Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

Confirmation for Adults at Pentecost - For adults who have been baptized but still have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation, Bishop Paprocki invites you to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Sunday, May 24 to complete your initiation. To request registration information and to be included in future communication regarding this event, please register here. Deadline to register is Monday, May 11. Contact Kyle Holtgrave at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154 for details.

Scout Religious Awards - If Scouts are interested in working with a counselor for the Ad Altare Dei emblem or a facilitator for the Pope Pius XII emblem, please submit the following form by the end of April. Sessions can be organized in your area to accommodate travel. To access the form, click here: Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII Emblem. For more information, contact the Catholic Committee on Scouting at [email protected].

World Youth Day Seoul, South Korea - Registration for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea with the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has been extended to June 15! The pilgrimage will include visits to Seoul, South Korea for World Youth Day, Busan, South Korea to see the Catholic sites there, and we will visit Catholic Japan in Nagasaki. It will be an exciting trip! Register here. If you have any questions, please contact the pilgrimage team at [email protected].

Help Connect Students with Campus Ministry - Adult leaders are needed in each parish to be “ambassadors” for a new initiative from Newman Connection that connects students and young adults directly to their college Catholic campus ministry or military chaplain before they leave your community. Called “Faith Forward,” I need local parents and leaders to help invite young people to enthusiastically sign up to learn more about the Catholic community that is waiting to welcome them in their next chapter in life! Click here to sign up as an ambassador for your parish or school!

Important Liturgical Calendar Notes:

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15: This falls on a Saturday.  This means that the obligation is abrogated this year.  Saturday evening Masses that regularly anticipate the Sunday should be for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time since it is a day of precept (obligation).  Evening Prayer II on Saturday is of the Assumption.  Funerals are permitted that day since the obligation is abrogated, but Masses for the Dead and other ritual Masses are not because of the Solemnity.  Weddings on this day must use the prayers of the Assumption.  The selection of readings should follow the guidance given in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony.

The Solemnity of All Saints on November 1:  This falls on a Sunday and replaces the Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time.  Saturday evening Masses that regularly anticipate the Sunday Mass should be for All Saints.  Evening Prayers I and II are of All Saints.

Oregon Catholic Press Parish Grants Program - Grants are available to Roman Catholic parishes and campus ministries in the United States to strengthen parish/campus worship.  These can be used for liturgical or musical purposes to this end.  Examples of what this grant could be used for include purchasing new music or worship resources, repairing or replacing musical instruments, and supporting the formation of musicians and liturgical ministers through conferences and workshops.  Applicants do not need to use an OCP music program to qualify.  The only parishes ineligible to apply are those who received grants in 2025.  Applications are due by May 30, 2026.  Recipients will be announced in August.  Go to ocp.org/parish-grants for more information.

No more inflatables at Parish/school events - Please see this letter from our insurance office that explains inflatables are now excluded from coverage.

New Administrative Assistant - Colette Gaston has been hired as the new Administrative Assistant in the Department of Personnel Services. We are excited to have her join the team.

Curia Structure update - We have transitioned employee benefits to be managed by the Office for Human Resources.  Please direct employee benefit questions (regarding current benefits) to [email protected].  Other employee human resources questions (job postings, discipline, etc.) can still be directed to [email protected] and safe environment questions to [email protected]. With the increased need to support parishes and schools with safety assessments and risk planning, the Office for Insurance and Benefits will now be the Office for Insurance Risk Management, using the email address [email protected]. **Please note, questions about the former pension should be directed to [email protected]; questions about the new 403b should be directed to [email protected]

Join The Vestibule, a monthly online networking group for parish stewardship leaders and parish staff - To sign up, email [email protected].

This month’s topic is:
“All Things Stewardship! How One Stewardship Committee Transformed the Life and Giving of Its Parish.”

The discussion will be led by Linda Maccarone, Director of Parish Mission at Saint Mary Parish in Royal Oak, Michigan, and moderated by Debbie Leaverton, ICSC Stewardship Consultant. 

The Vestibule is a one-hour gathering focused on practical stewardship ideas, shared experiences, and open discussion.

Tribunal training day - Please see this letter from Father Dominic Vahling inviting priests, deacons, and parish staff to a Tribunal training day, which will equip priests, deacons, and qualified parishioners to assist parishioners in preparing a petition for a declaration of nullity of marriage. The content offered will be the same as was offered to the Alton Deanery in the fall of 2025. All current Advocates are encouraged to attend, and pastors are asked to identify new parishioners who they think would serve well in this function.

Here is the RSVP form

Called and Sent promotion - Called & Sent is a high school summer retreat that still has spots available, and it’s a powerful experience for teens who are open to growing in their faith and learning more about where God may be leading them. Throughout the week, they’ll hear from priests, religious, and lay speakers, all centered on the heart of our faith—the Eucharist—and what it means to follow Christ on the path to heaven.

The retreat will take place July 18–23 at the Villa Maria Retreat Center in Springfield.

How to promote it:

If you have high school students in your parish who might benefit from this, personally invite them or help spread the word through a bulletin announcement (which includes graphics) or this flyer can be given to students, hung up at school/church, etc.

Here is the event page: dio.org/event/called-and-sent-retreat/
For questions, reach out to Fr. Zach Samples at [email protected]