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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 https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/approved-formation-programs.htm for more information. Or contact Kyle Holtgrave at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154.
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.
Parish Confession times needed – Catholic Times plans to run a special edition about Confession this summer. Please fill out this form with your Confession times so Catholic Times can include that in the special edition: https://ct.dio.org/confessionschedule.
Tax Credit Scholarship – The Illinois bishops have written a letter to the Catholic faithful, urging them to take action to save the Tax Credit Scholarship program at the Statehouse. Please distribute the attached PDF letter to your parishes and post on your websites.
Click here to download a copy of the letter to distribute in your parishes
Dive Deep – Our Lady of Fatima: What you didn’t know: Mary appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal just over 100 years ago. Her message holds true today. So, what did she say, and what about all the miracles and other signs associated with these visions? Dive Deep interviews a Marian expert on all things Our Lady of Fatima. Go to dio.org/podcast to listen and subscribe.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Confirmations/First Holy Communions at Cathedral – Confirmations and First Holy Communions for third-graders will take place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield starting after July 1. They will be scheduled on Tuesday evenings for parishes within 50 miles of Springfield and on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of the month for parishes more than 50 miles from Springfield. Go to dio.org/confirmation for answers to frequently asked questions and to learn why Bishop Paprocki is making this change.
4:40 for seminarians - Six months ago, the diocese launched a campaign called 4:40 for 40 Seminarians. We invited the entire diocese to pray a Hail Mary every day at 4:40 so that, with the help of Mary, we can have 40 men answer the call to be a seminarian for our diocese. If you have been faithfully praying every day, thank you! If you are just hearing about this, we invite you to jump on board. May is the month of Mary and we know with her help, anything is possible! PRAY BIG!
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Litany of Saint Joseph: The Holy Father Pope Francis recently approved seven new titles in the Litany of Saint Joseph: Custos Redemptoris, Serve Christi, Minister salutis, Fulcimen in difficultatibus, Patrone exsulum, Patrone afflictorum, and Patrone pauperum. Official English translations have not yet been approved.
Solemnity of the Ascension: Several questions have come in regarding the celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension. In the Province of Illinois, it is celebrated in place of the Seventh Sunday of Easter, this year on the weekend of May 15th and 16th.
Job Opening at the Catholic Pastoral Center: Parish Finance Administrator - The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is seeking a highly qualified and enthusiastic individual to take on the role of Parish Finance Administrator. This role assists the Finance Officer in organizational management by interpreting and utilizing parish managerial accounting and financial information. This position oversees support of parishes through supervising parish audits, developing finance policies, establishing internal controls for parishes, and executing an accounting review program. More information including requirements and how to apply can be found at dio.org/jobs.
REMINDER: Rice Bowl Donations - Please send Rice Bowl donations to the Office for the Missions by the end of the fiscal year. The allocation committee will be meeting in July and we need to know how much money is available to grant to organizations.
Missionaries - The Office for the Missions is interested in identifying missionary religious and laypersons from our diocese that serve in foreign lands. If you know of someone who fits this description please contact Donna Moore at , or 217-321-1161.
Biking for Babies - Cyclists from Biking for Babies will be at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, July 16th. While cycling across America these pro-life enthusiasts spread awareness of and collect donations for pregnancy resource centers. All are invited to attend 5:15 pm Mass, enjoy dinner with the cyclists, and hear their testimonies. To RSVP contact Vicki Compton at: 217/522-3342 or email . Donations can be made at: www.bikingforbabies.com/give.
Repeal of Parental Notification of Abortion Law - Our bishops have written a letter to the Catholic faithful, urging them to take action against the repeal of the parental notice of abortion law. The Diocesan Pro-Life Resource page contains the letter from the Bishops in English, Spanish and Polish, along with a way to identify one’s lawmakers, and other resources. Please urge your parishioners to contact their lawmaker and tell them to vote “No” on House Bill 1797 and Senate Bill 2190. If the law is repealed it will eliminate a critical safeguard that protects young girls from abuse of human traffickers and rapists.
Pre-Cana in Spanish - The Diocese of Belleville is having a Pre-Cana session in Spanish. The next Pre-Cana class for Hispanic couples is being offered October 16, 2021. If you know of any Hispanic couple that is interested in attending have them contact Carlos and Efrend Garcia at: 618-632-1755, cell phone: 618-520-3404, or .
Formation in Preparation for Quinceanera - Is there a young woman in your parish ready to celebrate her Quinceanera? A six month formation program is available through St Alexius Parish. The formation is available in person and virtually. Formation gatherings occur the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month for one-hour. For more information contact Sr Ema,
Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: The Diocese: Project Rachel and Related Programs: –How to Begin (or Strengthen) a Project Rachel Ministry in Your Diocese – Diocesan Training: Once Project Rachel is established in the diocese, calls will come from people of all faiths. Therefore, it is important that clergy of other faith traditions are trained and available to receive referrals. Project Rachel is a powerful evangelization ministry, but it is not the place of Project Rachel staff or volunteers to proselytize a post-abortive woman or man. Gently conveying the power of God’s love and the message of hope offers wonderful opportunities to evangelize without proselytizing. It is God who will move the individual along the journey of faith. (PR Manual pg 60)