Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

New Diocesan Policy: Book IV, §1400 Order of Christian Funerals - Here is the revised diocesan policy Book IV, §1400 Order of Christian Funerals which was approved by Bishop Paprocki and will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Among the revisions are new provisions regarding the proper celebration of the vigil and the delivery of words of remembrance.

Bishop Paprocki's latest Catholic Times column explains these changes.

As noted in §1410, for resources regarding funerals please contact the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate or visit https://dio.org/funeral/.

The policy is also accessible through the “About” section of the diocesan website menu found in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage (https://www.dio.org). You may also directly access all the diocesan policies and procedures at https://dio.org/policy-and-procedures/.

If you have any canonical questions about this new diocesan policy, please feel free to contact the Chancellor, Sr. Mary Maximilian Koos, O.Praem., JCL: [email protected] or (217) 321-1134, and she will be happy to assist you.

Better way to give announcements at end of Mass

Dear priests/deacons,

I found this recent advice from Father Mike Schmitz that is a good reminder for how to give announcements at the end of Mass:

"Most of the time, we make announcements by simply giving the facts - telling people what is happening, when it's happening, and where it's happening. But, what if we told people why they would actually want to be part of something. For example, instead of just announcing the Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast this Sunday, what if we helped people see why it would be worth showing up? I think that is incredibly helpful when it comes to communication.

"One of the things I try to do whenever I am giving a presentation, a talk, or a homily is to remember that there will always be people listening who don't care - at least not yet. And, part of my job is to help them see why they should care.

"So, any good communication strategy - whether for a parish, a diocese, or an individual - has to begin there. It starts with recognizing that you need to win your audience. And by that, I don't just mean winning their trust. I mean demonstrating to them why what you are offering actually matters."

Thanks,

Andrew Hansen

Fresh stewardship content to share with your parishioners - The July 2026 edition of ICSC's Catholic Stewardship eBulletin is now available in both English and Spanish. This month's issue offers inspiring reflections and practical stewardship insights to help parishioners grow as grateful disciples.

Liturgy Training Publications (LTP) Annuals 2027 Order Summary - The Diocese is offering LTP materials at discounted prices for 2027 orders. LTP-published books are available at 35% off the list price, while audio-visual materials, some ritual books, and non-LTP publications receive 10% off. Shipping costs are 10% of the order value or the actual shipping cost (whichever is higher), plus a $6 drop charge, with a minimum shipping fee of $7. Prices are subject to publisher changes.

To place an order:

• Complete this official electronic RTF order form and save it to your computer.
• Provide your name, institution, shipping address, phone number, and email.
• Select items from the LTP catalog and include the quantity, title, author, list price, and LTP code.
• Email the completed form to [email protected] with “LTP order” in the subject line.
• LTP will ship orders directly to your address.
• The Office for Worship and the Catechumenate will bill you for the cost plus shipping; payment is due within 17 days of the invoice.
• Returns require prior approval from the Office for Worship and may include additional shipping charges.

New Superintendent - Welcome, Dr. Christina Moran, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Department for Catholic Education. Dr. Moran’s background in teaching Special Education, serving as a Principal, and holding the role of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Crystal Lake Public School District, will serve her well in ensuring that our students have a strong academic foundation. Her experience as the Headmaster of a Catholic K-12 Academy means that she has practical experience bringing her gifts and knowledge to bear on building up an authentic Catholic identity in a school setting. We are excited to have her.

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]