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Collection Letter for Catholic Relief Services - Please announce the Catholic Relief Services collection in your bulletins, website, or other social media platforms the weekend of March 6/7, 2021 and gather it the weekend of March 13/14, 2021. The proceeds gathered should be forwarded to our Office for Finances within thirty (30) days. Click here to read Bishop Paprocki's letter.
Spring Gathering of Priests - The Spring Gathering of Priests Retreat will be held March 9-10, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza, Springfield. Registration is available online at oldsite.dio.org/vicargeneral. If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Gray in the Vicar General’s Office at .
Adult Confirmation - Bishop Paprocki will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for adults who have been catechized but have not yet been Confirmed on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Details, including suggested formation programs, are posted on the diocesan website at oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/adult-confirmation.html . Confirmandi must register for this event by April 30. For more information, contact Kyle Holtgrave in the Office for Catholic Education at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154, or email .
Parish Grant Program - The parish grant program from the Religious Education and Catechist Formation Endowment funded by the Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope campaign is now taking applications for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Two grant programs are available for parish use – the Catechist Formation Grant and Media & Enrichment Materials Grant. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 15, 2021. Early submission is encouraged so any deficiencies on the application can be corrected prior to this deadline. Applications are available on the diocesan website at oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/parish-grants.html.
Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation - Registration for the next cycle for online courses through the University of Dayton’s VLCFF program is now open. Certificate programs are available for catechesis, leadership in ministry, youth ministry and more! As a diocesan partner, you can register for courses at a discounted cost of $50 for 5-week sessions and $40 for 3-week seminars. All courses in the VLCFF can be used to help with the Catechist Formation Process. Visit oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/approved-formation-programs.html for more information. Or contact Kyle Holtgrave at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154.
LAST CALL! 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
LAST CALL! 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 2. Note, there will be a section asking if your Masses required 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!
Dive Deep - A sit down with a 100 year-old WWII veteran: He served in WWII. He was married for nearly 75 years. Dive Deep sits down Jasper Madonia of Springfield as he gives us 100 years of wisdom, and how our Catholic faith has kept him going. Go to dio.org/podcast to listen and subscribe.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Journey with us this Lent – Go to dio.org/lent as we feature six stories of people who will challenge you and offer you six challenges that will change you! A new story and new challenge will come every week during Lent.
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.
BPIC Winter 2021 Newsletter - Safety and Loss Control News - BPIC, Bishops' Plan Insurance Company, has released their winter newsletter. You can read it by clicking here. Topics in the summer newsletter include
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.
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 as much as 75% when people are praying outside of an abortion facility. Now more than ever your prayers are needed.
Monthly Pro-Life Intercessions and Bulletin Quotes - March’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 - http://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: At the awareness program, hand out a form for attendees to sign up to become part of the Project Rachel network in various capacities, from prayer support to professional counseling. Subsequent to the program, the director of the ministry should meet individually with all prospective volunteers to determine if they have the competence for their desired role, are respectful of church teaching on all moral issues, and can appropriately respond to the spiritual, emotional, psychological, and/or physical needs of post-abortive women and men. Of particular concern is screening out individuals with the best of intentions who may be struggling with their own issues of healing or the need to be a “healer” for others. (PR Manual pg 58)
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.
Totus Tuus Parish Registration - We have only 4 openings left for Totus Tuus summer program for 2021! If you would like to register your parish or learn more about Totus Tuus please visit dio.org/youthministry/tt.