By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

The Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) is sponsoring a Lenten retreat Tuesday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 29 at the Villa Maria Catholic Life Center in Springfield. The subject of the retreat is “Our Journey of Faith.” 

The SDCCW retreat is a tradition and features spiritual presentations, prayer, Mass, rosary, the sacrament of confession, and fellowship. The retreat begins with registration and a light breakfast at 9 a.m. on March 28 and concludes after lunch on March 29. 

This year’s retreat speaker is Kim Padan. After the birth of a stillborn son, Padan and her husband Bruce were foster parents to 41 foster children over an eight-year period. She was the executive director of the local prolife group for 11 years. She joined and served two years as president of the Peoria DCCW. She joined the national Spirituality Commission in 2018, and is currently the chair of that commission. She  periodically writes articles for The Catholic Post, the newspaper for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, and is also a lay Dominican. 

Retreat costs include meals, refreshments, retreat materials, and the use of the Villa Maria facility, which is located on the shores of Lake Springfield.  The cost for an overnight stay, double occupancy is $100. An overnight stay, single occupancy (if available) is $120. Commuters pay $70.  For those who want to stay overnight on March 27, the fee is $70 double/$50 single, with no  meals.

Registration fees payable to SDCCW are due by March 21. Contact your parish office, your women’s group, or your deanery president for additional information and registration form, or contact Alice Massey at or (217) 371-1108. 

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

Thanks to her strong faith, as well as the encouragement of her spiritual director, her parents, and her friends, Maggie Deckard had a book of poetry published when she was just 22 years old.

Deckard’s book, Becoming, contains a collection of 31 poems that are close to her heart and bare her soul. They include words that she hopes will “serve as a safe place for women to go to, a place of consolation.” “If my book can do that in some way — then it is a privilege,” she says.

Deckard first starting writing poetry in high school (at Sacred Heart-Griffin in Springfield), but says it was in college (at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) that writing poems became very therapeutic and drew her closer to Jesus. “Whenever I did not know how to process what was going on in the ups and downs of college, I turned to writing as an outlet,” she says.

Each poem in her book is a part of her “heart and story,” she says. “The topics I chose to put in the book were all real things that I went through and processed during college, some of them very tough and vulnerable, so if my book helps anyone else feel less alone, then to me it is worth it.”

Deckard’s book is obviously faith-driven. “The whole process of creating this book felt very guided by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, so that helped overcome some of the fear around sharing hard things,” she says. Some titles included in the book are Misplaced, Secret Tears, I’d Never Tell You, and One Hail Mary.

Each poem title is accompanied by a reference to a Scripture quote.  “The poems came before the Scripture quotes,” Deckard says. “I actually didn’t have the idea until over halfway through the editing process of the book. I knew I wanted Him (Jesus) to have the final word of the book, so Scripture felt like the best way to do that.”

Before her book was published, Deckard said sometimes it was easy to share poems with friends, yet sometimes it was difficult. “Many of the poems in my book, I shared with a few friends here and there, especially if I thought they could relate,” she says. “Every time I shared a poem, my friends’ responses were always so positive, and they always encouraged me to write more. I eventually just had this strong desire and conviction that my poems needed to go beyond my computer screen. There were definitely times when I would get nervous if I thought too much about what other people would think of certain  poems, especially the deeper ones, but the desire to share them always outweighed the fear.”

It was in her freshman year at SIUE that Deckard began taking part in Newman Center activities and began growing in her Catholic faith. She says it was there she came across Father Rob Johnson (pastor of Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville), who eventually helped to get her book published. “I first met Father Rob my first week of college at SIUE. I met him at the Newman Center during a community night,” she says. “I got to know him my first semester of college through different Newman events and then later that year he became my spiritual director. He helped me grow in my faith immensely, and he helped me to actually know Jesus as a person, as a friend.

“After he became my spiritual director, I began sharing different poems with him over my time in college, because writing poetry was a form of prayer for me,” she says. “And then during my senior year, he told me if I wrote a poetry book geared toward college students, that he would help me get it published. And here we are. His support helped give me the courage to share my writing with the world.” Today, Father Johnson, who wrote the forward to her book, is her pastor, too.

Deckard’s friend, Kayla Bridick, was the illustrator for Becoming. “We met at college through the Newman Center,” she says. “The illustrations were really fun to brainstorm and see come to life. Kayla really wanted to make the illustrations, images that were not specifically described in the book, yet had significance to the story. The illustrations were actually all based on actual items or objects in my house, or from Mother of Perpetual Help Church.”

Another person who assisted Deckard was her friend and editor, Megan Ulrich. “She has written and self-published two of her own poetry books, Hell, Bring the Kids Too, and Return Unto Me,” she says. “She helped guide me through the self-publishing process which I have come to learn is very tedious. It was a labor of love to say the least.”

Originally from Springfield, after her graduation from SIUE, where Deckard earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, she accepted a dual teaching position at St. John Neumann Catholic School in Maryville. “I am a PreK teacher for 4-year-olds on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and then I am the art teacher for kindergarten through fourth grade on Tuesday and Thursday,” she says. “I never thought I’d be an art teacher, but they had a need for an art teacher and I needed a full-time job when I took the part-time PreK job, so I took it. It has actually been so fun to get to be creative with the kids. What can I say, Jesus always knows better than me!”

In addition to teaching, Deckard says now that she has published one book, she is working on a new collection of poetry. She hopes to publish that book and since children are so important to her, “Eventually, I think it would be cool to write a children’s book.”

As far as her faith goes, Deckard has an important message for young people. “I want to tell people to simply show up. There have been times when I did not want to go to Mass at all, but I showed up anyway and that made all the difference,” she says. “Even though I did not realize it in the moment, Jesus used those times for good. He grew my heart in those times. Show up, that’s all.  Jesus will do the rest.”

Note: Becoming, by Maggie Deckard is available on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. There is a hardcover or an eBook option.

I see that St Patrick's Day falls on a Friday during Lent again this year. So, I assume Bishop Thomas John  Paprocki will not give us permission to enjoy corned beef in our Irish celebrations. Would it be a mortal sin to travel to a nearby diocese where their bishop grants a dispensation, allowing Catholics to enjoy their corned beef that day?
- Nancy in Springfield

Dear Nancy,

You must be quite the devotee of American custom that you would be willing to drive outside of our diocese to enjoy corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day. Would it be a mortal sin to do so? I would argue no, but one could make an argument that it is still sinful, though less sinful, to attempt to circumvent the Church’s Lenten disciplinary laws in such a manner. That being said, you may not need to go to such lengths to licitly get your corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day.

No, Bishop Paprocki is not granting a diocesan-wide dispensation for St. Patrick’s Day. Granting a dispensation from an ecclesiastical law is seen as a “wounding” of the law so there needs to be a proportional reason for doing so, especially such a broad action as dispensing an entire diocese. If we were the Archdiocese of Boston, filled with Irish Catholics, there would be greater reason to justify the dispensation, but that is not so much the case here. However, you may approach your own pastor who has authority to dispense his own parishioners in such matters on a case-by-case basis. He may grant you the desired dispensation or he may commute your observance of abstinence from meat to another day such as the day before or the day after St. Patrick’s Day. Pastors can find this in canon 1245 in the Code of Canon Law.

Earlier I referred to the custom of eating corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day as being American. I remember a conversation with a buddy of mine in college about the Irish and corned beef and St. Patrick’s Day. Mark, whose parents came over from Ireland to the United States before he was born, told me that in Ireland the Irish would never dream of eating corned beef in honor of St. Patrick. Beef was never a staple of food in Ireland, like pork or lamb, and beef was completely unaffordable for most of the Irish population after the nation was subjugated by England. The custom of eating corned beef comes from the arrival of the Irish in America in 19^th and early 20^th centuries and the fact that they could afford some beef when they came to the United States, but mostly only corned beef.

Whatever we choose to do or not do in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I would encourage all of us to remember the man himself. History tells us that Patrick was devout, very determined, and rather austere. Let us ask the great Apostle of Ireland to pray for us that, like him, we might seek to bind ourselves to the Blessed Trinity in all that we do.

- Father Christopher House is pastor of Christ the King Parish in Springfield and is vicar judicial and director of the Department for Canonical and Pastoral Services.

House opened in November 2022 and welcomes women/children in need

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

MATTOON — It was a dark, cold night in Mattoon last December. For a mother of four girls living in the city, the night represented her year.

“I’ve had an extremely difficult year,” the mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “I’ve lost everything. I need help getting into my own place.”

Another young woman, also living in Mattoon, who also wished to remain anonymous, felt empty.

“I moved to Illinois in 2022,” she said. “I didn’t have much and was struggling to find a secure, safe, and stable place. I was staying with a friend for a couple of months and then was asked to leave due to ‘life happening.’”

All hope seemed lost for these women until the Catholic and pro-life community in Mattoon stepped in and offered these women things they desperately needed: love, support, resources, and a warm, comfortable place to live. That place, the St. Mary House, which opened in November of 2022, has become the symbol of hope for these women and future women who will live there.

“Having been a part of the community effort in Charleston that brought together St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the Newman Center at Eastern Illinois University, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society that walked with people in need, we saw an opportunity to provide a transitional home environment in Mattoon for women and children on the Catholic worker model,” said Father John Titus, pastor of Immaculate Conception in Mattoon and St. Columcille in Sullivan.

When a home across the street from the Immaculate Conception Church parking lot opened, the Catholic and pro-life community acted. Money was raised, the home was demolished, and the new, three-bedroom St. Mary House was built in one year.

