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Nominate a teacher for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award – Do you know a Catholic school teacher who strives for academic excellence with a focus on the Catholic mission? Know a teacher who left a lasting impression on you or your child? Know a teacher who goes above and beyond for his or her students and who lives authentically Catholic? Nominate that teacher for the diocesan wide St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award! Nominations are due by March 5. Go to dio.org/schools/eas.
Download this to use EAS_2022.png to promote it in your parish/school
Confirmation/first holy Communion at Cathedral - A reminder to visit dio.org/confirmation for information about confirmation and first holy Communion taking place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. FAQ's, videos for parents and students, and other resources are available there. As your parish/school gets close to your date, please utilize this page to help parents and students prepare for the trip.
Parishioners who created holy artwork - Catholic Times is working on an article for later this year where we would like to feature lay Catholics in our diocese who have produced beautiful works of art that are now displayed in churches in our diocese. Whether it's a painting, icon, etc., if you have a parishioner whose talented piece is now in your church, please let us know so we can feature that piece of art and the person who created it! Please email Diane Schlindwein, Managing Editor at Catholic Times: . Thank you!
Send us your new parishioner/no longer parishioner updates - A reminder that when you have a new parishioner or someone who is no longer a parishioner, to please email those address updates to our subscription team. Email Cindy ( ) and Laurie (). Every parishioner in our diocese is supposed to receive Catholic Times, so we appreciate you sending us these updates. Thank you!
Day of Prayer for Life: January 22nd, the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, has been designated by the Bishops of the Diocese of the United States of America as a “day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 373). One of two Masses may be offered on this day prior to 4:00 p.m.: either the Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life,” for which white vestments are worn, or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice,” for which violet vestments are worn.
Holy Hour for Life: The Committee for Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an order of worship for a Holy Hour for Life available at https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/adoration/holy-hour-for-life. This may be fittingly celebrated on January 22nd.
Sunday of the Word of God: On the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 23rd, the Church will observe the Sunday of the Word of God. The Holy Father Pope Francis established this day through his Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis, issued motu proprio, on 30 September 2019: The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions has made free resources available at https://fdlc.org/2022/01/sundayoftheword2022/.
CANCELLED - Through the Doorway: Due to concerns regarding Covid-19, Through the Doorway, which was scheduled for January 23rd in Belleville, has been CANCELLED. Refunds will be processed in the coming days.
Rite of Election: The Rite of Election will be celebrated the weekend of March 5/6, 2022 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Continuing Call to Conversion will not be celebrated. An informational packet and forms was sent to pastors, parochial administrators, parish secretaries, and RCIA coordinators; if you did not receive them, they are available at https://oldsite.dio.org/worship/catechumenate.html#election-and-call.
National Gathering on Christian Initiation: The next National Gathering on Christian Initiation: A Conference for Catechemunal Ministers and Pastoral Leaders will be held in Chicago July 13-14, 2022 and will focus on the theme, “Evaluating and Revitalizing the RCIA in Your Parish.” For more information, visit www.NGCI.org or contact Michael Ruzicki at or (773) 579-4900 ext. 3531.
Collection for the Church in Latin America - Please inform parishioners about the upcoming collection for the Church in Latin America, the weekend of January 23rd. Gifts help fellow Catholics in Latin America and the Caribbean who are rich in spirit, but lacking in material resources, to participate more fully in the life of the Church. Collection proceeds support training for seminarians and religious men and women; pastoral care of the sick; formation for lay leaders; family and youth ministries; and religious education for all age groups. Visit the USCCB website for a Parish Resource Guide about the special collection.
CRS Rice Bowl Order Reminders: Has your parish and school updated your Rice Bowl orders for Lent 2022? If you have not, you can update your order and contact info in one of three ways:
Lenten Resources for Teachers: Catholic Relief Services has Lenten Resources for teachers to use for the Rice Bowl campaign. Resources include communication tools, lesson plans and activities for grades 1-8, and prayer resources.
MCA Annual Christmas Art Contest: Entries for the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) annual Christmas Art Contest, for students from K-8th grade, must be submitted to the diocesan Office for the Missions by January 30th. General information and entry form can be found at: MCA Artwork Contest Entry Form (missio.org). For more information contact Donna at 217-321-1161. Please share this information with school principals and art teachers.
Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: Appendices: The Role of the Priest with Those at Risk of Aborting Due to an Adverse Prenatal Diagnosis: Helpful Responses – Parents who were given a negative prenatal diagnosis offer the following suggestions as helpful comments in accepting their situation with trust in God:
- God will give you every grace you need.
- I hear your pain. God hears your pain. God loves you and calls all of his children to embrace the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. He will be with you and never leave your side.
- Your are united to Christ through your suffering.
- God has chosen you to be the mother of this special child.
(Information from Project Rachel Manual, p 84)
Applications for Tutus Tuus teachers - Applications are now open for those wanting to become Totus Tuus team members this summer. Please visit our website at dio.org/youthministry/tt for more information.