Week of Feb. 20
Illinois March for Life in Springfield – The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois invites you to join us for the Illinois March for Life, Tuesday, March 21. The day will start with Mass, 10:00 am, Sangamon Auditorium, on the UIS Campus, 1 University Plaza, Springfield. At noon, the Illinois March for Life will hold a rally in front of the State Capitol, 2nd Street, at the Lincoln Statue. A march around the State Capitol complex will begin after the rally. The Mass, rally and march are intended for 7th-12th graders, college students, and adults. To register to attend the Mass and March go to: illinoismarchforlife.org
Nominate a teacher for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award – Do you know a Catholic school teacher who strives for academic excellence with a focus on the Catholic mission? Know a teacher who left a lasting impression on you or your child? Know a teacher who goes above and beyond for his or her students and who lives authentically Catholic? Nominate that teacher for the diocesan wide St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award! Nominations are due by March 5. Go to dio.org/schools/eas.
Download this to promote it in your parish/school
Catholic Scouting College Service Scholarships Available – The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) is awarding ten service scholarships totaling $27,000. If you are a service oriented Catholic Scout, who is a high school senior, has received the Ad Altare Dei, Light is Life or Pope Pius XII award, and earned the Eagle Scout, Summit or Quartermaster Award you may qualify. See the NCCS website: https://nccs-bsa.org/college-scholarships/ for complete eligibility requirements and the 2023 application. NCCS Scholarship applications are due by March 1st each year.
Counselor Training – The Catholic Committee on Scouting is hosting a Counselor Training webinar on Tuesday, March 14 starting at 6:30 PM. The purpose of Counselor Training is to familiarize adult leaders with the program requirements for the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII emblems for youth members of Scouts BSA and Venturing units as well as the Mary the First Disciple, the Spirit Alive and Missio recognitions for members of Girl Scouts USA troops. Trained adult leaders are required to facilitate these religious award programs for Scouts. To register, please contact Kyle Holtgrave at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154 or email kholtgrave@dio.org. Certification is valid for three years. For more information about the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, go to http://scouts.dio.org.
Internship – Do you know someone who may be interested in an internship? The Office for Pro-Life Activities and Special Ministries is offering a paid internship. The intern will complete tasks promoting social justice, working on behalf of the marginalized, developing relationships with community leaders and practicing Catholic social teaching. The internship starts September 2023 with an hourly rate of $16 per hour. Catholics with good wring abilities, able to drive, and who have an interest in Catholic social justice are encouraged to apply. Visit dio.org/plasm/events.html for information about downloading the application and submitting a resume. Applications are due February 28. Contact Donna Moore with any questions: dmoore@dio.org, 217-321-1161.
Contraception, transgenderism, dating, relationships – how do we navigate all this? – Jason Evert has traveled to six continents to bring the message of purity to millions of people for more than 20 years. He has a masters in Theology and degrees in Counseling and Theology. He is a best-selling author of more than 15 books, and he and his wife run Chastity Project and its website, chastity.com, the podcast “Lust is Boring,” and lead an international alliance of young people who promote purity in more than 40 countries. He joins Dive Deep to discuss contraception, transgenderism, dating, relationships, and more. Go to dio.org/podcast or search Dive Deep on all the major podcast platforms to listen and subscribe.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Have you created Eucharist/Mass artwork? – Jessica Howell, the Campus Minister at Quincy University, is assembling a “Year of the Eucharist” art display in the Gray Gallery of QU’s Brenner Library. If you have created a piece of art (painting drawing, photograph, graphic design, or sculpture) that depicts the Eucharist, the Mass, the person of Jesus, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the person of Mary, or the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and you would like to have your art featured in the display, please contact Jessica at howelje@quincy.edu or at 217-228-4532 ext. 3617 by June 30, 2023. However, the earlier you contact her, the better! Thank you in advance for making Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament better known and loved at Quincy University!
You are invited to a historical diocesan-wide celebration at the BOS Center in Springfield – To celebrate the Year of the Eucharist going on in our diocese right now and the 100th anniversary of the transfer of the See city of our diocese from Alton to Springfield, a Eucharistic Congress is taking place Saturday, October 28 at the BOS Center in Springfield. This major event will include talks from nationally recognized Catholic speakers, adoration, confession, and Mass where the arena will be packed with thousands of Catholics from across the diocese. You are invited! Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with the first speaker starting at 1 p.m., and Mass begins at 4 p.m. Stay tuned for how to get free tickets and mark your calendar! There will be no Masses at parishes on Saturday, Oct. 28. We want you in Springfield!