“As Catholics, we embrace the spiritual and corporal works of mercy,” Father Titus said. “The St. Mary House is a manifestation of both, caring for body and soul and helping make it possible for women to regroup. We affirm that every life has value — born and unborn. We want to help mothers make good choices for themselves and their children at the dawn of life and in the shadows of life. When a cynical world scoffs and says as Catholics we do not care about what happens to moms and their children after birth, we can invite them to join our efforts to serve even more women and children in our community.”

For these two women, the St. Mary House has become a beacon of light in their lives.

“The home is beautiful,” the young woman said. “It’s homey and safe, and you feel nothing but love when you walk in. Physically and emotionally, this home has helped me become more OK with spending time with myself, and it has helped me create a healthy routine. I was able to find a job within walking distance so maintaining that means saving money will be a lot easier.”

For the mother of four, the St. Mary House is also giving her a new, refreshing outlook.

“You have your own private bathroom which is a plus for me,” she said. “My youngest and I love that it’s safe. There’s also a code for entry into the home. The home has given me hope that there are people out there that still care.”

Those caring people include the Springfield Dominican Sisters who offered a grant, generous individual donations, including from area businesses, and one family that gave $25,000, all which contributed to the construction of the home. The Springfield Dominicans also donated furniture. Proceeds from fundraisers in the area and more donations keep the home in operation for women and their children. 

Guests of the home sign off on the “Expectations of Guests” policies and agree to a background check.   The home is communal living with shared house responsibilities. The food is shared and the home offers commonly used items. The home has a washer and dryer, and volunteers are “on the house” throughout the week, which means while they are not babysitters, Uber drivers, cooks, or housekeepers, they may voluntarily come to assist in any of those capacities, and they are a caring presence who visit and help the guests to become acquainted with the larger community and often help guests plug into community resources. Each guest has a volunteer contact person who meets regularly with them to discuss personal and financial goals. There is no charge for rent or utilities, and there is no expiration date for a guest’s stay, but they need to develop an exit strategy. This is part of their regular discussion with their contact person. The St. Mary House is run by an independent board and is registered as a not-for-profit. While there is no formal or financial relationship with Immaculate Conception Parish, the faithful play an active role. 

“When you give people the opportunity to be generous and do good things according to the Catholic principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, then you will change hearts and lives in time and for eternity,” Father Titus said. 

“I am extremely thankful to the Catholic community,” the mother of four said. “It has put my faith back that people still help and that there are angels among us still.”

“This is the first time in my life that I’ve been able to care for myself solely and learn that it is OK to be alone,” the young woman said. “Staying at the St. Mary House has helped me in so many ways, and I am beyond thankful to everyone that was involved in the making of this beautiful home.”

Want to support the St. Mary House?

Mail checks made out to “St. Mary House” to: St. Mary House, 320 N. 21^st St., Mattoon, IL 61938.

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

As a child, Allison Jayne Meinhart of Dieterich remembers attending Baptist and Methodist churches. Despite that non-Catholic background, Meinhart says that she had always been intrigued by the Catholic faith especially the structure and prayers. Little did she know that her marriage to her husband, Anthony, and two children would be a catalyst for her joining the Catholic faith.

“I watched my son (Gavin) be baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church,” Meinhart said. “We then had our daughter (Mabri) and again baptized her in the Catholic Church. I went to sign my daughter, Mabri, up for religion classes at St. Rose of Lima Parish (Montrose) and talked with Lisa Probst, who was very helpful I might add about joining the Church. At this point, I knew we were going to be raising our children in the Catholic Church and wanted to be able to understand everything they were doing and be able to take them to church and participate with them.”

Going through the process of learning and accepting all the Church teachings can sometimes be a daunting experience for people going through a conversion, but for Meinhart, it was anything but.

“I didn’t struggle with anything that I can recall,” she said. “Matter of fact, I felt like things became much clearer for me once joining the Catholic Church, and I feel so much closer to God.”

In 2022, Meinhart was baptized, confirmed, and received first holy Communion at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Montrose. It’s a day she’ll remember forever, especially receiving the Eucharist for the first time.

“It was so different from what I was used to growing up,” Meinhart said. “Growing up when we would do communion, we would get a broken-up cracker and grape juice and just pass it down the pew on the first Sunday of every month. I love that you receive the Body of Christ at every Mass.”

As a 34-year-old wife and mother who works in the medical field as a respiratory therapist, Meinhart says she chose St. Gianna Baretta Molla as her confirmation saint for several reasons.

“St. Gianna is known as the patron of mothers, physicians, and unborn children,” Meinhart said. “St. Gianna was a loving wife, a working mother, and worked in the medical field as I do. St. Gianna chose the gift of life for her daughter when she was told she had a tumor in her uterus. I could relate to this in a couple of different ways. When I was conceived, my mother was told that I would have Down Syndrome and the doctors recommended that she have an abortion. My mother also chose the gift of life and here I am today with no development delays. I also was told a few years after having my son that I had pre-cancerous cells, and it was strongly recommended that I have a hysterectomy. I knew that I wanted more children and refused to have the hysterectomy at that time and am glad I did because many years later I was blessed with my daughter.”

One year into her conversion to the Catholic faith and Meinhart says she loves every bit of it, most especially the Mass.

“I love being able to arrive at church early and get the Breaking Bread Missal out and being able to read to over the Scripture before church starts so that I can take it all in during Mass,” Meinhart said. “I mostly love being able to sit in church on the weekends with my whole family and having those bonding moments.”

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Lent, a holy time of preparation, begins Feb. 22
By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor 

Lent is the 40-day penitential season of preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter, which falls this year on April 9.  It begins on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday with the beginning of the paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday — April 6-8). 

Pope Francis has said, “Lent is a path: it leads us to the triumph of mercy over all that would crush us or reduce us to something unworthy of our dignity as God’s children.” 

Lent is a time to read Scripture, attend daily Mass, and practice self-control by giving alms, fasting, or doing an act of charity. Moreover, Lent is not totally about abstaining from certain foods and luxuries, but is about seeking a true inner conversion of heart. 

Here, therefore, are the Lenten regulations: 

All the Christian faithful are urged to develop and maintain a voluntary program of self-denial (in addition to the Lenten regulations that follow), serious prayer, and performing deeds of charity and mercy, including the giving of alms. 

Abstinence — Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) and all Fridays of Lent. 

Fasting — Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) and on Good Friday (April 7).  On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each person’s needs, but together these should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are allowed.

Remember, to disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.  

2023 Lenten calendar - Please support the Rice Bowl and Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

What does a priest feel during Mass?
Anonymous in Jerseyville

Humility is what priests surely feel most when presiding at Mass — their sense of unworthiness to fill this role in The Lamb’s Supper. We, who often preach about God’s unfathomable mercy, rely on this mercy ourselves as we stand at His holy altar. There, we echo His consecration words: “This is my Body … . This is my Blood … .” Nothing captures what a privilege this is — so yes, humility is key. 

Humility is also involved as a priest homiletically sheds light on Sacred Scripture and preaches on unspeakably beloved figures such as our Blessed Mother. The insights shared can lift hearts to Heaven and potentially carry eternal ramifications for some souls in the pews.  What a responsibility! What a gift!

“Say each Mass like it is your first Mass, and your last Mass.” This advice came from my first rector in seminary, Msgr. Ross Shecterle, who repeatedly emphasized focus, and not getting distracted.

Yet distractions happen. Babies move from sweet cooing and gentle laughter, to outright screaming. Cell phones go off. A pillar-light over the ambo flickers. An organist forgets a musical cue. A server rings the consecration bell too early, or too late. End-of-Mass announcements prematurely pop into the head.  In other words, among a presider-priest’s thoughts is the need to stay focused! This is often, also, where gratitude enters, for God’s patience, and for His guiding Spirit, and for the wealth of supportive prayer coming the priest’s way. 

Gratitude, then, like humility, is central to what a presider feels. We know Eucharist means “thanksgiving,” which carries a strong component of joy. A priest celebrating Mass should always convey gratitude and joy! Indeed, his bearing and manner contribute considerably to the celebration and are noticed by his flock. 

I know this in part after decades of Mass participation from the pews before entering seminary with a second-career vocation. I had witnessed hundreds of priests celebrate Mass and noticed how some conveyed joy and appreciated reverence more than others. These observations even now sometime enter my thoughts as I prepare for, and preside at, liturgy.

Finally, as goes what a priest feels during Mass, he stays aware of his in persona Christi role. Although a humble and distracted sinner, the priest is called to represent — or at least to strive to represent — Jesus.  The priest can succeed in the striving, but never adequately in the representation — hence, more humility. Always humility!

Father David Beagles is pastor of St. Elizabeth in Robinson and Our Lady of Lourdes in Oblong.

Does one complete the Sunday Mass and holy day obligation by attending by watching via TV or computer? I am handicapped. I walk with a cane and have partial use of my right leg and arm due to a stroke. There is always the fear of falling. I cannot drive. The Masses have a Spiritual Communion Prayer, and my wife brings holy Communion to me on occasion.
- Mike in Troy

The Code of Canon Law states, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass” (canon 1247). The faithful are those who “are incorporated into Christ through baptism” (canon 204 §1). Consequently, baptized Catholics are required to attend Mass on every Sunday and every holy day of obligation.

This obligation to attend Mass “is satisfied by one who assists at Mass” — that is, by one who attends Mass — “wherever it is celebrated in a Catholic rite, either on the holy day itself or on the evening of the previous day” (canon 1248 §1). This is a grave obligation and purposefully failing to honor it is mortally sinful (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2181).

