What you didn’t know about Venerable Father Augustine Tolton of Quincy
by Anna Fitzroy

As we celebrate Black History Month in February, we look at one of the diocese’s own, Father Augustine Tolton. Born a slave and affectionately known as “Gus,” Father Tolton is known as the first black priest in the United States. Pope Francis declared him “Venerable” in 2019, and he is currently buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Quincy. Here are five other facts about Father Tolton, who is on his way to becoming a saint!  

1. He attended an all-white school
   In 1865, Gus was enrolled at St. Boniface School in Quincy, 95 years before Ruby Bridges attended the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana. He withdrew from St. Boniface after just one month because many of the white parents threatened to leave the parish or remove their children from the school. Later, Gus attended St. Peter School at the insistence of the pastor, Father Peter McGirr.

2. His favorite hymn was Holy God, We Praise Thy Name 
   After Father Gus was ordained in Rome, he returned to Quincy as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, the parish for black Catholics. A brass band played his favorite hymn, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name as the train pulled into the station. He was greeted by a cheering crowd of thousands, a carriage for him to ride in, and an escort to St. Peter Church. 

3. He was mistakenly reported dead
   Father Gus sent out the customary cards commemorating his first Mass, which carried the phrase “in memoriam.” This was mistaken as a death notice, and the report that he had died was circulated a few months before he returned to Quincy from Rome. Father Gus later explained the obvious error to the Quincy Journal.

4. He played the accordion
   Father Gus was a talented accordionist and enjoyed playing music with his friend Fred, who accompanied him when he was reassigned to Chicago. Father Gus was also known for his beautiful singing voice and for speaking with an easy and graceful eloquence.

5. He came in second in the ‘Favorite Priest’ vote of 1889
   Even after he moved to Chicago, the people of Quincy still loved Father Gus. A few days after he left, the St. Rose Society of St. Peter Parish called a vote for their favorite priest. Father Gus came in second at 201½ votes, behind Father Brennan’s 213, but ahead of his old pastor FatherMcGirr at 98 votes. 

For more information on the life of Father Tolton and his cause for sainthood, go to dio.org. 

Anna Fitzroy lives and works in Springfield.

A holy time of preparation 
Lent begins March 2

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor 

Lent is the 40-day, penitential season of preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday (March 2) and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday with the beginning of the paschal triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday — April 14-16). 

Pope Francis has said this of Lent: “Let us not allow this season of grace to pass in vain! Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion.” 

So, consider taking advantage of the Lenten season by reading Scripture, attending daily Mass, practicing self-control by fasting, giving alms, or by doing an act of charity. Remember, Lent is not just about abstaining from luxuries but is about seeking true inner conversion of heart. 

Lenten regulations

All the Christian faithful are urged to develop and maintain a voluntary program of self-denial (in addition to the Lenten regulations that follow), serious prayer, and performing deeds of charity and mercy, including the giving of alms. 

Abstinence — Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday (March 2) and all the Fridays of Lent. 

Fasting — Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday (March 2) and Good Friday (April 15). On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each person’s needs, but together these should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are allowed.

Remember, to disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful. 

According to section 1447 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church did not establish the private practice of penance until the seventh century. Given that this practice was adapted from Irish missionaries inspired by Eastern monastic tradition, couldn’t and shouldn’t the Church consider adopting a private confession (between God and man) and incorporate that into a group service as is commonly done around Easter and Christmas instead of confessing to God through a priest? In my opinion, more Catholics would receive this sacrament more often.
- Pat in Granite City

What you propose has never been part of the Church’s tradition or her understanding of the power of the sacrament of penance, which is also sometimes called confession or reconciliation. Jesus established this sacrament of forgiveness when he said to the Apostles, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:23). Nowhere in the Gospels does Christ Jesus tell us it is enough to confess our sins directly to God; neither is such a notion found in the other writings of the New Testament. It simply is not a Biblical idea.

Rather, Jesus entrusted his authority to forgive sins to his Church, to his Apostles, who in turn entrusted this authority to their successors, the bishops, and also to the priests of the Church who act in the person of Christ. If these ministers of the Church are to determine which sins to forgive, they must know what the sins are. This is why the sacrament of penance requires the confession of sins to a priest. This Biblical foundation of the sacrament cannot be forgotten, nor can it be diminished.

It is true that the Church only began to implement an individual confession of sins to a priest around the seventh century, what the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the “private” confession of sins. This happened late in the history of the Church because it took some time for the Church to come to a deeper understanding of the power of the sacrament entrusted to her. Prior to this time, the Church understood that the only sins that could be forgiven through this sacrament after baptism were those of adultery, apostasy, and murder, and that these could only be forgiven once. When these sins were confessed, they confessed publicly before the gathered assembly of the faithful after which the bishop or priest absolved the penitent and imposed a heavy penance that could take years to fulfill. The Irish monks helped the Church arrive at a deeper understanding of the mercy of God active through this sacrament.

It would be impossible for the Church to do away with the ministry of priests and bishops in the sacrament of penance because they are part of the will of the Lord for his Church, and the Church cannot contradict the intentions of her Founder. That the Holy Spirit was given by the Lord Jesus to the Apostles for the forgiveness of sins is recalled in the first half of the formula of absolution: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins.” 

It is my hope and prayer that more people avail themselves of the grace of confession. If you or someone you know is afraid to go to confession, it is important to remember that when one enters the confessional, the priest will walk and help you through it. So as Scripture reminds us, do not be afraid, because what lies on the other side after confession is forgiveness of our sins, a clean slate, and your relationship with God restored.

Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Ashland and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Growing up in a strong Catholic family, Lauren Jatcko’s faith has always been important to her (the Jatckos are parishioners at St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville). But little did she know that her strong faith would be the shared enthusiastic connection between her and her now fiancé Joey Pruski. 

Jatcko and Pruski first stumbled upon each other via social media. Pruski was a touring musician from Texas, and Jatcko was a nanny at the time in Illinois. They became friends and kept in touch, but it was nothing more than just casual exchanges. One day, Pruski reached out to Jatcko and invited her to one of his shows so they could meet. 

“Though I had no intentions of sparking anything beyond the friendship we had built, I happily agreed,” Jatcko said. “We met a month later, and to our surprise, we had a lot in common. One of the very first things we discovered was that we were both Catholic! In that moment we both couldn't stop smiling and exchanged stories about how it was growing up in the Church.”

Fast forward to today, and now the happy couple is engaged, with the wedding to take place at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Kosciusko, Texas.

Jatcko and Pruski’s courtship and soon-to-be marriage is a refreshing reminder that despite growing numbers of couples choosing not to get married in the faith of the Church, there are still many young people who understand the importance of it and desire to enter into this holy sacrament. 

“We both firmly believe that to have a strong and lasting marriage, God must be the center of it,” Jatcko said. “Marriage is a sacrament, and we look to treat it as such. We have both been raised as Catholics and want to continue growing stronger in our faith together as one, and for the future of our family.” 

As the couple prepares for their wedding day, Jatcko says what they are looking forward to most is starting and raising a family and instilling the values and faith their parents instilled in them into their new family. 

“We believe that our Catholic faith will guide us in giving the other compassion and forgiveness as Christ gives us,” Jatcko says. “We believe that prayer is the binding ingredient to keep a marriage strong and solid. Faith strengthens all.”

Cutline

Edwardsville native Lauren Jatcko and Joey Pruski are engaged and will exchange vows at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Kosciusko, Texas. 

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor 

They came from every corner of our diocese to pray together, worship together, receive the Eucharist together, and march together — all for one purpose: for the protection of human life. 

