ALTON — The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George will celebrate the first profession of a novice and the reception into the novitiate of three postulants during holy Mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will be the main celebrant of the Mass, held at St. Mary Church in Alton. He will be joined by several bishops and local and visiting priests.

Collinsville — The ladies of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Collinsville invite you to Women’s Day 2019: “Prove it, God! And he did.” The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the parish fellowship hall, 207 Vandalia in Collinsville.

Nationally known speaker Patty Schneier will be on hand to describe her journey of discovery, repentance and renewal. The presentation will be enlivened by the strong sense of God’s presence, the power of his Word, and the amazing way he worked to bring a “cafeteria Catholic” to conversion. Through song, Scripture, and journal writing, Schneier will share the story of her challenge to God and his daily response.

Official appointments from the Office of the Bishop

How you can help build a home for someone in need?

When you think of the tools you need to be a disciple, do you think of a hammer or saw? Yes, being a disciple can require labor, hard work, and even a little sweat. This fall, you are called to be an active disciple with your mmer, saw, sweat, and all! That’s because parishes from the Springfield deanery are coming together and partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County for a Catholic Build.

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Lawrence Green, OP, died June 18 at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield. She was born in Duluth, Minn., in 1927 to Edward and Mae (Nolan) Green, who named her Alice Marie. She made her profession of vows in 1948 at Sacred Heart Convent.

Sister M. Lawrence was a consummate educator. Her expertise benefited every Springfield Dominican teacher and principal during 12 years of service as the congregation’s councilor and director of education. Her first 13 years of ministry were spent teaching primary grades at St. Christina Parish, Chicago. She also taught at Holy Family School, Decatur, and was a principal-teacher at St. Joseph, Granite City, and St. Agnes, Springfield, where she was missioned in the 1970s and 1990s. In 1994, she returned to her hometown as teacher and assistant principal at Holy Rosary School. She retired to Sacred Heart Convent in 2001.

PITTSBURGH — Sister Rosella Uding, CDP (formerly Sister Mary Ronald) died on June 15 at Passavant Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was 72 years old.

She was born on April 9, 1947 to a loving family in rural St. Genevieve, Mo., the fourth of 11 children of Raymond and Lucille (Hoog) Uding. She grew up sharing in all the family activities and responsibilities with her siblings on the Uding family farm and enjoyed a close relationship with her family throughout her entire life.

Must we stay for the final blessing at Sunday Mass to fulfill our Sunday obligation?
— Maria in Jacksonville

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Martina Finn died on June 9 at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield. She was born in Arcola, in 1922, one of seven children of Bartholomew and Veronica (Boucher) Finn, who named her Mary Lucille. She made her profession of vows in 1942 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Sister M. Martina’s passion for education was spent, over a 50-year period, on the needs of primary and preschool-aged children. She taught at parochial schools in Illinois, Colorado and Minnesota.

Sister Joseph Wu, OSF, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis died on June 4 at St. Francis Convent in Springfield. She was 98 years old.

Sister Joseph, the former Wu Sue Cheng, was born in Hopei, China on Dec. 12, 1920, the daughter of Joseph and Franziska Wu. She entered the congregation on Oct. 8, 1945 and professed her religious vows on Oct. 4, 1948.

St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield will begin a Nursing Preparatory Pipeline Program (NP3) this fall for high school students. The program will give participants a sneak peek into the nursing profession and will provide them with early mentors within the Springfield nursing community.