Because humans are a union of body and soul, the Lord Jesus established the sacraments as composed of both words and material things. While watching the Mass on television or via the internet may bring some comfort, it does not technically fulfill the obligation to attend Mass, which must be fulfilled in person.  

While it is important to remember the gravity of this obligation, it is also important to keep in mind the fact that the Church does not oblige us to do what is physically or morally impossible, which is why the Catechism of the Catholic Church says the obligation binds “unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor” (no. 2181). 

Consequently, those who legitimately cannot attend the Holy Mass — whether because of a lack of transportation, a serious illness, immobility, etc. — are excused by the Church from the obligation to attend Mass. If there is a question about whether an individual member of the faithful is excused, he or she should speak with his or her pastor who can best judge the particular situation.

Those who cannot attend Mass for a serious reason should make a Spiritual Communion and even request the Blessed Sacrament be brought to them. Therefore, it is good, Mike, that you are still watching the Mass on television and still receiving the Eucharist, and when you are unable to receive the Eucharist, you are making an Act of Spiritual Communion. 

Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine in Ashland; parochial administrator of St. Alexius in Beardstown, St. Fidelis in Arenzville, and St. Luke in Virginia; and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

How do we navigate these tough topics as parents and grandparents? What should we be saying to our children?

Many young people are wanting straight answers to tough questions about love, dating, and relationships, but they struggle to find the answers. Parents and grandparents oftentimes don’t even know where to begin when it comes to talking to their children about dating and chastity. No matter the issue, living a life of virtue and holiness is challenging. It’s also becoming more difficult communicating a message of purity to young people with a culture that promotes promiscuity and living a life of “If it feels good, do it.”

Jason Evert, an international Catholic speaker and author, has a mission to tackle these subjects head-on, providing answers rooted in Catholic truth. Evert has a master’s degree in theology and degrees in counseling and theology. He and his wife run Chastity Project and its website, chastity.com, the podcast Lust is Boring, and lead an international alliance of young people who promote purity in more than 40 countries. Evert spoke at the SEEK23 Conference for college students in St. Louis in January and is giving two talks on Feb. 6 at St. Mary Parish in Alton starting at 6 p.m. (go to chastity.com/purified for tickets). Catholic Times Editor, Andrew Hansen, spoke with Evert last month. 

Let’s start with contraception and the Church’s position against it. This is one teaching that not only does the culture disagree with the Church’s position, but so many Catholics as well. Explain why the Church teaches what she does, and how do we convince young people to not use contraception? 

A lot of people want to know why the Church is against contraception. It’s not so much the Church is against something as the Church is for something, for God’s plan for human love. The Church’s teaching on sex is pretty simple: Love, marriage, sex, and babies go together and in that order, and when we start to flip those around and change them, civilization starts to crumble, and so God has joined together life and love, babies and bonding. 

The Church is not saying that parents shouldn’t plan their families. But sometimes responsible parenthood means being open to more children. So, what contraception does in a certain sense is saying, “I want bonding with you, but I don’t want babies with you.” But, what if we did the opposite? “I want babies with you, but I don’t want bonding with you.” We’d obviously see there is a distortion there like, “I would like to make love to you, but I don’t want to look at you because I want to avoid any emotional entanglement that might ensue from this because I want to use you as an incubator for my offspring”… (We’d say), “OK, that guy is weird.” What contraception is doing is saying that I want the bonding, but I don’t want the lifegiving potential. 

So, God has already created in a woman’s body seasons each month, the fertility and infertility. It’s not necessary to shut down the woman’s fertility with chemicals and barriers. What is needed is for us to understand the woman’s body. What Natural Family Planning taught me is that my wife’s body is perfect. She doesn’t need drugs, pills, or shots. She needs to be understood because if we can understand her fertility, then instead of suppressing it with chemicals to conform to our desires, we can conform our desires to the perfect way her body has already been created.   

Jason Evert appeared on Dive Deep, the official podcast of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Go to dio.org/podcast to listen or search Dive Deep on all the major podcast platforms.Society, especially young people, paint the Catholic Church as the church of “no” when it comes to sex, certain dating things, IVF, living together before marriage, and we just discussed contraception. How do we respond to that and teach young people that what the Church teaches is actually freeing?

God’s plan for human love is not a litany of prohibitions. How we can communicate this is to ask people, “What do you really want in a relationship? Do you want a love that is free or coerced?” “I want a love that is free.” “Do you want a love that is total or half-hearted?” “I want total love.” “Do you want a love that is faithful or one with hooking up and friends with benefits?” “I want a love that is faithful.” “Do you want a love that is life giving?”  “Yeah, yeah.” “OK, so you want a love that is free, total, faithful, fruitful — those are the wedding vows.” 

The total gift of the body should correspond to the total gift of the person. The total gift of the person is marriage, and your body should correspond with that. So, all the Church is trying to give you is what you want! So, what we are doing when we disagree with the Church is we’re disagreeing with the desires of our own heart. 

You have said, “I think for young people, they are being told everything they are not supposed to do when it comes to dating and relationships, but nobody is talking to them about what they are supposed to do when it comes to dating.” What are they supposed to do?

What we have to teach is dating etiquette. What is the purpose of dating? It’s to find a spouse. It’s like getting on a freeway with only two exits: breakup and marriage. If that is the reality, what is the point of committing to anybody unless you can see this relationship potentially going the distance? So, having more intentionality with dating. I  find that young people, they love to hear this stuff. What are the specifics? How do I ask her out? And all that stuff because it’s not enough to tell them what not to do. The reason they don’t know how to date is because when you look at the culture, we have this culture of single people who pretend like they’re dating, the dating people behave like they’re married, and the married people seem to think they are single. Everything is out of order, and it’s because the parents forgot how to date each other. So, they (children) never saw their own parents pursuing each other in love, going on weekly date nights.

This is why parents should put their marriage first, before their children?

Putting your marriage first is putting your kids first. As much as it gags them out to see Mom and Dad kiss, or hug, or be affectionate, they need to see it. It is so good for their mental health to see that, the safety and stability that creates in their hearts of knowing that Mom and Dad are a united front. They often say the best thing you can do for your kids is to love your spouse. 

Parents don’t even know where to begin when it comes to talking to their kids about dating and chastity. What should they be saying?

One, get over your insecurities about talking to your kids about sexuality because if you do not speak up, the world will fill the void of your silence with a very contrary message. Obviously, it needs to be age appropriate. But there is going to stuff the world throws at your kids and you got to see that this is a teachable moment. I took my kids to an NBA basketball game and one of the cheerleaders was male, dressed up as a female doing all the female dance moves and my boys are like, “What’s going on there?” I’m like, “Well, I didn’t expect to have to address gender dysphoria on the way home from the basketball game, but let’s go there,” — and pastorally and lovingly explaining that situation. 

So, see those teachable moments, dive into them, and give the kids formation even in subjects you didn’t want to cover yet. Be bold and age appropriate. 

What is a grace of the sacrament of marriage that you never expected, or one you discovered many years into marriage?

One of the functions of marriage is the sanctification of the spouses and one of the ways God does that is He brings your faults to the surface, like oil and water. Before you’re married, you’re thinking, “I’m a pretty good catch. I’m patient, I’m forgiving.” Then, you get married, and you realize, “I’m a jerk. I’m unforgiving, impatient.” So, one of the surprises is the sanctification that comes through the sacrament because the children and the spouse, they’re like a sandpaper of sanctity constantly rubbing off those rough edges.    

What’s one thing you want someone struggling with an addiction to pornography to hold onto in the midst of that struggle?

Whether it is male or female, because I am meeting more and more young women who are struggling with the same things too, realize this isn’t what you ultimately want. I heard of one guy who was addicted to all this stuff, and he finally confessed this to a Christian brother, and the Christian guy said to him, “Well, if what you want to do is look at pornography and all that stuff, then go ahead and do it.” And he said, “No, that’s not what I really want to do.” And his friend looked at him and said, “Exactly.” It was this watershed moment for him that maybe there is still something good in him that desires something noble, sacrificial, beautiful, and pure. 

So, pornography is this counterfeit to the desires that we really long for. So, get accountability. Get some software on your computer, be able to find a good spiritual director, talk to some brothers and sisters about this stuff. Don’t try to go lone ranger to win this thing. On our website, chastity.com, we’ve got books for the guys and girls, resources, apps, software, router recommendations — all kinds of stuff. This is a battle you cannot afford to lose. Your whole vocation is at stake here. I know it’s difficult, but it’s more difficult envisioning your life 10 years from now still stuck in the same stuff. Trying to beat this thing on your own and winning it isn’t working. It’s because you aren’t supposed to beat this on your own. Find some accountability, and you’ll have the victory.

When it comes to transgenderism, as people of Catholic faith, how do we communicate with people who do think they are the opposite sex?

A lot of times we think, “What do we need to say? What is the silver bullet that can explain to them why puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and top surgery is not the answer for them.” What we need to do is listen to these individuals, meaning enter into their lives, go to the movies, have a beer, have a coffee, get to know these people and know their story because what we need to do is enter this conversation with a posture of reverent curiosity about this dysphoria. When did you start feeling this? Thank you sharing that with me. I’m sure that must have been really hard. What has that been like? Where is this coming from? 