About 700 clergy, religious, teachers, students, and other lay Catholics from across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois packed the streets of downtown Springfield to participate in the Springfield March for Life Jan. 21, raising their voices in prayer for the unborn and most vulnerable and protesting unjust laws that attack the dignity of human life. Marching past the Statehouse, Illinois Supreme Court building, and Governor’s Mansion, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki led the group in peacefully praying the rosary for an end to abortion and a greater respect for human life. This year marked the 49^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Jan. 22, 1973, U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. 

“Life begins at conception, so we should protect it and fight for that,” said Audrey Lasarge, a student at Sacred Heart School in Effingham.

“Babies can’t defend themselves,” said Ella Farris, a student at Mattoon High School. “They’re completely defenseless. They need someone to fight for them. That’s us. We’re here to fight for the lives that can’t fight for themselves.”

“Especially with our culture today, they want to really silence us, and they want to make us think that we don’t have a group, and that we don’t have enough numbers,” said Jacob Mizera, a student at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield. “I think we do. That’s proved in the march as we have 700 people, and it’s really exciting to make our voices heard and show people that this is a popular idea (fighting for life), and this is the truth.”

The day began with Catholics first joining together for a Life Mass at 10 a.m., celebrated by Bishop Paprocki at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Concelebrating with the bishop were 14 priests from across the diocese. The Mass was also livestreamed on the diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels so schools who could not make the trip could participate virtually. 

In his homily, Bishop Paprocki reminded the faithful to stay hopeful and continue to act and speak up for life. “Most mothers and fathers who consider aborting their children do so because they are afraid,” Bishop Paprocki said. “They are afraid they will not be able to care for their children. We in the pro-life movement must expand our already extensive efforts through our women’s centers, our pregnancy centers, and our Catholic Charities programs to offer life affirming and healing services to women in crisis, either by helping them to have access to the resources they need to care for their babies or if they are not able to do so, to assist them in giving up their children for adoption to the many adoptive parents that are ready, willing, and able to care for them. These are just some of the ways that we are called to end the scourge of abortion with the help of God’s grace.”

After the Mass, most everyone bundled up but did their best to embrace the below freezing temperatures to participate in the prayer march in downtown Springfield. While praying the rosary, the marchers prayed for vulnerable mothers contemplating having an abortion, those who work in the abortion industry, mothers who are struggling financially or emotionally, for lawmakers to enact laws that defend the sanctity of human life, and for a greater respect for life, including an end to abortion. The march in Springfield passed buildings of each branch of government before returning to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for Benediction. 

“I believe in being pro-life, and I want to protect everyone who can’t be protected,” said Gracie Harman, a student at Sacred Heart School in Effingham. “It makes me proud that there is a group where we all believe in the same thing.”  

“We are the prolife generation, and I think having a really large turnout for events like these really helps impress upon everyone that we’re going to make sure that we’re going to have a positive impact in getting rid of abortion,” said Rick Wright, a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Those attending the Mass and Springfield March for Life came from schools across the diocese including St. Anthony High School in Effingham, Sacred Heart School in Effingham, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield (the student choir sang at Mass), Christ the King School in Springfield, and Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon. 

Parishes sending students and/or adult lay Catholics included St. Isidore in Dieterich, Immaculate Conception in Mattoon, Our Lady of Lourdes in Decatur, Blessed Trinity in Brussels, St. Mary in Alton, St. Charles Borromeo in Charleston, Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville, St. Francis Xavier in Jerseyville, St. Brigid in Liberty, St. Francis Solanus in Quincy, St. Raymond in Raymond, St. Alexius in Beardstown, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Mt. Zion, St. Luke in Virginia, St. Paul in Highland, Annunciation in Shumway, St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham, Mother of Dolors in Vandalia, St. Thomas the Apostle in Newton, St. Francis of Assisi in Teutopolis, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Alexander, St. Mary in Pittsfield, Sacred Heart in Virden, St. Ambrose in Godfrey, St. Agnes in Hillsboro, St. Anthony in Effingham, Sacred Heart in Effingham, Christ the King in Springfield, Holy Ghost in Jerseyville, St. Joseph in Springfield, Holy Family in Decatur, Blessed Sacrament in Quincy, St. Agnes in Springfield, Annunciation in Shumway, St. Thomas in Camp Point, Cathedral in Springfield, Holy Family in Granite City, St. Jude in Rochester, St. Louis in Nokomis, St. Columcille in Sullivan, St. Rose of Lima in Montrose, and Ss. Mary and Joseph in Carlinville.

The Eastern Illinois University Newman Center also had students participate as well as sisters from the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, the Knights of Columbus State Council, and Calhoun for Life. 

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor 

In 2021, Shelly Sands, president of Missions International and a teacher at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, traveled to Guatemala to meet with the bishops and priests of Jalapa, Jutiapa, Izabal, and Petén. She says those holy and devoted men expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the assistance they receive from sister parishes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and other places. 

The purpose of Missions International, which is based in Highland, is to evangelize unreached people with the Gospel of Christ, bringing glory to God, through the transformation of lives and lifestyles of remote groups of people. They aim to establish churches, medical clinics, and homes among the unreached people groups of Central America, South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. They also cultivate ministry partners and create opportunities for teams of people to go on mission trips.

Missions International also has a “sister parish” program that involves connecting Catholic parishes in the Caribbean and Central and Latin Americas with “sister parishes” in the United States, who then provide spiritual and financial assistance to their sister parish. Sands’ home parish, St. Paul Parish in Highland, has a sister parish in Haiti. 

According to Sands, there are 19 parishes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois with sister parishes in Guatemala, nine parishes with sister parishes in Haiti, and one parish with a sister parish in Venezuela. 

“I can’t even begin to express the overwhelming joy of being able to sit and talk with the pastors of our sister parishes (in other countries),” Sands said. “They are so grateful.”

Padre Teodoro, pastor of one of the sister parishes, explained to Sands just how much support from sister parishes in our diocese has meant during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“What everyone needs to understand is not only were their churches closed much longer than ours, but the priests did not get paid,” Sands said. “They rely on the donations, money or food, from their parishioners to survive. Without contact with parishioners, the pastors of our sister parishes were left with little resources.” Sands added that she wishes the parishes in our diocese could have heard Padre Teodoro express his gratitude as his words of thanks were so authentic. 

“After he finished his expression of thanks, one by one all the other pastors stood and stated that they, too, gave thanks to God for their brothers and sisters in their sister parishes,” Sands said. “The pastors of Guatemala were amazed that during our struggle we continue to support them. This was a true act of love, just as Jesus would do. I could feel in my heart their loving gratitude and continued support of all of us.” 

For example, after a devastating earthquake in Haiti in August 2021, Missions International organized an unique effort where several hundred faith-filled volunteers from schools and parishes in our diocese spent hours packing food into boxes for those impacted by the earthquake. A total of 22,680 servings were packed and delivered to the hungry in Haiti by Hospital Sisters Outreach in Springfield. An extra $900 from the donation for Haiti earthquake relief was sent to the religious order of St. Joseph the Apparition, who “do wonderful work in Haiti,” Sands said.  Those donations have all been distributed and used and did much to help the sisters assist “the poorest of the poor that have suffered from the earthquake,” she said. 

Learning about the ten martyrs of Quiché 

While Sands was in Guatemala, she also heard devastating stories of some martyrs who gave their lives for their faith during the 1980s. “You may have heard of Father Stanley Rother who was martyred in 1981 and beatified in 2017. During the civil war in Guatemala many Catholics were killed,” she said. Those included including 12-year-old Juan Berrera Méndez, known as Juanito, three priests who were missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and six lay men in Quiché, all who were beatified in April and are known as the Ten Martyrs of Quiché. 

