raymond, Illinois. 

Reverend Joseph Koyickal, S.A.C., with the assent of his religious superior, is appointed Pastor of Saints Mary and Joseph Parish, Carlinville, Illinois; Saints Simon and Jude Parish, Gillespie, Illinois; and Saint Joseph Parish, Benld, Illinois; and Chaplain of Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois; from Provincial Superior of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers), and is granted the faculties of the Diocese, effective August 1, 2022, and continuing for the duration of his residence in this Diocese. 

Reverend Michael Meinhart is appointed Pastor of Saint Louis Parish, Nokomis, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar of Saint Boniface Parish, Edwardsville, Illinois, and Associate Chaplain of Father McGivney Catholic High School, Glen Carbon, Illinois.

Reverend Paul C. Stein, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, with the permission of his Archbishop, is appointed Pastor of Saint Alexius Parish, Beardstown, Illinois; Saint Fidelis Parish, Arenzville, Illinois; and Saint Luke Parish, Virginia, Illinois; from Pastor of Saint Frances of Rome Parish, Cicero, Illinois and is granted the faculties of the Diocese, effective July 1, 2022, and continuing for the duration of his residence in this Diocese.  

Reverend Christopher Uhl, O.M.V., upon presentation by his religious superior, is appointed Pastor of Saint Mary (Immaculate Conception) Parish, Alton, Illinois, and is granted the faculties of the Diocese, effective July 1, 2022, and continuing for the duration of his residence in this diocese.

Parochial Administrator

 Reverend Ervin Pio M. Caliente, a priest of the Diocese of Rockford, with the permission of his Bishop, is appointed Parochial Administrator of Saints Mary and Joseph Parish, Carlinville, Illinois; Saints Simon and Jude Parish, Gillespie, Illinois; and Saint Joseph Parish, Benld, Illinois, from July 1 to 31, 2022, from Parochial Administrator of Saint Alexius Parish, Beardstown, Illinois; Saint Fidelis Parish, Arenzville, Illinois; and Saint Luke Parish, Virginia, Illinois, to begin a period of discernment with the Norbertine Community in Silverado, California, August 1, 2022.

Parochial Vicar

Reverend Paul L. Lesupati, newly ordained, is appointed Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, Illinois.

Reverend Paweł Łuczak is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Newton, Illinois, and Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Sainte Marie, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar of Saint Peter Parish, Quincy, Illinois. 

Reverend Ramesh Babu Matta, a priest of the Diocese of Vijayawada, India, with the permission of his Bishop, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Aloysius Parish, Springfield, Illinois, and Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini Parish, Springfield, Illinois, effective upon arrival in the United States with the required immigration visa and is granted the faculties of the Diocese at that time, continuing for the duration of his residence in this Diocese.

Reverend Wayne Stock is appointed Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Decatur, Illinois, and Saint Thomas Parish, Decatur, Illinois; and Chaplain, Saint Teresa High School, Decatur, Illinois; and Associate Chaplain, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois; from Medical Leave of Absence and Pastor, Saint Alexius Parish, Beardstown, Illinois; Saint Fidelis Parish, Arenzville, Illinois; and Saint Luke Parish, Virginia, Illinois.

Reverend Christopher A. Trummer is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Agnes Parish, Springfield, Illinois; and Associate Delegate for Health Care Professionals; and Associate Chaplain, Springfield Chapter of the Catholic Physicians Guild/Catholic Medical Association; from Graduate Studies for the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, Italy, and residence at the Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy.

Reverend Michael Trummer is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Boniface Parish, Edwardsville, Illinois; and Associate Chaplain of Father McGivney Catholic High School, Glen Carbon, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Decatur, Illinois, and Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Decatur, Illinois; Chaplain, Saint Teresa High School, Decatur, Illinois, and Associate Chaplain, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois.

Reverend Zachary D. Samples, newly ordained, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Peter Parish, Quincy, Illinois; and Associate Chaplain of Quincy-Notre Dame High School, Quincy, Illinois.

Reverend Patibandla Zechariah, from the Diocese of Guntur, India, with the permission of his Bishop, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Effingham, Illinois, from Saint Mary Parish, Taylorville, Illinois; and Saint Rita Parish, Kincaid, Illinois; and Holy Trinity Parish, Stonington, Illinois.

Graduate Studies

Reverend Peter Chineke is appointed to Graduate Studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., from Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, Illinois, and Co-Chaplain of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois.

Reverend Dominic Vahling is appointed to online Graduate Studies in Canon Law at Saint Paul’s University, Ottawa, Canada, and part-time teaching as a member of the Theology Faculty of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois, while retaining duties as Chaplain of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois, with residence at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, Illinois.

Chaplain

Reverend Paul Kallal, O.M.V., with the assent of his religious superior, is appointed Chaplain of Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, Illinois, while retaining duties as Campus Minister of Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, Illinois, with continued residence at Saint Mary (Immaculate Conception) Parish, Alton, Illinois. 

Senior Priest

Reverend Stephen J. Pohlman is appointed to Senior Priest status, from Leave of Absence.

Appointment Concluded 

Reverend John C. Burnette concludes his appointment as Parochial Administrator of Saint Mary Parish, Farmersville, Illinois; and Saint Maurice Parish, Morrisonville, Illinois; and Saint Raymond Parish, Raymond, Illinois, while retaining his appointment as Pastor Emeritus of Saints James and Patrick Parish, Decatur, Illinois. 

Reverend Sunder Ery concludes his appointment as Pastor of Saint Mary Help of Christians, Effingham (Green Creek), Illinois, while retaining his assignments as Pastor of Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Sigel, Illinois; Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Neoga, Illinois; and Sacred Heart Parish, Lillyville, Illinois, effective August 10, 2022.

Reverend Christudasan Kurisadima, S.A.C., concludes his appointment as Parochial Administrator of Saint Louis Parish, Nokomis, Illinois; Saint Mary Parish, Farmersville, Illinois; Saint Maurice Parish, Morrisonville, Illinois; and Saint Raymond Parish, Raymond, Illinois; to return to the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers) in India.

Reverend Suresh Sambaturu concludes his appointment as Parochial Administrator of Saint Elizabeth Parish, Robinson, Illinois; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Oblong, Illinois, and Chaplain of the Robinson Correctional Center, Robinson, Illinois, to return to the Diocese of Cuddapah, India. 

Reverend William F. Kessler concludes his appointment as Chaplain of Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, Illinois, while retaining duties as Pastor of Saint Alphonsus Parish, Brighton, Illinois, and Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Medora, Illinois. 

Reverend Paul Nguyen, O.M.V., upon notification from his religious superior, concludes his appointment as Parochial Administrator of Saint Mary (Immaculate Conception) Parish, Alton, Illinois, for reassignment to serve as Pastor of Holy Ghost Parish with the Oblate Community in Denver, Colorado.

Consultant

Deacon William E. Kessler is appointed Consultant for Health Care Ministry, from Bishop’s Delegate for Health Care Professionals, while retaining his appointment for Diaconal Ministry at Saint Ambrose Parish, Godfrey, Illinois.

Photo by Debbie SchwarzBy DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor 

GRANTFORK — On Sunday, May 15, parishioners from St. Gertrude Catholic Church will welcome Bishop Thomas John Paprocki for a celebration of their parish supporting Catholics in Grantfork for 150 years. Bishop Paprocki will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m., followed by a luncheon in the parish hall. 

St. Gertrude was established on Sep 1, 1870 — way back when Ulysses S. Grant was president of the United States. At that time, a group of approximately 30 Catholic men from the Grantfork vicinity (then known as Saline) met with Father P. Peters of St. Paul Church in Highland to form a church for their community.  It was a few years before a simple brick structure, housing only those things necessary for worship, was completed in 1872. It stood on a block of ground donated by John Bardill of Grantfork. 

The parish was served by priests from St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Marine until January 1880, when Father Michael Weis became the first full-time priest.  By that time, the parish consisted of approximately 70 families.

A rectory was built in 1878.  Classes were also held there until the school was built. The original church was remodeled and enlarged in 1880 and on Sept. 15, 1881, the church was dedicated by Bishop Peter Baltes from Alton.  Concluding this dedication, Bishop Baltes confirmed 39 people.

The current church was built in spring of 1904 (using suitable material salvaged from the old building) and completed for a June 12, 1905, dedication by Bishop James Ryan from Alton. 

A new rectory was built in 1948 and was then demolished in 2020. The parish hall (formerly referred to as the confraternity hall) was completed in 1968.  It was dedicated on May 26, after which Bishop William A. O’Connor of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois administered the sacrament of confirmation to both children and adults of the parish. The pastor at the time, Father Edward Groesch, said the cost of the building was kept low because men and women of the parish volunteered their help with the painting, shingling, and tiling the ceiling. 

