By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor 

Police officers, fire fighters, and other emergency responders from different parts of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois came to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield Sept. 28 for a Mass offered for them. Praying for their safety and continued diligence in their work; to thank them for their selfless commitment to taking care of people in our communities; and praying for the repose of the souls for those who died in the line of serving and protecting, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated the Blue Mass for emergency responders.

“There is risk with everything as it’s part of what we do,” said Carl Hinman, Captain Paramedic with the Springfield Fire Department. “It’s why we are called a ‘higher calling.’ We put ourselves on the line for others. Sometimes, all the help you can get can be the difference between saving someone and not saving someone, and sometimes that help has to come from places that we don’t really understand, and I have seen and even benefited from help from above.”

“Every police officer knows there are moments when they have to have the help of God and it is only the help of God that sees them through that shift,” said Deacon Rob Sgambelluri of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, who is also retired from the Illinois State Police. “The Blue Mass — we pray for that — to pray for that help, pray for that guidance, and pray for protection for all of us and all the people we serve.”

The day began with emergency responders from several different agencies gathering at the Cathedral, followed by the posting of the colors, and then Mass. 

“We believe as Catholics that Christ comes present to us in the Eucharist,” said Bishop Paprocki. “So, for the sanctification of our work as we go forth and we are sent out from this Mass, we believe that we take Christ with us. So, with Christ in our hearts, we send our emergency responders to go out as they do their work to remember that Christ is with them and helping them in all that they do.”

Beyond having Christ within them, first responders say that coming together for this special Mass helps create a more positive culture in our society.  

“Everything that is going on and the narrative that ‘everything we are doing is wrong,’ the Blue Mass is just outstanding to show the support, the outpouring support, the community has, to pray for us that we come home safely and do our jobs efficiently,” said Cheryllynn Williams, the Chief Deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.

“We believe prayer is good at this time, and it’s imperative that we do this (have the Blue Mass),” said Limey Nargelenas, the Springfield Park District Police Chief.

After Mass, Terrance Gainer was the guest speaker in the Cathedral atrium. He is a former U.S. Senate Sgt. At Arms, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, and Director of the Illinois State Police, and is a retired Captain of the U.S. Navy.  

“I think part of this is just to thank the first responders — the police, fire, hospital workers, the ambulance folks,” Gainer said. “These have been a tough couple of years with COVID and some of the disorder across the United States. So, we need to support each other and be there for each other.”

He is one of the more recent saints in the Catholic Church who was known as a mystic, who suffered the stigmata (wounds of Christ), and could read people’s souls in the confessional. St. Padre Pio, who died in 1968, was an Italian Franciscan friar who was declared a saint by St. Pope John Paul II. 

Catholics are invited to see and venerate relics of St. Padre Pio after the 4 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Saturday, Nov. 6 and after the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Nov. 7 until 4:30 that afternoon in the Cathedral atrium. Four first class relics and one second class will be available to the faithful to see and venerate. While the event is free, good will donations are appreciated and a second collection will be taken up during one of the Masses.   

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QUINCY — Members of the Oakley family, for generations one of the most prominent families in the tri-state region, have made the largest single philanthropic investment in the history of Quincy University (QU). Quincy University is receiving a gift of $6.5 million, thanks to the generous financial support of multiple branches and several generations of the Oakley family. 

This gift represents a substantial new investment in undergraduate and graduate student scholarships, in improvement for several QU academic facilities, and in programs to enhance the student experience and for faculty support. The Oakley gift will have a direct and university-wide impact. Some elements of the gift will specifically support the activities of the university’s School of Business in recognition of the business success that made this gift possible. 

In response to the gift announced and the past philanthropic support extended to Quincy University and the tri-state region by members of the Oakley family, the university will permanently rename its School of Business, which now becomes the Oakley School of Business. Several new scholarships and institutional funds will also bear the Oakley family name. 

“The impact of the Oakley gift will transform the university in many ways and for generations to come,” said QU President Brian McGee, Ph.D. “We are so grateful for the generosity and vision of the Oakley family. Their investment will help the Oakley School of Business build on its strengths in preparing graduates for business careers, consistent with our Catholic and Franciscan tradition and the enduring value of the liberal arts. This gift also will enhance the work and experience of our entire community.”  

Many Oakley family members share a lifelong passion for Quincy University. They have been heavily involved in supporting many organizations in the region, but Quincy University has always been at the core of their community involvement and public service. 

“We are blessed to have great industries, a great hospital, great medical facilities, and wonderful schools that are all hugely important to our region,” said Ralph M. Oakley, a 1980 business graduate and former chair of the Board of Trustees. “Quincy University, however, touches every aspect of the tri-state area through its quality educational offerings and its many religious, cultural and athletic events, along with being a major employer and a driver of economic development in the region. There’s not a part of life that Quincy University does not touch in this area, and I think that is why the university is so important. Like other members of our family, I am a graduate of Quincy University. Because of what we learned at Quincy University, we were able to give back and to help QU continue its mission in the Franciscan tradition.” 

What is the proper hand gesture when praying the Our Father during Mass? Some people fold their hands, some are in orans position (hands outstretched sideways, palms up), and some hold hands with others.
- Diann from Jasper County

As you said in your question, praying the Our Father at Mass is a time when there is not uniformity among all Catholics in the pews. Because we are beings made up of both body and soul, our bodily gestures and postures during Mass are important for helping us enter more fully into the prayer of the Mass. For example, it is helpful to stand during the reading of the Gospel so that we can be more fully attentive to this high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Likewise, it is good to kneel during the Consecration to open our hearts to greater reverence to Jesus’ eucharistic presence. 

The rubrics of the Mass are laid out in a document entitled the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, commonly abbreviated as the GIRM (pronounced like “germ”). The proper hand gesture for priests during the Our Father is clearly laid out, but not for the laity. Paragraph 237 says, “Then the principal celebrant, with hands joined, says the introduction to the Lord’s Prayer. Next, with hands extended, he says the Lord’s Prayer itself together with the other concelebrants, who also pray with hands extended, and together with the people” (The Roman Missal, New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 2011). 

The priest frequently prays with hands extended during Mass, especially when he is directing prayer to God on behalf of the people. In his role as the priestly intercessor for the worshipping assembly, the priest gathers the prayers of the people and presents them to God the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. This gesture of having one’s hands extended is a particularly priestly gesture during the liturgy. 

Praying with one’s hands extended in personal prayer can be a beautiful expression of intercession, praise, and worship of God. However, during the liturgy, this gesture has traditionally been reserved to the ministerial priesthood. From what I understand in the rubrics, it seems to be implied that while priests pray the Our Father with their hands extended, deacons and the laity continue to pray with their hands folded. The GIRM gives instructions on what should be done, not on what should not be done. The GIRM does not forbid certain practices, but this does not mean that they are allowed. 