“They are just a few of many, and their story is one most don’t know,” she said. “In this area of Guatemala, if you were Catholic, you either buried your Bible, became Protestant, or were martyred. Most catechists were on the death list … . In Quiché, for seven years during the late 70s and early 80s the military occupied the Catholic churches, and the diocese had to be closed. When the bishop of Quiché returned to Guatemala City, he was to write a report, but he wrote the truth, and he too was martyred.”

Sands was especially moved by the story of the young catechist Juanito, who was tortured, crucified, and shot because he never denied his faith. She said that a torture chamber was created by the military. There was a small well on the parish grounds where they threw the bodies of 37 people, including mothers and babies, Sands said, noting that a Franciscan nun shared details of the torture which were very disturbing. “Inside the church the floor had to be torn up to find the remains of others,” she said. “Upon entering this parish, you truly are standing on ground that was watered with the blood of martyrs.”  Now the church only houses the remains of Juanito.

According to Sands, traveling to Guatemala is always life changing. “We have no idea how fortunate we are,” she said. “Our faith is one of beauty and strength. The light that is shining in those who survived during these troubling times of Guatemala is so bright. Words cannot begin to describe it.” 

Announcing the 2022 trip to sister parishes of Guatemala

Missions International will be organizing a trip to sister parishes of Jalapa, Jutiapa, Izabal, and Petén July 10-16, 2022. There will be limited room based on restrictions due to COVID.  These restrictions can change and will be explained at the first meeting for those interested in traveling. 

Each sister parish will be restricted to two-to-three people on the trip. It is always good if you have someone traveling who is fluent in Spanish, but if not, a translator will be provided in Guatemala. 

You will spend three-to-four nights and four-to-five days in your sister parish depending on your previous travels to Guatemala.  Accommodation can vary depending on your sister parish.

You will spend two-to-three nights and one-to-two days in Guatemala City at the retreat center for the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.  At the retreat center there will be speakers focusing on Guatemalan history, culture, and martyrs.  You may also choose to visit Antigua during this time. You will enjoy a dinner with the pastor of your sister parish the night before traveling to your sister parish.

Both flights will be early morning flights getting travelers into Guatemala and the United States by midafternoon.

If you are interested in this trip, please email   before Feb. 28, 2022, to receive future information about the meeting for this trip.

The Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) is offering four $1,000 scholarships to recognize outstanding Catholic female high school seniors.  Applicants will be judged on how they exemplify the SDCCW’s mission values of leadership, faith, and service.

Young women who are interested in applying for the scholarship should contact their high school principal, high school guidance office or parish office for applications.  The application, essay and two letters of recommendations are required.  The application deadline is April 1, 2022.

Scholarship winners will be notified in May and honored at the Women of Distinction Banquet in July.

SDCCW is an affiliate of the National Council of Catholic Women and actively promotes the Catholic faith through service and leadership.  The council is comprised of representatives from the deaneries of our Springfield diocese.  More scholarship information is available by contacting Mary Ann Sullivan at .

Catholics are invited to a Gospel Mass and soul food lunch in Springfield, hosted by the Black Catholic Commission. Taking place on Sunday, Feb. 26, the Mass starts at 11 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church on Springfield’s north end. Father Fredrick Chima Mbiere, pastor of Resurrection Parish in Illiopolis and St. John Vianney Parish in Sherman, will be the celebrant. The soul food lunch follows Mass and is $5 per person. 

“The Gospel Mass and soul food lunch is an event acknowledging Black History Month,” said Donna Moore, director of the Office for the Office for Pro-Life Activities, Missions, and Special Ministries for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. “It’s a time to celebrate and honor the Lord, remember the past, acknowledge the present diversity among Catholics, and to embrace opportunities for inclusiveness in the future.”  

If you want to attend the lunch, please RSVP so enough food is prepared. You can call Donna Moore at (217) 321-1161 or email her at  .

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

Pope St. John Paul II said that “The very evangelization of modern culture depends to a great extent on the influence of the media." That is what Covenant Network and Relevant Radio, two Catholic radio networks that have affiliate stations in our diocese, are doing on a daily basis.

Adam Wright wakes every morning at 5:15 a.m. to host Roadmap to Heaven on Covenant Network, which is based in St. Louis. The 7-8 a.m. live show is broadcasted throughout 43 stations in 10 archdioceses/dioceses in the Midwest and south, including several cities in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Wright’s show continuously features several priests from our diocese who discuss diocesan events, Catholic family life, Catholic news in our region, and Catholic theology. Wright also interviews Bishop Thomas John Paprocki every other month about diocesan, national, and international Catholic news. Wright’s show combines humor and authentic Catholicism in a fast paced, yet easy to consume way, all in effort to help you become a saint.

“Roadmap to Heaven is your ‘local’ dose of daily inspiration to strive for holiness,” Wright said. “It takes faith, perseverance, commitment, and a lot of grace to have that daily conversion and choose Christ. We feature stories about everyday Catholics who are in the same walks of life as our listeners.”

Covenant Network has several affiliates across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. This includes 88.9 FM in Springfield, 106.3 FM in Beardstown; 95.9 FM in Carlinville; AM 1080 in Edwardsville; 91.3 FM in Effingham; 102.5 FM in Mattoon; 92.1 FM in Pittsfield; 93.7 FM in Quincy; AM 1410 in Taylorville; and 96.9 FM in Williamsville. The mission of Covenant Network is simple: evangelize the Catholic faith. 

Covenant Network itself is an affiliate of EWTN’s global Catholic radio and features other popular programming such as The Doctor is In with Dr. Ray Guarendi, Open Line (taking your faith-based questions live), Catholic Answers (apologetics and evangelization), and the praying of the rosary, among other informative and inspirational programming. 

“It never fails that we meet listeners who found answers to their questions listening to Covenant Network,” Wright said. “Whether it was something keeping them away from the faith or an impediment to growing in their faith, listeners have found the answers they needed because of the programming on Covenant Network.”

If you would like to donate to Covenant Network, you can visit OurCatholicRadio.org or call (314) 752-7000 or (877) 305-1234.  

Relevant Radio, another Catholic radio network, which has 182 affiliates nationwide, has stations in Decatur and St. Louis (which can be heard in the Metro East area of our diocese). Like Covenant Network, Bishop Paprocki is a frequent guest on Relevant Radio’s national programing, including the Patrick Madrid Show in the morning and the Drew Mariani Show in the afternoon. The rosary is also prayed nightly at 7 p.m.

WDCR, 88.9 FM and 96.5 FM in Decatur, is an affiliate of Relevant Radio. They recently celebrated 10 years of serving listeners in Macon County. 

“WDCR with the help of Relevant Radio broadcast the true word of God,” said Jim Comerford, president of the WDCR board said. “Catholic news is provided in a timely manner by members of the clergy and hosts who are up to date on Catholic teachings. If you have questions about what is said the host are available by phone or email.” 

WDCR offers a local program called Catholic and Company. Airing three times on Thursdays at 8 a.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m., hosts Father Chris Comerford (pastor of Ss. James and Patrick Parish in Decatur), Dave Slade, Katherine Smith, and Sharon Shilawski, highlight what is going on in the Catholic community locally and in the diocese. 

You don’t have to be in Macon County to listen. You can listen live and find archived podcasts of the shows at wdcrradio.com. You can donate to WDCR by going to wdcrradio.com or calling (217) 464-1099. 

“WDCR is a listener supported radio station,” Jim Comerford said. “The great support of our listeners has allowed us to continue to grow and to add options such as streaming to make listening convenient. Our listeners are the greatest! They go all out for us.”

