MARBURY, Ala. — On Nov. 22, Sister Mary Thomas of the Holy Name of Jesus, OP, made her first profession of vows as a cloistered Dominican nun at the Dominican Monastery of St. Jude in Marbury, Ala. The former Nicole Rankin graduated from her family's homeschool high school in Quincy and completed her freshman year at Quincy Community College prior to entering the monastery in 2011.

One of the many Nativity displays throughout the Springfield diocese that bears special mention is the one restored recently at Holy Trinity Church in Stonington. Church historians tell Catholic Times Father J. J. Corcoran was the parish priest in 1913 when the pieces were purchased for $125. In January 2013, a letter to parishioners was attached to the Sunday bulletin which reported that for the past several years, church officials had noticed how fragile some of the statues were becoming and that they were in need of repair. There were also random areas on the crèche where the paint had chipped.

DECATUR — About 940 people from throughout the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois attended the 19th Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference (DAEC) held Nov. 16-17 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. The theme for this year's biennial conference, which is coordinated by the Office for Catechesis and made possible in part by the Annual Catholic Services Appeal, was "Growing Communities of Faith."

Father August Joseph Sperl, who at the time of his death was the oldest diocesan priest for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, passed away Nov. 12 at the St. Francis Motherhouse. He was 94 and had been a priest for 60 years.

William "Bill" Morgan Vann Jr., father of Bishop Kevin Vann of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange in California, died peacefully at St. John's Hospice at midnight on Nov. 13, with family at his side. He was 89.

Nothing brings to mind the real meaning of Advent and Christmas more than seeing a Nativity scene — a lovely remembrance of the birth of Christ. That's why this year, as in several years past, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis will be hosting a three-afternoon Nativity Festival at the Chiara Center on the grounds of the motherhouse at 4875 LaVerna Road in Springfield.

Two speakers at the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference offered sound advice on how parents and grandparents can provide their families a fine beginning by teaching them about their Catholic faith.

The deadline for Catholic Times' 2014 Christmas cover contest is fast approaching. The contest, open to Catholic school and Parish School of Religion students in grades kindergarten through sixth, offers a $25 cash prize for the best original artwork depicting the Christmas Nativity story.

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach has launched a year-long campaign to prevent the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

Mission Outreach hospital partners responded with supply donations, and individuals and organizations are rallying to raise $250,000 to send eight, 40-foot shipping containers to the continent. The first container was loaded Nov. 20 at the warehouse in Springfield.

LITCHFIELD — Several hundred people from the Litchfield deanery were at Holy Family Church in Litchfield on Nov. 23, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, for the annual "Thanks for the Harvest Mass." Bishop Thomas John Paprocki was the main celebrant with Father James Neuman, dean of the Litchfield deanery and pastor of Holy Family and of St. Agnes in Hillsboro, concelebrating the Mass. Deacon Sean Caveny proclaimed the Gospel and assisted at the altar. Father Brian Alford was master of ceremonies.

HIGHLAND — As America was celebrating its independence last July, Angie Daley was thinking about her children and the challenges they faced.

She wrote a letter to the local Knights of Columbus Council 1580 to tell them that she and her husband, Elijah, wished for something that would make her children happy — a bicycle. But the bike they needed was not just a normal bike. It's an adaptive bike and costs $4,000.

On Sept. 17, the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, the American Province of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George installed its new provincial administration under the guidance of Mother M. Maximilia Um FSGM.

Just in time for decorating for the holiday season — or if you are looking for a special gift to share — St. Joseph's Home of Springfield offers its 22nd annual city ornament for sale. The 2014 ornament, the first-ever to be available in color, features The Pasfield House Inn.

The route to Springfield began in Decatur and ran through New England, Russia, Latvia and England for the new director of music and liturgy at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Dr. G. Fredrick Guzasky has served as adjunct professor at Bridgewater State University, an affiliated artist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and organist and choirmaster at several parishes in Massachusetts. He has performed in recitals throughout New England, Russia, Latvia, and England. A recipient of Boston University's Outstanding Performance Award and the EMACT Award in conducting, Guzasky has taught master classes at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia.

