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Collection Letter for Churches in Central and Eastern Europe - Please announce the Churches in Central and Eastern Europe collection in your bulletins, website, or other social media platforms the weekend of February 13/14, 2021 and gather it on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021. The proceeds gathered should be forwarded to our Offie for Finances within thirty (30) days. Click here to read Bishop Paprocki's letter.
Lenten Regulations 2021: Letter from Monsignor David Hoefler regarding Lenten Regulations. Please click here to read his letter.
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.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Your Parish Triduum schedule - Catholic Times will publish the Triduum Mass and service schedules for Holy Week, which will appear in the March 21 edition. If you would like to include your parishes Mass/service times, please fill out the online form at ct.dio.org/triduumschedule. Submissions are due by March 1. Note, there will be a section asking if your Masses require an RSVP. Thanks in advance!
Issues with U.S. Postal Service – Catholic Times is aware of several locations in our diocese that have not received their Catholic Times recently or have been getting the magazine late. Unfortunately, it is out of our control as the U.S. Postal Service is responsible for mailing our magazine. You can read the latest edition of Catholic Times by visiting ct.dio.org. The online version flips just like a magazine. You can also subscribe to receive the online edition of Catholic Times to your inbox by going to: ct.dio.org/subscribe. We ask that you continue your tithe of $15 to your parish to offset the costs of production and mailing of the magazine. Thank you!
No more Communion blessings – Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, Bishop Paprocki issued a new instruction which ends blessings during Holy Communion and replaces blessings with the priest, deacon, or extraordinary ministry of Holy Communion saying to the person, “Receive Christ in your heart.” This video can be shared with your deacon(s), extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and parishioners which explains why we ended the practice of Communion blessings, and why it’s important for the person to hear the words, “Receive Christ in your heart.” Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Tqqk236_A
Hey, Father! LIVE! - Understanding Catholic teachings can be tough. Hey, Father! LIVE! will help. Join Father Daren Zehnle and Father Jeremy Paulin as they answer your questions about Catholicism LIVE on Feb. 10 at noon. Watch LIVE or on replay by going to facebook.com/diospringfield or youtube.com/diospringfield or dio.org/live. Send your question early or during the broadcast to or text it to 217-203-5100.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
We want to share your great photos! – Got a great photo? Whether it’s of school life, parish life, or home life, the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is wanting to promote Catholic life in action. Through Catholic Times, social media, videos, or marketing materials, the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois wants to share your great photo to spread the joy diocesan-wide. Submit your photo or photos by going to oldsite.dio.org/submitphoto.
Ash Wednesday - The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has indicated that ashes are to be imposed this year not by making a sign of the Cross of the forehead, but by the sprinkling of ashes on top of the head.
Rite of Election - The Rite of Election will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20 for parishes within a 50-mile radius of Springfield and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 21 for parishes outside a 50-mile radius of Springfield. Attendance is limited to the catechumens (the unbaptized) and their sponsors, one parish representative, and two guests per catechumen. Candidates (those who have already been baptized) will not take part in the Call to Continuing Conversion this year. Facial coverings and safe distancing will be required. More information will be available soon.
New Liturgical Memorials - The Holy Father Pope Francis has added the following Memorials to the universal liturgical calendar: the Memorial of Saint Gregory of Narek on February 27; the Memorial of Saint John of Avila on May 10; the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus on July 29; and the Memorial of Saint Hildegard of Bingen on September 17.
World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly - The Holy Father Pope Francis has established the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. This day of prayer is to be observed on the fourth Sunday of July.
Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe - Please use the bulletin announcements provided to promote the annual collection for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE). Donations are used to train seminarians and lay leaders, support social service programs, youth ministry, pastoral and catechetical centers, schools, church construction and renovation, and evangelization through Catholic media. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/ccee. The collection is on Ash Wednesday. Bulletin announcements, in English and Spanish, are for the week before the collection, the weekend before the collection, and after the collection.
Click here to download sample bulletin announcements
Rice Bowl Homily Reflections during Lent - A resource of homily reflections throughout Lent is available on the CRS Rice Bowl website. Each homily reflection is a YouTube video that lasts 5-10 minutes.
CRS Rice Bowl Resources - Resources for families, parishes, schools and universities to prepare for the annual Rice Bowl collection are located on the CRS Rice Bowl website.
DCJH Grant Opportunity - The Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope (DCJH) is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 funding cycle. Organizations and projects that focus on changing and improving the conditions of low-income people within the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are eligible to apply for a DCJH grant. The deadline for submitting a grant application is February 22, 2021. Early submission is encouraged so any deficiencies on the application can be corrected prior to this deadline. Details about the grant is located at: oldsite.dio.org/dcjh/home.html. Or interested applicants can call the Office for Pro-Life, Missions, and Special Ministries 217-321-1161.
Monthly Pro-Life Intercessions and Bulletin Quotes - February’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. The following link will direct you to the webpage that lists all current and past editions of this resource - dio.org/plasm/word-of-life.html.
Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: The Diocese: Project Rachel and Related Programs: How to Begin (or Strengthen) a Project Rachel Ministry in Your Diocese – Developing Interest Through Awareness: Through an awareness program, attendees can learn that there are at least three victims of abortion: the mother, the father, and the child. While the child is now “living in the Lord” (Evangelium Vitae, no. 99), his or her parents are entrusted to us, to help lead them to the Divine Healer. It is a great privilege that God trusts us to be messengers of his mercy, bringing wounded souls to healing and grace through reconciliation. (PR Manual pg 57)
Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service - Parishes are encouraged to participate in a year-long initiative - Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service. This initiative begins March 25, 2021, the anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s landmark pro-life encyclical - Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), and ends March 25, 2022. This is a nationwide effort to focus on the needs of pregnant and parenting moms of young children in our parishes and our neighborhoods. Get more information about this Year of Service by going to the Office for Pro-Life, Missions, and Special Ministries webpage, or calling the office: 217-321-1161.
40 Days for Life - There are two opportunities in our diocese to participate in a 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil. Your presence on the sidewalk matters. The "no show" rate goes up to 75% when people are praying outside of an abortion facility. Now more than ever your prayers are needed.
New FCC Rules for Multi-Line Phone Systems - The FCC has decided to establish minimum rules for all multi-line telephone systems (including VOIP systems) owned by nonprofit and for profit entities. These rules also apply to schools. Kariʼs Law requires phone systems manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020, to enable users to dial 9-1-1 directly, without having to dial a prefix to reach an outside line, and to provide for notification (e.g., to a front desk or security office) when a 911 call is made. Ray Baum's Act requires that a “dispatchable location” be conveyed with 911 calls – including street address of the calling party, room number, floor number, or similar information necessary to adequately identify the location of the calling party. The law does not require you to purchase new hardware. If your system was installed after February 16th, 2020, check with your vendor to make sure it is complaint. If you are considering a new phone system, ensure that it meets the above criteria. Once installed or configured, pre-arrange a test with administrators of your local 911 call center to ensure your new system is compliant.
Preventing Targeted Violence in Faith Communities – Sign up to receive free virtual training on threat assessment for churches, presented the U.S. Secret Service. The material presented is geared toward clergy, church staff, and church safety personnel. The training will take into account the unique considerations of faith leaders as they address both the spiritual and safety needs of congregants and the surrounding community. This is not active shooter response training. Date: March 2. Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Platform: ZOOM (Link provided after registration). Registration: Email with your full name, title, organization, and email address. Register by Feb. 24.