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Adult Faith Formation - The new Directory for Catechesis reminds us that formation of catechists is important because the quality of pastoral initiatives led by catechists is linked directly to the quality of their formation (§130). Ongoing formation, as a key pillar of the 4th Diocesan Synod, can lead to formal certification in the Catechist Formation Process. To learn more about the Catechist Formation Process, please visit https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/catechist-formation-requirements.html, or contact Kyle Holtgrave, Director for Catechesis, at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154, or email .
Catechetical Sunday - The celebration of Catechetical Sunday is September 19. The 2021 theme is “Say the Word and My Soul Shall be Healed.” The purpose of Catechetical Sunday is to call forth catechists to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. A prayer service for Catechetical Sunday is available at https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/recognition-of-catechists.html.
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.
Help people get to confession – The July 25 edition of Catholic Times featured a comprehensive look at confession: why, how, and where to go to confession; inspirational stories and quotes; and what our priests think about the powerful sacrament. If you are a priest, lay parish leader, PSR instructor, and/or Catholic school teacher, you can use this document (taken from Catholic Times) to help your instruction when teaching people about the sacrament, explaining why they should go, or if one needs inspiration or a tutorial on how to go to confession.
Dive Deep: 10 myths about going to confession - Going to confession can be scary. There are plenty of false ideas about confession that may be holding you back from receiving the grace of this sacrament. Dive Deep debunks 10 myths and offers advice and encouragement to receive God’s mercy. Go to dio.org/podcast to listen and subscribe.
Promoting Tax Credit Scholarship Program – The tax credit scholarship program, part of Illinois’ Invest in Kids Act, is a win-win-win. The first win is for the students, who despite financial hardships, can now attend Catholic schools, be surrounded by our positive and holy values, and receive a higher academic experience. The second win is for our schools, who now have these students in their classrooms. The third win is for donors, who receive a 75% state income credit on their donation.
Here are several documents that can help your parish/school promote the tax credit scholarship to parents, your school community, business leaders, and church donors. Attached are several documents to help you do that:
Bobby Sylvester, Regional Director of Empower Illinois (the organization that coordinates and grants all the scholarships), can visit your school/school board/parish council to answer questions:
SDCCW convention - The Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) are inviting all women of the diocese to their 92nd annual convention called “Living God’s Plan for Life, Love and the Family” on Wed. Sept. 29 at Hamilton’s South Ballroom (110 N. East Street, Jacksonville) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bishop Paprocki, along with priests of the diocese, will celebrate 11 a.m. Mass for the convention attendees at Our Savior Catholic Church in Jacksonville and join in the banquet luncheon directly afterward at Hamilton’s.
Coleen Kelly Mast, a Quincy native who is a motivational speaker and popular radio host on more than 250 Catholic Radio Stations via the EWTN network and Sirius Satellite Radio, will have morning and afternoon talks, entitled “The 4 heart Healthy Habits for Holiness” and “LoveEd: Witnessing the Truth in Today’s Confused World.”
Parishes are asked to promote the event using this flyer, putting this registration form in public areas, and putting raffle ticket forms in public areas (50-50 raffle and quilt raffle).
The Curia is Hiring! - We are hiring for two positions:
Please check out our listings at oldsite.dio.org/jobs and include them in your parish bulletins!
Give Aid to Haitians Affected by Earthquake - A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti Saturday, August 14. Thousands are injured and many more have lost their homes and loved ones. Your gift will hel provide essential relief, likely to include clean water, sanitation, shelter and emergency supplies, giving immediate aid to families affected. To donate go to: https://support.crs.org/donate/haiti-earthquake
Catholic Social Teaching – Care for God’s Creation - Pope Francis has declared September 1 as a day of prayer for creation. In anticipation of this day of prayer you may want to invite Fr. George Knab, OMI, to give a talk or parish mission on the theme of Care for God’s Creation. Fr. Knab can be reached at
Our Lady of the Snows Presentation - The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is hosting their annual conference - When Mental Illness Hits Home. The theme for this year’s conference is “Surviving and Thriving in Turbulent Times”. The conference is Friday, August 27, from 9 am – 4 pm. They are offering 4.5 CEUs for counselors, social workers and nurses (APRN, RN, LPN). For more information and to register go to: When Mental Illness Hits Home Conference – Our Lady of the Snows
Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: Additional Healing Services: Masses and Retreats - Working with Retreat Models - If you are going to add a retreat model to your ministry, here are some considerations:
- Define carefully the relationship between the diocese and the retreat program. Is this an outside referral to an independent entity, or is this a diocese-run ministry? When working with retreat models that operate independently from the diocese, make sure that contracts and insurance issues are evaluated and approved by the diocesan attorney.
- The retreat team should be competent in their particular fields (facilitators, counselors, priests) and should be screened like any other Project Rachel volunteer or staff member (see “Screening Professional Counselors and Therapists” and “Screening Volunteers and Staff” on page 58 of the Project Rachel manual) (PR manual pg 63)
Our Lady of the Snows Presentation – Suicide Prevention - Our Lady of the Snows is hosting QPR Suicide Prevention Training, September 8, 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Candlelight Vigil, 7:30 pm. For more information go to: https://snows.org/events-2/
NCYC registration open - NCYC 2021 group registration is open. Only 85 tickets remaining. Please visit dio.org/youthministry/ncyc to register.
Play Like A Champion Today Middle School Coaches Clinic - Play Like a Champion Today deals withtough sport issues by promoting:
Join us September 12 from 2-5 PM at Christ the King Parish Hall, Springfield for a Middle School Coaches Clinic. Registration cost is $25. To register, go to dio.org/youthministry/sports.