Over the years, there have been many changes made to the church and parish hall. Following the Second Vatican Council, interior changes were made in the current St. Gertrude Church so that liturgical guidelines would be followed.  Those changes were made in 1972 for the 100^th anniversary. Bishop O’Connor offered a Mass at the parish in honor of the occasion. 

Tradition is important to the parishioners in Grantfork. The annual chicken dinner held on the first Sunday of June began in 1969 and was held through 2019 until being cancelled due to COVID restrictions. It will return this year as a drive-through only event and will hopefully eventually return to its earlier form in the future. 

Father Paul Bonk, the current pastor, was appointed pastor of St. Gertrude Parish in 2018.  This appointment also included St. Nicholas in Pocahontas and Immaculate Conception in Pierron.  The current congregation of St. Gertrude consists of 94 families who make up the active and ambitious parish.  Quarterly meetings are held by the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee and the Altar Society meets various times throughout the year.  The Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes are now coordinated by a lay coordinator who is backed up by the parishioners.

Father John Farrell (now deceased) was the first to be ordained from St. Gertrude Parish in 1943. Father Pat Jakel was the second to be ordained from the parish. Father Jakel served as pastor or St. Gertrude for two years just prior to his current assignment as pastor at St. Paul in Highland.  

Father Jakel says the pastor at St. Gertrude during his teenage years, Father Henry Schmidt, was a profound influence on his personal vocation. “I always wanted to be a carpenter, get married and have children; however, over the years, Father Schmidt would say to me, ‘Pat, God is calling you, but you’re not listening.’ … It was at the end of that summer (after high school graduation) that I finally answered God’s call,” he said. “Due to the great support of Father Schmidt pulling strings, within two days I entered our Diocesan Seminary of the Immaculate Conception on Lake Springfield.

“Now after almost 37 years of priesthood, 34 of them as a pastor, I reflect back on the people who influenced me. First was my parents and family, then my parish priests, my friends, and lastly, but not least, my parish family of St. Gertrude, Grantfork. I started to list the families at St. Gertrude who were my influencers, but the list became too long.”

Father Bonk has had various committees formed and several events have been planned for throughout the anniversary year.  On Sunday, Feb. 27, a kick-off Mass was held at St. Gertrude. St. Gertrude parishioners will also be taking part in the annual Grantfork Homecoming which takes place in August.  On Sept.  18, there will be a 10 a.m. joint church service with the Grantfork United Church of Christ, which is also celebrating their 150^th anniversary.  The service will be followed by a pot-luck lunch.  The Feast Day of St. Gertrude is Nov. 16, and on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the 8 a.m. Mass, St. Gertrude will celebrate their closing Mass of their 150^th anniversary year.

Lawrence Schwarz, one of the three current lifetime members of St. Gertrude Parish, is compiling information for a book which will cover the history of the past 150 years.

Father Bonk says he feels very honored to be the current pastor at St. Gertrude and to be able to participate in the events planned for the special celebrations of the 150^th anniversary year.

MaryAnn Frueh, a parishioner at St. Gertrude Parish, contributed to this article. Additional information came from newspaper clippings from Western Catholic and Catholic Times.  

St. Gertrude Parish in Grantfork is celebrating 150 years as a parish this year. Bishop Paprocki will be celebrating a Mass there on May 15.

Students at SIUE take a quick break from their Bible study to snap a photo. Submitted photoBy ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor  

EDWARDSVILLE — When Kayla Bridick, a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), took a class called Biblical Studies, the senior from Granite City said it was one of her favorite classes, but it opened her eyes to how little she knew about Scripture. For Joshua Coleman, a graduate student at SIUE, he was simply “coasting” through his faith life. Both of these students were in different places of their life spiritually, but they both recognized they desired something more. Little did they know that hunger would be filled through a Bible study, organized by FOCUS, a team of young adult missionaries serving on campus.

“I have been able to shape my understanding of the Bible through the Catechism, Catholic social teaching and doctrine, and at the same time, I have been invited to pray with Scripture and make connections with what the Lord is trying to say to me personally in my own life,” Bridick said. “This year, I have been lucky enough to take on the role of being a leader of my own Bible study group. Because I had witnessed such incredible transformations in my own relationship with God through Bible studies, I knew I wanted to help invite other women to do the same. I expected the Lord to provide everything I needed, but in His usual fashion, He has provided even more than I could ever have imagined.” 

“I have enjoyed not only the amazing community and friendships that I have formed, but the deeper understanding I have begun to develop about the Gospel,” Coleman, an Edwardsville resident, said. “Through that deeper understanding, I have been able to continue to grow in depths of my relationship with Christ that I never thought I would enter.”

These weekly Bible studies started in 2020 when FOCUS came to campus. This year, there are 11 different groups (men and women groups), with about 70 students as regular participants and at least 100 students have joined at least once. 

Some of the Bible studies are led by FOCUS missionaries, while others are student led. They begin with a prayer and then the flow normally goes: Scripture, questions, discuss, and repeat. Fellowship usually follows afterward. 

“I love to watch God’s grace move by seeing people grow in their relationship with Christ over time,” said Willie Jansen, the leader of the FOCUS team. “If someone is faithful to showing up and taking the next step Christ is inviting them into, He leads them on an incredible journey, and it has been fun to watch students walk this path. This highlights a key part of these Bible studies — they are deeply and intrinsically relational. So, while so much happens in the 60 to 90 minutes of Bible study, a lot happens in the time spent and conversations we have outside of that time.”

Jansen has seen firsthand the impact these Bible studies are having on students. 

“One of the many graces from Bible studies this year comes from a male, student led study,” Jansen said. “Early in the fall, Luke invited one of his classmates named Josh to join his Bible study. Josh accepted the invitation and has been loving it. He was not raised in any faith tradition, so he is taking a lot in. Josh has been joining for Mass, community events, and service with the Missionaries of Charity. This is a great example of what we hope for these Bible studies — these two men are not just in a Bible study together. They have an authentic friendship that is orienting their lives in the direction of Christ and His Church. It all started with a simple invitation, and it continues through real friendship, both with the other and with Christ.” 

Bridick can relate. Her group consists of four women who meet once a week to pray with Scripture, share in joys and sorrows of the week, and just be with each other.  

“My favorite thing about the study is that we are able to just be honest, vulnerable, and real with one another,” Bridick said. “On college campuses, it can be hard to find a safe space to connect with like-minded people especially on the topic of faith. I’ve been told many times by all of the women in my study that being a part of this group has changed their life — both spiritually and personally — and that it is the best part of their week.”

For Coleman, he says the Bible studies have helped him better understand the deeper levels of our faith. 

“There have been more ‘Now I get it!’ moments than I can count, but I think my favorite ones have been going through the Salvation history and growing in my understandings of Christ,” Coleman said.

While these weekly Bible studies are part of the SIUE Newman Catholic Community, they happen in places such as dorm rooms, apartments, and other places. 

“When people hear the words ‘Bible study,’ I think many people think of a Theology class or they assume they must perform and have a lot of previous knowledge,” Jansen said. “While I do hope the students are learning so much about who God is, who they are and what His plan is for their life, ultimately, I hope Bible studies lead students to deep covenantal relationship with Christ and His Church for a lifetime. I hope Bible studies lead them to a deeper receptivity to Christ in His sacraments. I hope it leads them into more receptive and consistent daily prayer lives. And I hope it leads them to an unshakable faithfulness to the Church’s teachings.” 

“As a Bible study leader, I have been hearing the voice of God and learning about my relationship with the Father in a whole new way,” Bridick said. “In order to lead my group of women well, I have to constantly be in relationship with and relying on the Father to provide everything we need.

“I can’t imagine where I would be in my faith journey without the community that the Lord has placed around me, whether it be as simple as a friend sitting next to me at Mass when I’m feeling alone or something larger, such as being pushed to spend my summer in another state with other students focused solely on growing in our faith,” Coleman said. “Each moment every day with this amazing community plays a pivotal role in pushing me closer to Christ.”

Honoring our teachers
Presenting the third annual St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award

We asked everyone from across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois what Catholic teacher in our schools is making a big difference in the classroom? What teacher goes above and beyond, someone whose impact is deep and personal? What teacher authentically lives out what it means to be Catholic and instills our faith into his or her students? What teacher embodies St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded Catholic schools in the United States?