Relevant Radio also has affiliates in the St. Louis area: 95.1 FM and 1380 AM (Spanish). Relevant Radio’s guiding principles include being faithful to the Magisterium and Catechism of the Catholic Church, being united to the bishops, and being under the protective intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The stories of impact Catholic radio is having on people is tremendous. Wright says that every year, they hear from multiple listeners who have fallen away from the faith, sometimes for years, because of a question or doubt that became an impediment. 

“Through God’s grace and one of our Catholic Radio bumper stickers and yard signs, they end up tuning into Covenant Network and find a solid, thorough answer to the question that kept them away,” Wright said. “These stories are usually very moving as the impediments were very difficult for these listeners.”

Jim Comerford says that when he hears someone has returned to the Catholic church after listening to WDCR, they are doing their job.  

“We have one couple who joined the church after listening and are very active members of their parish,” Comerford said. “We understand we are God’s helpers and will continue to work to let everyone know God loves them.”

Then, there is the funny story involving Father Michael Berndt, parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Effingham. He said that while he was a priest in Springfield and went out for lunch, a man ran into the store and paid for his lunch after seeing Father Berndt walk inside the establishment. The man said he wanted to pay for Father Berndt’s lunch because he heard Father Berndt’s vocation story interview on Covenant Network and was grateful for his priestly vocation.  

Cutlines

Adam Wright, host of Roadmap to Heaven on Covenant Network, prepares to go LIVE in the studio based in St. Louis. Covenant Network has 10 radio station affiliates in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Father Chris Comerford, pastor of Ss. James and Patrick Parish in Decatur, is one of the hosts of Catholic and Company on WDCR in Decatur.

By Andrew Hansen

They came from every corner of our diocese to pray together, worship together, receive the Eucharist together, and march together — all for one purpose: for the protection of human life. 

About 700 clergy, religious, teachers, students, and other lay Catholics from across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois packed the streets of downtown Springfield to participate in the Springfield March for Life Jan. 21, raising their voices in prayer for the unborn and most vulnerable and protesting unjust laws that attack the dignity of human life. Marching past the Statehouse, Illinois Supreme Court building, and Governor’s Mansion, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki led the group in peacefully praying the rosary for an end to abortion and a greater respect for human life. This year marked the 49^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Jan. 22, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. 

“Life begins at conception, so we should protect it and fight for that,” said Audrey Lasarge, a student at Sacred Heart School in Effingham.

“Babies can’t defend themselves,” said Ella Farris, a student at Mattoon High School. “They’re completely defenseless. They need someone to fight for them. That’s us. We’re here to fight for the lives that can’t fight for themselves.”

“Especially with our culture today, they want to really silence us, and they want to make us think that we don’t have a group, and that we don’t have enough numbers,” said Jacob Mizera, a student at Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield. “I think we do. That’s proved in the march as we have 700 people, and it’s really exciting to make our voices heard and show people that this is a popular idea (fighting for life), and this is the truth.”

The day began with Catholics first joining together for a Life Mass at 10 a.m., celebrated by Bishop Paprocki at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Concelebrating with the bishop were 14 priests from across the diocese. The Mass was also livestreamed on the diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels so schools who could not make the trip could participate virtually.  
In his homily, Bishop Paprocki reminded the faithful to stay hopeful and continue to act and speak up for life. 

“Most mothers and fathers who consider aborting their children do so because they are afraid,” Bishop Paprocki said. “They are afraid they will not be able to care for their children. We in the pro-life movement must expand our already extensive efforts through our women’s centers, our pregnancy centers, and our Catholic Charities programs to offer life affirming and healing services to women in crisis, either by helping them to have access to the resources they need to care for their babies or if they are not able to do so, to assist them in giving up their children for adoption to the many adoptive parents that are ready, willing, and able to care for them. These are just some of the ways that we are called to end the scourge of abortion with the help of God’s grace.”

After the Mass, most everyone bundled up but did their best to embrace the below freezing temperatures to participate in the prayer march in downtown Springfield. While praying the rosary, the marchers prayed for vulnerable mothers contemplating having an abortion, those who work in the abortion industry, mothers who are struggling financially or emotionally, for lawmakers to enact laws that defend the sanctity of human life, and for a greater respect for life, including an end to abortion. The march in Springfield passed buildings of each branch of government before returning to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for Benediction. 

“I believe in being pro-life, and I want to protect everyone who can’t be protected,” said Gracie Harman, a student at Sacred Heart School in Effingham said. “It makes me proud that there is a group where we all believe in the same thing.” 

“We are the prolife generation, and I think having a really large turnout for events like these really helps impress upon everyone that we’re going to make sure that we’re going to have a positive impact in getting rid of abortion,” said Rick Wright, a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Those attending the Mass and Springfield March for Life came from schools across the diocese including St. Anthony High School in Effingham, Sacred Heart School in Effingham, Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield (student choir sang at Mass), Christ the King School in Springfield, and Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon. 

Parishes sending students and/or adult lay Catholics included St. Isidore in Dieterich, Immaculate Conception in Mattoon, Our Lady of Lourdes in Decatur, Blessed Trinity in Brussels, St. Mary in Alton, St. Charles Borromeo in Charleston, Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville, St. Francis Xavier in Jerseyville, St. Brigid in Liberty, St. Francis Solanus in Quincy, St. Raymond in Raymond, St. Alexius in Beardstown, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Mt. Zion, St. Luke in Virginia, St. Paul in Highland, Annunciation in Shumway, St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham, and Mother of Dolors in Vandalia.

The Eastern Illinois University Newman Center also had students participate as well as sisters from the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton. 

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are coloring the world with their gifts, talents, prayers, generosity, sacrifice, and love. See how each school in our diocese is building up the Kingdom of God as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week Jan. 30 - Feb. 5.

Click here to see how each school is building up the Kingdom of God

‘Bringing Jesus to the people is a wonderful feeling and something that is at the very heart of the diaconate’
By DEACON ADAM COX
Special to Catholic Times 

MARYVILLE — When I was lying face down on the marble floor of the Cathedral seven months ago, I had no idea what the life of a deacon was going to look like. My very first time serving as an ordained deacon was with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki on ordination day. I have never been more nervous in my life, but he is very understanding, and I got through it. In a short period of time, I have become more confident in my role at Mother of Perpetual Help, my home parish in Maryville, and so far, becoming a deacon has been spiritually rewarding. 

It would be misleading to say that everything is always easy, but God continues to provide me strength and bless me abundantly. Some things that I do as a deacon were the same things I did prior to ordination, like helping distribute holy Communion, and while I don’t lector anymore, I do proclaim the Gospel to the people. I also get to do new things such as give homilies, offer blessings, assist with baptisms, and was recently interviewed by a family for a school project. I’m grateful for all the opportunities that have been offered since ordination, but nothing compares to distributing holy Communion to the people of the parish inside and outside the church. 

Bringing Jesus to the people is a wonderful feeling and something that is at the very heart of the diaconate. The reverence that I see from the people has been very humbling. It always brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Shortly after ordination I was given the opportunity to take Communion to someone at their home and God showed me what true love of the Eucharist is. This person was unable to speak and was very weak, but as I said the words “the Body of Christ,” I could see the love in this person’s eyes. My heart was so moved by this expression, and I could feel the love of Christ in the room with us, a truly indescribable moment, one that I will never forget! I realized at that moment, in a new way, the joy of being used by God to help minister to the people. 

I’m still new in my life as a deacon, but I have many years ahead of me, and I hope God continues to use me in my life of service to others. I could have never imagined the peace that my heart feels in my new role and the journey of getting to this point was a learning experience. I’m often reminded that the learning experience and journey are ongoing, but hopefully I can use this in helping me not grow stale in my ministry to others. 

