Mon - Thurs: 8:00 - 5:15
Hours
(217) 698-8500
Phone
May 5, 2022 Parish Link
Catholic Education
Community of Religious Educators Meeting - The next CORE meeting is Thursday, May 19 at 10 AM at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield. The keynote presentation will be given by Fr. Mike Haag and his staff on their approach to preparing students and their families for the Sacrament of Confirmation. His approach has three goals: to evangelize the parents; to give the parents the tools to evangelize their children; and to catechize the confirmandi so that they not only know the faith but can express and share it. St. Paul Street Evangelization will also be included in the presentation. I am also planning to have representatives from Ruah Woods join in via internet to talk about their Theology of the Body curriculum. Lunch is provided. RSVP by May 16 so I can plan food accordingly, , or call (217) 698-8500, ext. 154.
What Does a Truly Accessible Parish Look Like? - When a person is asked if their parish is accessible, one often says ‘yes’ if an elevator or ramp is available. While these items are helpful, they might not help a person who experiences mental illness, sensory needs, or an intellectual disability. When one realizes how broad the category of disability is, parish accessibility can be overwhelming. The National Catholic Partnership on Disability is hosting a webinar on ways parish accessibility needs to be assessed for people of all abilities. Accessibility not only requires physical adaptations, but liturgical and catechetical adaptions as well. By raising awareness, we can see Christ in others as that all members of the Body of Christ truly belong. For more information and to register for the webinar, go to https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/special-needs.html.
Adult Confirmation - Bishop Paprocki will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for adults who have been catechized but have not yet been Confirmed on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Details, including suggested formation programs, are posted on the diocesan website at https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/adult-confirmation.html. Confirmandi must register for this event by May 15. For more information, contact Kyle Holtgrave in the Office for Catholic Education at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154, or email .
Catholic Times
Build a Church Lego Contest! - Catholic Times is excited to announce its Build a Church Lego Contest for young children through high school living in our diocese. If you click on the Bulletin Annoucements link of this Parish Link, you will find a bulletin annoucement and flyer available to help promote this fun contest. Parishes/schools are also invited to think of ways to help families obtain Legos or maybe even have a building day at their parish. Thank you!
PSR submissions from each parish/school needed - Catholic Times is accepting PSR articles or photos for its annual PSR issue (which will be in September to time with Catechetical Sunday, but asking for information now before this PSR school year ends). We invite parishes to submit either a PSR article (300 words or less) about your program or a good story or a PSR photo with short caption by May 21 using the online form: https://ct.dio.org/psrissuesubmission Photos should be 300 dpi or better and sent as image files (such as .jpeg or .pdf). Please do not imbed the photo in a Word document. For articles, include your parish name, town, as well as the author. For questions, call (217) 698-8500, ext. 118, or outside of Springfield (800) 677-8708.
Communications
The Our Lady of Good Council Women of Distinction Mass and Luncheon will be held Saturday, July 23. This celebration is hosted by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Diocesan Council of Catholic Woman (S.D.C.C.W.), which honors all women in the diocese for leadership and service to God, the Church, and community. The S.D.C.C.W. invites each parish to select an honoree to represent all the women in their parish. The group has for each parish:
Human Resources
Minimum Wage Increase: As parishes and schools prepare their budgets, remember the minimum wage in Illinois increases another dollar on January 1, 2023. The Illinois minimum wage will go from $12 to $13 per hour at the start of the new year. More information can be found here: Hourly Minimum Wage Rates by Year - Fair Labor Standards Division (illinois.gov)
Missions
CRS Rice Bowl Donations: Please send Rice Bowl donations directly to the Office for the Missions. If you have any questions call Cindy, 217-321-1137.
Identify Missionaries from our Diocese: The Office for the Missions would like to know the names and contact information of people from our diocese that are serving in the missionary field. If you know of someone from your parish that is a member of a missionary organization please send the information to the Office for the Missions, 217-321-1161, .
Missionary Cooperative Program: Just a reminder to send the dates your cooperative missionary will be visiting your parish to the Office for the Missions. Please email the dates to Cindy at .
School MCA Donations: As school is wrapping up, please have your school send any Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) donations to the Office for the Missions. Donations will be accounted for and school winners determined for acknowledgment during the upcoming Mission Mass, Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Tips for a Successful Missionary Visit: Hospitality: Is someone available to meet the visitor upon his/her arrival at the parish? Someone needs to know when the missionary will be arriving and greet him/her, reconfirming information about Mass times, church locations, lodging, meals and transportation. Perhaps a Hospitality Committee can help with this. Message: The missionary has come to share stories of the Mission Church around the world and to invite your participation through prayer and financial offerings. Please understand that visitors most likely will speak English with an accent. This is to be expected from people who come from another country. Please ask your parishioners to be patient and understanding. Although speakers who can communicate clearly in English is always requested, this does not always happen. Collection: The method of collection should be understood by all. No missionary group is to use envelopes with their mailing address, collect donor information, sell merchandise, or solicit child or seminarian sponsorships. All proceeds should be sent to the Office for the Missions. Problems: Contact Donna Moore or Cindy Callan in the Office for the Missions, 217-698-8500.