The Office for Catholic Schools and Office for Communications for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, organizers of the award, received a record number of nominations — 72 teachers in all — from principals, teachers, parents, priests, previous students, and current students this year. A team consisting of former educators in our diocese poured through the nominations and read all the stories of impact about each teacher, narrowing the list to five finalists, which Catholic Times presents in this edition along with quotes taken from nomination forms. Catholic Times will reveal the winner of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in the May 15 edition. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination and thank you to all our teachers who work so hard! 

Vicki Wenthe
Sacred Heart School, Effingham
Fourth-grade teacher

“I first met Mrs. Wenthe when my oldest son began school at Sacred Heart School in 2013. My first impression of her was that she was someone who lived her faith in her life, every day, all day. It was apparent to me that God was center in her life and that resonated with me because that was something that I needed to work on in my own life. Seeing her was a great example for me. Mrs. Wenthe reinforces religion all day long and integrates it into her teaching. This is natural for her because she chooses to always keep God first in her own life. Mrs. Wenthe volunteers her time to stay after school and help students who need a little more time with her. It is important to her as an educator that every child succeeds, and she makes that happen by going above and beyond with giving of her time and talents to her students. She also volunteers her time to teach for our PSR program. She serves as a greeter for Mass, is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and helps with social events.”
Billi Jansen, colleague

“I have known Mrs. Wenthe for eight years and in those eight years, I have worked with her in a variety of roles. She has been a principal, teacher, volunteer, and one of my beloved parishioners. In every role, she has taken and in every day of her life, she puts God first and lives her faith.

“Currently, as our fourth-grade teacher, I see Mrs. Wenthe focus on the academic excellence in her classroom, while maintaining Christ in the center of her lessons. She volunteers her time to tutor her students after school if they need extra help. She is a disciple of Christ and gives of herself to help others. 

“Mrs. Wenthe joins me for prayer in church on a regular basis, and this also brings her closer to Christ. She understands the importance of time with God and shows her students that also. She ensures that they are shown the importance of prayer by bringing them to church during the school day.”
Father Michal Rosa, pastor

Amber Tallman
St. Paul School, Highland
Second-grade teacher

“My daughter was blessed to have Mrs. Tallman as her second-grade teacher. Mrs. Tallman is innovative in the way that she teaches her students, and she loves and cares for her students like they are her own children. 

“When my daughter, Lillian, entered second grade, I was concerned about her reading abilities. Mrs. Tallman quickly noticed her challenges and reached out to me. From that point forward, she did anything and everything she could to support Lillian. Her expertise even helped her to realize that Lillian had a tracking problem and was in need of glasses. But she did not stop there. One of the things she knew about Lillian is that Lillian likes reptiles. Mrs. Tallman is an animal lover herself, and she had a bearded dragon at home that was no longer getting much attention from her own children. With our permission, she asked Lillian if she would like to take the bearded dragon, Lizzy, and take of her care of her for a while. One thing about Lizzy is that she really likes being read to, and Lillian would have to take time reading to her new friend. After a few months of Lizzy staying at our house, Lillian’s reading scores began to improve. To reward Lillian, Mrs. Tallman surprised Lillian by presenting her with an adoption certificate. A year later, Lizzy has become a part of our family. She is a constant reminder of the hard work Lillian has put in and of what a caring teacher Mrs. Tallman is. At the start of second grade, Lillian scored in the third percentile on her readying test and this year, she has moved up to the 56^th percentile. Mrs. Tallman exemplifies what the love and support of a wonderful teacher can do for a student. She is truly an example of a teacher who brings light and love to her students in the same way Christ does for His followers.”
Susanne Himsel, parent of student

“My son, Matthew, struggled with reading, and that had led to behavior issues in first grade. We worked with him constantly, and he made little progress. With COVID and all the changes, it was a battle. Starting in second grade, he just wasn’t confident. Before the school year started, I spoke to his new teacher to make sure everyone knew he might need extra help. She was very reassuring and confident they could work on it. 

“About a month into the year, Matthew had changed. He had so much excitement to go to school each day! His reading level improved to his grade level. I sincerely couldn’t believe it. Matthew also received the Viking Award from the principal based on his kindness and behavior at school.

“We have four children, our oldest graduating from Father McGivney Catholic High School in 2018. We have experienced a lot of different teachers and teaching styles. I have never been so impressed with the attention, understanding, and passion Mrs. Tallman gives all her students. I am extremely grateful for all of the extra love and attention she has given Matthew.”
Suzanna Bushur, parent of student

Kate West
St. Agnes School, Springfield
Junior high literature teacher (grades, 6, 7, 8)

“Mrs. West always makes sure her students, no matter what their background or skill level is, understands and comprehends the material she is teaching. She spends so much time preparing lesson plans that meet the needs of all students. She also tries to make learning fun for the students by preparing activities to play on ‘Fun Friday’ that are related to the curriculum that is being taught. Mrs. West has improved mine and many others’ understanding of English and reading, and I feel like she has very much prepared us for high school, college, and beyond.”
Emma Johnson, current student 

“Mrs. West is always in a good mood no matter what. She always has a smile on every day. Mrs. West constantly strives to make sure every student gets the education they need and gives everyone enough time to complete any assignments. She is always focusing on the mental health of the students and worries about how each student feels. Every day at the start of class, she asks us how our day is going, as a way to ‘wind down’ as it comes toward the end of the day. She gave me great advice that I still keep with me today. She told me, ‘Separate yourself from people who put you down.’”
Gloria Ayilisungu, current student

Maureen Tepen
St. Mary School, Brussels
Third/fourth-grade teacher, fifth/sixth-grade language arts teacher

“Mrs. Tepen exemplifies the ideal Catholic school teacher. She instills a love of God in all her students and her reach extends to each child’s entire family. She teaches with joy, love, and understanding. From the moment I saw in her parent orientation, I was in awe of her passion. She read the Starfish Poem, highlighting how small acts can make a big difference. In a world where it is easy to be distracted on what is important, Mrs. Tepen is focused on her faith and leads by example for all her students.

“One of the most impactful aspects of Mrs. Tepen’s teaching is her handwritten notes for each student. During parent-teacher conferences, she presented a three-page written letter highlighting my child’s strengths in the most beautiful words. She eloquently included areas my daughter needed to work on but made sure to express that all children have different talents, all children are not on their best behavior every day, and through all of it, God loves them. 

“Mrs. Tepen has been a teacher at St. Mary School for more than 20 years. Without a doubt, she has made a positive difference for every child blessed enough to be part of her classroom.”
Renee Rose, parent of student

“Mrs. Tepen will do anything for her students. She got to share the miracle of being a grandmother with all of us, her students. She is very dedicated to being Christlike and holy. She loves God with all her heart. She is really sweet and an amazing teacher. At Lent, she hand- makes boxes for students to put money in for the missions. She inspires me to be the best version of myself. She helps us all to love God, learn about God, and spread the Gospel. She loves anything Christlike.”
Conley Klocke, current student

Diane Keller
Our Lady of Lourdes School, Decatur
Religion teacher (grades 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)

“Mrs. Keller organized over 60 students and led them during the March for Life. She spent hours during the weeks before explaining and teaching our Catholic belief that all life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death. She walked alongside the students. I’ve always likened her to our very own St. Mother Teresa. Finally, Mrs. Keller makes every student feel loved. I’ve seen her wrap her arm around the shoulder of a student and say, ‘I love you,’ and “I hear you.’ You cannot be in her presence and not feel joy!”
Elizabeth Wherly, parent of a student 

“Mrs. Keller has been a pillar of Catholic education in Decatur for many years now. She taught for 25 years at St. Teresa Catholic High School, and everyone I’ve met who has had Mrs. Keller as a teacher loves and respects her greatly. With her at Our Lady of Lourdes, I watch the way her students interact with her, and I’m so impressed. She has their affection, their attention, and their utmost respect. When I’m in her classroom, I watch as student after student come in to give her a hug or tell her ‘Good morning.’ They truly love her — and she takes a vested interest in every aspect of their life. When they need to be loved and healed from the difficulties of young adolescence, Mrs. Keller is there. When they need to be challenged to rise to a better version of themselves, she is there.