Some families have the tradition of holding hands while praying the Our Father at Mass. This does not seem to be a distraction for them, but in some cases holding hands can become a distraction. I have seen grade school classes forced to hold hands during the Our Father, including holding hands with the people across the aisle, which involves a lot of people moving and making noise. This practice distracts from prayer, and it seems to forget that Jesus Christ himself is present on the altar at this moment during Mass. Some families hold hands when they pray at the dinner table, but for many people, holding hands even with siblings and parents can be an uncomfortable experience. The Eucharist is the sacrament of unity, and the way to finding true unity among the Church is to find it in Jesus. Any practice that distracts from the Eucharist during Mass is to be discouraged. 

As a priest, I do not envision myself instructing families to stop peacefully holding hands during the Our Father. We have bigger battles to fight, and I honestly don’t think it’s a big deal. However, if a children’s Mass gets derailed by forced handholding, I would absolutely ask them to keep their hands folded and focus on praying to Jesus. 

So, here is my advice: One should not pray the Our Father with hands extended in the orans position like a priest. Holding hands with one’s family or friends is not envisioned by the rubrics of the Mass, but neither is it something that needs to be corrected.

The Church does nothing more important than celebrate the Mass, so it is important for us to discuss issues like this even though they may seem unimportant to some people. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian faith and God is pleased by our loving and reverent worship of Him.

Father Dominic Vahling is parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and co-chaplain at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.

By Diane Schlindwein
Managing Editor

TEUTOPOLIS — At 81 years old, Sister Christina Marie Frick, SSND, continues to find joy in teaching young children — and she has been teaching so long that many of her original students now have children and grandchildren of their own. In retirement she continues to share the Catholic faith with PSR students at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Teutopolis.

Sister Christina Marie was born in St. Louis and grew up being influenced by women of the order she eventually joined. She attended St. Wenceslaus Grade School, which was taught by School Sisters of Notre Dame. She went on to attend Rosati-Kain High School, an all-girls Catholic high school that was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Like many at the time, her vocation came at an early age. “After graduation I went right into the motherhouse in St. Louis,” she remembers. She made her first profession as a School Sister of Notre Dame in 1960. She has devoted her decades of active ministry to teaching primary grade school students across both the Springfield and Belleville dioceses.

From 1962 to 1970 she taught at St. Paul Grade School in Highland, followed by three years at St. Dominic in Breese. She then moved to Herrin, where she served for four years at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. She then moved to Teutopolis, where she remains today.

Although she officially retired from teaching full-time at Teutopolis Grade School a few years back, she reports two days a week to spend 40 minutes teaching religion to children who attend public school in Teutopolis.

Sister Christina Marie calls Teutopolis “a very Catholic town.” There was a time when four School Sisters of Notre Dame taught full-time for various grades at the public school. Sister Christina Marie was the last of those sisters to retire. By that time, she was well into her 70s.

“I had a classroom at the school here from 1977 to 2017, and I taught every day,” she said. “Since I’ve retired, I volunteer two mornings a week.” She volunteers at other places, too, she added. 

Students who attend Sister Christina Marie’s class — as well as religion classes taught by other volunteers — begin religion class at 8 a.m. and spend time learning about their faith before their other school classes begin. Sister Christina Marie teaches on Thursdays and Fridays during the school year.

Children who are about 7 or 8 years old are a blessing to teach, Sister Christina Marie said. “They are so innocent, and they are ready to learn, their minds are wonderful.  They aren’t babies but they are not sophisticated just yet.  They are just a special age.

“I thank God for the blessings that Notre Dame has given me in ministry and living in community with SSND. Also, for the joy of preparing children to receive first Communion and first reconciliation,” she concluded.  “I am just so glad to have been a teacher all these years. I really have loved it.”

- Andrew in Springfield

Given the fact that access to gambling has drastically increased in many locations in the last few years, a frequent question being asked is, “Is it a sin to gamble?” The Catholic Church provides a good guideline for this question in Paragraph 2413 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement.”

What this means is that gambling in and of itself is neither good nor evil, it is a moral neutral like money itself is. Money is neither good nor evil but can be used for good purposes or evil purposes. The same goes for gambling. The circumstances around it determine when it becomes problematic or even sinful. 

For example, gambling runs the risk of becoming addicted to the activity and that is where real problems can occur. If someone begins gambling so frequently, or even sporadically, but it begins to have a negative effect on their relationships, finances, or responsibilities at home or work, then extreme caution should be taken. 

Gambling should be viewed as entertainment, in the sense that money spent toward it should not be money that is needed for bills, family needs, or other responsibilities. Just like we may spend money to purchase a ticket to a sports game or a movie, we are paying for something that may entertain us for a given time period, but one should always approach it with the expectation that once that money is paid, it is gone. Of course, with gambling there is always a chance that we may win something, but over the course of time, and especially when gambling frequently, one will most likely lose money.  

That is why no one should approach gambling as a quick way to make money, and risk money they do not have to spend. Nor is it prudent to continue to gamble to attempt to win back what we have lost, especially when doing so requires risking even more money than is budgeted for other responsibilities.  

If gambling starts to cause a strain in our relationships with a spouse, parents, children, or other family members and friends, we should stop, objectively look at the situation, and ask ourselves, “Why is this causing strain? Am I neglecting my responsibility at home, work, or toward my family, friends, church, or community because of my gambling?”  

One thing is certain, the availability and temptation to gamble is very prevalent in today’s society. Gaming machines are found at numerous restaurants, bars, even gas stations. The internet provides numerous sites and phone apps for online sports betting, online casinos, and even online lottery tickets. Internet betting can be a cause of other concerns as well because some of those websites are scams that are designed to steal your money with no way to get it back. Gambling on anything that is morally evil presents its own set of problems as well and should always be avoided. 

Even things like raffles, bingo, and other fundraisers, where we purchase a ticket or chance to win a bigger prize are a form of gambling, even though most times churches or community organizations may use the proceeds from those things to donate toward a charitable cause or institution. 

To reiterate, gambling in and of itself is not good or evil. It all depends upon the circumstances and the consequences it has in our lives, families, and upon our responsibilities. If we gamble, it is best to use moderation, and to treat it as entertainment without the expectation of winning. If we notice signs of addiction when we gamble, or our family members or friends do, take notice, use caution, and seek help so it doesn’t become something that controls and negatively affects our lives. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1 (800) 522-4700.

Father Marty Smith is pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Jerseyville and St. Patrick Parish in Grafton and is an associate vocations director for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor 

Students from St. Peter’s School in Quincy work, packing rice meals for those suffering after the earthquake in Haiti.  Submitted photoIt was an ordinary morning on Aug. 14 in Haiti when the earth started to shake. As the shaking intensified, homes and buildings started to collapse, screams for help echoed in the streets, and within minutes, tens of thousands of people’s lives were left in ruins. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated the country. First, in the death toll — more than 2,000. Also, in what the earthquake left behind — rubble, chaos, and hopelessness.