The reason I say we have to listen is because a boy came to me, and said he’s trans. We had a long conversation. It turns out he has two older sisters and two younger sisters who can do no wrong. They are loved, and everything he does for his mom and dad is not enough. He’s always the black sheep. I said to him, “Do you think if you were born a girl, you would be loved the way your sisters are loved?” He said, “I know I would have.” You can see that there is this unmet legitimate need that has found an outlet through this expression of gender dysphoria. Everyone has their own story. Our job is to make these individuals understand that the Church sees them, we realize they didn’t choose to feel this way, God loves them, He has a plan for them, and then we have to hold one hand to them, one holds onto reality, and not let go of either one. Walk with them. Accompany them. Not only with the love, but also with the truth.        

What about speaking with people who do support transgenderism? How do we talk to them that this isn’t God’s plan?

A lot of times they are given this idea of false compassion like, “If you don’t accept these people, you’re rejecting them, and they’re going to commit suicide.” Well, look at the suicide rates of people who go through puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries. About 10 years after the surgery, their suicide rate is 19 times higher than the general population. If you isolate out the female to male transitioners, the suicide rate is 40 times higher than the general population. It’s because surgery is not the answer to these deeper mental health issues. We need to be affirming the person, not the dysphoria.  

We just came out with a book called Male, Female, Other — A Catholic Guide to Understanding Gender. Whether they experience dysphoria, a kid who wants top surgery, or you’ve got a nephew with this, this book will help to explain where is this coming from. How do I give solid answers, but most importantly, how do I pastorally accompany these people with sensitivity giving them the truth that this is not the answer? This is not a left versus right issue. You look right now, there are 43,000 de-transitioners on the Reddit website screaming from the rooftops that “I did this, it was not the answer, hit the brakes.” Lawsuits are on the way, and I think things are going to change, but there is going to be a lot of damage done, unfortunately.       

Answers taken from Andrew Hansen’s interview with Jason Evert on Dive Deep, the official podcast of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. To hear more from their conversation, including what gives Evert hope and inspiration about the future, go to dio.org/podcast or search Dive Deep on all the major podcast platforms.

The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey based in Orange, Calif., have announced six of the seven priests who will open and run the new Evermode Institute in Springfield. The Evermode Institute will be a center for Catholic spiritual and intellectual formation and these Norbertine Fathers will form a new community there. 

Standing in front of the altar at St. Francis of Assisi Church are Father Godfrey Bushmaker, O. Praem.; Father Gregory Dick, O. Praem.; Father Stephen Boyle, O. Praem.; Father Augustine Puchner, O. Praem., Prior; Father Anselm Rodriguez, O. Praem.; and Father Ambrose Criste, O. Praem., Director of the Evermode Institute. A seventh priest is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Located on Springfield’s northeast side on the grounds adjacent to the convent of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, the Evermode Institute includes St. Francis of Assisi Church, a large conference room, other large meeting rooms, and beautiful outdoor prayer trails, Stations of the Cross, and grottos.

“The Evermode Institute will be a place where we form and instruct in the faith all those good people in the Church whose responsibility it is to teach the faith,” Father Criste said. “So, Catholic school teachers, the catechists and religious education instructors in the parishes, eventually, hopefully, the permanent deacons, and trickling out to anybody like parents — people who are responsible to teach the faith. We want to help them to understand the faith better so they can impart the faith to those people in their sphere of influence. There will be some in-person teaching happening at the Evermode Institute, and then we’ll ramp up a robust online presence.”

When the Nobertine community opens the Evermode Institute this July, the public will be welcome to come to Mass at the stunning St. Francis of Assisi Church, go to confession, and participate in the prayer life of the Norbertines.

Can novenas be created by lay people or do they come from the magisterium?
Jake in Springfield

The word novena takes its origin from the Latin word novem, meaning “nine.” Consequently, a novena is a series of nine prayers prayed for a specific intention either individually or with a group of the faithful. While the origin of novenas is traditionally seen in the nine days between the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, a novena can be prayed over nine days, nine weeks, nine months, or presumably even over nine years (though such a novena might be hard to keep track of).

The Church does not have, so far as I am aware, any specific legislation governing novenas. Because a novena can be as simple as praying nine Our Fathers, it is possible for a layperson to create a novena for his or own purposes, provided, of course, that the prayers used or in the intention behind the novena are not contrary to the faith. Such a novena would be for private use. 

If a layperson creates a novena and intends it to be for public use, such a novena should be presented to the local bishop for his consideration and approval. He may grant permission for its private use or for its public use, as he judges fit.

 Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine in Ashland; parochial administrator of St. Alexius, Beardstown, St. Fidelis, Arenzville, and St. Luke, Virginia;  and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Holy Spirit moves through nearly 19,000 people at SEEK23 in St. Louis

By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor

ST. LOUIS — It was a week filled with grace, joy, spiritual enlightenment, new friendships, and memories for the dozens of high school students, college students, adults, religious, and clergy from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois who attended SEEK 23 in St. Louis Jan. 2-6. People from our diocese joined nearly 19,000 other Catholics from across the country for the conference, each of them encountering the Lord in deeper ways through daily Mass, confession, eucharistic adoration, hearing faith talks from Catholic leaders, and more.

“The seek conference was inconceivable at times to see so many different people come together to grow in their faith and to ultimately seek Him,” said Mak Keller, a student at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (SIU-E) who grew up going to Mass at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Maryville. “With so many resources in one place for myself and other friends I’ve talked to, we were all able to cultivate our knowledge to help bring us closer to the Lord.” 

Father Braden Maher (EIU Newman Center chaplain and pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Charleston), Father Michael Berndt (parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham), Catherine Porter (EIU Newman Center campus minister), Joe Gasseraro (alumnus of SIU-E), and Sean Barth (SIU-E Newman Catholic Community campus minister) pose for a photo at SEEK23. Porter’s daughter, Ann Marie, also joined in on the fun. “Being at SEEK was truly a gift from God that increased my faith and trust in His providence and the truth of the Catholic Church,” said Sam Lutastanski, a student at SIU-E who grew up going to Mass at St. Paul Parish in Highland. “Throughout the entire week, it was inspiring to experience such witness to God's love and devotion through the actions of so many college-aged men and women on fire with reverent love of the Lord.” 

FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students kicked) hosted SEEK23. FOCUS is a Catholic apostolate whose mission is to share the hope and joy of the Gospel. FOCUS missionaries encounter people in friendship, inviting them into a personal relationship with Christ and accompanying them as they pursue lives of virtue and excellence. Through Bible studies, outreach events, mission trips and discipleship, missionaries inspire and build up others in the faith, sending them out to live out a lifelong Catholic mission wherever they are. In our diocese, the Newman Catholic Community at SIU-E has a FOCUS team.  

“SEEK is something that I pray everyone gets the chance to attend one day,” said Sophia Clausius, a student at SIU-E, who grew going to Mass at St Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham. “Between Mass, all the talks, adoration, and concerts, it’s inevitable to feel God’s presence. My personal favorite part of SEEK is adoration simply because every doubt I’ve ever had about God vanished. His love, His mercy, His truth all became so true and so clear.” 

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki hosted a happy hour of food and fellowship at a restaurant in downtown St. Louis Jan. 5 for those attending SEEK23. Pictured here with him are college students from our diocese and Father Braden Maher, chaplain at the Newman Center at EIU (and pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Charleston). The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois had a large presence at the conference, most of it coming from college students at Newman Centers at SIU-E, Eastern Illinois University, and Millikin University. Several high schools and parishes also sent students. The diocesan curia hosted a booth, promoting the great things happening in our diocese while also engaging college students to consider becoming a teacher in a Catholic school in our diocese, a Totus Tuus teacher in the summer, or pursuing other career opportunities. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, several priests, seminarians, and religious such as the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton also attended. On Jan. 5, those from the diocese were invited to a happy hour at a restaurant in downtown St. Louis for food and fellowship.

“Seeing 17,000 young men and women fall on their knees before Jesus during adoration and Mass was so moving, and I loved seeing the long lines for confessions,” said Maria Fitzgerald, a student SIU-E who grew up attending Mass at St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville. “Seeing and participating in such intense fellowship encourages me to pursue a deeper holiness and increases my desire to share Jesus with others. The talks that I attended were challenging and engaging. I learned so much, and hearing speakers talk about topics that have been relevant in my life offered new perspectives that I'll continue to pray about for a long time!”

SEEK24 returns to St. Louis Jan. 1-5, 2024.

Having trouble hearing God’s voice?
St. Boniface Church in Edwardsville hosting a free workshop Jan. 28
By FATHER MICHAEL TRUMMER 
Special to Catholic Times 

We hear stories from the Bible and from other saint stories of God speaking. We also hear, “Prayer is a conversation, prayer is talking with God,” but how often is that your experience? Maybe you know how to tell God what is on your heart, but do you know how to hear what is on His heart, and what He says to you?

Jesus died on the cross not simply to get you into Heaven someday, but He came to draw you into communion and relationship with the Trinity, and such an important part of any relationship is communication, which involves talking and listening. You do not have to be a perfected saint or an extraordinary mystic to hear God’s voice. You can hear God’s voice because of what Jesus did, not because of what you do or have done. God has spoken to you your entire life. He still wants to speak to you. We just need to learn to recognize how He already speaks.

Come participate in a workshop on learning to hear God‘s voice. Come to access what Jesus has won for you and access to the voice and heart of God. You were made to hear His voice. 

I am hosting a workshop along with Michael Nolan, from Shadow on the Water, on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at St. Boniface Church in Edwardsville (110 N. Buchanan St.). The workshop is free and will begin in the basement of the church. You do not have to be a parishioner or even Catholic to attend. There will be a lunch break at noon. If possible, please bring a Bible and a journal.

If you have any questions, email me at . 

Father Michael Trummer is parochial vicar at St. Boniface Church in Edwardsville and chaplain at Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon.