It was easy to think during formation that eventually I would be ordained, and the formation would stop or at least slow down, but that is not the case. I’m finding that the formation has grown more intense, and I appreciate it more than ever. I also realize this is true for other aspects of my life: my marriage, my relationship with my kids, and the relationships with the people at my parish. I must continue to let God form me. When formation stops, I stop growing spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. To be effective in my ministry to others, I need to be open, honest, and be willing to adapt to where people are at in their lives, not mine. Seven months ago, I had no idea what the life of a deacon would look like, and I don’t think I’m any closer now, but my formation is only beginning and always changing.

Deacon Adam Cox serves at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Maryville.

Thinking about becoming a deacon?

Applications for the permanent diaconate in our diocese are being accepted at this time. Permanent diaconate formation begins in the fall of 2022. 

“My advice to men is pray and discern,” said Deacon Dave Sorrell, director of the Office for the Diaconate. “I know there are many men discerning a call to vocation. I simply ask them to continue their prayer of discernment if God is calling them to a vocation as a permanent deacon.”  

Deacon Sorrell also says that in addition to prayer and perhaps most importantly, men should include their wife and family in their prayer and have an open and candid discussion. They should also consult their pastor and if a deacon is ministering in the parish, seek him out as well. The pastor and deacon will be most helpful in the discernment process. The deacon and wife will be very helpful in identifying the blessings and challenges of formation and ordained life.  

The permanent diaconate is open to men between the ages of 32 and 57, who are active in the practice of our faith, and who desire to grow in their relationship with God and in their service to the Church. If interested, email Deacon Sorrell: . You can also visit dio.org/diaconate.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sin as “the failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by an attachment to certain goods. Sin wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity.”

Translation: Sin is when you miss the mark — when you choose something of lesser importance over God, another person, or your true self.

It doesn’t take much reflection to understand that not all sin is the same. Intentionally taking someone else’s life and being short tempered with someone are not morally equivalent. The First Letter of St. John says that all wrongdoing is sin, but not all sin is deadly. That is a distinction that the Church still holds today in distinguishing between mortal and venial sin. 

Venial sin is present when you act against the moral law, even in small ways such as when you slack off at work, when you binge watch Netflix and still claim you are too busy to call and check in on loved ones. We all know this list could go on. 

Mortal sin is more serious. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions have to be met. First, it has to entail “grave matter,” which means that the act itself is serious (serious according to God’s criteria, not ours!). Secondly, you have to have full knowledge that what you are doing is grave matter. Third, you have to give complete consent to the act. 

Mortal sin is a deliberate decision, by which you are saying, “I know this is a bad thing to do, and I am going to freely choose in this moment to do it anyway.” Mortal sin requires a sacramental confession to be forgiven (and so you can receive the Eucharist). 

A quick case study: John knows Catholics cannot eat meat on Fridays during Lent. He thinks about this while at lunch and says, “I know what the Church says, but who cares?” Then, he proceeds to eat a hamburger. All criteria seem to be met for mortal sin. On the other hand, Jane also knows the Church’s Lenten observances but honestly doesn’t think about it being Friday until after her hamburger. She did not give her complete consent to the act, so it is not a mortal sin. It was just a mistake.

Always remember, whether sin is mortal or venial, it is bad for us and is not good enough for our hearts and the plans of love God has for us. If you have mortal sin on your conscience, come to confession, the sacrament of mercy. Nothing is bigger or stronger than God’s mercy.  If you have no mortal sin, it is still important to ask forgiveness for our venial sins, even small ones. Make a regular practice of confession. 

Think of it like a car wash. If you have gone mudding (mortal sin), get to the wash right away. If your vehicle gets dirty ever so often (venial sin), it is still good to get it washed every three or four months!

Father Rob Johnson is pastor of Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Maryville and chaplain of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. 

One of Jesus’ key ministries was the forgiveness of sins, something He often associated with simultaneous miracles of physical healing. See Lk 5:17-26, where Jesus forgives the paralytic his sins, and then heals his paralysis. Every time He forgave, Jesus personally, intimately, and life-changingly encountered the person suffering from their sins, and this is something He wants to do for us as well! By His death and resurrection, Christ has redeemed us, conquering sin and death, and He wanted this healing and forgiving ministry to continue, so he entrusted it to the Apostles and consequently, to the Church. 

One Scripture basis for the sacrament of penance is John 20:19-23, when on Easter night, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on the Disciples and told them, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” The words of absolution said by the priest in the sacrament are rooted in this Scripture. “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Rite of Penance, 46.) 

The priest in the confessional, in the sacrament of penance, is in persona Christi, in the person of Christ, as in all sacraments. It is Christ who absolves. It is Christ who baptizes. It is Christ who offers himself on the altar at Mass. So, when penitents come to the sacrament, they are in fact confessing to God, Christ Jesus, in and through the person of the priest. This is going directly to God, as you say in your question. 

Why is this manner of confessing helpful? Here we return to the bedrock truth of the Christian faith. God became one with us in the flesh, in His incarnation. God did not just will our redemption and accomplish it by thinking it. He sent his Son, in the flesh, to personally encounter us, to save us by his death and resurrection.  

So, think of it in terms of your marriage. You did not become married just by thinking it. You said your intentions publicly, out loud to your spouse. Your words, your consent, your two-become-one, make the sacrament. It is incarnational; you are husband and wife in the flesh. When there is a rift in your marriage, when you wronged your spouse, you need to say, “I am sorry.” Sure, you can think of how sorrowful or remorseful you are, and you can presume your spouse’s forgiveness, but the rift is not really healed until words of sorrow are expressed and you hear the words, “I accept your apology and forgive you.” It is a personal, direct encounter. It is sorrow incarnated.  

The way that God created our humanity — body, soul, mind, and strength — means that we need to outwardly, verbally express both our love and our sorrow. I encourage you to go to confession so you can name your sins and express sorrow to Jesus in the person of the priest and hear his healing words of mercy.

Father Joe Ring is pastor at Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville. This originally appeared in Catholic Times in 2019.

 From my experience as a confessor and one who also goes to confession regularly, a good preparation before confession is the key to making a good confession. Think about any time you have had to have a serious conversation with somebody, especially one that might be difficult. There is no way you would go into that conversation unprepared. The anxiety of the situation could seriously compromise your ability to get your points across. But, if you prepare ahead of time, even though the nerves are there, you will be in a much better position to communicate your message. 

We all know how nervous we can get when we go to confession, so preparing ahead of time will enable us to better confess our sins despite our anxiety. Furthermore, the Church asks us that we make an integral confession, which means making as complete of a confession as possible. Just trying to think of some sins a minute or two before confession is not sufficient. 

So how does one prepare, especially if it has been a while? The first thing to do is to say a prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to shed light on those areas of your life where you need forgiveness. Then, it can be helpful to use an Examination of Conscience guide to help you identify and name your sins. You can look one up on the internet or check out the one on page 10. Make a good preparation and come receive God’s mercy in your nearest confessional!

Father Brian Alford is rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield and is the vocations director for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

1. PREPARATION: Before going to confession, take some time to prepare. Begin with prayer asking the Holy Spirit to shine His light into your heart. Ask that you can see yourself, and your life, since your last confession as He sees you. Then ask yourself whether you have — in your thoughts, words, and actions — neglected to live Christ’s commands to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37, 39)? 

As a help with this examination of conscience, you might review the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes (Ex 20:2-17; Dt 5:6-21; Mt 5:3-10; or Lk 6:20-26). Or review an Examination of Conscience guide you can find online or on page 10 in this edition of Catholic Times. If you need to, you can jot down some notes to keep from forgetting anything that has surfaced during your examination but finish your examination either way with a prayer of gratitude to God and be at peace as you head to the confessional. When you enter the confessional, you can choose to say your confession behind the screen or face-to-face depending on whichever way will best allow you to encounter God’s mercy in the sacrament. 