“As a religion teacher, she is not teaching them — she is modeling for them what true discipleship is. I see this especially when Mrs. Keller has to challenge them to love and respect each other more. She simply does not shy away from the difficult conversations, but the way in which she addresses them with love and sympathy is unparalleled in my experience. I’m truly grateful to have her as a teacher at my school! I enjoy seeing her love for the students, and it’s a privilege to see the care and generosity that she has reached now with a second generation of students in Decatur.”
Father Michael Friedel, pastor

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
|Managing Editor

On Wednesday, May 4, priests from around the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will gather at Villa Marie Retreat Center on Lake Springfield for a day of celebration. That day they will hear from special guest and speaker Bishop Michael McGovern, of Belleville. Additionally, they will take part in Evening Prayer, a social hour, and a dinner, after which Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and the priests will honor several priests who are celebrating Jubilees this year. Those priests include Father Louis Schlangen and Father Henry Schmidt, who are celebrating 65 years; Father Philip Kraft, Father Jerry Wickenhauser, MM, and Father Joseph Zimmerman, OFM, who are celebrating 60 years; as well as these priests who are celebrating 50 years or 25 years of priesthood: 

Father John Beveridge
50 Years

Springfield native Father John Beveridge grew up in the see city, where he, his parents and his siblings were members of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish. He attended Ss. Peter and Paul Grade School and then graduated from Griffin High School in 1964. He began his studies for the priesthood at the Diocesan Seminary of the Immaculate Conception on Lake Springfield and attended St. John’s Seminary in Little Rock, Ark., before continuing his studies at Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Quincy, and then completing his training at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. On May 27, 1972, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William A. O’Connor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. 

Over the last 50 years, Father Beveridge has held a number of assignments. He was an assistant at St. Paul in Highland from 1972 to 1976, at St. Anthony in Effingham from 1976 to 1980, at Our Lady of Lourdes in Decatur in 1980, and at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield from 1980 to 1984. In 1980 he was also a pastoral consultant in the Catholic Education Office.

He was named parochial administrator of St. John the Baptist in Quincy in 1984, before being named pastor there that same year. He remained pastor at that parish until 1999. He was also pastor of St. Brigid in Liberty and St. Thomas the Apostle in Camp Point from 1991 to 1994. He was dean of the Quincy Deanery from 1996 to 1999. In 1999, Father Beveridge was for a brief time parochial administrator of All Saints in Quincy. In 1999 he also began his longest assignment when he was named pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul in Collinsville, where he has been serving for almost half of his priestly life.

“It is a very humbling experience to look over all these years and realize how quickly they have gone,” Father Beveridge said. “There are many challenges, yet the Lord is always there, healing and strengthening for the mission that needs to be done. Each year has been a blessing whether it held a challenge, a question, or sheer joy and happiness.”

He says the Eucharist is his greatest joy. “It is the Easter celebration all over again. To share in that same Eucharist that has taken place over these many centuries brings me to my knees. He loves us with such a deep love, despite our weaknesses and sinfulness.”

Developing ministries, identifying gifts, and helping people use them for the good of the community is one of the most important parts of being a pastor, he said. Through it all, his parishioners have “embodied God’s love in an extraordinary way.” “May God bless them for their love, prayers and support over these many years,” he said.

On July 1, Father Beveridge will be assigned as pastor emeritus of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Collinsville.

Father Richard Chiola
50 Years

Another Springfield native, Father Richard Chiola, was ordained by Bishop William A. O’Connor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on May 27, 1972.

Looking back, Father Chiola says he was blessed to grow up surrounded with family and friends “who knew Jesus, went to church, and prayed.” He especially credits his late mother, Faye Chiola, for helping him discover his vocation. 

His first assignments were as associate pastor of St. Thomas in Decatur, St. Agnes in Springfield, and St. Bernard in Wood River. From 1984 to 1988 he was parochial administrator and then pastor of St. Louis in Nokomis and St. Barbara in Witt. 

“I remember after seminary I felt the need to continue my study of theology, so that I could explain our Catholic faith more clearly. Study and prayer kept me close to God. I did my postgraduate studies while I worked in parishes,” he said. He says the Ignatian Exercises, the 30-day retreat, was “formative of my prayer and practice of spiritual direction … .” 

Father Chiola has a Ph.D. in historical theology and a master’s in human development counseling, is a licensed professional counselor and certified sexual addiction therapist, worked in the Tribunal, and has taught at various universities. He worked with the Franciscan Hospital Sisters on integrating the Catholic healthcare mission in their hospital system.  For more than a decade he was a therapist and spent a few years teaching doctors how to become psychiatrists at SIU School of Medicine. Additionally, he has authored a book and served for a decade on the U.S. Catholic China Bureau’s Board of Trustees. He also gave retreats and workshops with the Missionaries of Charity in Central and South America. 

After many years teaching and serving in other areas, Father Chiola returned to the Springfield diocese. “When my father was dying in 2000, I moved back to the diocese until retirement,” he said. He was diocesan director for the ongoing formation of clergy for six years and the delegate for clergy health and wellness for three years. He was parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament in Springfield, at St. Agnes in Springfield, parochial administrator of St. Augustine in Ashland, and finally pastor at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Springfield from 2004 to 2015, when he became pastor emeritus at that parish. He also served as parochial administrator at St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham in 2016. 

Father Chiola is currently writing another book, continues to work as a spiritual director, assists in parishes as needed, and sometimes gives retreats and workshops in various dioceses and to religious women. “Next fall, I will teach a course in pastoral care at Aquinas Institute, a Dominican graduate school of theology in St. Louis. And this summer I will conduct a reading course for a priest from a Chinese seminary,” he said.

Looking back on the priesthood, Father Chiola surmises that he emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus, and prayer. “There is one thing that cannot be avoided, that is suffering. Priesthood is not a career but a sharing of fullness of what the Spirit of God is doing in you. You will only be as compassionate toward God’s people as you are aware of God’s compassion toward you.” 

Father George Nellikunnel
25 Years

Father George Nellikunnel was born into a traditional Catholic family in India and entered the seminary as a teenager in 1984. He was ordained a priest on April 30, 1997.  “My parents were farmers, and I am the third in line of seven children,” he said. “My sisters and a niece are religious sisters.” 

During his earlier years as a priest, Father Nellikunnel served in a variety of places, often with youngsters. “I have participated in the International Catholic Agriculture Rural Youth Movement with my training in Germany and Sri Lanka. I have participated in the World Catholic Youth Day in Germany and Asian Catholic Youth Day in Hong Kong and in India, also worked for six years as a regional youth director in rural areas of Western and Central India and organized national and regional youth conventions for 16 dioceses. 

“I was very active with many youth groups and organizations in India,” he said. “I served as a pastor, manager, and principal of a school in Delhi for three years and then continued to work in the African land of Zambia as a pastor.” 

Having worked in the African mission areas of Zambia, Father Nellikunnel was asked to discern work in the United States and to support the Zambia mission. “Then the Springfield diocese needed priests and I was asked to come and minister to the diocese,” he says. He came to work at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, where he served as chaplain from 2014 to 2019. He has also been in various parishes, serving as pastor of St. John Vianney in Sherman from 2015 to 2021, Holy Family in Athens from 2019 to 2021, and at St. Aloysius and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, both in Springfield, from 2021 to the present time. Before COVID, he was able to visit his family in his home country once a year. 

 Although he was incardinated with the Pallotine Fathers and Brothers, he is now ad experimentum in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.  “What I like here is the vibrant Catholic communities, rooted in Jesus Christ with the spirit of joy and collaboration and sharing Jesus through Eucharistic celebration,” he said. “The favorite aspect of my priesthood is the celebration of the Eucharist. Every priest is called to be a eucharistic priest. Without priests there is no Eucharist and without Eucharist there is no salvation.” 

Father Nellikunnel says the sacrament of confession is also especially important. “Another favorite sacrament for me as a priest is confession, because I have found unconventional mercy of God in it,” he said. “If I am merciful to others in my ministry and teaching, it is because I have been shown great mercy. Confession has proven to be the reminder of my own weakness and need for the mercy of God to live well this earthly life.” 

When a young man believes he has a vocation to the priesthood, Father Nellikunnel suggests “praying well to make the right decision” and “trusting in the Lord and His plan.” “It is not your desire, but God’s call and you need to make lots of sacrifices to follow the path of Jesus,” he said. “Attend daily Mass and pray the holy rosary. The Blessed Mother will inspire you and guide you to take the right choice.” 

Father Mark Schulte
25 Years

Father Mark Schulte was ordained May 24, 1997, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Prior to becoming a priest, he was in the Army, where he was a skydiver and paratrooper in the 82^nd Airborne Division. He then received a degree in agronomics (crop science) and worked as a production manager for various tree and shrub nursing productions. However, his vocation to the priesthood was with him for years, he says. 

“I was ordained a priest at the age of 45. But the calling to priesthood started long before that,” he said. “There was no particular event that influenced me to be a priest, but many smaller things along the way, such as a strong Catholic family life while growing up, being an altar boy, praying the rosary, devotion to the Blessed Mother, and reading Catholic devotional books.” 