Shelly Sands, a teacher at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton who also runs Missions International, a Highland based nonprofit organization that has been performing missionary work for over 30 years in the Caribbean and Central and Latin Americas, saw the images from Haiti and knew she had to help. Missions International has a “sister parish” program that involves connecting Catholic parishes in Guatemala and Haiti with "sister parishes" in the United States who then provide spiritual and financial assistance to their sister parish. Sands’ home parish, St. Paul in Highland, has a sister parish in Haiti. 

“After hearing of the earthquake, I checked on our pastor there, Msgr. Victesse and our sister parish, St. Charles Borromeo (in Haiti),” Sands said. “Haiti has been through so much lately with kidnappings, their president being assassinated, tropical storms, and the earthquake. When his reply was that they were scared and hungry, my heart broke. We had to do something!”

So, Sands put our Catholic faith into action. Sands requested rice meals from the organization Feeding Children Worldwide to have them deliver food to the Knights of Columbus in Highland and Quincy University. Then, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 246 faith-filled volunteers from schools and parishes in our diocese spent hours packing all the food into boxes. In total, a whopping 18,360 servings of food were packed. From there, a team took the boxes to Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach in Springfield, who then delivered everything to Haiti. 

“Working on the Haiti project, I felt like I got closer to God because I was doing what he wants you to do to serve others,” said Isabelle Boudreau, a student at St. Peter School in Quincy. 

Students at St. Paul School in Highland joined other Catholics from parishes in the area, helping pack rice meals for those in need in Haiti.  Submitted photo“It felt very good to do the rice project for those in Haiti affected by the earthquake,” said Sophia Baragree, a student at St. Peter School in Quincy. “Doing something for someone else less fortunate helps us feel closer to God.”

The entire operation, which had to come together quickly due to the dire nature the Haitian people are in, was a testament to putting our faith in action.  In all, 156 volunteers worked for six hours packing food supplies in Quincy. Parishes represented included Blessed Sacrament and the Church of St. Peter, both in Quincy; students, teachers, and parents from St. Peter School, Quincy Notre Dame High School, and Quincy University; and volunteers from St. Thomas Parish in Camp Point made the trip. 

In Madison County, 90 volunteers worked for three hours packing supplies. Parishes represented included St. Paul in Highland, St. Lawrence in Greenville, St. Jerome in Troy, St. Elizabeth in Marine, St. Gertrude in Grantfork, Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville, St. Boniface in Edwardsville, Immaculate Conception in Columbia, and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Belleville. Students from St. Paul School in Highland were also part of the action.

Helping the people of the Caribbean is nothing new for these Catholics as most of the parishes involved in this emergency food effort have sister parishes in Haiti and Guatemala they help on a yearly basis already. What was different was the speed involved and the helping response from so many in making this effort happen.

“Packing rice meals is not something Missions International normally does,” Sands said. “If a country is not in crisis mode and we send free food, then the local farmers are hurt. It is important to walk with our brothers and sisters and understand the culture. I knew in my heart that this time the food was needed.”

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor 

Photo courtesy of chiefs.comDan Marino. Barry Sanders. Dick Butkus. Paul Brown. Marty Schottenheimer. Those are just some names of National Football League (NFL) greats to have never won a Superbowl. Winning just once on the sport’s biggest stage — perhaps the biggest stage in the world — is a moment every player and coach dreams about.

For Brendan Daly, the Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, he has lived that dream four times.

But getting to the big stage comes with a price. Moving constantly, long hours, working weekends, high stress, and not as much time with family and friends is what Daly has endured since he started coaching in the late 90s. So, how does the Springfield native who attended Christ the King School and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School (1993 graduate) in Springfield deal with the high pressure to win, long time commitments at work, and the constant uncertainty of his future that comes with coaching in the NFL? Leaning on and living our Catholic faith is his answer. 

Catholic Times editor Andrew Hansen interviewed Daly to talk faith, family, and football.

Let’s start first with your time growing up in Springfield and attending Catholic schools. What was your experience like?

It was a tremendous experience for me. I have a lot of fond memories of both of those places (Christ the King School and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School) and lifelong friendships for sure. Those places for me were very special not only for the people I was with in terms of classmates, but some great teachers, some great communities in terms of parents and the values and principles that were instilled in me during those years. Some of my friends have kids at those schools now so it’s interesting to see that dynamic unfold from a distance. 

What did you learn from Catholic education that has helped you in your NFL coaching career and vocation as a husband and father?

 It has been a foundation for who I am. It taught me to put others before myself. It definitely gave me an appreciation for the differences in other people and the will-

ingness to accept other opinions and other cultures and other views. That is probably the biggest thing I have taken from it. Those are things that have served me well. I try to put that into practice with own kids and with my professional life and my personal life and how I live day to day.

Photo courtesy of chiefs.comYou have coached at colleges such as Drake, Maryland, Oklahoma State, and Illinois State, and then in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, the then St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and now the Kansas City Chiefs. You have certainly had to “keep the faith” as you moved around and up the coaching ranks. How have you leaned on our Catholic faith during what I am sure were plenty of ups and downs and moving to different time zones so frequently?

There have been a lot of moments of euphoric in terms of highs and very disappointments in terms of lows. Trust in God. Trust that He has a plan for us. Trusting that ultimately, I don’t have control over this whole process. There are certain things you can control but being able to let go of things that you don’t necessarily have control over. That faith, that Catholic upbringing certainly comes into play in a lot of those instances. 

I would also say, some of the career decisions I have had to make, and they are not in a negative way as I have been extremely fortunate, but they have been difficult decisions, there has been a lot of prayer there. There has been a lot of prayerful moments in terms of trying to navigate through those decision-making processes. I have always prayed that I would have the open mindedness to accept whatever God’s plan has for me and my family. It has certainly been a journey, not a destination, which I think that is what life is. Certainly, the faith that I have from a Catholic standpoint, I have had to put into play from a navigating life standpoint.  

Your vocation as a husband and father is at the top on your list. You and your wife, Keely, are blessed with three children, one son and two daughters. But the life of an NFL coach is busy and stressful. How do you and your wife make it all work and how do you balance time with your children?

That is definitely a challenge and Keely, my wife, is kind of the glue of our family and holds things together. She does an unbelievable job. I wouldn’t be able to have the career that I have without her and the way she handles our family. That is the first thing. But we do the best we can. I would say, we try to be where we are. When I am at work, I am at work. When I am home, I try to be fully present when I am at home and engaged with the kids. I try to coach their sports teams whenever possible. I coached softball this past spring. I have coached baseball and basketball throughout my son’s athletic endeavors, and I love doing that. We try to carve out time that is special to our family and where we are turning off screens, and we’re going on day trips or adventures or doing things with all five of us together. Those are special times. We all enjoy those moments.  

Brendan Daly, (left) with his sister Maura and brother Tim, attended Christ the King School in Springfield.Sunday — the big day of the week for Catholics — going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist. During the season, NFL games are mostly on Sundays. How do you practice our Catholic faith on those game weekends?

