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Catechist Formation Opportunity - 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 now open. This cycle runs from July 4 – August 7, 2021. You do not have to wait until Cycle 1 to start – courses can be taken at any time. Deadline to register is August 26. Visit oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/approved-formation-programs.htm for 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.
Ad Altare Dei Emblem - Members of Scouts BSA are invited to learn more about our faith, particularly through the sacraments, by earning the Ad Altare Dei religious emblem from the Catholic Committee on Scouting. To earn the award, one must be a registered member of a BSA unit (Scouts BSA or Venturing Crew), be in 7th grade through high school age, and active in your unit for at least 6 months to be eligible. A class schedule for the Springfield area during the 2021-2022 school year has been announced, see http://scouts.dio.org for details. For more information or to schedule classes in other areas of the diocese or to be trained as a Counselor, please contact the Catholic Committee on Scouting at or call (217) 698-8500, ext. 154.
Job Opening at Springfield Catholic Charities: Community Services Supervisor - Springfield Catholic Charities has a full-time opening for Community Services Supervisor. Visit oldsite.dio.org/jobs to view more information about the position, including qualifications and how to apply.
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. Please submit it by June 18.
Dive Deep – Big Foot & the Holy Spirit. The story of Fathers Marty Smith & Wayne Stock: Fathers Marty Smith and Wayne Stock of our diocese have interesting vocations stories. In fact, they involve Big Foot. Oh, and you’ll want to listen to the end to hear a story from Fr. Marty that will bring a tear to your eye – a story that convinced him to become a priest. Go to dio.org/podcast to listen and subscribe.
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.
Minimum Wage Increases in your Budgets! - Don't forget to account for the next minimum wage increase in your FY 2021-2022 budgets! The minimum wage will increase from $11 to $12 on January 1, 2022.
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.
Catholic Home Missions Appeal - The Catholic Home Missions Appeal collection was the weekend of April 24-25. Please send donations to the Office for the Missions as soon as possible. These donations help fund mission work and mission dioceses within the United States. Diocese such as the Diocese of Belleville, IL and the Diocese of Lexington, KY.
Tips for Successful Missionary Visit - Missionaries from the Cooperative Mission Program (Co-Op) will be visiting our parishes soon. Here are some tips to have a successful missionary visit:
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.
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 . Biking for Babies is partnering with three pregnancy help centers within our diocese: First Step Women's Center (Springfield), Choices Pregnancy & Health (Charleston), ThriVe Metro East (Godfrey). Donations can be made at: www.bikingforbabies.com/give.
Monthly Pro-Life Intercessions and Bulletin Quotes - June’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
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 .
Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: The Diocese: Project Rachel and Related Programs: – How to Begin (or Strengthen) a Project Rachel Ministry in Your Diocese – Keeping the List of Priests Confidential: Additional reasons why the list of priests and other clergy involved in Project Rachel ministry must remain confidential are:
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat - There will be a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat for people affected by abortion August 13-15, at the Villa Maria Retreat Center. Please let others know about this healing opportunity. Scholarships are available for those not able to pay the full registration fee. A flyer is available at the following link: oldsite.dio.org/plasm/projectrachel.
Religious Freedom Celebration - Religious Freedom Week, June 22-29, 2021