2. GREETING: The priest might say words of welcome to you; he may say a short blessing or read a Scripture passage. More often than not, however, he will go right to step 

#3. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS: Together, you and the priest will make the Sign of the Cross. You may then begin your confession with these or similar words: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [give days, months, or years] since my last confession.” Note, some priests may not say anything at all at the beginning. If that is the case, do not hesitate to begin with that and say “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [give days, months, or years] since my last confession.” 

4. CONFESSION: Confess all your sins to the priest. Try to be as specific as possible. If you are unsure what to say, ask the priest for help and know that if he would like more clarity on something, he will gently ask you for more details. When you are finished, conclude with these or similar words: “I am sorry for these and all my sins.” Note, you can write down your sins on paper and read them if that helps you. However, after confession, you are to destroy the paper as soon as possible as these sins have been forgiven and are no longer part of your life. 

5. PENANCE: The priest may first counsel you on how to better live a Christian life and may ask you some questions. Then, he will offer to you some act of penance. It might be prayer, a work of mercy, or an act of charity. You will know this step because the priest will say, “For your penance … .” Just remember to do your act of penance! 

6. ACT OF CONTRITION: After the priest has given you your penance, he will ask you to pray an Act of Contrition out loud. A suggested Act of Contrition you can pray is below but know that you can also simply pray from your heart a prayer expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving to sin no more.  

“My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.” (Rite of Penance, no. 45) 

7. ABSOLUTION: The priest will extend his hands over your head and pronounce the words of absolution. He will say: 

“God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” You respond, “Amen.” 

8. PRAISE: The priest may then praise the mercy of God and will invite you to do the same. For example, the priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” And your response would be, “His mercy endures forever” (Rite of Penance, no. 47). Note, some priests omit this, or may use another phrase to offer God thanks for His mercy. 

9. DISMISSAL: The priest will conclude the sacrament, often saying, “Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace.” You can thank the priest. 

10. PENANCE: After confession, spend time in quiet prayer in the church, especially if given a penance of prayer. Thank God for His unconditional love and forgiveness!

This list is reprinted with permission from the USCCB. See more information and resources about confession at usccb.org/confession.

 My sophomore year of college, a fraternity buddy invited me to a retreat, and I begrudgingly said “yes.” I am really glad I went, because I went to confession for the first time in a long time. After confessing all my sins and by the grace of God holding nothing back, I remember a brief silence. Was the priest mad? Was he going to tell me I should leave the retreat? I still remember looking up and him smiling, then he said, “Burden lifted” and offered me penance and absolution. That encounter with God’s mercy changed the whole direction of my life. I wanted to get to know Jesus after that, and I wanted others to know him and His mercy. 

 Here are a few things I think we all need to be reminded of from time to time about going to confession: 

1. Be direct and totally honest: You will not scandalize or startle a priest, no matter what you bring to the confessional. My favorite description of a priest is “God’s garbage man.” Name your sins specifically and tell the priest how many times they happened. You are good and created in God’s image, let the garbage man take care of the sins.
2. The priest will never reveal your sins. Ever. Every Catholic priest is bound by what is called the seal of confession. He would go to jail or even give his life before he revealed anything said in confession. Under no circumstances is the seal permitted to be broken.
3. Think of confession like a car wash. If you ever take your car through the mud, you get it to the wash right away. Or, if it has just been a while, it is still good to take it to the wash. If you believe yourself to be in a state of serious sin, be brave and go to confession right away. Or if it has been several months (or years!), it is still good to go and totally appropriate to bring smaller things as well, what are called venial sins. Just be sure to confess anything you know to be seriously sinful. 

God wants to offer us His mercy, He literally died to do so. Go to confession, do not worry about doing it perfectly. I try to go every couple weeks, and honestly, I still get nervous most the time, so I just take a deep breath and remember Father saying, “Burden lifted.”

Father Rob Johnson is pastor at Perpetual Help in Maryville, chaplain at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and associate director for the Office for Vocations for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

First, we look for God’s grace. As sin tends to shame us into silence and then convince us to quit the spiritual struggle altogether, that you acknowledge discouragement and ask for help prove God is already subverting the cycle of sin you mention. 

Second, it is vital we familiarize ourselves with our ascetic tradition. By closely reading the Scriptures and vigilantly observing the human person, the Church has developed means to accurately diagnose and interrupt the progress of temptation. 

For example, early Christian ascetics identified five progressive stages of evil as well as possible remedies to halt their advancement. Memorizing both the stages and their remedies will assist us immensely when tempted. They are: 

1. Suggestion: Our first contact with the image, fantasy, or urge to do evil always presents itself in a pleasing manner. We cannot rid ourselves of these fleeting thoughts, but we choose whether to let them pass by or to entertain them. Remedy: Ignore them. Busy yourself with something else and they will depart. “Keep your mind warm with holy thoughts,” counsels St. Ephraim. “If the soup is hot, the fly won’t land in it.”  

2. Conversation: But we do not always ignore them. Instead, we converse with the suggestion as Eve did with the serpent. We let ourselves be provoked by it and then begin reflecting on it. All day long we may consider the person who wronged us that morning. If there is no decision, there is no sin. But much time and vital energy has been wasted on these inner dialogues. Remedy: Continue the dialogue but change partners; instead of talking to yourself, talk to Christ. Reveal the conversation to Him and see where the discussion goes. 

3. Struggle: A suggestion grown through conversation has wormed its way into the heart and is now a struggle. It will not be easily dispelled, but with much exertion it can be done. Remedy: Hold firm and prayerfully repeat: “Jesus, you do not want this for me; neither do I. I freely decide the opposite.” Or “God come to my assistance; Lord, make hast to help me!” 

4. Consent: If the will surrenders to the struggle and consents to the suggestion of evil, one sins. Remedy: Make an Act of Contrition. Go to confession if necessary. Let God love you in this moment of weakness. 

5. Passion: The final and most tragic stage, passion indicates the continual consent to evil which weakens both the will and the character of the person. Sin becomes something like an addiction, and the sinner a slave to it. Remedy: The will needs to be re-awoken. Devote yourself to prayer, the sacramental life of the Church, and seek help if needed. Some passions can’t be overcome alone. 

God desires our freedom from sin. Knowing the cycle of evil and patiently sabotaging it at every step will go a long way in living into that freedom.

Father Seth Brown is pastor of Mother of Dolors in Vandalia and St. Joseph in Ramsey. He is also chaplain of Our Sorrowful Mother’s Ministry, chaplain of the Vandalia Correctional Center, and research theologian for the Diocesan Curia

 I had been a priest for a very short time when I was in the old-style confessional on a Saturday afternoon. A young family came in and the mother and the father went into the two side doors. Their young son, who had received his first Communion recently, not knowing quite what the procedure was, opened the middle door. And there I was! We began the ritual, and I was overwhelmed by his childlike innocence and complete trust in God’s mercy and love. That child opened my heart to love this sacrament more than ever. 

The Father invites us to come, sit in his lap, and experience his love and mercy. As a priest, I am there not to judge or to reprimand, but to forgive in God’s name and on behalf of the Church. When I am in the confessional, I experience peace as penitents are reconciled. It fills my heart with joy. Some come to confession carrying heavy burdens of sin and guilt. In the words of absolution all that melts away. The words, “I absolve you from your sins” are powerful and affirming. There is nothing else like it. 