One of the things I have appreciated is, and it has been the case in every NFL team I have been with, whenever we are playing, typically, the evening before the game, there is both a chapel and a Mass that is available to the players, coaches, and support staff. Everyone who is in the travel party. I have always been a regular participant at those. It has been a fun experience in terms of getting to know a number of priests in the various teams and cities I have worked in, but then also as you travel on the road and you are in a hotel somewhere, it’s usually a priest from one of the parishes there that you get to know. So, I have had the privilege of getting to know a lot of different priests and going to a lot of different Masses. I have enjoyed that experience.

So that is day before. The day of the game, we do typically pray in the locker room before and after the game, which I struggle with at times because certainly not everyone in that locker room is Christian, but the aspect of prayer is definitely respected, and I participate in. Some guys choose not to, and that’s fine. But that is one of the things the Catholic faith has taught me — to be able to respect those individuals and the fact they view things differently. 

What is the biggest challenge of a career in coaching, especially the NFL?

There have been many. The constant challenge is getting each individual to put the needs of the team first before their own goals and agendas. That is a constant battle in our society. I don’t think that is unique to my line of work or the NFL. But that is a challenge on a daily basis. It’s one that I enjoy working on. There is nothing more fulfilling than getting a group of people to buy into something that is bigger than them. A greater cause. My Catholic faith has definitely centered me and grounded me in that regard. Humbling yourself and believing in something bigger than you for sure.   

You have won four Super Bowls. Three with the New England Patriots, one with the Chiefs. Most would do practically anything for just one. What is the feeling?

It has been a privilege for sure. I have enjoyed it. It has been a fantastic run. It’s a wonderful feeling when accomplishing that goal. Some of the best moments of my life have been after winning the Superbowl and having my wife and three kids come and run out on the field and join me. That feeling is something I have not been able to replicate.

You still have family in Springfield. How often do you come back to your native city and what are some of the staples you have to do while here?

I love getting back to Springfield. The food. I mean some of the restaurants and places I miss so much. I miss horseshoes, Maid-Right, the pizza places in Springfield I love. I almost always go to SHG and visit with the coaches there, many of whom are still there from when I played. I enjoy meeting with the players who are currently there. Those have been some fun relationships I have built over the years. Washington Park is favorite of mine. I love taking my kids to the playground there, bike rides, and just hanging out with family.  

Who has inspired you the most when it comes to our Catholic faith?

My grandmother (Josephine) and my mother (Anne). That’s kind of where my core roots of my faith originated. They were my first inspiration and mentors. I have had a great family background. Catholic faith and Catholic education have served my family extremely well. I have had some great teachers along the way. Msgr. David Lantz, who was at Christ the King (now at St. Mary in Taylorville) and then taught at SHG, was a tremendous mentor. There have been some very special ones.   

Brendan Daly during his freshman year at SHG.We saw last year Philip Rivers, a former NFL quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers, in his retirement statement mention our Catholic faith and St. Sebastian, as he is the patron saint of athletes. Do you have a favorite saint you turn for help?

I would say I turn to my namesakes. My first name, Brendan, is after St. Brendan, an Irish saint who was a sailor and came to American long before Columbus. And St. Patrick. My middle name is Patrick. Those have been two key ones for me. All the way through my life simply because of my name.  

What is your advice for young athletes today?

My first advice is to simply enjoy the opportunities. Enjoy your youth. Enjoy your ability to be involved in athletics. I would say, don’t turn it into a job. Limit the specialization. Play multiple sports and don’t allow adults to screw it up for you. I think our society has turned to the constant pressure to succeed, gain an advantage, and year-round specialization and club sports. I honestly would like to see kids play everything and enjoy it. Just go to the park and play.  

Quotes taken and edited from an interview Brendan Daly did with Andrew Hansen on Dive Deep, the official podcast of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, that aired on Sept. 3. To hear more from Daly’s interview, go to dio.org/podcast to listen and subscribe.

By SISTER M. CLEMENTIA TOALSON, FSGM
Special to Catholic Times

The song It is Well with my Soul was written by Horatio Spafford in the year 1873 amidst deep sorrow and tragedy in his life. In 1871, he had suffered the loss of a 4-year-old son to scarlet fever while at the same time losing a fortune during the great Chicago fire. In 1873, knowing that his family, now consisting of his wife and four daughters, needed a vacation, he sent them on a boat to England with the plan to meet up with them after closing up some business dealings. The boat carrying his beloved family was struck in a terrible collision, drowning his four daughters. After receiving a telegram from his surviving wife, he set sail to be with her in their collective grief. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, he came upon the sight of his daughters’ graves below the sea. The lyrics of this famous song suddenly poured forth as a prayerful cry from his heart and thus became a hymn of surrender to God with trust and abandonment. It has long been my favorite Church hymn.

Sister M. Clementia Toalson, Sister M. Magdalene Diaz, and Sister M. Michael Redding are in good spirits as they continue to recover from the accident. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

As I lay in my hospital bed after a horrific car accident of June 9 on I-55 outside Springfield, I began having vivid flashbacks of the wreck. I could see the blood dripping from my hands, could feel my body at an awkward angle resting in agonizing pain on the dashboard, and could sense the urgency of my beating heart as I considered if the other sisters were alive. In the hospital, sleep became allusive to me, and my eyelids would shoot open in fear. Another sister, recognizing my sleepless state, asked if she could pray over me and with me. As she opened her Divine Office book to begin Night Prayer, she asked for a song I would like for her to sing. My troubled heart instinctively turned to It is Well with my Soul. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the musical notes descended upon me. With all that I had been through and with all that I knowingly would suffer in my recovery, I could honestly say, “It is well with my soul!” A sudden peace took over my debilitating fear as the Lord revealed to me his faithfulness and love in the midst of this tragic event. It was at that moment that I began journeying the path of abandonment, trust, and mercy.

Remembering the accident

Sister M. Magdalene, Sister M. Michael and I were heading to our motherhouse in Alton from our convent in Rock Island.(Editor’s note: they are all Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George.) We would be beginning our summer assignments and Sister M. Magdalene would be commencing a new apostolate in her transfer to Alton. Our van was packed with luggage and boxes.

The sisters’ vehicle was unrecognizable after the June 9 crash on I-55 outside of Springfield. Along I-55 outside of Springfield, traffic came to a sudden stop in a construction zone and our van was struck at seemingly high speed from behind, sending us into the two cars in front of us. Our van was later described as a crushed soda can or accordion. It was an accident scene in which any passerby would say to themselves, “There is no way anyone survived that.” All three of us blacked out upon the impact and my body was hurled, even with a seatbelt on, to an unexplainable position. The passenger seat I was occupying separated, breaking the back rest from the cushion. My legs were thrown on top of the dashboard and my head rested upon the seat cushion. Later I would discover how impossible — saving all things are possible with God — that my legs were not crushed under the front of the van. When I finally came to, I slowly lifted my hand, saw the blood, and realized I was injured. My next thought, which was clearly impelled by the Holy Spirit, was, “Stay calm. Don’t move.” This mantra repeated in my head, convincing myself that help was on the way.