Father Schulte’s first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Agnes in Springfield. While serving there he also spent a year as chaplain for the University of Illinois at Springfield. From 2001 to 2005, he as pastor of St. Bernard in Wood River, and also spent 2004 to 2005 leading St. Matthew in Alton. He returned to Springfield from 2005 to 2010 and was pastor of St. Aloysius. Since 2010, he has been pastor of St. Mary in Pittsfield and St. Mark in Winchester. 

“Every parish is unique in its own way, whether it is a larger parish with a school, or a small-town parish,” he said. “My favorite aspect of being a priest is having the opportunity to minister to people in various stages of their life, but most importantly, having the opportunity to celebrate the sacraments — especially that of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. My favorite sacrament is the holy Eucharist. The mystery of the holy Eucharist, celebrating the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is all-encompassing.”

When he isn’t serving his parishioners, Father Schulte likes to spend his time outdoors. He once walked 85 miles raising money to fund a new altar during a renovation project for his church in Pittsfield. “I continue to walk the neighborhood for exercise, but I still hike through the woods and hill country. Walking is an excellent way to pray and meditate. 

“I do like to grow things in a garden and in the flower beds,” he said. “My background is in agriculture for the most part. But I also love to read, hunt, fish, and just generally spend time in the outdoors. I have always found it easy to encounter God in His creation; in the mountains, along the river, in the woods and walking in a beautiful field.” 

Father Schulte says that the past 25 years as a priest “have been very rewarding” and adds, “Any man who thinks he has a vocation to the priesthood should pursue it.” 

Sacred Heart, Effingham pastor Father Michal Rosa (left) stands with his friend Father Marcin Kokoszka from the Diocese of Tarnov in Poland. They are shown with a collection box used for donations to assist the Ukrainians who have fled their war-torn country and taken refuge in Poland. By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

EFFINGHAM — When Father Michal Rosa, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Effingham, first heard of the Russian attacks on Ukraine — and the plight of the people fleeing their home country for Poland — he was naturally concerned. His parishioners, knowing their pastor had grown up and was ordained in Poland, were especially eager to help the refugees and asked Father Rosa what they could do. Of course, he first requested that they pray. 

However, in March “after much consideration and prayer” Father Rosa decided to reach out to his friend, Father Marcin Kokoszka, to see if the Effingham parishioners could also help financially.  As luck would have it, Father Kokoszka had already planned to travel to see Father Rosa in Effingham, so the two friends went ahead with their visit. Together they also met with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. 

Father Rosa says he knew Father Kokoszka, who lives in Poland two and a half hours from the border of Ukraine, would know what to do. Moreover, Father Kokoszka, who is the economist for the Diocese of Tarnov, has personally been actively involved in helping Ukrainian refugees.

Father Kokoszka agreed that if money was collected, he would ensure the funds were used to help the people in need. By the time Father Kokoszka completed his visit to the Springfield diocese and was set to return home, Sacred Heart parishioners had already donated close to $31,000. That money was carried to Poland by Father Kokoszka. Since that time the parish has collected nearly $8,400 more, with donations still coming in, from Sacred Heart parishioners and some others as well. 

“Growing up in Poland, Ukraine is Poland’s neighbor, three hours away from my parent’s house,” Father Rosa said. “So I am familiar with the areas that are now in the middle of the conflict. And I am in regular contact with my family, especially my parents, in Poland. The great openness of the hearts of the Polish people is being shown right now through their assistance to Ukraine people. And I know many priests with the Diocese of Tarnow. They are actively helping refugees every day.

“As for the people of my parish, they came to me and asked what they could do, and this was one way we could help right away, because we had a direct connection,” Father Rosa said.  “I am very happy that the people here were so generous.” 

Submitted photo 

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD — There are 19,281 LIFE Runners in 3,201 cities across 41 nations, and it was Bishop Thomas John Paprocki who received the LIFE Runners 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award at the LIFE Runners annual banquet in Omaha, Neb., March 25. LIFE Runners is the largest pro-Life team of runners who wear the "REMEMBER The Unborn" jersey.

Founded in 2008 by Patrick Castle after he said he had “an encounter with St. Padre Pio,” Bishop Paprocki has been the national chaplain for the group since 2011 and was also the recipient of the first LIFE Runner Man of the Year Award (2011). 

“Bishop Paprocki is a bold Catholic shepherd for the Gospel of Life,” said Castle, who is also president of LIFE Runners. “He inspires our team, leading by example at our national events. At our annual national race and the annual A-Cross America Relay finish line, he leads prayer at the local abortion facility. Bishop Paprocki is heroically pro-life. He is truly all in Christ for pro-life!”   

One can join LIFE Runners by registering for monthly updates, order a "REMEMBER The Unborn" jersey to wear as a public witness, and have a committed faith. Running is optional. Go to  liferunners.org/join.

In this photo, Bishop Paprocki speaks at the annual banquet in Omaha on March 25.

Submitted photo

Senior Sydney Erhman found out she is related to President Benjamin Harrison during her research in the Living History course at Marquette Catholic High School.By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor

ALTON — In digging through your family history, imagine finding out you were related to a former president of the United States? That’s what Sydney Ehrman, a senior at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton found out recently. Her distant relative is President Benjamin Harrison, who lived between 1833-1901, and was our nation’s 23^rd president.

The discovery was due to Ehrman taking the Living History course at Marquette Catholic, taught by Paula Mattix-Wand, the Theology Department chair and instructor in the Theology and History Department.

“I’ve enjoyed digging into my family history and learning more about my ancestors and where they came from,” Ehrman said. “I found out that a few of my family members traveled to Arkansas and got married there. The class has helped me to understand the struggles that my ancestors went through.”

Senior Adam Vowels was fascinated to find out that his family is from Kentucky. “Learning about the history of my name has given me more respect for my great-grandpa,” Vowels said. “He was a great man and learning more about where he came from really shows how much he did in his life.”

This is the first time Marquette Catholic is offering this class, open only to seniors. 

“We had a need for electives in the history department,” Mattix-Wand said. “I had offered to create this class a couple of years ago, but it didn’t materialize. This year, my schedule matched up with the need. I have training in genealogy research through my involvement with the Ninian Edwards Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and through my own family research. I began researching when I was a senior in high school through a home economics class.” 

The goals of the class are to become proficient in using an online genealogy service; to develop research skills and learn document analysis using public vital records; to understand the connection between historical events and the present; and to help students appreciate their place in modern history.

Chris Bams, a senior at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, looks over his family's ancestry information with teacher Paula Mattix-Wand during the Living History course.“We started the semester by having them talk to their relatives and gather information on what is already known and available,” Mattix-Wand said. “Who are the historians in their families and what do they know? They talked to grandparents, aunts, uncles, anyone who had information. I received a grant from ancestry.com through their AncestryK12 Classroom Program. The classroom version of ancestry.com is very similar to the subscription and includes access to other online genealogy resources. The seniors research every day and help each other interpret documents and make connections. Seniors are free to call relatives during class and to clarify their research. When we have research or document questions that effect the entire group, we discuss it as a class.” 

That research has led to some interesting discoveries. One student found a connection to Daniel Boone, one of America’s first folk heroes. Another student discovered a connection to the Barnum and Bailey Circus. 

“This class is important because it gives students a different way to experience history,” Mattix-Wand said. “Instead of memorizing dates and places, this class allows students to learn the context of how history impacted their family. It’s also important because we are making connections with living relatives. Several students have mentioned how they have enjoyed spending time with their grandparents and learning about their lives. Finally, I think it’s important because we encounter and discuss difficult periods in American history. We have discussed slavery, poverty, immigration quotas, war, and difficult family relationships. These are not easy topics, but they have shown great maturity and compassion toward each other.”

Throughout the semester, the students have three big projects to complete: a pedigree chart listing the direct ancestors that they have found; a binder of documents including but not limited to: vital, census, military, and cemetery records; and a presentation which connects their family to an event in U.S. history.

“At first, the biggest challenge for the seniors is realizing that this project is never finished,” Mattix-Wand said. “In all of their other classwork, there is a definite end. With genealogy, there will always be more people to discover and more details to add to the family’s story.”

Interested in learning about your ancestors?  

You can use sacramental records to trace your family history. Baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, and burial records are fantastic resources for genealogists. The Office for Archives and Records Management for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois accepts genealogy requests online or by mail.  Visit https://archives.dio.org/services/genealogy.html to learn more.  

If you already have experience performing genealogical research, they have partnered with Ancestry.com to digitize and index the sacramental records of the diocese that are considered open and accessible for genealogical research. Learn more about the partnership here: https://archives.dio.org/services/ancestry.html.

