The annual Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) was held on the campus of Benedictine University in Springfield July 5-10. The 25 participants were led by 18 adult and youth leaders who taught them leadership and communication skills, community building and group dynamics.

Blessed Sacrament School in Springfield was recently named a winner in the Pepsi Refresh Project, entitling the school to a $25,000 grant. The grant money will be used toward the purchase and installation of bleachers in the new school gym. According to the Pepsi Refresh Project website the entire cost of the bleachers will be $43,326.

A group of 60 individuals — 48 youth and 12 adult chaperones — came to Springfield June 28-July 2 to participate in a new mission project called Just5Days. The mission is a five-day experience of service, hands-on learning activities, prayer and liturgy for community groups of middle school youth and adult leaders from Catholic parishes and schools.

CARROLLTON — In addition to being known as a long-time priest and pastor, Father Henry Schmidt can now call himself a published author. The parochial administrator of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Carrollton, All Saints Parish in White Hall and St. Michael Parish in Greenfield, Father Schmidt has published his first book, The Pastor’s Sandal Path.

On the night before he was installed as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki was joined in Evening Prayer at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by a cardinal, several bishops, Msgr. Carl Kemme, priests, deacons, seminarians, many members of his large family, hundreds of Catholics from all over the diocese, as well as ecumenical, interfaith, government and civic leaders.

HIGHLAND — Two long-time parishioners at St. Paul Parish in Highland have recently won top state awards from the Knights of Columbus. The awards were announced at the Illinois State Knights of Columbus Convention held in Peoria early last month.

It was a lovely day both outside and inside the newly-restored Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on the morning of Saturday, May 29, as Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago ordained Wood River native Father Stephen A. Thompson and Ghana, West Africa native Father Paul Kala to the diocesan priesthood.

Books for hospitalized kids is goal for St. Aloysius student

She may be young, but Mackenzie Newhouse is already a girl with a mission. At just 12 years old she has founded a charity that helps hospitalized children. She calls her charity Mackenzie’s Pages of Hope, or MPoH.

CHICAGO — A young priest who spent half of his life living, learning and serving in Quincy before finally being buried there, may one day be a saint.

The archdiocese of Chicago has recently introduced Father Augustine Tolton’s cause for sainthood. Sometimes known as Augustus — and commonly called “Gus” — Father Tolton was the first American priest of African descent to serve in the United States.

Little Flower and St. Aloysius schools cooperate to perform Annie, Jr.

Over 100 students from Little Flower School and St. Aloysius School, both in Springfield, took to the stage for three evening performances of Annie, Jr. on April 29, 30 and May 1. Additionally, school faculty members and students were treated to a premiere daytime performance that week.