On June 20 the Springfield in Illinois Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) presented the fourth annual Our Lady of Good Counsel Women of Distinction Award to 67 women. More than 500 people attended the 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, which was followed by a luncheon at Northfield Inn and Conference Center.

RAYMOND — Eighty-two diocesan priests listened, discussed and inquired about the spirituality of stewardship and discipleship as a way of life during their Spring Gathering March 10-11 at the Magnuson Grand Hotel and Conference Center near Raymond. Three priests and two laypersons from the Diocese of Wichita were their guests and presenters.

GRAFTON — "Mary, Queen of peace … here I am … show me the way!" was the theme of the 86th Annual Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) Convention held on Oct. 29 at Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center in Grafton, and hosted by the Jacksonville deanery SDCCW. More than 225 attended the convention.

"God has a word for you this day."

Pat Gohn, author of Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious spoke these first words to more than 120 women that attended "In Her Cherished Heart 2014" on Sept. 13, at the Chiara Center in Springfield.

Some parishes, although rural and small, are alive and vibrant with parish activity that goes far beyond the Sunday weekend Mass schedule. Usually these parishes share their pastor with one or more other parishes. The parishioners have come to understand how important it is to assist the pastor with parish responsibilities and have come forward to volunteer in areas such as, sacramental preparation, visiting the sick and homebound, training liturgical ministers, music ministry for liturgies, social justice issues, business administration, financial issues and many more areas of parish life.

Marlene Mulford, chancellor and director of pastoral planning, answers some frequently asked questions about the 2010 Parish Pastoral Plan.