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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 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.
New policies/updates to existing ones:
Pictures of your monstrance - We'd like to share pictures on social media and in Catholic Times of different monstrances in the diocese with the launch of the Eucharistic Revival. Take a look at this picture as an example. Could your parish take a similar photo with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance? Also, is there any interesting history associated with the monstrance or interesting artwork on the monstrance? Please send a photo and this information (including the parish) to Andrew Hansen: . Thanks!
Prayer and fasting poster/prayer cards for Illinois - A grassroots effort encouraging Catholics in Illinois to pray and fast every Friday on bread and water to stop the state from becoming the Midwest's abortion hub has posters and prayer cards available for parishes to have in their vestibules. Email Andrew Hansen: if you would like a poster and prayer cards. See this picture for what it looks like. (note, this has been approved by Bishop Paprocki)
SDCCW convention - The Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) are inviting all women of the diocese to their 93rd annual convention called “Women of the Bible” on Wed. Sept. 28 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Mattoon. Parishes are asked to promote the event (go to bulletin annoucements to copy and paste) and put this registration form in public areas.
Apostolic Letter on Liturgical Formation: The Holy Father Pope Francis published Desiderio desideravi, an Apostolic Letter on the Liturgical Formation of the People of God. The official English translation of the Apostolic Letter may be read here: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/20220629-lettera-ap-desiderio-desideravi.html.
New Employee Sexual Harassment Awareness Training - Beginning July 1, this training will be transitioning from VIRTUS’ Anti-Harassment Training to Catholic Mutual Group’s (CMG) Sexual Harassment Awareness Training. This training is mandatory per Illinois law to be completed annually by all paid employees. This training will be housed in the same database as the new Safe Environment programs, CMG Connect. There was a slight delay in the program, but it will be up and running by mid-July. For more questions, please contact Erin Danaher at .
CO-Op Collections - As a reminder, the manner of taking up the collection for CO-Op Missionaries is determined by the pastor. Parishioners should make donation checks payable to the parish. The missionary should not take envelops or the funds collected from the parish, nor request a list of names of contributors. Please do not publish the address of the mission organization in the bulletin. Envelopes with the group's mailing address are not allowed. No missionary group may employ professional soliciting agencies while making an appeal in the parishes of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. At the time of the appeal, no subscriptions to magazines or periodicals are to be promised or solicited. No child sponsorships or other relationships may be solicited. Parish bookkeepers, please submit a check for the proceeds collected to the Office for the Missions within thirty (30) days of the missionary’s visit.
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 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 must install the bulbs. For more information and to order the lights, please click here.
Roe v. Wade decision - thank you!: Thank you for your efforts and actions that led to the overturning of the Roe v. Wade court decision. It took almost 50 years of prayers, novenas, offering of sacrifices, fasting, and marches but we did it! The Supreme Court of the United States has overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Praise God, and thank you for your efforts and the actions of your parishioners.
PLASM Survey: Please mail your parish survey to the Officer for Pro-Life, Missions, and Special Ministries as soon as possible.
New adult safe environment awareness training - Beginning July 1, the adult safe environment awareness training will be transitioning from VIRTUS’ Protecting God’s Children to Catholic Mutual Group’s (CMG) Safe Haven. This training, offered on a fully virtual platform, allows the user to complete the course on their own time and provides more engaging content than past trainings. The virtual platform will also allow for background checks to be completed electronically. The results of training and background checks will all be housed in one database, CMG Connect. Fingerprint processes will be unchanged, but results will be housed in the database as well. As of July 1, only the new training and background checks will be accepted. Instruction on these new programs were held on June 15 and 22 for pastors, principals, and parish Safe Environment Coordinators. If you missed these webinars, please contact Alison Smith at .