Mon - Thurs: 8:00 - 5:15
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(217) 698-8500
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Catechist Formation Process - The Catechist Formation Process is designed to help every member of the faith community grow closer to God and be formed in the faith to be more effective catechists. This process can lead to formal diocesan recognition for adults, whether professional or volunteer, who participate in a variety of formation opportunities. Per diocesan policy, all catechists, whether they teach in a school or parish catechetical program, must actively seek formation through the diocesan Catechist Formation Process. For more information about the Catechist Formation Process and a link to the revised handbook, please go to https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/catechist-formation-requirements.html. Or contact Kyle Holtgrave, Director for Catechesis, at or (217) 698-8500, ext. 154.
New videos for parents/third graders to help prepare them for Confirmation/first holy Communion at Cathedral – Two videos produced by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois can help priests, catechists, teachers, and parish staff communicate the change of having Confirmation and first holy Communion for third graders at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.
The first video shows testimony from parents/grandparents from Newton, the furthest Catholic School from Springfield in the diocese, who said at first, they were disappointed when they heard about the change, but after experiencing the trip, they now see the tremendous value. The second video is tailored directly to third graders (although it could also be good for parents to see as well). In this video, Father Marty Smith from our diocese explains to third graders what exactly will happen when the children arrive in Springfield and what will happen at Mass. This video is intended to calm any fears children may have about their trip and the Mass, and he explains what the two sacraments are all about. These videos can be found at oldsite.dio.org/confirmation.
Please use these resources especially in the days and weeks leading up to your trip to Springfield.
Confirmation/First Communion at Cathedral documents in Spanish - In order to better communicate the change of Confirmation/First Holy Communion now taking place at the Cathedral with those who speak Spanish, several documents were translated:
- Bishop Paprocki explains the change
Vatican Eucharistic Miracles of the World display available – 151 true Eucharistic miracle stories from across the world over the centuries, depicted through photographs and historical descriptions on panels that can be temporarily set up in the parish centers, gyms, or large meeting rooms, are available to parishes and organizations in the diocese free of charge. The Vatican Eucharistic Miracles of the World exhibit was gifted to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and presents some of the principal Eucharistic miracles that took place throughout the ages in various countries of the world, and which have been recognized by the Catholic Church. By means of the panels, one can “virtually visit” the places where the miracles took place. To request all or some of the panels at your parish or organization, contact Cindy Callan at 217-698-8500, ext. 137 for further information. Or email her at . When requesting panels for a showing, please consider sufficient lead time.
Dive Deep: Four-time Superbowl winning coach talks faith, family, football - A graduate of Christ the King and Sacred Heart Griffin H.S. in Springfield, Kansas City Chiefs coach Brendan Daly discusses the interesting job of coaching at the highest level in football and how he has leaned on our Catholic faith throughout the ups and downs, constant job stresses, and moving his family several times all over the country. Go to dio.org/podcast to listen and subscribe.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Chant Workshop: Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is creating the Saint Meinrad Institute for Sacred Music to promote liturgical music and to support and educated pastoral musicians. A chant workshop will be held January 24-28, 2022. For more information, visit www.saintmeinrad.org/chant-workshop.
Unfolding the Mystery: Eliot Kapitan, former director of the Office for Divine Worship and the Catechumenate, recently published a book titled, Unfolding the Mystery of Christ: Sunday by Sunday Formation of Catechumenspublished by Liturgical Press in 2020. It won two awards in 2021 from the Catholic Media Association for first place in Faith Formation and second place in Pastoral Ministry - Catechetical. Details and a free Faith Sharing/Study Guide are available at https://litpress.org/Products/6555/Unfolding-the-Mystery-of-Christ.
Litany of St. Joseph: Some weeks ago, Pope Francis approved new invocations in the Litany of St. Joseph. English translations of these invocations have been added by the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship to the English translation of the litany, which is available at https://www.fdlc.org/sites/default/files/JosephLitany2021.pdf.
The Curia is Hiring:
Please check out our listings at oldsite.dio.org/jobs and include them in your parish bulletins!
CRS Resources for School & PSR Teachers - As school is beginning teachers may be interested in knowing about resources available to compliment curriculum. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has an on-line Resource Center with lesson plans for elementary and high school students. The lesson plans teach young people about Church teaching while helping them learn about some of the realities facing our brothers and sisters in different countries around the world. Go to https://www.crs.org/get-involved/resource-center/institution/school
Give Aid to the People of Afghanistan - With the current crisis in Afghanistan, parents are struggling to provide their children with food, clean water and education. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been supporting development efforts in Afghanistan since 1998. A financial gift to CRS can help provide essential relief for the people. Go to: https://www.crs.org/our-work-overseas/where-we-work/afghanistan
Resources for World Mission Sunday - The following are resources available for World Mission Sunday/World Mission Month 2021:
Upcoming Stewardship Webinars- Open to all and will be recorded!