I am humbled by the power bestowed on me in my priesthood ordination. I can still feel the coolness of the marble at the Cathedral as I lay prostrated during the Litany of Saints. I still feel the strong hands of Bishop Joseph McNicholas on my head. I still can smell the sweetness of the sacred chrism as my hands were anointed for service. I still feel the warmth of the embraces as my fellow priests welcomed me. But most of all I remember were the tears that flowed for three days as my heart was so full of joy that I thought it would burst. I was a priest! I had the privilege and the power to be able to stand at the altar for the rest of my life as I would take bread in my hands and say, “This is my body,” and take the cup of wine and say, “This is my blood.” I had the privilege and the power to welcome sinners and declare, “I absolve you.”  

The gift of being able to confect the Eucharist and to absolve sins as an alter Christi, another Christ, still brings tears to my eyes. The ability to hold in my hands the very body and blood of Jesus and to extend my hands over a penitent in absolution continues to make me shudder at the power of God working through me. I stand in awe! 

I know that it is hard to admit that I am a sinner, especially to another person. Frequent confession and a regular confessor have helped me. Several years ago, I received a young woman into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. She is a dentist and told me, “You know Father, confession is like flossing your teeth. You hate to do it, but afterward you feel so much better.” She is my dentist to this very day. Such insight! 

Someone asked me one time if hearing all these sins depressed me or if it changed the way I viewed someone. I told them that I focus not on the sins, but rather on the mercy and love of God. I listen to the sins since there might be something that we need to discuss, but what I really listen for is sorrow for sin, and what I experience again and again is the overwhelming power of Divine Mercy. 

A couple of years ago I was sitting at the bedside of a dear friend as she was dying. She was surrounded by family and friends. At one point she asked them all to leave so that she could talk to me privately. When she asked me to hear her confession the tears started as I realized that I was in a grace filled moment of a death bed confession. I was overwhelmed by her childlike innocence and her complete trust in God’s mercy and love. A few hours later she breathed her last, at peace with God. It is very humbling to be able to be part of such incredible moments.  

The incredible moments continue to happen as people come with their burdens trusting in God. I always give thanks to God for his love as I stand in awe before such a powerful and beautiful sacrament. The grace given on that first Easter Sunday in the upper room when Jesus said, “Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven,” continues to give life to the Church.

Father Donald Wolford is pastor at Holy Angels Parish in Wood River.

Remember, you can always call a parish and schedule your confession with a priest if these days and times do not fit your schedule.

SPRINGFIELD 

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 

Sunday, 4-4:45 p.m. 

Monday-Friday, 4:15-5 p.m. 

Saturday, 9-10 a.m., 2:30-3:30 p.m. 

Blessed Sacrament 

Monday-Friday, 7:30-7:45 a.m. 

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.- 7:45 a.m., 3-4 p.m. 

Christ the King 

Sunday, 4-4:45 p.m. 

Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6:50 a.m.

Wednesday, 5-5:45 p.m. 

Saturday, 3-4 p.m. 

Little Flower 

Saturday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

St. Agnes 

Saturday, 3-4 p.m. 

St. Aloysius 

Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m. 

St. Joseph 

Saturday, 3:15-4 p.m. 

St. Katharine Drexel (Sacred Heart and St. Patrick churches)

Before all Masses, seven days a week 

ALEXANDER 

Visitation BMV 

Saturday, 3-4 p.m. 

ALTON 

St. Mary 

First Friday, 4-5 p.m. 

Saturday, 4-5 p.m.; 7-8 p.m. 

Ss. Peter and Paul 

Saturday, 3:15-3:45 p.m.

ARCOLA 

St. John the Baptist 

Thursday, 6:45 p.m. 

ARENZVILLE 

St. Fidelis 

Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m. 

AUBURN 

Holy Cross 

Sunday, 7:30-8 a.m. 

BEARDSTOWN 

St. Alexius 

Third Sunday of the month, 6 p.m. 

Thursday, 6 p.m. 

BETHALTO 

Our Lady Queen of Peace 

Monday, available 45 minutes before Mass 

Saturday, 3:30-4:15 p.m. 

BETHANY 

St. Isidore 

Sunday, 7:30-7:50 a.m. 

Tuesday, 7:30-7:50 a.m. 

Saturday, 7:30-7:50 a.m. 

BRUSSELS 

St. Mary 

Saturday, 5:45-6 p.m. 

CAMP POINT 

St. Thomas 

First Fridays, 5-5:45 p.m. 

CHATHAM 

St. Joseph the Worker 

Saturday, 3:15-4 p.m. 

CHARLESTON

St. Charles Borromeo

Saturday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday morning before Mass

COLLINSVILLE 

Ss. Peter and Paul 

Saturday, 3-3:30 p.m. 

DECATUR 

Holy Family 

Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m. 

Our Lady of Lourdes 

Tuesday, 12-1 p.m. 

Thursday, 5-6 p.m. 

Saturday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. 

Ss. James and Patrick 

Monday, 7:30-7:45 a.m. at St. James 

Wednesday, 7:30-7:45 a.m. at St. James 

Friday, 10:30-11 a.m. at St. Patrick 

Saturday, 11-noon at St. Patrick; 3:15-3:40 p.m. at St. James 

St. Thomas the Apostle 

Saturday, 3 p.m. 

DIETERICH 

St. Isidore the Farmer 

Sunday, after 10 a.m. Mass at Island Grove 

Tuesday, after 8 a.m. Mass at Bishop Creek 

Thursday, after 8 a.m. Mass at Island Grove 

Saturday, 4:45 p.m. at Bishop Creek 

EDWARDSVILLE 

St. Boniface 

Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Thursday, 6-6:30 p.m. (bilingual) 

Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m. 

St. Mary 

Saturday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

EFFINGHAM 

Sacred Heart 

Monday-Thursday, 8-8:25 a.m. 

First Monday of the month, 7 p.m. during adoration 

Saturday, 3 p.m. 

St. Anthony of Padua 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 7:45-8:15 a.m. 

Saturday, 3:15-4 p.m. 

FIELDON 

St. Mary 

Saturday, 5:15-5:50 p.m. 

GLEN CARBON 

St. Cecilia 

Monday, 6-6:30 p.m. 

Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m. 

First Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. 

GODFREY 

St. Ambrose 

Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m. 

GREEN COUNTY 

All Saints (White Hall) 

Sunday, 9:15-9:25 a.m. 

St. John the Evangelist (Carrollton) 

Saturday, 5:15-5:45 p.m. 

St. Michael (Greenfield) 

Saturday, 3:15-3:45 p.m. 

GREENVILLE 

St. Lawrence 

Saturday, 4:45-5:15 p.m. 

GRANITE CITY 

Holy Family 

Saturday, 3-3:30 p.m. 

St. Elizabeth 

Saturday, 3-4 p.m. 

GRANTFORK 

St. Gertrude 

Tuesday, 8:30-9 a.m. 

HIGHLAND 

St. Paul 

Saturday, 3 p.m. 

JACKSONVILLE 

Our Saviour 

Saturday, 3:15 p.m. 

JERSEYVILLE 

Holy Ghost 

Sunday, 7:15-7:50 a.m. 

Saturday, 3-3:50 p.m. 

St. Francis Xavier 

Saturday, 3:15-3:45 p.m. 

LIBERTY 

St. Brigid 

Saturday, 3:50-4:20 p.m. 

LITCHFIELD 

Holy Family 

Saturday, 3:15-3:45 p.m. 

MATTOON 

Immaculate Conception 

Sunday, 7:30 a.m.; 4:30 p.m. 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 6:30 a.m. 

Tuesday, Thursday, 5 p.m. 

Saturday, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

MARINE 

St. Elizabeth 

Sunday, 9:15 a.m. 