Catholic Schools Week Flyer

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Benedict appointed Paprocki bishop of Springfield in 2010

NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/31/2022
Contact: Andrew Hansen ()

Springfield, IL – Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois issued the following statement in response to the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI:

“Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was an authentic example of faithfulness to God and Catholicism, living and preaching the Gospel message with truth and passion. Always writing and teaching, his warm smile, gentle demeanor, and pastoral approach to explaining and living out the Catholic faith inspired millions and brought people closer to Christ. His reverence toward the Eucharist, the Mass, and the sacraments are examples for us today on how we should all view and respect these treasures of the Catholic faith. His steadfast defense of our faith’s teachings and traditions and remaining faithful to them, despite the pressures of the secular world and from inside the Church, is the mark of a true leader.    

“To this day, I am humbled Pope Benedict appointed me as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. I had the honor of meeting with him several times. I will forever remember his friendliness and compassion. His theological genius and his ability to communicate our rich and oftentimes difficult theology to the people in a clear and understandable way was most impressive. The Catholic Church lost an incredible and humble man, but his legacy leaves a lasting impression on the faithful and our Church.”

###

On Monday, March 29, 2010, I was on my way to O’Hare International Airport when I received a message that Cardinal Francis George, then Archbishop of Chicago, had called me. He knew I was on my way to Rome and wanted to talk to me before I got on the plane. I was in the car with another priest, and I did not know if the cardinal wanted to talk to me privately, so I waited until I got to the airport to call him back. 

As soon as the priest dropped me off at the airport, I went inside and called the cardinal. He said, “Good, I’m glad I got hold of you before you took off. Can you talk?” 

I looked around and said, “Well, I’m in the terminal at O’Hare, but I can talk. What’s up?” 

Cardinal George, who was always right to the point without a lot of small talk, said, “The Holy Father is ap­pointing you to be Bishop of Springfield in Illinois.” 

I had heard some rumors to that effect, but rumors are just that: rumors, so when you hear something officially, it still takes you somewhat by surprise. 

After I told the cardinal that I was honored to accept the appointment, I said, “You know, I’m on my way to Rome, and I plan to attend the Pope’s General Audience on Wednesday. If I get the opportunity, should I say some­thing to the Holy Father about this?” 

Cardinal George replied, “Well, it’s still under pontifical secret, so you would want to make sure no one overhears you.” 

Sure enough, at the Pope’s General Audience that Wednesday morning, I was seated on the stage next to three other bishops near Pope Benedict XVI. There was only a small group of bishops present that day because all diocesan bishops were required to be in their own dio­ceses for Holy Week. As an auxiliary bishop at the time, I had the opportunity to go to Rome since Cardinal George would be taking all of the Holy Week and Easter liturgies at Holy Name Cathedral. Of the other three bishops at the General Audience, two worked in the Roman Curia and one was retired. Since I was youngest in seniority, I was last in line to greet Pope Benedict after he finished his talk.  

When I walked up to the Holy Father, there was no one else nearby, so I introduced myself and said that I had just received word that he had appointed me to be Bishop of Springfield in Illinois. I thanked him for the appointment and for his confidence in me, assuring him that I would do my best to try to be a good bishop. He just smiled and nodded. But I do have a great photo of that moment with Pope Benedict XVI! 

Parents, teenagers, and young adults — this event is for you
National speaker to talk purity, theology of the body, dating, and relationships in Alton Feb. 6
By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor  

With a culture that promotes promiscuity and living a life of “If it feels good, do it,” it’s getting harder to parent teenagers and young adults to live a life of purity and authentic respect. There are many questions parents and young people are facing each day that are confusing and go against our Catholic faith, but they are struggling with how to answer them or are feeling the pressure from culture to go with the culture’s side. Young people are wanting straight answers to tough questions about love, dating, and relationships. 

National Catholic speaker, Jason Evert, will give two talks in Alton Feb. 6 that parents, teenagers, and young adults are invited to that answer many of these tough questions and that will empower people to live a life of virtue.

“We live in a culture of single people who pretend like they are dating, we have a culture of dating people who pretend like they are married, and we’re stuck with a culture of married people who seem to think they are single,” Evert said. “Everything is out of order. We live in a culture where more people hookup than hold hands. I think for young people, they are being told everything they are not supposed to do when it comes to dating and relationships, but nobody is talking to them about what they are supposed to do when it comes to dating. I think they are tired of the fear tactics and the shame and the guilt trips. What they really want to know is how to find and build authentic love. I think for the parents, a lot of them don’t even know where to begin when it comes to talking to their kids about dating and chastity.”

Evert’s talks, “Purified” and “Gender and the Theology of your Body,” take place starting at 6 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Alton (519 East 4^th St.). The cost is $30 and tickets can be purchased in advance by going to chastity.com/purified. After Evert’s talks, the night will end with adoration and confession and all attendees will leave with resources that are geared toward the gender of the teen/young adult and one geared toward parents. For more information, call (618) 581-7055. The event is for teenagers and older.

Can novenas be created by lay people or do they come from the magisterium?
Jake in Springfield

The word novena takes its origin from the Latin word novem, meaning “nine.” Consequently, a novena is a series of nine prayers prayed for a specific intention either individually or with a group of the faithful. While the origin of novenas is traditionally seen in the nine days between the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, a novena can be prayed over nine days, nine weeks, nine months, or presumably even over nine years (though such a novena might be hard to keep track of).

The Church does not have, so far as I am aware, any specific legislation governing novenas. Because a novena can be as simple as praying nine Our Fathers, it is possible for a layperson to create a novena for his or own purposes, provided, of course, that the prayers used or in the intention behind the novena are not contrary to the faith. Such a novena would be for private use. 

If a layperson creates a novena and intends it to be for public use, such a novena should be presented to the local bishop for his consideration and approval. He may grant permission for its private use or for its public use, as he judges fit.

Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine in Ashland; parochial administrator of St. Alexius, Beardstown, St. Fidelis, Arenzville, and St. Luke, Virginia;  and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor 

A year dedicated to the holy Eucharist officially began with a special Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Alton Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, priests, and the lay faithful were present.

"During this Year of the Eucharist, let us take time to reflect on the mystery of the Eucharist," Bishop Paprocki said. “The reality that, in the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ without ceasing to appear as bread and wine to our five senses, is one of the central mysteries of the Catholic faith. This faith is a doorway through which we, like the saints and mystics before us, may enter into a deeper perception of the mercy 12 and love manifested in and through Christ’s sacramental presence in our midst. While one thing is seen with our bodily eyes, another reality is perceived through the eyes of faith. The real, true, and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the most profound reality of the sacrament.” (USCCB, The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, n. 21).

Ss. Peter and Paul Church was chosen for the opening Mass of the diocesan-wide Year of the Eucharist as it is known as the “Old Cathedral,” the cathedral of what was the Diocese of Alton. The diocesan see was transferred from Alton to Springfield in 1923. 

Activities at parishes in the diocese throughout the Year of the Eucharist will be encouraged such as Corpus Christi processions, hosting The Vatican Eucharistic Miracles of the World, establishing and promoting eucharistic adoration, among other events and activities. In Catholic Times over the next year, you will read about eucharistic miracles, saints who were devoted to the holy Eucharist, among other eucharistic content to enliven your devotion to the Eucharist. You can also visit the diocese’s website (dio.org) for further content about the Eucharist. 

The Year of the Eucharist will also include a eucharistic celebration in conjunction with the 100^th year celebration of the transfer of the see city of our diocese from Alton to Springfield. This major event will take place on Oct. 28, 2023, at the BOS Center in Springfield. It will include talks from nationally recognized Catholic speakers Bishop Robert Barron and Scott Hahn, and Mass where the arena will be filled with thousands of Catholics from across the diocese. You are invited! Stay tuned for how to get free tickets and mark your calendar! The Year of the Eucharist concludes on Dec. 8, 2023, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

Old Cathedral’s capital campaign 

Carved high above the pinnacle of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, above the rose window, is the date of 1855, indicating the year the church building was begun. The church is built of native limestone and the architecture is a beautiful specimen of Gothic. The interior of the church, with its graceful arches, clustered columns, and capitals and hood-molded windows and spacious choir loft attract many lovers of art. Below the main altar are the tombs of the first two bishops of the Diocese of Alton, Bishop Henry Damian Juncker and Bishop Peter Joseph Baltes. The third bishop of the Diocese of Alton, Bishop James Ryan, is buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

To make needed repairs and better preserve this treasure and history of our diocese, the parish’s capital campaign, Preserving the Past for the Future, is going to help restore the structure of the church at a cost of $800,000. If you are interested in helping the “Old Cathedral” by contributing to their campaign, you can visit ssppalton.com.

Hey, Father! Why do we bow at this part of the Nicene Creed: “By the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man”?

Among various groups of Christians, we Catholics are known for emphasizing the importance of symbolism, the body, and the material world. During our liturgies and sacramental rites in particular, we are known for changing postures and using various gestures. It is worth noting the underlying reason as to why our bodily actions are so important in the context of prayer and worship.

As human beings, we are not souls “trapped” or contained in bodies. We are body-soul composites, a union of both body and soul. Our bodies express or communicate our souls in the world of space and time. In his series of audiences now known collectively as the Theology of the Body, Pope St. John Paul II called the human body “a primordial sacrament,” because, “The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. It has been created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery hidden from eternity in God, and thus to be a sign of it.” 