New to genealogy? Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Begin in the present. Collect information from resources you already have such as birth or marriage certificates, baptismal records, family Bibles, or obituaries. 
• Collect information from relatives. Contact relatives to help fill in important details. Ask them to share their family stories.
• Record your information and get organized. Record where information was found. Make notes of missing information so that you know what you still need to find. Use paper files or genealogical software. 
• Check your local public library to see what genealogical resources they offer.

Who makes and divides up the holy oils that the bishop blesses during Holy Week each year?
 -Rosanne Wiatrolik, Springfield 

Rosanne, you have asked the right person! The past few years, I have had the happy work of setting up everything for the chrism Mass, which takes place during Holy Week, including preparing for the bishop to bless the holy oils. It is a fairly ordinary process! 

The holy oils that the Church uses in the sacraments are all composed of olive oil. So, we start with several dozen gallons of pure olive oil, and through a process perfected over many years, through the generous efforts of everyone willing to help (in recent years, our Knights of Columbus Council at Cathedral in Springfield has led the charge), we go about carefully filling more than 300 individual bottles using a conglomeration of funnels and old coffee urns, labeling them as “oil of catechumens,” “oil of the sick,” and “sacred chrism” as we go, and placing one such bottle in each box, which is labeled with the parish or institution to which it is destined to go. Before filling the bottles that will become sacred chrism, we mix in the balsam extract to the point where the scent is obvious, but not overpowering (and we don’t run out of balsam before filling all the bottles). 

Of course, we also fill the larger glass jugs that are used during the chrism Mass with oil as well and it is these that will be carried in procession up to the bishop for him to bless (oil of catechumens and oil of the sick) and consecrate (sacred chrism) at the proper points in the Mass. The boxes with their bottles are placed in front of bishop before the Mass begins.

After the Mass, the larger glass bottles are kept in the ambry at Cathedral, which is the place, often looking much like a tabernacle, that houses each of the oils in every parish, and all the pre-boxed sets of bottles are distributed to their various destinations. Most years, they are collected by the pastor or a delegated member from that parish, though during 2020, they were carried to each deanery by a few of the priests in Springfield because the lockdown didn’t allow for representatives from each parish to be at the chrism Mass. 

One interesting sacramental twist to the story: The rite of the Church seems to prefer that the bishop himself mix the balsam into the oil before consecrating the chrism, and thus that the oils only be distributed into smaller bottles after the chrism Mass. Thankfully, the Vatican has clarified that it is valid to mix and bottle everything ahead of time, and this is how we have done it here in our diocese in order to expedite the process of distributing them out to their various destinations after the Mass. 

Father Dominic Rankin is Master of Ceremonies and priest secretary for Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, is an associate vocations director for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, and has a license in Theology of Marriage and Family from the John Paul II Institute in Rome.

By FATHER ROBERT JALLAS 
Special to Catholic Times 

“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. The old things have passed away, behold, new things have come. All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation … so we are ambassadors of Christ, as if God were appealing through us” (2^nd Corinthians 5:17-20).

The apostle Paul speaks frequently in his letters of entering a new creation, of allowing the mind and heart and attitude of the risen Christ to take over us, to “put on Christ.” This putting on of Christ began at our baptism and unfolds throughout our lives. We are aware that this takes place symbolically in clothing the newly baptized with a white robe. Indeed, across our diocese at the Vigil of Easter, more than one hundred people were to be so clothed in being initiated into the life of Christ and his Body, the Church.

But what does this putting on of Christ, this entering a “new creation” look like? The word of God this past Lent gives us some clues, one of which stands out in particular I find this year. It is compassion that ushers forth in forgiveness. Whether during liturgy, in personal prayer, study, or prayerful reading, many have the experience of listening to the word of God in a fresh way, of being struck by passages that are so familiar, yet one seems to really hear them for the first time.

I found such to be true this past Lent. The powerful and recklessly lavish parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the electrifying encounter of the woman accused of adultery (John 8:1-11), or the cultivation of an attitude of compassion in Jesus’ saying to forgive “not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22). Again, we hear at times the familiar in a different or striking way given the circumstances of our lives and our world. 

I have come to see that the distinguishing mark of a disciple of Jesus, the sign that we have put on Christ, that Christ is taking us over, of entering a new creation as Paul speaks of, is compassion. Compassion that ushers forth in forgiveness. Such takes work. Such takes discipline. Such an attitude of compassionate forgiveness is a focus not only for Lent or even Eastertime, but for all our days. How that plays itself out in our lives is as unique as each one of us. But the freedom and freshness of spirit that such forgiveness brings are a taste of the new creation into which we are continuously invited. Such gifts! Easter blessings in the risen Lord!

Father Robert Jallas is pastor of St. Mary Parish in Edwardsville.

Gerald Broadwater's conversion story involves a promise he made to his wife, Viv, who died in 2020. "Viv asked me to promise her just one last thing-that after her death, that I too would be baptized into the Catholic Church so that we would one day be in Heaven together! I promised my beautiful wife that day that I would do just that… and I did!" Broadwater said.‘It was because of a promise’
Gerald Broadwater of Granite City shares his conversion story 

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor 

GRANITE CITY — At 74-years-old, Gerald Broadwater’s conversion story to the Catholic faith involves a car accident that should have killed him and a promise to his wife that will bring a tear to your eye.  

Growing up in Granite City, Broadwater’s parents did not attend church of any kind, and they did not take him to church either. He does remember, however, neighbors who were a strong Catholic family that planted a Catholic seed in him that would not take root for more than a half a century. 

Gerald married his wife, Viv, in 1966 in a Methodist church at the age of 18, but after that, going to church was maybe once a year for the two of them. Fast forward to having two children, Machele and Bret, and Broadwater says, “Finally, once our children and grandchildren were baptized Catholic, Viv and I attended St. Elizabeth (in Granite City) many times throughout the years.” 

But attending Mass did not make them Catholic. They both remained unbaptized. Decades went by. Broadwater then retired from the Edwardsville School District as a custodian. Then everything in his life changed in 2020. What happened ultimately led him to become Catholic in 2021, receiving the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and first holy Communion. Now a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Parish in Granite City, Broadwater shared his conversion story with Catholic Times Editor Andrew Hansen and spoke about how his wife made all the difference.

You grew up a non-Catholic, but you had neighbors who were. What do you remember about the Catholic faith as a young person?

Growing up, we were neighbors with a very strong Catholic family, William and Louise Mank, and those neighbors were my only exposure to Catholicism when I was young. The Manks had seven children, and one of them, Virgil, even became a monsignor. I can remember vividly a time when the Manks took me to Mass at St. Joseph in Granite City. I remember the Mass being in Latin, and I also remember being intrigued by the clothing worn by the priests and nuns. I was honestly in awe of the mystery of it all! I also recall the Mank family going through some extremely hard times throughout the years. It was their genuine trust in God and dedication to their Catholic faith that guided them through those very difficult times, and that really stuck with me. Truly, a wonderful Catholic family.

In 2020, your wife of more than 54 years died. Her conversion story to the Catholic faith alone is inspiring. But it did not end with her. What happened?

My faith changed drastically after Viv’s death. Just nine months later, I was initiated into the Catholic Church — fulfilling a promise that I had made to her a few months before her death. 

You see, Viv had longed for years to be Catholic — we both had — but for various reasons, it just hadn’t happened. And then in February of 2020, after being told by her hospice nurse that she had only weeks left to live, Viv let us know her heartfelt desire to become a Catholic and to receive the sacraments before the day God would call her home. With that, our daughter flew into action, and thanks be to God, on March 7, 2020, just 16 weeks before her passing, Viv received the sacraments of reconciliation, confirmation, and first holy Communion from Father Zachary Edgar in our home. But that wasn’t all that happened that day. Just after Father Edgar initiated her into the Church, Viv asked me to promise her just one last thing — that after her death, that I too would be baptized into the Catholic Church so that we would one day be in Heaven together! I promised my beautiful wife that day that I would do just that — and I did!

You became Catholic in April of last year at the Easter Vigil. How has the Catholic faith helped you grieve better and remain close to your wife? 

I’m attending Mass every week at St. Elizabeth, and I’m praying more than ever before! While I miss my wife with every ounce of my being, because of my newly found faith, I am at such incredible peace.

Was there anything about the teachings of our faith that you struggled with and if so, how did you overcome that?

Not really. Our journey to the Church honestly began about 32 years ago when our daughter was married in the Church. Not long after that, our son married into a Catholic family as well. Soon, grandchildren were arriving, and because of their baptisms, confirmations, and attending St. Elizabeth School, we found ourselves at St. Elizabeth Parish many times throughout the years. And then once both of our children were baptized in the Church — more than 20 years ago — they began discussing with us the Church’s teachings, answering any questions that we had along the way, and all the while, hoping and praying that Viv and I would someday be led home into the Catholic Church.