True to His faithfulness, God immediately showed His love for his brides in sending us a bishop, priest, and seminarian who happened to be traveling through Illinois a few cars behind us. The first on the scene, they spoke to me from the broken window and discovered that we were religious sisters (our veils had flown off at impact). Soon I was anointed, and my hand was being held as I spoke to the priest, asking him questions in total coherence. I began to say, over and over again, “Jesus, I trust in you” as the paramedics and rescue teams arrived. Assessing the situation, they soon realized that my door would need to be pried open with the “jaws of life.”

My left leg was severely broken on the tibia and fibula, three of my left ribs were fractured and there were many unknowns at the time in regard to my spinal situation. Later, it would be discovered that the middle of my back was broken vertically at the jut-out of the vertebrae and another vertebrae was slipping forward. After quite a long time in the trauma room after our transport to HSHS St. John’s Hospital, I was given an Emergency Department room to await further tests. The arrival of the first sister to be with me, console me, and hold my hand brought about guttural sobs as everything I had endured hit me. As I lay in this vulnerable state, more sisters and family arrived, many calls were made, and I was surrounded in utter love.

Compassion in community

This picture of St. Joseph holding the baby Jesus was the only thing with glass that survived the accident fully intact. In December of last year, Pope Francis declared this year the Year of St. Joseph, which concludes on Dec. 8.Along with the appearance of the first sister to the emergency room, I have experienced a profound understanding of the beauty of my religious community throughout this time of physical and emotional suffering. After my hospital stay, I was transferred to the infirmary of our motherhouse in Alton to recover, heal, and begin physical therapy. As I settled into my new room the afternoon of my arrival, I was surrounded by nearly 30 sisters. Each one had tears in their eyes and had a look of relief washed over their faces.

At that moment, it struck me how the word “compassion” is true to its etymology: “to suffer with.” My sisters suffered through the agonizing unknowns of the accident, the anxious awaiting of any news, and the torment of hearing their sisters were being rescued through the jaws of life. They had to patiently endure the medical updates and the fear of losing one of their sisters. Though their suffering was not physical, it held deep weight emotionally and mentally. Their suffering has lessened my own suffering. I continue to feel that I am being held in a tender embrace by their compassion.

Over the last few months, I have had experienced sisters reach out to assist me in my needs, squashing the lie that I am a burden. Through my daily tasks of tying my shoes, taking care of my personal hygiene, getting my meals, attending medical appointments, going to faraway places in the convent in a wheelchair, and much more, my sisters have been instruments of great healing within my heart. It often happens that God sends to me a sister with whom I might have a previous grievance toward, healing the sin of unforgiveness that was eating away joy within my heart. Sisters have held me in their arms as I sobbed, strengthened me through their prayers, and have given me encouragement when fear settles in. I am so grateful to God for calling me to this community.

Learning abandonment, mercy, and trust

I have not once felt an animosity or bitterness toward the man who hit us. In fact, I have been deeply praying for him. More importantly, I have not once sensed that I have been abandoned by God in this great suffering. Before the accident, like many people, I carried within me a deep wound of abandonment. Through the various events encompassing my life, I struggled reconciling with a God who would allow such deep pain and woundedness. I held on to bitterness and resentment. I allowed my past to control my reactions, my anxiety, and my joy. The accident brought about in me a surrender of this control — I could do nothing to stop the pain but could only give God permission to draw good out of the situation. I saw His presence through every twist and turn and miracle of the wreck. I was not abandoned. I was loved and held. My wound of abandonment had turned into the virtue of abandonment — surrender — to the God who created me and sustains me.

Along with a true sense of abandonment has come a deeper understanding of mercy and trust. The charism of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George is to “make Christ’s merciful love visible.” The deepest and most profound expression of our charism is that of suffering. Coupling our charism with my religious name for Divine Mercy, Jesus has continually drawn me into the mystery of my most wounded parts. The reality of my namesake is that I am called to a deeper trust and intimacy with the Lord through suffering, be it either physical, mental and/or spiritual. Through years of coming to an understanding of the multiple reasons for God naming me for his greatest attribute, I have developed a personal definition of mercy:

Mercy is when my brokenness and sinful misery encounter God’s faithfulness and steadfast love so that we can have access to one another’s hearts through our wounds — me with His and His with mine — resulting in a mutual exchange of trust born as fruit.

Through the accident, I have been drawn into the mystery of His mercy. Jesus has beckoned me to snuggle into his wounded heart to find refuge and protection instead of embracing the lies of fear and abandonment. His pierced side pours out blood and water — the rays of his mercy — which in turn give radiating light that pierces through the suffering of my own wounds.

No wasted suffering

The Venerable Fulton Sheen (Peoria native) once said, “There is nothing more tragic in the world than wasted pain.” My first prayer while in the emergency trauma room was that I might “suffer well.” I have prayed for this grace throughout this post-accident time. Though I may never see the impact of the miracles that took place via the accident nor the fruits of my suffering, I trust that God is using it for His glory.

It is well with my soul in both joy and pain. It is well with my soul because I know that God, in His great mercy, has permitted this accident to draw bountiful goodness out of it. It is well with my soul because I know that Jesus Christ has allowed me to fall into his wounded side so that he may increase through my own suffering. I pray with the Venerable Fulton Sheen and say, “Here is my body, take it! Here is my soul, my will, my energy, my strength, my poverty, my wealth — ALL that I have. It is yours. Take it! Consecrate it! Offer it! Offer it to the heavenly Father with Yourself, in order that He, looking down on this great sacrifice, may see only You, His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased.” 

Sister M. Clementia Toalson, FSGM, is in the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton. She is a member of St. Pius X Church in Rock Island, and currently serves as a fourth-grade teacher at Jordan Catholic School.

For several priests and many parishioners growing a garden is just one way to enjoy God’s gifts over the spring, summer, and beyond. Whether the gardens are small or large, sometimes digging in the dirt, planting, weeding, and harvesting are great ways to relax, spend some time in prayer, or even burn off frustration.

Father Michael Meinhart, parochial vicar of St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville, says he is happy to get back to following in his family’s footsteps. “Growing up we always had a large garden. … It just seeps into your being when you grow up doing it,” he said. “When visiting my parents during the summers, I would often still help in the garden. 

“I tried my hand at container gardening a few summers while assigned at parishes during seminary, with varying degrees of success. Last year I tried putting out a small garden in the backyard before I moved in July 1, but it is hard to maintain a garden when you don’t live somewhere yet. This year was my first opportunity to put in a better and more extensive garden.”

Father Meinhart’s garden contains strawberries, cucumbers, kale, onions, spinach, carrots, turnips, full-size tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green bell peppers, sweet corn, zucchini, yellow squash, watermelon, gourds, sweet potatoes, green beans, Asian cucumbers, and rhubarb.  “I’ve got marigolds and sunflowers throughout,” he said.

Gardening takes time and is worth the effort, but the priests say sometimes their parish schedules mean the plants must take a back seat. “It depends on the week for how much time I put into it,” said Father Meinhart. “I do it as a hobby, so if something doesn’t get done when it should — oh well!  Usually, I work on it on Mondays, my day off.”   