Our bodies visibly express realities that otherwise remain invisible: our mind, soul, thoughts, beliefs, etc. We therefore express something in a more complete and human way when we engage our bodies as well. Just as we express kindness or affection through a smile, handshake, hug, or kiss, we also desire to express our relationship with God through our bodies, especially during times of prayer and worship.

Now, to your specific question about bowing during the Nicene Creed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Belief in the true Incarnation of the Son of God is the distinctive sign of Christian faith” (CCC 463). The Incarnation is the central mystery of our salvation, because without taking on our wounded human nature, Christ could not have redeemed it through his obedience to the Father and sacrificial act of love on the cross. He took on our nature in order to heal it from within. As a way of highlighting this awesome and distinctive mystery of our Faith, we bow during the phrase in the Creed that expresses it. 

Older Catholics might recall that, prior to the Second Vatican Council, everyone genuflected during this part of the Creed on all Sundays and solemnities. After the Council, the Church relaxed this practice, and now we genuflect during this part on just two solemnities of the year: the Annunciation on March 25 and the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) on Dec. 25 (see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 137). We use the more solemn gesture of genuflecting on these days because the Annunciation celebrates the moment of Christ’s Incarnation, while Christmas of course celebrates the birth of Jesus, God Incarnate.

Some people are unable to genuflect or even bow due to age or health, and that is completely understandable. These people can simply bow their heads instead. But for all who are able, the gesture of bowing deeply is a beautiful expression of our reverence and gratitude for Christ, who loved us so much that He assumed our humanity, to redeem us and to unite us to Himself in a new way forever. 

Father Christopher Trummer, S.T.L, is parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Springfield, associate delegate for Health Care Professionals, associate chaplain of the Springfield Chapter of the Catholic Physicians Guild/Catholic Medical Association and has a license in Sacred Theology in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. 

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

He is one of several heroes we read about in the Bible, yet he is never quoted, and this hero also suddenly vanishes, leaving the reader wondering what happened to him. 

St. Joseph is one of the most mysterious people we read about in the Bible. Despite being the foster father of Jesus — the Son of God — we know very little about him. We know he was a carpenter, he was a “righteous man” (Mt. 1:19), he was Mary’s husband, and his lineage can be traced back to King David. The last time we read about St. Joseph is in the Gospel of Luke when the Holy Family visited the temple for Passover and Jesus was 12 years old at the time. But how and when did St. Joseph die? Why is his death not even mentioned? Why is he never quoted in the Bible? What did St. Joseph think about raising the Son of God? 

“It’s such a good question: Why does it seem like St. Joseph — who raised Jesus! — appears like he’s almost an afterthought in the Bible?” said Father Mark Tracy, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Decatur. “I think it speaks to who St. Joseph is — his humbleness, his quiet obedience, and his selflessness — but most importantly, I think it comes down to the fact St. Joseph wants us to live our lives like he lived his life, pointing all our attention and giving all our energy solely to Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.” 

It is this reason why Father Tracy says St. Joseph is one of the best saints we can turn to for help, especially during the stresses that can come during the Christmas season. 

“First, St. Joseph was at the first Christmas, and I think we can imagine it was pretty stressful,” Father Tracy said. “I mean traveling with Mary, who is nine months pregnant, on a donkey, finding out there is no room in the inn, Mary giving birth next to animals — I think we could conclude St. Joseph’s blood pressure was pretty high. But beyond Christmas, St. Joseph also knows how stressful a job can be and the uncertainties of budgets and resources. He understands the anxieties of raising a child and all the difficulties that come with parenting. He understands the sacrificial nature of marriage and the burden’s that come with being the head of a family. His life, what he felt, and what he had to do to overcome all these stresses and fears are exactly what we are going through today. He is a wonderful saint to turn to for help and an example for all of us to follow.”

St. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church. March 19 is the feast day of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Confessor of the Faith, and May 1 is the feast day of St Joseph the Worker. 

“There is so much turmoil, fear, and uncertainty in our world today,” Father Tracy said. “But St. Joseph is always pointing us back to the one true Hope, Jesus Christ. So, if you are feeling down or stressed, turn to St. Joseph and look to him as an example of humbleness and faithfulness. He understands your feelings, and he will help you not only find joy in the season of Christmas and in your earthly life, but the ultimate joy with his adopted Son, Jesus Christ, in Heaven forever.”

Side bar:

A saint for all

Saints are powerful intercessors for us. Turning to saints by asking them to pray for us is part of our Catholic tradition. For St. Joseph, he is the patron saint of many causes:

• The Universal Church
• Families
• Fathers
• Expected mothers
• Travelers
• The dying
• House sellers and buyers
• Craftsmen
• Working people in general

Ways you can honor St. Joseph:

Check out these wonderful prayers by looking them up online as they are too long to print in Catholic Times: 

• Prayer to St. Joseph after the Rosary
• 30 Day Prayer to St. Joseph
• Seven Sundays Devotion to St. Joseph
• Litany of St. Joseph 

This article originally appeared in Catholic Times in 2020.

By TIM STAPLES 
Catholic Answers

In the introduction to his classic Catholic Catechism, Father John Hardon describes well the perennial challenge of the Catholic Church to strike a balance between the manifold and false “either/or” propositions that constitute the great heresies and errors of Church history, and what Father Hardon called the truth of “the eternal and.” For example, the pantheist says the universe consists of God alone. The material is mere illusion. The materialist says it is all and only matter. The truth is it’s both. The Protestant says we are saved by “faith alone;” the various Pelagian sects say it is by “works alone.” The truth is it’s both. The Monophysite says Jesus is God alone; the Arian (or Jehovah’s Witness today) says He is man alone. The truth is He’s both. The list could go on and on.

So it is with the Eucharist. For many, there are only two options. It is either a symbol or it is Jesus. I know this was my thinking when I was Protestant. “When Jesus says, ‘This is my body,’ or, ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man,’ it is obvious he is speaking symbolically,” I would say. “Bread and wine were to nature what Jesus Christ is to our super nature. Bread and wine are obviously excellent symbols of Jesus Christ.” In my mind as a Protestant, if I could show communion to be symbolic, I had proved my point. The idea of “both/and” was never even a consideration.

The Protestant error concerning the real Presence here is easy enough to correct

The Catholic will be rightly and understandably quick on the draw to demonstrate the literal sense of Jesus’ very plain words in both the institution narratives and in John 6. But be careful, my Catholic friends! The Catholic can present great points for the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist, and win a very important battle, but lose the war by denying there to be any symbolic value to Our Lord’s words at all. The error in this reasoning can tend to be all his Protestant counterpart will hear. And it is an error to be sure. 

Moreover, a well-read Protestant can present writings of multiple Fathers and Doctors of the Church from Tertullian, St. Clement of Alexandria, and St. Augustine, to the “Common Doctor” himself, St. Thomas Aquinas, replete with references to our Blessed Lord’s words, “This is my body ... . This is ...  my blood … .” as being “figurative,” “signs,” or “symbolic.” Now, of course, each of these great teachers throughout Church history will also teach that the Eucharist truly is what it symbolizes. But to many, like myself as a Protestant, the Catholic denying the truth of the symbolic reality of the Eucharist — and in so doing, denying what is evident in Scripture —will drown out all other good points made.

Listing examples from each of these Fathers and Doctors is beyond the scope of this brief article, but for our purpose we need only reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church to find Magisterial use of the terms “sign” and “symbol” to describe the Eucharist (1148, 1412) alongside many more examples declaring the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist (1373-1381). The Council of Trent, Session 22, Chapter 1, does the same:

Declaring Himself constituted a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, He offered up to God the Father His own body and blood under the species of bread and wine; and, under the symbols of those same things, He delivered (His own body and blood) to be received by His Apostles, whom He then constituted priests of the New Testament; and by those words, Do this in commemoration of me, He commanded them and their successors in the priesthood, to offer (them); even as the Catholic Church has always understood and taught. (Emphasis added)

The Catholic Church has always understood the Eucharist to employ both “figures” or “symbols” and to be God’s instrument to communicate the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, in his substantial reality, under the accidents or appearances of bread and wine to the people of God for their spiritual sustenance. Once again, the answer is both/and.

A memorial of Christ’s sacrifice, Christ’s sacrifice, or both?

The Catholic evangelizer will inevitably face another “either/or” proposition when it comes to the Eucharist: “The communion the New Testament speaks of is simply a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice that occurred 2,000 years ago, and nothing more. Jesus said, ‘Do this in memory of me,’ in Luke 22:19. It can’t be Christ and a memorial of Christ at the same time any more than the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., could also be Thomas Jefferson!” 

How do we respond? 

We ought to emphasize as Catholics that the Catholic Church agrees with our Protestant friends on this point. Jesus is unequivocal in Luke 22:19, as I cited above: “Do this in memory of me.” Catholics believe the word of Christ. The Eucharist is the same sacrifice that was offered 2,000 years ago inasmuch as it is the same priest and the same victim being offered, but at the same time it is offered in a different manner — an unbloody manner. Thus, it is truly a memorial of the “once for all” bloody sacrifice of Christ offered in a unique manner 2,000 years ago (Heb. 10:10). As such, the sacrifice of Christ can never and will never be offered in a bloody way again!

CCC 1367 provides:

The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: “The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.” “And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner … this sacrifice is truly propitiatory.

Because the Eucharist is both a memorial of what Christ did 2,000 years ago in a singular way and his true and real presence for his people, CCC 1357-1358 can say:

We carry out this command of the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to the Father what He has Himself given us: the gifts of His creation, bread and wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the words of Christ, have become the body and blood of Christ. Christ is thus really and mysteriously made present.