Is there a saint you fell in love with, asking him or her for their intercession and if so, which saint and why?

I was drawn to St. Brendan the Navigator for two reasons: We share an Irish heritage and have both sailed the seas. St. Brendan was in search of the land of promise, and I served our country in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Constitution. I felt a real connection to him.

On the day you became Catholic, you were baptized, and you received confirmation and first holy Communion. What was that day like?

It was a wonderful day! I felt so very blessed to have my children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and several of my grandchildren present to see their 73-year-old father and grandfather being baptized, receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, and fulfilling a promise that I had made to their mother and grandmother.

What do you love most about our faith?

The Eucharist and the saints in Heaven!

When you look back over your journey to our faith, what stands out?

When I was 15, I was involved in a serious automobile accident. I went through the windshield of that car — ending up on the hood — requiring more than 100 stitches in my head and the top portion of an ear being severed. I also suffered a dislocated knee, hip, broken collarbone, and broken jaw. The day after surgery, my doctor came in and told me that I should have died in that accident, but that God had saved me for a reason. 

I lived with that all my life, wondering just what that reason was. It wasn’t until my faith journey that I finally came to realize that I was put on this Earth to be married to the love of my life for 54 years, to father two of the most beautiful children on this Earth, to be a grandfather to nine precious grandchildren, and to ultimately be granted the privilege to be Viv’s caregiver in the final months, weeks, and days of her life, and to love her, cry with her, and hold her throughout her sufferings and anxieties — up until the very moment she took her final breath. That was the reason God spared my life all those years ago. 

It was because of a promise that I made to my wife in the final months of her life, that I became a member of the Catholic Church, the church instituted by Jesus Christ! I am thankful to Him for every single second that He allowed me to be with Viv, and I am thankful to Him for bringing me to where I am today.

Catholics from across the diocese have been wowed to read and view 151 true eucharistic miracle stories from across the world over the centuries, depicted through photographs and historical descriptions on panels temporarily set up in parish centers, gyms, and vestibules. Several parishes in our diocese have already hosted this display, called The Vatican Eucharistic Miracles of the World exhibit. This exhibit was gifted to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and is available to parishes and schools in the diocese free of charge.

The exhibit presents some of the principal Eucharistic miracles that took place throughout the ages in various countries of the world and which have been recognized by the Catholic Church. By means of the panels, one can “virtually visit” the places where the miracles took place. 

To request all or some of the panels at your parish or organization, contact Cindy Callan at the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois at 217-698-8500, ext. 137 for further information. Or email her at . When requesting panels for a showing, please consider sufficient lead time.  

By Melissa Presser
Special to Catholic Times 

“And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.”
Luke 6:17

Sometimes God just seems so far away. We may be praying for or about something with hearts broken and pierced and wondering where Jesus is. Does He hear me? Does He even know I am here? And even amongst good friends and family, we still feel alone because the cry of our hearts has gone unanswered. We may question God, wondering why Christ who came down to become man and stand among us feels a million miles away.  

The Lord reminds us that we cannot trust in human beings to do what only He can do. He reminds us that human beings are not God and that we must put our trust and hope in Him alone, even when we feel we are in a spiritual drought. This is why He came down on a level plain, so He could be right there with us, in the midst of our greatest problems and tragedies. Christ is an accessible God who walks with us and among us. He is never far away.

When I think about Christ on a level plain, I think about a God who came down as man. He became attainable, touchable, reachable. He is the God who hears me, sees me, and knows me. God is not far off or someone I can’t reach out for. In fact, I reach out for Him every Sunday when I receive Him in the Eucharist. 

I may “feel” that He is far off, but these feelings are deceptive. Having the sacraments with me reminds me that He is in fact on level ground with me - touchable, reachable, and attainable.

If you are feeling alone, misled, in grief, or rejected, know that whether you feel it or not, God is with you. He came down as man in the person of Jesus Christ to be accessible to you. As you receive Him in Holy Communion, take a moment to meditate on that level plain. He is right next to you, beside you, intimately involved in every detail of your life. 

Remember that on this side of heaven, you have the keys to the Kingdom in the Eucharist, the closeness of God here on earth.

This article originally appeared in www.missiodeicatholic.org, reprinted with permission. Missio Dei was founded by Phillip Hadden, parishioner of St. Alexius in Beardstown

By Kelly Ann Tallent
Special to Catholic Times

“God created man in His own image… male and female he created them”  (Gen 1:27). This verse taken from Sacred Scripture is used by the Catholic Church to proclaim the universal truth that all mankind is created equal. “We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be.” This teaching can be difficult for some, but this should not be difficult for Christians because God has given us the ability to see with more than our eyes.

As Catholic Christians, we are given seven beautiful ways of seeing through the eyes of faith, but in this article, we will only focus on two: The Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Communion. A Sacrament, “which is a visible sign of an invisible reality,” gives humanity a tangible means (something that can be seen, touched, heard, smelled, or tasted) and fuses it with the faith which God has commanded. For instance, in the Sacrament of Baptism, the water is the visible sign of the truth that “we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God… members of Christ… incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (CCC 1213).

The Sacrament of Communion has a specific correlation to the above-mentioned verse, and it is here where we will draw an even deeper understanding of this call to see with more than our eyes. The bread and the wine, which is the visible sign, is transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ. No one can see this happen, just as no one can see the invisible reality of Baptism, yet we have the faith that this visible sign has become what Christ proclaimed: “Take it; this is my body. This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many” (Mk 14:22-24).

When we believe this truth, and spend time adoring Christ in the Eucharist, adoring Christ in others is how we share in God’s way of seeing Christ in us. We no longer see national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences, we see Christ. We see the image of God (Jn 14:9). Just as Christ sees us and we see Him, so too can we truly see others and treat them with the love in which Christ showed us when He carried His cross to Calvary.

This article originally appeared in www.missiodeicatholic.org, reprinted with permission. Missio Dei was founded by Phillip Hadden, parishioner of St. Alexius in Beardstown

Holy Week starts April 10
What is the Triduum?

During Holy Week, which beings on Palm Sunday (April 10), Lent comes to an end before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, which is the beginning of the Easter Triduum. The three chronological days are liturgically one day and from what the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops call “the summit of the Liturgical Year.”

These three days witness the most exalted liturgical celebrations of the year and help us to remember Christ’s Paschal Mystery: His passion, death, and Resurrection. 

The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are: the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 14), the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday (April 15), and the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Vigil) on Holy Saturday (April 15). On Easter Sunday (April 16), the Church continues to celebrate the Resurrection and triumph of the Lord. 

The Triduum is concluded liturgically with Evening prayer in the late afternoon or early evening on Easter Sunday. This is the beginning of the Easter season, which is the 50 days from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. 

Triduum schedule around the diocese
The following parishes returned a request from Catholic Times for a listing of their Triduum schedule: 

SPRINGFIELD

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 10 a.m.

Blessed Sacrament

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

Christ the King

Holy Thursday 5:30 p.m. (Adoration until 10 p.m.)

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m. (Stations of the Cross, noon)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

Little Flower

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m. (Adoration until 10 p.m.)

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:45 a.m., 10 a.m.

St. Agnes

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m. (Adoration 6:30-8:30 p.m.)

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

St. Aloysius

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 11 a.m.

St. Frances Cabrini

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

St. Joseph

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

St. Katharine Drexel

(all at Sacred Heart Church unless noted otherwise)

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. (Adoration until midnight)

Good Friday, 3 p.m. (Divine Mercy Novena and confessions to follow)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 9 a.m. (St. Patrick Church), 10:30 a.m. (Latin), 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)

ALEXANDER

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.

ALTAMONT

St. Clare

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

ALTON

St. Mary

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m. (Living Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m.)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 6 p.m.

Ss. Peter and Paul

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. (Adoration until 11 p.m.)

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

ARCOLA

St. John the Baptist

Holy Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

ARENZVILLE

St. Fidelis

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

ASHLAND

St. Augustine

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m. (Adoration until midnight)

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m.

ASSUMPTION:

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:45 a.m.

ATHENS

Holy Family

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

AUBURN

Holy Cross

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. (Adoration until 10 p.m.)

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m. (overflow in parish center)

BEARDSTOWN

St. Alexius

Holy Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (bilingual) 

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m. (bilingual)

Easter Vigil, 6 p.m. (trilingual)

Easter Sunday, 11:30 a.m. (Spanish), 4:30 p.m. (French)

BENLD

St. Joseph

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:45 a.m.

BELTREES

St. Michael

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

BETHALTO

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Holy Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

BETHANY

St. Isidore

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

BRUSSELS

St. Mary

Easter Sunday, 6:30 a.m.