Father Allen Kemme, pastor of Little Flower Parish in Springfield, says he began gardening when he first became a pastor, about 20 years ago. “I gained interest in gardening from my dad.  He had a large garden in our backyard, and he taught me most of what I know about gardening,” he said. “I enjoy working in the garden, being outside and experiencing the fruits of my labor.” 

In his garden Father Kemme grows lettuce and radishes in the spring; green beans, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes in the summer; and sweet potatoes and honeydew in the fall. He says harvest time is his favorite part of gardening, while he doesn’t really enjoy pulling weeds “and keeping the critters out of my veggies!”

Father Kemme says pulling weeds does give him quiet time for reflection. “Most of my prayerful time comes when I am planting the seeds.  Usually early in the season the weather is pleasant, and planting is kind of an act of creation in itself,” he said and then added, “Sometimes when I am fed up with parish administration, etc., it is really good just dig in the dirt!” 

Father Mark Schulte, pastor of St. Mary in Pittsfield and St. Mark in Winchester, says gardening is “in his blood” as his maternal grandparents were gardeners by profession. Their company was called Frericks Gardens and Greenhouses in Quincy. As a boy, he helped with the family business and then rediscovered gardening again after college. He has small garden plots around the parish grounds, which are mingled among the flower beds. 

“I also operate a large garden with our Knights of Columbus Council on some ground that a parishioner generously lets us use,” Father Schulte said. “We grow most of the common vegetables: tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peas, cucumbers, onions, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, cabbage, melons, pumpkins, and peppers.  I started growing oak tree seedlings from acorns this year. I also grow a fairly large selection of perennial flowers and herbs.” 

Father Schulte says he doesn’t have a favorite part of gardening. “It’s all part of a whole. One thing is connected and dependent upon another,” he said. “It is organic just like our Catholic faith (CCC 18). But it is very gratifying watching God’s handiwork in the various plants. There really isn’t anything I don’t like about gardening, even the sweat and toil. I understand how it all goes together, like a piece of art or a fine piece of furniture. The work is simply part of the finished product.” 

Father Schulte says he is a big fan of “abundance.” “I can’t eat everything I grow,” he said. “Most of the produce goes to the Knights of Columbus vegetable stand where the proceeds go to charitable causes. The vegetable stand is on the parish parking lot and people come from all over town and even from some distance to support it.” 

At Holy Family Parish in Granite City, parishioners began a community garden this year. “Through our community outreach program, we felt this would be a good way we could offer assistance to both our community and our parish family,” said Mary Wilkinson, who spearheaded the program. “We offer it as an extension of our food pantry.” 

The Holy Family garden sits next to the parish. “We are lucky, our parish has a parcel of land next to our parish grounds that we are able to use,” Wilkinson said. “Since this is our first year, we started with about eight people working on the project. We had workers preparing the land and building wooden garden boxes. Then we had the expertise of gardeners and workers to help maintain the garden. 

“The garden is available to our neighborhood and parish community,” she said. She said a parishioner, Ricky Smith, built a veggie stand that holds the produce. “Our first goal is to benefit those in need. But we also encourage our parishioners to get veggies because we do not want to see any go to waste.” 

Father Schulte says so much good comes out of gardening. In fact, he believes gardening is form of prayer in itself, “because work is a form of prayer and a fulfillment of God’s will.” “After the fall of Adam and Eve work was no longer an optional thing, but an essential part of fulfilling God’s will.” 

Gardening, and agriculture in general can play an integral part of his homily preparation, he says. “The Gospels are full of agricultural metaphors. … A man will do well to have some familiarity with the soil. Like the plants he cultivates, he will become part of it someday. Even the cemetery is a garden that should be maintained well.” 

As far as priests and gardening, Father Schulte sees a connection. “Gardening can be good training for the priesthood,” he said. “If a man is not willing to sweat and get his hands dirty, he is not likely to be a good candidate for the priesthood.” 

I always heard about the “privilege of [the] faith.” What is it and can it affect a divorced non-Catholic if they join the Church?

                 — Anonymous in the diocese

We keep in mind that Church authority can declare marriages null if one party to the marriage petitions and facts are presented proving nullity. There also exist dissolutions of marriage (we cannot begin to examine any such marriage until there has been a divorce).

For centuries, popes have dissolved marriages which were celebrated but never consummated. In the 20th century, American canon lawyers began to present to popes cases in which at least one party was certainly unbaptized for the duration of common life. They argued that if the pope can dissolve a sacramental marriage (both parties baptized) which has not been consummated, all the more can he allow dissolution of the so-called “natural bond” marriage — one in which at least one party was certainly an unbaptized person throughout the course of common life, and which is therefore, non-sacramental.

So began the granting of dissolutions of marriage “in favor of the faith.” This may refer only to the faith of the prospective Catholic spouse; an unbaptized party is not required to receive baptism. Such a dissolution is looked upon as a “privilege,” in contrast with the vindication of a proposed “right” to have a marriage declared null.

It is understood that this favor is granted personally by the pope. When we are between popes, these cannot be granted. We have to wait for a new pope.

The diocesan tribunal aids the petitioner in preparing a petition and the proving of the facts which must necessarily exist. The key fact is to prove that at least one party was an unbaptized person throughout the time that the parties lived together. We rely on witnesses. Parents are preferred witnesses, but other close relatives and people who have known a party a long time can so act. If the presumably unbaptized party ever attended a church, the tribunal asks that church whether there is a record of baptism. When the tribunal has gathered the necessary proofs, the file is sent to the Matrimonial Section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.

A panel of three judges at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) reviews the file and, if they find that the necessary facts have been proved, the petition goes directly to the pope. I have been told that CDF officials have a weekly audience with the pope for this purpose. When the pope approves, the tribunal receives a document reporting that the marriage can be dissolved. The pope does not himself dissolve the marriage; it is understood that the new marriage dissolves the previous one.

So, yes, this sort of case is one way for a divorced non-Catholic to enter a new marriage according to the law of the Catholic Church. 

Father Kevin Laughery, pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Troy and St. James Parish in St. Jacob, has been a judge of our diocesan tribunal since his priesthood ordination in 1983.

If you have a question for the Hey, Father! column, please send it to: . Subject: Hey Father! Please include your first name and city.

Dozens of Father McGivney Catholic High School (Glen Carbon) students traveled to Grand Rapids, Mich., last month with Group Mission Trips to exercise authentic discipleship. Thirty-nine students and eight chaperones were sent in crews to different locations throughout the Grand Rapids area for one week and were assigned tasks such as painting, cleaning, building porches, and making repairs to help families in need.Dozens of Father McGivney Catholic High School (Glen Carbon) students traveled to Grand Rapids, Mich., last month with Group Mission Trips to exercise authentic discipleship. Thirty-nine students and eight chaperones were sent in crews to different locations throughout the Grand Rapids area for one week and were assigned tasks such as painting, cleaning, building porches, and making repairs to help families in need.