We must therefore consider the Eucharist as:

-thanksgiving and praise to the Father;
-the sacrificial memorial of Christ and his Body;
-the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.

So, is the Eucharist a memorial, substantial reality, or both? Father Hardon’s “eternal and” comes to the fore once again. The Eucharist is a memorial inasmuch as it is not a bloody sacrifice as Christ’s sacrifice was 2,000 years ago — it is a memorial of that bloody sacrifice. Jesus told us so when He said, “Do this in memory of me.” The Eucharist is also truly and substantially Christ because He told us so as well. “This is my body ... . This cup  ...  is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). As Catholics, we believe both.

This article originally appeared on the website of Catholic Answers, www.Catholic.com. Reproduced with permission.

Is Receiving the Eucharist cannibalism?
By TOM NASH
Catholic Answers

I've heard several times that the Church is cannibalistic, since it teaches that bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. Looking at the definition of cannibalism, they seem to be correct. Are they correct, and how should I respond?

The charge of cannibalism is not new. Roman pagans called early Church Christians cannibals precisely because the Disciples spoke of eating and drinking their God. In doing so, the pagans provide further evidence that belief in the Real Presence of the Eucharist is an ancient Christian doctrine, and that the first Christians understood Jesus to be speaking literally when He established at the Last Supper the ritual we have come to call the Mass.

Yet the charge of cannibalism is misplaced. Cannibalism, simply put, is the eating of human flesh, typically after a person has died. A corpse (dead body) is usually present, or at least a dead body part. Second, the quantity of the flesh diminishes as it is being consumed. Third, digesting flesh results in physical nourishment, protein included. 

In the banquet of the Eucharist, however, Jesus is not dead but is a living sacrifice. Second, His substance is not diminished by consuming the Eucharist. To the contrary, Jesus is bodily in Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, though His body becomes miraculously present wherever the Eucharist is celebrated. Third, the eating of His Body and Blood does not result in practical physical nourishment on a natural level, although some have miraculously subsisted solely on the Eucharist. The purpose of the Eucharist is to provide spiritual nourishment.

In summary, cannibals consume the flesh of a dead person in a way that diminishes and profanes the corpse. Through the sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus freely gives Himself to us; and we consume His living body, blood, soul, and divinity in a way that mysteriously and miraculously does not diminish Him but instead enhances our spiritual life.

This article originally appeared on the website of Catholic Answers, www.Catholic.com. Reproduced with permission.

Father Steven Arisman, pastor of St. Francis of Solanus Parish in Quincy, graciously receives the framed image of St. Corbinian from Buhl, who is a parishioner at St. Aloysius Parish in Springfield. By MIKKI BUHL
Special to Catholic Times  

About three months ago, I saw this framed art piece for sale at Hope Thrift Center in Springfield. I knew it was of a saint, but at the time, I was unsure who it was. I was intrigued by the drawing and purchased it, thinking I would use it at home or maybe my church or school could use it, as I have found other pictures at the thrift store and donated them to my church, St. Aloysius Parish, in Springfield.  

After doing some searching, I found it was a picture of St. Corbinian (670-730), a bishop who traveled from Rome to Freising of Bavaria, Germany. The bear is often a symbol of St. Corbinian, who tamed a bear to carry his load while traveling. Corbinian's bear appeared on the coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI.

My next mission was to find a church in our diocese with the saint’s name, but there was no luck. So, I then searched to find a church that had a German heritage. That is when I found St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy that met that requisite. The secretary had me connect Jake Terry, their youth minister.

Now comes the exciting part! After speaking with Mr. Terry, I learned that their youth group had just selected this very saint to learn more about. It was a sign that the framed art piece had to go to this parish, but I wondered how to make arrangements. Mr. Terry and I communicated, figuring someone from their church would be in Springfield for a meeting.

I then received an email saying the pastor would be in town. It was then I looked up who the pastor was, and low and behold, it is Father Steven Arisman. I went on a retreat weekend a few years ago with him, and knew his hometown was Springfield. So, we made for arrangements to meet while he was in Springfield. In yet another God moment, the commemoration of the translation of St.  Corbinian relics is Nov. 20. So, just in time for the feast day, I was able to give the picture to Father Arisman on Nov. 4.

Mikki Buhl is a parishioner at St. Aloysius Parish in Springfield 

Submitted photos

Click here to read the 40 page special edition of Catholic Times on the holy Eucharist as our diocese embarks on a Year of the Eucharist

SPRINGFIELD 

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m., 10 a.m.

Blessed Sacrament Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 

Christ the King Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

Little Flower Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

St. Agnes Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

St. Aloysius Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m. 

St. Frances Cabrini Xavier Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m., 9:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m., 9 a.m. (St. Patrick Church), 10:30 a.m. (Latin), 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) 
All Masses at Sacred Heart Church, except 9 a.m. Christmas Day, which is at St. Patrick Church. 
(There is no Christmas Mass at St. Patrick now due to the laying of carpet at this time)

ALEXANDER

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Christmas Day, 10  a.m.

ALTAMONT

St. Clare Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

ALTON

Immaculate Conception Parish (St. Mary)
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. 

Ss. Peter and Paul Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

ARCOLA

St. John the Baptist Parish
Christmas Eve, 7:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

ARENZVILLE 

St. Fidelis Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 

ASHLAND

St. Augustine Parish 
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

ASSUMPTION

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.

ATHENS

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

AUBURN

Holy Cross Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.
Overflow seating in the parish center.

BEARDSTOWN

St. Alexius Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m. (Tri-lingual Mass); 
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. (English), 11:30 a.m. (Spanish) 

BENLD

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. 

BETHALTO

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

BETHANY

St. Isidore Parish
Midnight

BRIGHTON

St. Alphonsus Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

BRUSSELS

Blessed Trinity Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. (St. Mary Church, Brussels);
Midnight (St. Joseph Church, Meppen);
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. (St. Barbara Church, Batchtown) 

CAMP POINT 

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

CARLINVILLE

Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

CARROLLTON

St. John the Evangelist Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

CHARLESTON

St. Charles Borromeo Parish 
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

CHATHAM

St. Joseph the Worker Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

COLLINSVILLE

Ss. Peter and Paul Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 

DECATUR

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m. (Spanish);
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

Ss. James and Patrick Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. James Church); 6 p.m. (St. Patrick Church), 11 p.m. (St. James Church); 
Christmas Day, 10:15 a.m. (St. Patrick Church) 

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

DIETERICH 

St. Isidore the Farmer Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church, Bishop Creek), 7 p.m. (St. Joseph Church, Island Grove), 10 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church, Bishop Creek);
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. (St. Joseph Church, Island Grove)

EDGEWOOD

St. Anne Parish
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

EDWARDSVILLE

St. Boniface Parish
Christmas Eve, 4: 15 p.m., 9:15 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. (Spanish) 

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

EFFINGHAM

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9:30 p.m.;
Midnight:
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

FARMERSVILLE

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

FIELDON

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. 

FRANKLIN

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 

GILLESPIE

Ss. Simon and Jude Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

GIRARD 

St. Patrick Parish
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. 

GLEN CARBON

St. Cecilia Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

GODFREY 

St. Ambrose Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (St. Ambrose), 7:30 p.m. (St. Michael, Beltrees); 
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (St. Ambrose)

GRAFTON

St. Patrick Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

GRANITE CITY 

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.; 
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

St. Elizabeth Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 

GRANTFORK 

St. Gertrude Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

GREEN CREEK 

St. Mary Help of Christians
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.; 
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. 

GREENFIELD

St. Michael the Archangel
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

GREENVILLE

St. Lawrence Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10 a.m. 

HARDIN

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. Anselm, Kampsville);
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m. (St. Norbert, Hardin), 11 a.m. (St. Michael, Michael) 

HIGHLAND

St. Paul Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

HILLSBORO

St. Agnes Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. 

HUME

St. Michael Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.

ILLIOPOLIS

Resurrection Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:15 a.m. 

JACKSONVILLE

Our Saviour Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.
The 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and 9 a.m. Christmas Day Masses will be LIVE streamed and interpreted for the deaf.

JERSEYVILLE 

Holy Ghost Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10 a.m. 

St. Francis Xavier Parish 
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 8:30 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10:15 a.m. 

KINCAID

St. Rita Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

LIBERTY

St. Brigid Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

LILLYVILLE

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

LITCHFIELD

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

LIVINGSTON

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m. 

MADISON

St. Mary and St. Mark Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

MARINE

St. Elizabeth Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 

MARYVILLE

Mother of Perpetual Help Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

MATTOON

Immaculate Conception Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

MEDORA

St. John the Evangelist 
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 

MENDON

St. Edward Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Midnight

MONTROSE

St. Rose of Lima Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m.; 
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

MORRISONVILLE

St. Maurice Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 

MOUNT OLIVE

St. Pope John Paul Parish
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. 

MOUNT STERLING

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m. 

MOUNT ZION

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

MOWEAQUA

St. Francis De Sales Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m. 

NEOGA

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

NEW BERLIN

Sacred Heart of Mary Parish (St. Mary)
Christmas Eve, Music 5:30-6 p.m., Mass, 6 p.m.

NEWTON

St. Thomas Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

NOKOMIS

St. Louis Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

NORTH ARM

St. Aloysius Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m. 

OBLONG

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. 

PANA

St. Patrick Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

PARIS

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

PETERSBURG

St. Peter Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

PIERRON

Immaculate Conception Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

PITTSFIELD

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

POCAHONTAS

St. Nicholas Parish
Midnight

QUINCY 

Blessed Sacrament Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 

St. Francis Solanus Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

St. Peter Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10 a.m. 

St. Rose of Lima Parish
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. 

RAMSEY

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m. 