CAMP POINT

St. Thomas

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

CARLINVILLE

Ss. Mary and Joseph

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m.

CARROLLTON

St. John the Evangelist

Easter Vigil, 8:15 p.m.

CHARLESTON

St. Charles Borromeo

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

EIU Newman Center

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, noon

Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.

CHATHAM

St Joseph the Worker

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

COLLINSVILLE

Ss. Peter and Paul

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

DECATUR

Holy Family

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 (Spanish)

Ss. James and Patrick

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m. (St. James)

Good Friday, 3 p.m. (St. Patrick)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m. (St. Patrick)

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m. (St. James), 10:15 a.m. (St. Patrick)

St. Thomas

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

DIETERICH

St. Isidore

Holy Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (at both St. Aloysius Church & St. Joseph Church), adoration following in the hall

Good Friday, 3 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church), 7:30 p.m. (St. Joseph Church), Living Stations, 7 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church)

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church)

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m. (St. Aloysius Church), 10 a.m. (St. Joseph Church)

EDGEWOOD

St. Anne

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

EDWARDSVILLE

St. Boniface

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m.

St. Mary

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

EFFINGHAM

Sacred Heart

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. (adoration until 10 p.m.)

Good Friday, 6 p.m. (Stations of the Cross, 12:10 p.m.)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5 p.m. (Spanish)

St. Anthony of Padua

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m.

FARMERSVILLE

St. Mary

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

FIELDON

St. Mary

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

FRANKLIN

Sacred Heart

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

GILLESPIE

Ss. Simon and Jude

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

GIRARD

St. Patrick

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

GLEN CARBON

St. Cecilia

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. (Adoration, 8 p.m.)

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

GODFREY

St. Ambrose

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

GRAFTON

St. Patrick

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

GRANITE CITY

Holy Family

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

St. Elizabeth

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. (adoration until midnight, Night Prayer, 11:45 p.m.)

Good Friday, 3 p.m. (Stations of the Cross, 2:30 p.m., Divine Mercy Novena following 3 p.m. liturgy)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m. (Divine Mercy Novena, 3 p.m., Blessing of Easter foods, 10 a.m.)

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

GRANTFORK

St. Gertrude

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

GREENFIELD

St. Michael the Archangel

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

GREENVILLE

St. Lawrence

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

HARDIN

St. Norbert

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

HIGHLAND

St. Paul

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m., 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m.

HILLSBORO

St. Agnes

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

HUME

St. Michael

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

ILLIOPOLIS

Resurrection

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m. (Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m.)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:15 a.m.

JACKSONVILLE

Our Saviour

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

JERSEYVILLE

Holy Ghost

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 11:15 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:15 a.m., 5 p.m.

KAMPSVILLE 

St. Anselm

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

KINCAID

St. Rita

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

LIBERTY

St. Brigid

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:30 a.m.

LITCHFIELD

Holy Family

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

MADISON

St. Mary and St. Mark

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

MARINE

St. Elizabeth

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

MATTOON

Immaculate Conception

Holy Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

MARYVILLE

Mother of Perpetual Help

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 6 p.m. (Stations of the Cross, noon)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

MENDON

St. Edward

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

MEPPEN

St. Joseph

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

MICHAEL

St. Michael

Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.

MONTROSE

St. Rose of Lima

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m.

MORRISONVILLE

St. Maurice

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

MOWEAQUA

St. Francis de Sales

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m.

MT. OLIVE

St. Pope John Paul II

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

MT. STERLING

Holy Family

Holy Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Eater Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m.

MT. ZION

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m. (Adoration until midnight)

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

NEW BERLIN

St. Mary

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

NEWTON

St. Thomas

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 10 a.m.

PANA

St. Patrick

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

PARIS

St. Mary

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m.

PETERSBURG

St. Peter

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

PIERRON

Immaculate Conception

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

PITTSFIELD

St. Mary

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

POCAHONTAS

St. Nicholas

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

QUINCY

Blessed Sacrament

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

St. Anthony

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

St. Francis Solanus

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

St. Joseph

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9 a.m.

St. Peter

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

St. Rose of Lima

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 12:30 p.m. (Stations of the Cross at noon)

Easter Vigil, 10:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.

RAMSEY

St. Joseph

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

RAYMOND

St. Raymond

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

RIVERTON

St. James

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

ROBINSON

St. Elizabeth

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 6 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

ROCHESTER

St. Jude

Holy Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

SAINTE MARIE

St. Mary of the Assumption

Holy Thursday, 5 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

SHELBYVILLE

Immaculate Conception

Good Friday, 5 p.m.;

Easter Vigil, 7 p.m.;

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

SHERMAN
St. John Vianney

Holy Thursday, 6 p.m.

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

STAUNTON

St. Michael the Archangel

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

ST. ELMO

St. Mary

Good Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 6 a.m.

ST. JACOB

St. James

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

STONINGTON

Holy Trinity

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

SULLIVAN

St. Columcille

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

TAYLORVILLE

St. Mary

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.

TEUTOPOLIS

St. Francis of Assisi 

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 1 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

TROY

St. Jerome

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 11 a.m.

TUSCOLA

Forty Martyrs

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 8 a.m.

VANDALIA

Mother of Dolors

Good Friday, 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

VILLA GROVE

Sacred Heart

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 7 p.m. (Stations of the Cross, 3 p.m.)

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

VIRDEN

Sacred Heart

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.

VIRGINIA

St. Luke

Holy Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

WAVERLY

St. Sebastian

Good Friday, 6 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

WHITE HALL

All Saints

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.

WINCHESTER

St. Mark

Good Friday, 5 p.m.

Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

WOOD RIVER

Holy Angels

Holy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.
Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

 When I was growing up, one could not eat meat on Fridays at all, even outside of Lent (Editor’s note: This was Church law before 1966). If one did, that was sinful. Yet now, one can eat meat on Fridays, except in Lent. Since God is well aware of future laws and events, did He forgive those folks who did not abstain from meat on all Fridays? 
- Margaret of Springfield

The obligation to abstain from meat is found in the Code of Canon Law. Canon 1251 states: “Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Bishops’ Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.” The law of abstaining from meat on Fridays “binds those who have completed their fourteenth year” (canon 1252).

For the last several decades, we have been accustomed to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent, but not necessarily on the other Fridays of the year. This is because canon 1253 allows the Conference of Bishops to determine another form of penance to be observed. In 1966, the United States Catholic Conference (now the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) ended the obligation to abstain from meat on the Fridays outside of Lent if some other form of  penance or work of charity was done; they kept in place the obligation to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent (and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) under pain of sin. 

The reason the bishops can make such a law is because of the power to bind and loose that Christ Jesus entrusted to the Apostles and their successors (see Matthew 16:19 and 18:18). The religious authorities in first century Judaism frequently spoke of the power of binding and loosing as the authority to make enforceable laws. Jesus, himself a devout Jew, gave this same authority to make enforceable laws for his Church to the Bishops. 

The Church does not oblige people to future laws; she obliges them to laws in force at a particular time. If someone willfully and knowingly chose to eat meat on a Friday at a time when he or she was obliged to abstain from meat under pain of sin, and if he or she knew at the time the act of doing so was mortally sinful, he or she committed a mortal sin. Such a sin would not be later forgiven simply because the law changed. For a mortal sin to be forgiven, sincere repentance must precede a sacramental confession or a perfect Act of Contrition with the intention of making a sacramental confession.

 Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Ashland and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor 

After another year of the pandemic, children are probably itching to get out of the house, socialize, and have fun. Parents are probably just as eager to have their children try some new experiences. This summer, the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is excited to have Totus Tuus, a fun and faith-filled experience, coming once again to several parishes across the diocese in June and July.

Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and eucharistic worship. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation. 

A team of four college-aged teachers are traveling to different parish each week, hosting a five-day catechetical program for grades 1-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to prayer, learning, and the sacraments. The college-age teachers also provide an authentic witness to the students. 

June schedule:

• June 12-17: Our Lady of Lourdes, Decatur
• June 19-24: St. Boniface, Edwardsville
• June 26-July 1: Holy Family, Granite City

July schedule: 

• July 10-15: St. Isidore, Dieterich 
• July 17-22: St. Katharine Drexel, Springfield
• July 24-29: St. Peter, Quincy

Costs vary by parish. For more information and to sign up your child, call the parish office that is hosting Totus Tuus near you.

Cutline: 

Students attending Totus Tuus at St. Boniface Parish last year pray after competing in a Catholic trivia game with their student leader, Joe Niemerg, at left. Totus Tuus is returning across the diocese this summer. Sign up at a parish near you.

Submitted photo