Lessons Learned from the International Catholic Stewardship Conference (ICSC)
Wednesday, October 6th 11 AM-12 PM. This webinar will cover the best of the conference presentations, speakers, and lessons learned for parish life. We will walk through some of the latest tools and technologies available to help your parish and have plenty of time for questions and answers! This is a great webinar for those looking to refresh or update their parish operations or stewardship toolkit! Register:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7891243748911715088
How to begin and grow your Parish Stewardship Ministry
Thursday, November 4th 11 AM- 12 PM. This webinar will cover the challenge of where to begin with your stewardship ministry at your parish. Whether you participated in the Season of Stewardship at your parish or not, you will find some great tips and resources to building up stewardship at this webinar. From starting with a few interested volunteers, we will cover the roadmap to their first few months in ministry, including suggested committee structure, to-dos, and planning. Register:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8205270866874495758
Giving & Acknowledgement Opportunities at Year-End
Wednesday, December 1st 11 AM- 12 PM.This webinar will cover the basics of year-end appeals, including Advent stewardship appeals, while providing a focus on acknowledgement for all the good stewardship that has happened at the parish the past year. We will cover some example bulletin examples that can be used at year-end, including tax-incentivized giving opportunities. This webinar will help you cultivate generosity and acknowledgement with the spirit of the season! Register:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1206361486103648270
Customized Parish Planned Giving Resource
Are you looking for a way to ensure long-term sustainability of your parish? Would you like to learn how donors can make a lasting gift to your parish without withdrawing or increasing their current income? Planned giving through wills, bequest, estate gifts, IRAs, or life insurance gifts can be a great way for your parishioners to give effectively and sustainably for the parish! We have created a parish planning resource for each parish to share with parishioners. You can view the draft here and we will work with you on customizing it as best as possible. Please contact us if you are interested in this FREE resource for your parish! or 217-321-1121
Season of Stewardship - Important Information for Parishes
If you have signed up for the parish Season of Stewardship we have your parish packets on the way and are ready to answer any questions you may have about the process in person or over the phone. Please reach out to Katie Price to schedule a time: or 217-321-1121. You may also want to review our webpage with information here: https://discipleship.dio.org/
Annual Respect Life Mass and Rosary Walk - This year’s annual Diocesan Respect Life Mass and Rosary Walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 9, 2021, Holy Family Parish, Granite City. Bishop Paprocki will celebrate Mass at 9:00 am, then lead a rosary walk around the abortion facility in Granite City. Lunch and speaker will follow the rosary walk.
Project Rachel - Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: The Canonical Perspective on Abortion – Going hand-in-glove with crime is the reality of a penalty, which is a sanction established by church law that may be applied against a Catholic who commits a crime. This penalty is to motivate that person to return to the Church’s way of life, to repair an injustice committed by the act, and to allow reparation for scandal caused by it (cf. 1341). According to the Code of Canon Law, the Church’s key legislative text, both a person who procures a successful abortion, as well as any accomplice whose positive cooperation was necessary for a successful abortion, incur the automatic (latae sententiae) penalty of excommunication (cf. cc. 1398, 1329, §2; 1314). (PR manual pg 67)
Respect Life resources - Respect life Month is just around the corner! Hopefully by now you have received your Respect Life Program packet from USCCB. If not, please contact Donna Moore at . Below are resources available for Respect Life month (October):
This year, we look to St. Joseph, defender of life. Visit respectlife.org/respect-life-month for many digital resources (as well as info on how parishes can order copies of the poster or prayer card)
The Respect Life Month action guide has been updated for perennial use and is available online. The included sample timeline. Take a quick look to see what you might want to do for this year's observance.
National Migration Week - This year National Migration Week is September 20-26. This is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. The theme of this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), which always falls on the last Sunday of September, is: “Towards an ever wider ‘WE’”. In his letter announcing this year’s theme, Pope Francis emphasizes that “this focus calls on us to ensure that ‘after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those,’ but only ‘us’’ (Fratelli tutti, no. 35). And this universal us must become a reality first of all within the Church which is called to cultivate communion in diversity.” A Tool Kit with various resources, including homily suggestions, is located at: FInal-NMW-Toolkit-2021-Temp-2.pdf (justiceforimmigrants.org)
Victorious Missionaries Virtual Fall Retreat - Victorious Missionaries is a spiritual support group for people with disabilities or who were chronically ill. Its purpose is to encourage those with disabilities to reach out to others with disabilities, sharing their gifts and spreading the Good News of the Gospel. Their Virtual Fall Retreat is Oct 15-17, 2021. Presentation: This is Me! The Power that comes with Knowing Who you are-and Whose you are! For more information go to https://snows.org/reflection21/
NCYC registration open - NCYC 2021 group registration is open. Only 85 tickets remaining. Please visit dio.org/youthministry/ncyc to register.