Mission Of The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
The mission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is to build a fervent community of intentional and dedicated missionary disciples of the Risen Lord and steadfast stewards of God’s creation who seek to become saints. Accordingly, the community of Catholic faithful in this diocese is committed to the discipleship and stewardship way of life as commanded by Christ Our Savior and as revealed by Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
To further this mission, the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is committed to implementing the Four Pillars of Discipleship and Stewardship, namely:
- Hospitality – to invite people proactively to join us in prayer, especially Sunday Mass;
- Prayer – to provide well-prepared celebrations of the sacraments and other occasions for prayer as signs of hope and paths of grace to heaven;
- Formation – to study the Bible and learn more about Jesus and our Catholic faith; and
- Service – to serve each other, especially those in need, by practicing charity and justice.
The Diocese By The Numbers
Below is the 2025 statistical data for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Population
Total Population: 1,077,470
Total Number of Catholics: 109,300
Percent of Population that is Catholic: 10%
Religious
Bishops: 1
Diocesan Priests
Incardinated in our Diocese: 96
Extern Diocesan Priests: 20
Religious Priests: 30
Religious Sisters: 299
Religious Brothers: 13
Permanent Deacons: 55
Catholic Education
Elementary Schools (K-8): 35
Elementary School Enrollment: 7,656
Elementary PSR Enrollment: 3,166
Secondary Schools: 7
High School Enrollment: 2,169
High School PSR Enrollment: 681
Colleges and Universities: 1
Trade School: 1
Total Students: 1,250
Parishes
Number of Parishes: 129
Baptisms
Infant Baptisms: 1,350
Minor Baptisms: 1,129
Adult Baptisms: 221
Received into Full Communion: 164
First Holy Communion
First Communions: 1,769
Marriage
Catholic Marriages: 189
Interfaith Marriages: 104
Total: 293
End of Life
Funerals: 1,319
Confirmation
Confirmations: 1,915
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Coat of Arms (Crest)
Have you ever wondered what is the significance and symbolism of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois' Coat of Arms (Crest)? Where did it come from? Here is an explanation for the diocesan coat of arms as described by Bishop James Griffin in 1924:
"The main colors - those of the field (background) and the cross are gold and blue. These were the old heraldic colors of France and the alms of France under which Marquette and Joliet first planted the cross in this region. In honor, therefore, of both Marquette and Joliet, we have a gold field and a blue cross thereupon. In order to express the name of the diocese on the gold field, at each angle of the cross, there is a heraldic fountain or spring. The conventional, rather abstract, middle circular figure represents a fountain, well or spring; it is almost as old as heraldry itself; it consists of a circle filled with six wavy lines or stripes of alternating color of silver (white) and blue, which is the old convention for water. This clearly expresses the name, Springfield. The springs are four in number, as were the four rivers of Paradise that were made to flow from the cross and is the four Gospels. In the center of the cross is placed the silver (white) crescent moon which is the symbol in ecclesiastical heraldry for the Immaculate Conception; and as our Lady's colors are always depicted in blue and silver (white), we already [have] the blue in the cross, the necessary color on which her silver (white) crescent should rest. The entire shield expressed clearly and simply as the abstract conventionalities of heraldry permit, the Church or ecclesiastical jurisdiction of French beginnings established in Springfield under the patronage of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception."
As for the image with the blue and red jewels that rests above the crest itself, that is a mitre (a bishop's hat). The mitre is a symbol of a bishop and his authority granted by the pope in his diocese. Most dioceses have this same image or very similar image above their coat of arms
Deaneries in the Diocese