RAYMOND

St. Raymond Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

RIVERTON

St. James Parish
Christmas Eve, Carols, 3:30 p.m., Mass, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

ROBINSON

St. Elizabeth Parish
Christmas Eve, 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

ROCHESTER

St. Jude Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

SAINTE MARIE

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

ST. ELMO

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. 

ST. JACOB

St. James Parish 
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. 

SHELBYVILLE

Immaculate Conception Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. 

SHERMAN

St. John Vianney Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

SHUMWAY

Annunciation Parish 
Christmas Eve,  4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

SIGEL

St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

STAUNTON

St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

STONINGTON

Holy Trinity Parish
Christmas Day, 9 .m. 

SULLIVAN

St. Columcille Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. 

TAYLORVILLE

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 11 a.m. 

TEUTOPOLIS

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

TROY

St. Jerome Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 10 p.m.; 
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. 

TUSCOLA

Forty Martyrs Parish 
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 

VANDALIA

Mother of Dolors Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

VILLA GROVE

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, Carols, 4 p.m., Mass, 4:30 p.m.; 
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

VIRDEN

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

VIRGINIA

St. Luke Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m. 

WAVERLY

St. Sebastian Parish 
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m. 

WHITE HALL

All Saints Parish
Christmas Eve, 10 p.m. 

WINCHESTER

St. Mark Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. 

WOOD RIVER

Holy Angels Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

Jesus, present in the monstrance, during adoration at St. Mary Parish in Pittsfield. The Seven Sisters Apostolate at the parish commits to praying for one hour before the Blessed Sacrament one day per week, for the sole purpose of praying for their pastor, Father Mark Schulte and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki.More parishes in diocese joining apostolate, as group encourages other parishes to start one

By ANDREW HANSEN 
Editor 

Recognizing that priests need our constant prayers, a group of women from St. Mary Parish in Pittsfield started a Seven Sisters Apostolate. The apostolate has hundreds of local groups in parishes throughout the world, including our diocese. Each of the seven women in the apostolate commits to praying for one hour before the Blessed Sacrament one day per week, for the sole purpose of praying for the priest or bishop her apostolate is praying for. In the case of St. Mary in Pittsfield, they have two groups for a total of 14 women (one woman being from St. Mark Parish in Winchester). One group of seven women prays for their pastor, Father Mark Schulte, and the other group prays for Bishop Thomas John Paprocki.   

“The action of taking time to go visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the powerhouse behind this ministry,” said Angela Lipcamon, anchoress and coordinator of The Seven Sisters Apostolate in Pittsfield. “There are no other obligations or meetings — just one hour per week with Jesus. It’s simple, beautiful, and abounding in graces for the priest and/or bishop and for the women praying the hour. It’s quite a gift!”

The Seven Sisters apostolate started at St. Mary in March of 2020 and the beginnings of the group has an interesting story. 

“When I called to enroll our group, I was informed of it being St. Margaret Clitherow’s feast day,” Lipcamon said. “I knew it was divine inspiration that I was enrolling on her feast day because she is one of the patron saints of the Seven Sisters Apostolate.”

St. Margaret Clitherow was martyred in 1586 in England under the rule of King Henry VIII’s persecution of Catholics, for supporting and harboring priests in her home and for organizing secret Masses. She was a convert, deeply devoted to the holy Eucharist, and to supporting the priesthood in prayer and action.

“This apostolate is important because of the power of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and because our priests and bishops are tremendously important to the life of the Church,” Lipcamon said. “They are a great gift to us from God, and our prayers are needed to help protect and sustain them. The most important gift we receive through them is the holy Eucharist, Jesus’ Body and Blood for the life of the world, along with providing us with the other sacraments that Jesus instituted for our wellbeing. Our priests and bishops lead us in the faith and are integral to the life of the Church.”

St. Mary’s apostolate added the Fasting Brothers men’s group as an adjunct ministry last year. Twelve men in the parish willingly accepted a call to fast one day per week in conjunction with the women’s prayer apostolate for Father Schulte and Bishop Paprocki.

“I believe there have been tremendous graces given through this ministry to our priest, the priesthood in general, our parishes, our bishop, the women dedicated to this ministry, and thus the diocese and Church at large, because we are one and intricately connected,” Lipcamon said. “Any time spent in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament brings immeasurable blessings and graces. It is impossible to know or measure the profound effect or gain from this ministry, but I believe it to be tremendous.”

The Seven Sisters apostolate is not the first one in our diocese, and it continues to grow. Lipcamon, in her capacity as president of the Quincy Deanery Council of Catholic Women, has promoted this eucharistic devotion and ministry to her deanery and the other deaneries of our diocese. 

Since starting this prayer ministry at St. Mary in Pittsfield, Lipcamon says several other parishes now have one or more of the Seven Sisters Apostolate, including parishes in Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Camp Point, Quincy, Arcola, and Edwardsville, with others embarking on starting an apostolate.   

“I encourage the spread of this devotion for the extreme graces involved in the rebuilding of Christ’s Church through the prayers and sacrificial offerings for our priests and bishop,” Lipcamon said. “Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is the key to the Eucharistic Revival. Through eucharistic adoration will come eucharistic revival! Anyone who fervently goes before Jesus in the Eucharist, never walks away empty. He fills you up. Be fervent in your commitment. One person can make a huge difference. Go forth with prayer and trust. It’s an easy, simple, humble, and sacrificial ministry with tremendous impact.  May God continue to bless our diocese in this endeavor.”

For more information, go to sevensistersapostolate.org. 

Submitted photo 

What is the difference between nuns and sisters; what is a convent, monastery, motherhouse, and friary; and what is the difference between brothers, friars, monks, and monsignors?
- Rachel in Springfield

Dear Rachel,

Your questions about the various expressions and living arrangements of men and women religious is a good one. We Catholics love our lingo and sometimes that lingo can be confusing until we learn what the various words in our Catholic lexicon mean. 

To begin our discussion, it is important to know that people who are called to enter religious life as nuns, sisters, brothers, friars, priests, etc., live a life that seeks to draw them closer to Jesus Christ and His people in and through their radical witness and service to the Church and to the world. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers us:

“The religious state is thus one way of experiencing a ‘more intimate’ consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God. In the consecrated life, Christ’s faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all and, pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come” (CCC 916). 

This “religious state,” more commonly referred to as “religious life,” is lived out in different and unique ways. These unique differences are an asset to religious life, and they exist to bring about the Kingdom here on earth through witness and service. 

For women, living life as either a nun or sister offers an opportunity for women to live out this “intimate consecration” as they seek to serve Christ and His Church. While certainly related, these are two very different expressions of religious life. In common parlance, we often use the term “nun” as a sort of umbrella term for all women who are called to religious life, however, this is not accurate. Nuns are women who choose to retreat from the world, join a religious order, live together in a cloistered setting, and devote their lives to praying for the Church and the world. A good example of nuns for us in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois would be the Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of Mary the Queen in Girard. 

Sisters on the other hand are women who choose to join a religious order, live and pray in community, and devote their lives to serving the Church through various charisms and apostolates in the world. Historically, sisters have worked as nurses, doctors, teachers, university administrators, in parish leadership roles, and in various ministries to the poor, to name just a few. Some good examples of sisters for us in our diocese are the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, and the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Springfield. Depending on the religious order, nuns and sisters live in community in convents, monasteries, or motherhouses. A motherhouse is the home base or “headquarters” for a religious order of women. A convent is a home for religious sisters to live in community and is like a branch campus or satellite of the motherhouse. A monastery is a place where women who have entered a monastic order live, pray, and work. 

For men, living life as a brother, friar, or monk offers an opportunity for men to live out the same “intimate consecration” as they seek to serve Christ and His Church. Brothers live lives which are very similar to sisters. Brothers are men who choose to join a religious order, live, and pray in a community and devote their lives to serving the Church through various charisms and apostolates in the world. Historically, brothers have worked as teachers, in various forms of health care, in homes for people with intellectual disabilities, and other diverse ministries. In our diocese, the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross offer us a beautiful example of this way of life. 

Monks and friars then are men who join particular types of religious orders. 

Monks are men who live in monasteries, follow the monastic way of life, according to a particular rule or set of guidelines, by which they live in common. Typically, monks, like nuns, live a cloistered life in a monastery, though some do undertake work in the world. Historically, monastic communities have primarily served the Church through the example of their contemplative prayer, though they also operate schools, seminaries, and universities.  While we do not have any monasteries in our diocese, monks can be found to the north of us at St. Bede’s Abbey in Peru; to the south of us at St. Louis Abbey in St. Louis; and to the east of us at St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Ind.  

Friars are men who join what’s called a “mendicant order.” Unlike a monastic order, a mendicant order serves in active ministries in the world, moving from place to place, embracing a life of poverty, and spreading the Gospel through evangelization. Here in our diocese, we are blessed with the presence of Franciscan and Dominican Friars in a number of our parishes, hospitals, and schools. In terms of where these various male religious live, monks live in monasteries and friars live in friaries. 

Finally, a monsignor is simply an honorific title that the pope bestows upon a diocesan priest in recognition of his years of faithful service to a particular Church, service to the Church in some extra-ordinary way, or because of a position of leadership. We are blessed with the presence of eight monsignori among our diocesan presbyterate.

In their own unique way, nuns, sisters, brothers, monks, friars, and monsignori (oh my!), contribute to the building up of the Kingdom through their witness and service. Their way of life furnishes for us an example of Christ’s merciful love for all of us as they “signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come.”

- Father Zachary D. Samples is parochial vicar of St. Peter Parish in Quincy and is associate chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame High School.

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