Catholic Education

Resources for Catechist Formation - The University of Dayton’s Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) offers a variety of online formation courses to help with catechist formation and general ongoing adult formation and enrichment. Registration for Cycle 5 of the VLCFF is open from June 1 to July 13. This cycle runs from July 18 – August 21, 2022. You do not have to wait until Cycle 1 to start – courses can be taken at any time. Visithttps://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/approved-formation-programs.htmfor more information about VLCFF and how courses align with the Diocesan Catechist Formation Process. As a member diocese of the VLCFF program, session fees are reduced to $50 per course or $40 per seminar. Spanish language courses are available. And VLCFF has several certificate programs, too. Contact Kyle Holtgrave, Director for Catechesis in the Office for Catholic Education, , for complete details.

Catholic Times

WANTED Sunday June 19: Corpus Christi procession photos/Eucharist photos - The feast day of Corpus Christi will be celebrated June 19. This day also kicks off the nationwide Eucharistic Revival. Please send Catholic Times photos of your eucharistic processions on June 19 by submitting them via this link (we go to press June 21 so getting the photos ASAP is important): https://form.jotform.com/210028891044147

*On that note, please send any related eucharistic photos your parish captures during the Eucharisitic Revival so we can share them (photos of the consecration, adoration, children receiving communion, etc.)

Communications

Eucharistic Revival webpage - The nationwide Eucharistic Revival kicks off this Sunday. Go to oldsite.dio.org where you can visit our diocesan webpage dedicated to the Eucharistic Revival, events in our diocese, how people can sign up for updates, how people can get involved, etc. A bulletin annoucement is available to help you promote this. This logo can also be downloaded to use to help your promotion.

Eucharistic Revival promotional video - We posted this promotional video of the Eucharistic Revival to the diocese's social media channels on Thursday. Please share it. You can also use this video link in your e-communications with parishioners when promoting/discussing the Eucharistic Revival in your parish.

Eucharistic Miracles of the World display available – 151 true Eucharistic miracle stories from across the world over the centuries, depicted through photographs and historical descriptions on panels that can be temporarily set up in the parish centers, gyms, or large meeting rooms, are available to parishes and organizations in the diocese free of charge. The Vatican Eucharistic Miracles of the World exhibit was gifted to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and presents some of the principal Eucharistic miracles that took place throughout the ages in various countries of the world, and which have been recognized by the Catholic Church. To request all or some of the panels at your parish, contact Cindy Callan at 217-698-8500, ext. 137 for further information. Or email her at . When requesting panels for a showing, please consider sufficient lead time. 

Volleyball system/Ellison Die machine available - St. Michael Parish in Staunton will be taking offers on the two items listed below. Interested parties can contact Chrissy Foster at (618) 635-3140 to set up appointment to view item(s) of interest.  All bids will be submitted to our finance committee for approval.

 1) Ellison Die machine with die cut  2) Gym regulated Spikeline Volleyball system. Contact Chrissy Foster for more information:   618-635-3140

Parish Vitality and Mission Advancement

Join us for the next Parish Vitality Webinar on Wednesday, June 22 from 10 a.m.- 11 a.m. The topic this month is a stewardship panel of volunteers/staff at our parishes who will provide insight and advice on starting a stewardship ministry or discipleship initiative. This is a great opportunity to hear from coworkers in the vineyard and to ask questions! All are invited and we ask that you register here: https://bit.ly/3aqxB46. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Price, Director, Parish Vitality and Mission Advancement at or 217-321-1121.

Pro-life and Special Ministries

Dobbs Ruling Trigger:  The Supreme Court ruling for the Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization may be a “trigger” and cause stress and anxiety for men and women who have experienced abortions.  For nearly half a century of legalized abortion many women, men, and families have suffered from the aftermath of abortion experiences.  Recognizing this pain and loss, 

·     Proclaim God’s mercy after abortion and compassionately accompany women and men who are suffering after an abortion. 

·     Refer women and men to our diocesan abortion healing ministry, Project Rachel Ministry, so these women and men receive forgiveness, healing, and spiritual renewal through Christ’s infinite mercy. 

·     Make your parish what Pope Francis calls “islands of mercy in a sea of indifference” by raising Catholic awareness of the great struggle involved in an abortion, and the guilt, pain, and grief that follow. 

Preparations for End of Roe:  Guidance to prepare for the U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization might be put to use.

·     State Abortion Law Landscape Post-Roe

·     Pray for Dobbs prayer and fasting campaign (The website and resources are for public use.)

·     Communications Strategy and Approaches

·     Diocesan Lay Communicators Overview

·     Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization: Top-Line Messaging

·     Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization: What to Say and How to Say It

·     Ensure our Catholic parishes are places of welcome for women facing challenging pregnancies or who find it difficult to care for their children after birth, so that any mother needing assistance will receive life-affirming support and be connected to appropriate programs and resources where she can get help. 

·     Help Catholics recognize the needs of pregnant and parenting moms in their communities, enabling parishioners to know these mothers, to listen to them, and to help them obtain the necessities of life for themselves and their children. 

·     Be witnesses of love and life by expanding and improving the extensive network of comprehensive care including pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, and Catholic health care and social service agencies. 

·     Proclaim with a clear and united voice that our society can and must protect and care for both women and their children. 

·     Redouble our advocacy for laws that ensure the right to life for unborn children and that no mother or family lacks the basic resources needed to care for their children, regardless of race, age, immigration status, or any other factor.

·     Continue to support and advocate for public policies and programs directed toward building up the common good and fostering integral human development, with a special concern for the needs of immigrants and low-income families. 

Religious Freedom Celebration:  Celebrate our Religious Freedom – Sunday, June 26, 10:00 am Mass, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 East Lawrence Ave, Springfield.  Panel discussion follows Mass in the Atrium addressing the intersection of faith and law.

July’s Word of Life available:  July’s edition of Word of Life is now available.  Word of Life is a monthly resource for parishes.  The resource is available in both English and Spanish, in both PDF or Microsoft Word formats.  Each monthly issue contains information such as:  intercessions for life, quotes for your bulletin, and art for your bulletin, webpage or Facebook page.

PLASM Survey:  Parishes will be receiving a very short survey in the mail from the Officer for Pro-Life, Missions, and Special Ministries.  Please complete the survey and send it back to our office as soon as possible.

Property, Buildings, and Cemeteries

Ameren Lighting Incentives - Ameren Illinois, through approved contractors, is offering lighting upgrades with incentives. They will come to your facility, assess your current lighting, and provide you with a proposal showing incentives and payback period for your part of the project. We have been able to benefit from this program in our Catholic Charities offices throughout the diocese and in some of our parishes. If you would like to find out more, please contact the person at the bottom of the flyer. Please let me know if you have any questions. Greg Fleck, Director for Property, Buildings and Cemeteries:   217-321-1195

Ameren program replaces fluorescents to LED at no charge - An Ameren incentive program is available for our churches and schools that involves receiving LED tubes to replace fluorescent bulbs in ceiling fixtures, some outdoor lights and gymnasium lights. This program provides light bulbs and fixtures only, at no charge,  but someone else would install the bulbs. For more information and to order the lights, please click here.