“The mission camp provides our students with the opportunity to mix hard work, fun, and working with a diverse team with McGivney’s focus on service to others,” said Joseph Lombardi, principal at Father McGivney. “This is one of the many ways we integrate faith into the McGivney experience, with the ultimate goal of fully developing our students — mind, body and spirit. Our students will be leaders. It’s important they see how compassion and humble service to those in need are necessary when taking on a leadership role.”McGivney experience, with the ultimate goal of fully developing our students — mind, body and spirit. Our students will be leaders. It’s important they see how compassion and humble service to those in need are necessary when taking on a leadership role."

Some crews focused on building porches while other crews painted sheds or sides of homes.

“Every year, the group on the mission camp comes back exhausted, covered in paint, and in need of rest,” said Craig Brummer, Father McGivney High School faith formation director. “Yet, at the same time, they come back having grown in their ability to know and love their neighbors and the Lord. This summer’s mission was no different. Tripling in size since the last mission in 2019, this team was led by fearless adult chaperones who handled this week with grace, humility, and generosity. The kids had fun demoing, building, and painting. The adults of the group saw just how satisfying it is to give of oneself, in order to find oneself. In the hardships of what has been a year for the history books, our kids were troopers.

“When we return from an experience like this, we must remember in humility that we are doing what we were created to do, discovering who we are in the process. No one should be ‘impressed’ by this group for what they did, as though it was something extreme, beyond imagination, impossible for the rest of us. Instead, they should be edified, encouraged, and motivated to do the same. Yes, these kids learned how to build porches and paint siding, but that wasn’t the end goal. The work is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end in virtue, humility, charity that we are all meant to strive for. We are called to holiness, to love, to serve, and to give. We must learn how to do this. This mission camp is a week of the year where that lesson is very much at the forefront.”

DECATUR — For two weeks, Eric Weatherford worked to turn a forgettable exterior brick wall of Shamrock Hall at St. Patrick School in Decatur into something much more than a beautiful work of art. His richly colorful and detailed exterior mural of St. Patrick, the AMDG shield (Latin for “for the greater glory of God”), the school’s cornerstone, the words “Pray, Serve, Give,” and the background painted to look like stained glass is a message that we are called to live a life of authentic discipleship, go to Mass, and strive for sainthood.

As a 2005 graduate of St. Patrick School, Weatherford credits finding his creative side while he attended school there. “It’s kind of where it all started for me,” Weatherford said. “I remember falling in love with anything that we did creatively in school and realized it wouldn’t be a phase for me — yet something I wanted to take more seriously.”

The mural is about 20 feet tall and 40 feet long. Once Weatherford was chosen for the project, he spoke to the school about ideas he had for the wall. After the design was chosen, he went to work cleaning the wall, priming the wall, tracing out the design by either projecting or using a grid structure, painting the mural, and then applying a clear coat over the finished product.

“I haven’t been to this school since I graduated from eighth grade, so it was definitely humbling to go back and recall all the great memories I made while attending St. Patrick’s,” Weatherford said.

You may have seen other works of art Weatherford has created around Central Illinois. For example, he is the creator behind the Abe Lincoln portrait in downtown Decatur, the abstract/colorful mural on the corner of Eldorado and Water in Decatur, the large wall behind Macon Resources Inc. in Decatur, and the farming related mural in downtown Assumption.

Weatherford started his own company, Oddwall Painting, in 2018 after winning the Decatur Mural Project and realized it could be a viable business venture. Fast forward to today, and he never thought he would one day paint a mural at St. Patrick School.

“Every child is an artist,” Weatherford said. “I just remained an artist as I grew older.”

On July 16, 2021, the Holy Father Pope Francis, exercising his authority as Supreme Pastor of the Church, issued a motu proprio — a document of his own initiative — titled Traditionis custodes concerning what had been called the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite and what others call the Traditional Latin Mass.

This motu proprio has caused some confusion and concern as it removes the wide permissions given to all priests by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. With his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI allowed any priest to offer the Holy Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962, the so-called Tridentine Mass (Latin Mass) without the permission of his bishop.

Pope Benedict’s grant followed on the request of Pope St. John Paul II who asked bishops to be generous in allowing the celebration of the form of the Holy Mass celebrated prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Because many bishops were not willing to allow this form of the Mass, Pope Benedict took the matter out of the hands of the bishops and entrusted it instead to the priests. With Traditionis custodes, Pope Francis has returned the matter to the judgment of the bishops in their own dioceses.

After studying Pope Francis’ motu proprio, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki issued a decree implementing Traditionis custodes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois on July 19, 2021.

In his decree, Bishop Paprocki granted a dispensation, “to the extent it may be needed,” from a provision in the motu proprio forbidding the celebration of the 1962 Roman Missal in parochial churches (art. 3). Bishop Paprocki granted this dispensation for St. Rose of Lima in Quincy and for St. Katharine Drexel in Springfield, two parishes that have been celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass for years in our diocese. In essence, Bishop Paprocki’s decree allows for the continuation of the Traditional Latin Mass in these parishes.

Bishop Paprocki also decreed that “priests who already celebrate Mass according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are authorized to continue to enjoy this faculty upon request,” although priests will need to request a dispensation for the Mass to be celebrated in other parish churches according to the Roman Missal of 1962 (art. 5).

The full text of Bishop Paprocki’s decree is available on the web site of the Office for Divine Worship and the Catechumenate, dio.org/worship. 

ALTON — The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George celebrated the first profession of one novice and the reception into the novitiate of four postulants during Mass on Aug. 2.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki was the main celebrant of the Mass, held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Alton.

The novice who made first profession is Sister M. Elizabeth Grace Donahue, daughter of Neil Donahue of Lenoir City, Tenn., and Lydia Donahue of Knoxville, Tenn.

Receiving the habit, veil and new religious names were Stacy Butler, daughter of Michael and Cristina Butler of Seabrook, Texas (Sister M. Giorgiana, after Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati); Claire Callahan, daughter of John Callahan of Dugger, Ind., and Toni Taylor of Farmersburg, Ind. (Sister Mary Paul, after St. Paul the Apostle); JinYu Burnham, daughter of Gene and Margene Burnham of Pond Creek, Okla. (Sister Stana Maria, after Blessed Stanley Rother); and Amber Robinson, daughter of Nick and Becky Robinson, of Glen Carbon (Sister M. Magdalena, after St. Mary Magdalene).

The Key Club at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Springfield, has installed its new student officers for the 2021-22 school year. Joey Brown was installed as club president. Additional officers include Vice- President Joe Humphrey, Secretary Ryan Shea, Statistical Secretary Emma Markwell, Treasurer Carter Etheridge and Marketing Chair Ethan Short. Board members are Vivian Zheng, Sylvia Peck and Caroline Lambert. The advisor from the SHG faculty is Caitlin Davis and the advisor from the Kiwanis Club of Springfield is Paul Palazzolo.

Key Club International is the world’s largest student-led organization which provides its members with opportunities to perform service, build character and develop leadership. All Key Clubs around the world are sponsored by local Kiwanis Clubs. The Sacred Heart-Griffin club was chartered by Key Club International and the Kiwanis Club of Springfield in 1958.

