Catholic Education

Community of Religious Educators (CORE) - Mark your calendars for a pre-Thanksgiving gathering and celebration on Thursday, November 11 at 10:30 at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield! We will meet in the second-floor conference room for fellowship and a meal. I have invited Sr. M. Consolata Crews, FSGM, to join us and tell us more about the areas of ministry that she is supporting in her role as the director of evangelization and formation services in the curia. RSVP by November 4 so I can plan food accordingly, , or call (217) 698-8500, ext. 154.

Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation - Registration is now open for the next cycle of the University of Dayton’s online learning program that runs from January 17 – February 19, 2022. Individual courses or one of the certificate programs can help sharpen skills as catechists and administrators. Scholarships are available through the Religious Education and Catechist Formation Endowment. Visit https://oldsite.dio.org/catechesis/approved-formation-programs.htm for more information about VLCFF and how courses align with the Diocesan Catechist Formation Process. Contact Kyle Holtgrave, Director for Catechesis at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154 or  for more information.

Catholic Times

Your Christmas Mass schedule needed - Catholic Times will be publishing Christmas Mass schedules, which will appear in the Dec. 12th issue. If you would like your parish/parishes included, please complete the online form by Nov. 22. It can be found here: ct.dio.org/christmasschedule. Thank you in advance!

Communications

Public invited to see relics of St. Padre Pio at Cathedral - Catholics are invited to see and venerate relics of St. Padre Pio after the 4 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Saturday, Nov. 6 and after the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Nov. 7 until 4:30 that afternoon in the Cathedral atrium. Please help promote this event. You can copy and paste information by going to the bulletin annoucements.

Answering your questions on dying and death — The Springfield diocese has put together an easy to navigate and comprehensive look at end-of-life issues. Go to dio.org/funeral for questions like: Why should one pre-plan their funeral? If my loved one is dying, what should I do? Why must one insist on Catholic funeral rites? Why should one pray for the dead? Who should one insist upon being buried in a Catholic cemetery? Also covered is the issue of cremation, among other topics. As the month of November is dedicated to praying for the dead, now is a good time to learn more about dying and death from our Catholic faith perspective.

Seminarian Tree for your parish - You’ve heard of an Angel Tree, but we would like to introduce you to a Seminarian Tree. This year, we have printed cards with information about our seminarians on them.  If you wish, we can send you cards of all the seminarians to place on a tree to display. Then, parishioners can pull off a card and commit to praying for that seminarian all year.  Parishioners can choose to mail them a birthday card or Christmas card letting the seminarian know they are being prayed for. Check out our tree for inspiration. If you are interested in receiving seminarian cards, please email Amber at .

In need of more vocation posters? - If your parish/school is in need of more vocations posters, which features our seminarians, please email Amber Cerveny: .

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.

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. 

Diaconate

Men interested in the diaconate? There are three informational meetings in different parts of our diocese for men interested in becoming a deacon. The first takes place in Jacksonville at the Knights of Columbus Hall (320 East State) on Saturday, November 13 from 9-10:30 a.m. The second takes place in Mattoon at Immaculate Conception Church Parish Center (320 N 20th Street) on Tuesday, November 16 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. The third takes place in Quincy at the St. Francis Parish Center (1721 College) on Sunday, November 28 from 1-2:30 p.m. The meetings will present information for those interested in the Permanent Diaconate Formation which begins in the fall of 2022. Applications are being accepted at this time. The Permanent Diaconate is open to men between the ages of 32 and 57, who are active in the practice of our faith, and who desire to grow in their relationship with God and in their service to the Church. If interested, and if married, wives are welcome and encouraged to attend. For questions, email Deacon Sorrell: .  You can also visit dio.org/diaconate.

Divine Worship and the Catechumenate

All Saints' Day 2021: Because the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1st, falls on a Monday this year, it is not observed as a holy day of obligation this year, though it is still to be celebrated as a solemnity.

Blessing of Graves: The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, November 2nd, is a fitting day for the Blessing of Graves as found in Chapter 57 of the Book of Blessings. 

Save the Date: The Dioceses of Belleville and of Springfield in Illinois are again co-sponsoring Through the Doorway, a workshop on an aspect on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, from 1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on January 23, 2022 at 2620 Lebanon Avenue, Building 6, in Belleville. The workshop will address the question, “What key beliefs need to be addressed in the period of the Catechumenate?” Additional information and registration materials will follow.

Missions

COOP Collections - PARISH BOOKKEEPERS:  Please submit a check, for the donations collected during your Missionary Cooperative priest’s visit this summer.  Send funds to the Office for the Missions.  For accountability purposes, funds collected must be sent to the missionary from the Officer for the Missions.

CRS Rice Bowl Workshop - Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is offering two workshops on Wednesday, November 17^th to help prepare for CRS Rice Bowl 2022.  Each workshop is 1.5 hours long.  Please encourage your school and parish leadership to participate in this interactive workshop, along with other school and parish leaders within our diocese and across the country.  This is a workshop that will help prepare us for CRS Rice Bowl 2022.  The 1.5 hour workshop is offered twice on Wednesday, November 17, 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm.  Leaders interested in attending should select the session time that works best for their schedule.  register

Parish Vitality and Mission Advancement

Upcoming Stewardship Webinars- Open to all and will be recorded!

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/

Pro-life and Special Ministries

Annual DCJH Collection:  November 20-21, 2021 is the annual collection for the Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope (DCJH).  Donations make it possible to provide hope and assistance of food, clothing, housing, education and medication to local people living in poverty.  100% of the contributions goes to fund orgnaizations within our Diocese.  Please promote this collection and encourage parishioners to give generously.  If you miss the opportunity to help through your parish collection, you can still contribute by mail or by going to oldsite.dio.org/dcjh.  The mailing address is: Catholic Pastoral Center, DCJH, Pro-Life Activities and Special Ministries, 1615 West Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702

Short Tidbit from Project Rachel: The Canonical Perspective on Abortion – The following circumstance, among others listed in c. 1323, might result in a person’s never being subject to a penalty for procuring a successful abortion, even if the act he or she commits might still be considered gravely sinful and is certainly objectively wrong (continued):   One who acted under compulsion by physical force or in virtue of a mere accident that could neither be foreseen not prevented when foreseen (cf.c. 1323).  However, there is a difference between acting on compulsion of physical force and acting out of grave fear.  One who acted out of grave fear is still liable to having a penalty imposed, since the act of abortion is intrinsically evil (grave fear is an internal response of a person to the credible threat of serious evil to be inflicted by another person)(see c. 1324 §1,50)   (PR manual pg 68)

Tribunal Services

Possible Delays: Please keep the recent changes to the delivery of postal mail in mind when sending wedding files to the Tribunal to avoid last minute anxieties. Please allow extra time for the mail to be delivered and returned to you.