Here is a jpeg graphic that can pair with that
Free episode of The Chair highlights the rich story of our diocese from yesterday to today – The story of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is featured in an episode of The Chair, a television series celebrating the best of Catholicism in the United States. From the physical beauty of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield to the history of our diocese from our founding to the present, you’ll learn things about our region you never knew before and see Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in his role of bishop. This intimate portrait of our diocese is an opportunity to see our history and the journey of Bishop Paprocki from his youth to our shepherd of today. To watch the FREE episode and others, go to thechair.com/watchnow. Note, you’ll have to create a FREE account to watch.
Here is a graphic you can use to go alongside this announcement
Promote annual collection for Church in Central-Eastern Europe:
Weekends Leading up to the Collection (February 5-19, 2023)
We will take up the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. This collection supports the Church in more than 25 countries that still struggle to recover from former communist rule. Funds from this collection support pastoral care, catechesis, renovations, and seminary formation. Your support restores the Church and builds the future in this region. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection next week. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/ccee.
Pronto realizaremos la Colecta para la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental. Esta colecta apoya a la Iglesia en más de 25 países que aún siguen luchando para recuperarse del antiguo régimen comunista. Los fondos de esta colecta fi nancian el cuidado pastoral, la catequesis, la renovación de sus edifi cios y la formación de seminaristas. El apoyo de ustedes restaura la Iglesia y construye el futuro en esa región. Por favor, en oración, consideren cómo pueden dar su apoyo a la colecta la próxima semana. Para más información, entren a www.usccb.org/ccee
Week of the Collection
This week our special collection supports the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. Your donation today helps restore the Church and build the future in more than 25 countries still struggling to recover from former communist rule. Funds from this collection support reconstruction, education, formation, and poverty outreach. Please be generous to the collection today. For more information, please visit www.usccb.org/ccee.
Esta semana nuestra colecta especial apoya a la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental. Sus donativos de hoy ayudan a restaurar la Iglesia y construir el futuro en más de 25 países que aún siguen luchando para recuperarse del antiguo régimen comunista. Los fondos de esta colecta ayudan en la reconstrucción, educación, formación y programas sociales dirigidos a los pobres. Por favor, sean generosos en la colecta de hoy. Para más información, por favor, visiten www.usccb.org/ccee.
Week After the Collection
Thank you for your generous contributions last week to the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe! As a parish, we collected $[amount] to restore the Church and build the future in more than 25 countries. If you missed the collection, it’s not too late to give. Visit www.usccb.org/ccee.
¡Muchas gracias por sus generosas contribuciones la semana pasada a la Colecta para la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental! Como parroquia, hemos recaudado $[cantidad] para restaurar la Iglesia y construir el futuro en más de 25 países. Si no alcanzaron a dar en la colecta, aún lo pueden hacer. Visiten www.usccb.org/ccee.
Volunteers Needed for Sacraments – The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is looking for volunteers to assist with the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Over 1,200 third graders come to the Cathedral each year from throughout the diocese to receive these holy Sacraments. Please pray about joining the Curia staff in helping to make these events run smoothly. All volunteers need to have Safe Environment on file with their parish. Contact Sister M. Clementia, FSGM for more information (or 217-321-1130), access the sign-up at https://ome.flocknote.com/signup/84704 or take a picture of the QR code to be sent directly to the site. Thank you!
*Note, here is that QR code jpeg*
Project Rachel: Trust in the mercy of God’s love. Do you know someone who is carrying the grief and sorrow of past abortions? Share with them the Good News of God’s merciful love. Call Project Rachel for a confidential referral to those who can help: 1-877-RACHEL-5. Pray that many will seek and receive the gift of God’s infinite mercy.
Retreat for married couples offered –Worldwide Marriage Encounter presents weekend experiences for married couples to rekindle romance, enhance meaningful communication, and deepen and renew commitment. Sign-up now! For more information or to apply, go to wwme.org or call Terry & Eric Engholm at 314-649-7317. Next ones:
3/31/2023 – 4/2/2023 – Fairfield Inn (Westport Plaza), St. Louis, MO
5/5/2023 – 5/7/2023 – Drury Plaza Hotel, Cape Girardeau, MO
8/4/2023 – 8/6/2023 – Courtyard Marriott, St. Peters, MO