On June 15, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated a Mass for parents of priests at Christ the King Parish in Springfield. Approximately 20 priests were at the church to concelebrate with Bishop Paprocki, while their parents were in the pews. Parents drove to Springfield from all parts of the diocese — and some came even more of a distance. Paul and Jan Zawadzki, parents of Father Adam Zawadzki, parochial vicar at Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, came from Westfield, Ind.

Bishop Paprocki said he hopes the Mass, which last happened before COVID, will be celebrated annually. He said the Mass was a celebration thanking God for the gift of love in our families. God’s love is passed on to us through our parents, he said in his homily. “We first know God’s love through our parents.” He also mentioned the significance of this Year of St. Joseph, because of course it was St. Joseph who lovingly cared for Mary and for Jesus as he grew up.

The Mass gives parents the opportunity to celebrate with their sons. It also gives parents — many who came to know one another when their sons were in the seminary — the ability to worship together and visit, he said. His sentiments were evident as parents of priests who had not seen one another in a while embraced and laughed together.

The program provided at the Mass said it celebrated and gave thanks to all parents of our priests and in a special way those who have gone before us into Eternity. Listed were parents who have passed away over the past few years, including Veronica Paprocki, Edward Bonk, Donna Bergbower, Evelyn Ring, Duane Haag, Pius Onyejiaju Chineke, Raymond “Bud” Probst, and Jerry Smith.

Tom and Elaine Arisman, members of St. Agnes Parish in Springfield, were at the Mass for their son Steve Arisman, who is pastor of St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy. They said they are blessed to have their youngest son enjoying his life as a priest.

“He has an outgoing personality,” Tom Arisman said. “He likes people, and they like him.” Elaine Arisman said her son is “extremely happy” as a priest and is “so happy” in his Quincy parish.

Mark and Stephanie Rankin from St. Rose of Lima Parish in Quincy took part in the Mass, where their son Father Dominic Rankin was Master of Ceremonies. They are parents of two children who entered religious life: Father Dominic and his twin sister, Sister Mary Thomas of the Holy Name of Jesus, OP. Mark Rankin said they were born prematurely (28 ½ weeks) and many, many people prayed for them to be healthy and live a good life. He credits his wife’s prayers, in particular, for his children’s religious vocations.

“It was the Lord’s work,” Stephanie Rankin said. “He had a plan for them from the very beginning.”

Elaine Arisman said she is especially uplifted by the number of new priests who are bringing their enthusiastic faith and leadership to the Springfield diocese. “I am so proud of this younger group of guys,” she said. “They really are a dynamic group. They are wonderful and supportive friends to one another. It’s a wonderful thing to witness!”

Men: Gather with guys, grab a beer, and gain some new perspectives on work and its meaning this August in Springfield

Are you a man facing a heavy workload? Perhaps feeling the pressures of your job? Maybe you are just getting worn down by the daily grind? Stout Heart, a new series offered by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois about work, may be exactly what you need to refresh you mind, body, and soul.

Stout Heart will take place at Anvil & Forge Brewing and Distilling Company in Springfield throughout August and will focus on different perspectives about work and its meaning, offering men a relaxed environment, videos that will feed edifying and stimulating conversation on the theme of work/labor, catching up with friends and meeting new ones, and enjoying some free snacks and drinks (for purchase).

“It’s pretty common for men in America today to be far too removed from challenging intellectual conversation in person, not on a screen, and authentic friendship,” said Carlos Tejada, the director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. “Stout Heart is about engaging our intellect on topics that have direct bearing on our lives as younger men (25-45 years old) becoming established in our marriage, family, faith, community, and work. It will also provide a venue for trustworthy friendships to be established and deepened, something no one can flourish without in life.”

Stout Heart takes place for four straight Tuesdays: Aug. 10, 17, 24, and 31, from 7-9 p.m. at Anvil & Forge Brewing and Distilling Company in Springfield (619 E. Washington St.). One does not need to attend every Tuesday as each night has different content on the theme of labor/work.

Pilgrimage procession to Father Tolton gravesite

About 135 Catholics and others devoted to the Venerable Servant of God Father Augustine Tolton, a Quincy native, commemorated the 124th anniversary of his death with a pilgrimage procession in Quincy on July 9. Father Tolton is recognized as the first black priest in the United States and his Cause for the beatification and canonization of sainthood is ongoing in Rome.

Bless me Father, for I have sinned, it has been … . How long has it been since your last confession? For most Catholics, their frequency to this sacrament is anything but frequent. Some go often, some go every year, while some have not been in decades. Are you one of them? Do you think, “What is the point? Why can’t I just confess my sins directly to God?” Are you fearful of going? Are you afraid you do not know what to do? Do you just need some inspiration?

Catholic Times received a third-place award and honorable mention from the 2021 Catholic Press Association Awards for two stories featured in Catholic Times in 2020.

Women living in the Springfield Deanery, which now consists of Macon, Sangamon, Cass, Morgan, Menard, and Christian counties, are invited to a brunch on Aug. 4. from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield to learn about the mission of the Springfield Diocesan Counsel of Catholic Women, how to get involved, and the group’s participation in the Water for Life Catholic Relief Services project. Father Peter Chineke, parochial vicar at the Cathedral and the spiritual advisor of the Springfield Deanery, will share his vocation story. Please R.S.V.P. to Janet Zimmerman, Springfield Deanery president, by July 27: or (217) 494-4743.

Weeklong youth mission program coming to more parishes in July

Children attending Totus Tuus at St. Mary Parish in Paris last month had fun reviewing the Ten Commandments from their teachers Claire McKee and Caitlyn Pendall. Students at St. Boniface in Edwardsville also had fun learning more about Jesus, the sacraments, and the Catholic faith earlier this month. For example, teacher Joe Niemerg showed fifth and sixth grade students that they “have to keep their focus on Jesus” as they looked at a crucifix on the wall.

HIGHLAND — Work on a new gathering space, “Trinity Hall,” has officially begun at St. Paul Parish in Highland, which is the last and largest phase of its campus-wide construction and renovation project.

JERSEYVILLE — When you are a few miles outside of Jerseyville, you can see the spire of St. Francis Xavier Church. In what has been described as standing “majestically as the focal point for the people entering Jerseyville,” this 140-foot spire, has been a reminder for everyone entering the city that the people in this community are deeply Catholic, something that dates back several generations. On July 4, the parish celebrated 150 years, their sesquicentennial jubilee.

For Nathalie Corbett of Springfield, her connection to the pro-life movement is deep and personal. When she was 18 years old, she was told the story behind her biological mother’s pregnancy for the first time. She learned that her mother fell into all of the stereotypes that encourage women to get an abortion. Her mother was young, beginning her career, and it was a one-night stand that resulted in an unplanned pregnancy with twins. To add to the list, while she was pregnant, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The doctors encouraged her to abort the twins. Instead, she chose life.