ALTON — With Saint Anthony's historical affiliation with OSF Healthcare System, Ajay Pathak has been appointed president and CEO of OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center and OSF Saint Clare's Hospital effective Nov. 1. He succeeds Sister M. Mikela Meidl, FSGM, who will transfer to a new role in Ministry Services Administration at OSF offices in Peoria.

DECATUR — As December approaches, HSHS St. Mary's Hospital is offering members of the Decatur community and beyond an opportunity to honor or remember loved ones by purchasing a light on a large and brilliant star that shines from atop the hospital each holiday season.

The Marian Center of Springfield, along with the Serra Club of Springfield, is once again sponsoring a Novena to the Immaculate Conception beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30 and continuing through the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, which is Monday, Dec. 8.

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.

MT. STERLING — "Five Catholic Education Leaders Honored at NCEA Seton Awards Gala in Washington, D.C." screamed the headline of the nationwide press release issued by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the Tracy Family Foundation was one of them.

CHICAGO — Pathways.org, a Chicago based not-for-profit, has recognized St. Charles Borromeo Church in Charleston with a $1,000 grant for efforts to include worshipers of all abilities as active participants. The congregation submitted an application describing the steps it has taken to.provide accommodations so members of all abilities can worship, attend social functions and serve in ministries at the parish.

And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full. — Luke 9:17.

A committed cadre of central Illinois Catholics is embarking on an innovative plan to reclaim unused pharmaceuticals from diverse institutions like correctional facilities and long term care pharmacies, and make them available for use by medical missions.

Just in time to offer assistance during the holiday season and also to observe a significant anniversary, Holy Family Food Pantry along with several Springfield Catholic Charities offices, have moved to 120 S. 11th St., the southeast corner of 11th and Washington streets.

With the holiday season fast approaching, it is once again time to begin thinking about families who might do without traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas meals. That is why the Holy Family Food Pantry plans on feeding a total of almost 800 families for the two holidays.

Two members of the diocesan Department for Catechetical Services were in Rome recently to attend the International Meeting on the Pastoral Plan of Evangelii Gaudium. The meeting — which began on the afternoon of Sept. 18 and ended around midday on Sept. 20 — was overseen by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. It was held in Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City.

"I think you want to become a priest." This was the content of an instant message that my twin sister sent to me almost 10 years ago before I had ever seriously considered the possibility of entering the seminary. Over the next few months, several of my co-workers would joke with me, telling me that I was going to become a priest. My response to these suggestions was always one of casual dismissal. Then one day, a woman whom I had never met turned around after Mass one morning and asked me: "Have you ever thought about the priesthood?" At that point, I knew the idea of the priesthood was no joke, but something that I needed to take seriously.

Donning red vestments and invoking the name of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of Catholic lawyers, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated the Red Mass on Oct. 19 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Retired Judge John Mehlick of Illinois' seventh judicial circuit represented the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild of Springfield in leading the procession to the altar that included Father David Hoefler, diocesan vicar general, Father Seth Brown, parochial vicar of Cathedral Parish and Deacon Larry Smith.

GRANITE CITY — A bracing autumn wind swirled vestments and participants' scarves Oct. 4 as hundreds joined Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in Granite City to pray the rosary, sing and walk to The Hope Clinic for Women, the only facility within the diocese's borders that performs surgical abortions.

GRAFTON —"Mary, Queen of Peace, here I am, show me the way" is the theme for the 86th annual Springfield in Illinois Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) convention to be held at Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center, Oct. 29, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. For overnight accomodations, call (618) 786-2331.

The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis welcomed nine new Franciscan associates on Sept. 28 during the morning liturgy in St. Francis of Assisi Church in Springfield. The new associates are Mary Contri, Helen Crusen, Amy Hermes, Kris Myszka and Erik Wagner, all of Springfield; Gloria Guy of Decatur; and Dan Dallich, Lynn Gonwa and Mike Winter of Green Bay, Wis.