Mon - Thurs: 8:00 - 5:15
Hours
(217) 698-8500
Phone
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.
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 Committee on Scouting - The next meeting for the diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting is Sunday, May 22 at 3:30 PM at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield. Contact Kyle Holtgrave, (217) 698-8500, ext. 154 or email for details. Scout leaders and those interested in helping Scouts tend to their Duty to God are welcome. The Catholic Committee on Scouting website is http://scouts.dio.org.
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. Parishes could also have all the children who build a Lego church put it on display in their vestibule or other area during a period of time. 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.
The §550 Principal Place of Work Policy sets the expectation that all employees shall generally work in person while specifying the exceptions to this general policy, as well as the procedures and requirements of the same.
The §277 Policy Prohibiting The Use Of Social Media By Clergy In Connection To Violations Of The Sixth Commandment Of The Decalogue prohibits certain activities of the clergy in relation to social media.
Video series on the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit - DRE's, PSR teachers, Catholic School teachers, priests, and parish staff are invited to use a new video series on the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit produced by the Communications Office in conjunction with Fr. Mike Haag of our diocese. This series, hosted by Dr. Kevin Vost of our diocese, explains each gift in a real and digestible way that will help children and parents better understand the power of each of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is our hope parents watch this series with their children, however, teachers of our faith at our schools and parishes can also utilize this series in their classrooms. Here is a link to the playlist. It is also located at dio.org/confirmation We will send a reminder about this series at the beginning of next school year as well.
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. In order to be considered for the 2021-2022 school year top MCA donor awards, at the upcoming Mission Mass, donations must be received by June 30th. Any donations received after June 30th will be recorded as a donation for the next school year. The Mission Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Send Donations to Office for the Missions: As we near the end of the fiscal year, if your parish has any outstanding mission donations (Rice Bowl, World Mission Sunday, Missionary Co-Op, Catholic Home Missions, Missionary Childhood Association) please send these funds to the Office for the Missions. If you have any questions, contact Cindy Callan, 217-321-1137.
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.
Send in DCJH Donations: As we near the end of the fiscal year, if your parish has any outstanding donations for the Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope, please send these funds to the diocesan finance office. If you have any questions, contact Cindy Callan, 217-321-1137.
Project Rachel Resources: For resources to prepare a homily on post-abortive healing, and for information to have available in the confessional, contact the Office for Pro-Life Activities, Missions, and Special Ministries at , or 217-321-1161.