MARSHALL 

St. Mary 

Wednesday, 6 p.m. 

MARYVILLE 

Mother of Perpetual Help 

Tuesday, 5-5:45 p.m. 

Saturday, 3-3:45 p.m. 

MENDON 

St. Edward 

Saturday, 7:15-7:45 p.m. 

MONTROSE 

St. Rose of Lima 

Saturday, 4:30-5 p.m. 

MT. STERLING 

Holy Family 

Saturday, 4-5 p.m. 

MT. ZION 

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit 

Sunday, 10-10:20 a.m.; 5-5:20 p.m. 

Monday, Thursday, Friday, 7:30-7:50 a.m. 

Wednesday, 4:15-5:15 p.m. 

Saturday, 4-5 p.m. 

NEWTON 

St. Thomas the Apostle 

Wednesday, 4:15-4:30 p.m. 

Saturday, 8-9 a.m., 3:30-4 p.m. 

NOKOMIS

St. Louis 

Saturday, 3-3:30 p.m. 

NORTH ARM 

St. Aloysius 

Sunday, by appointment 

PANA 

St. Patrick 

Saturday, 2:45-3:25 p.m. 

PARIS 

St. Mary 

Saturday, 4-5 p.m. 

PETERSBURG 

St. Peter 

Saturday, 3-3:45 p.m. 

PIERRON 

Immaculate Conception 

Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m. 

PITTSFIELD 

St. Mary 

Friday, First Friday after 8 a.m. Mass 

Saturday, after 6 p.m. Mass 

POCAHONTAS 

St. Nicholas 

Saturday, 3:45-4:15 p.m. 

QUINCY 

Blessed Sacrament 

Sunday, 4-4:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, 4:30-5:10 p.m. 

Saturday, 9-9:30 a.m. 

St. Joseph 

First Saturdays, 9-9:20 a.m. 

St. Francis Solanus 

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.; 3-4 p.m. 

St. Peter 

Saturday, 7:30-7:50 a.m.; 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

St. Rose of Lima 

Sunday, 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. 

Monday, 11:30 a.m. 

Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. 

Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. 

Thursday, 6:30 p.m. 

Friday, 11:30 a.m. 

Saturday, 7:30 a.m. 

RAMSEY 

St. Joseph 

Sunday, 7-7:45 a.m. 

RIVERTON 

St. James 

Saturday, 3 p.m. 

ROBINSON 

St. Elizabeth 

Saturday, 3:45 p.m. 

ROCHESTER

St. Jude 

Tuesday-Friday, 6:45-7:15 a.m. 

Saturday, 3:15-4 p.m. 

SHELBYVILLE 

Immaculate Conception 

Saturday, 45 minutes prior to Mass 

SHERMAN 

St. John Vianney 

Wednesday, 5-5:30 p.m. 

Saturday, 4-4:45 p.m. 

SHUMWAY 

Annunciation 

Wednesday, 7:45-8:15 a.m. 

Saturday, 4:15-5 p.m. 

SIGEL 

St. Michael the Archangel 

Saturday, 3:15 p.m. 

STAUNTON 

St. Michael the Archangel 

Sunday, 7:30-7:55 a.m. 

Saturday, 3:30-3:55 p.m. 

SULLIVAN 

St. Columcille 

Wednesday, 5-6 p.m. 

TAYLORVILLE 

St. Mary 

Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-noon 

TUSCOLA 

Forty Martyrs 

Saturday, 5 p.m. 

VANDALIA 

Mother of Dolors 

Saturday, 3-3:45 p.m. 

VIRDEN 

Sacred Heart 

Sunday, 9:45-10:10 a.m. 

VIRGINA 

St. Luke 

Tuesday, 6-7 p.m. 

WINCHESTER 

St. Mark 

Sunday, after 10:30 a.m. Mass 

WOOD RIVER 

Holy Angels 

Saturday, 3-4 p.m. 

Confession in Spanish

Our Lady of Lourdes, Decatur: 

Tuesday, 12-1 p.m., Thursday, 5-6 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., or by appointment:  

St. Thomas the Apostle, Decatur: 

Saturday, 3-3:45 p.m. or by appointment:

Sacred Heart, Springfield: 

Last Thursday of the month, 6 p.m. or by appointment: (217) 523-4501 

St. Boniface, Edwardsville: 

Thursday, 1 p.m. or by appointment: (618) 656-6450 

Sacred Heart, Effingham: 

By appointment: (217) 347-7177 

St. Mary, Alton: 

By appointment: frpaul@stmarysalton. com / (618) 465-4284, ext. 227 

Immaculate Conception, Mattoon: 

30 minutes before daily Masses, 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, or by appointment: 217-235-0539. 

Forty Martyrs, Tuscola: 

By appointment: (217) 253-4412 

St. John the Baptist, Arcola: 

Thursday, 6:45 p.m. 

Other languages 

Philippines (Tagalog and Cebuano): by appointment: (715) 207-9575 (textable); or email Father Nick at or  

Indian (Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil): by appointment: email Father Chowrappa:  

Vietnamese: by appointment: (217) 961-6404, ask for Father Dat Hoang      

Italian and Igbo (language in Nigeria): By appointment: Father Freddy, (217) 220-1837 

Polish: By appointment: Father Michal Rosa, (217) 347-7177 or by appointment: Father Augustyniak, , (217) 774-3434 

American Sign Language: Our Saviour Parish, Jacksonville: By appointment:

Can you please explain the suffering servant from the book of Isaiah?
Pat in Ramsey

“The suffering servant” is a famous passage from Isaiah 53, which theologians claim is a messianic prophecy about Jesus. It talks about the suffering this “servant” will endure, however, to get the full picture, you need to look at four Songs of the Servant of the Lord. 

The four Songs of the Servant of the Lord (Is 42:1-9; Is 49:1-7; Is 50:4-11; Is 52:13-53:12) describe the mysterious figure of the “Servant of God” who in some respects resembles Israel — the Servant of the Lord from many other texts (Is 41:8), but in His other features, He is someone completely different, a very distinguished and distinctive personality, having no equal (Is 49:5). 

The “Servant of the Lord” is chosen by God for His mission while still in the womb, fashioned by Him, filled with His spirit (Songs I and II). He is a docile, attentive, and a faithful disciple of the Lord, diligently listening to His teachings to be able to teach people in turn (Song II). The task and role of this Servant is to announce a new religious law for all nations, not only for Israel. It is to be a light for the nations and a covenant for Israel, to bring people messianic good and salvation (Song I, II, III).  

Although persecuted and despised by people, the Servant will not be afraid and will carry out His mission bravely, trusting in the power of God, who will constantly support Him and surround Him with His care, and finally, reward and glorify Him (Songs III and IV). The fourth song presents and ponders the sufferings of the Lord's Servant. Though innocent, He suffers severe physical torments and spiritual humiliation inflicted upon Him by people, up to and including a shameful death, as if He were the worst villain. He, however, suffers these torments voluntarily as an expiation for the sins of others, namely all sinful people, because He took them upon Himself. The Lord acknowledged and accepted His Passion as universal satisfaction. Therefore, the Servant of the Lord will receive as a reward eternal glory and immense descendants forever, that is, of the people He redeemed, both from Israel and from other nations. 

In various texts, the New Testament recognizes and sees in Isaiah's “Servant of the Lord” a prophetic announcement — a type of Jesus Christ Himself, the Messiah and Savior (Mt 3:17; Mt 8:17; Mt 12:17-21; Lk 2:31; Lk 4:17-21; Acts 3:13). More often, the words of the fourth Song of the Servant of the Lord are used or quoted (Is 53) in Mk 9:12; Jn 12:38; Acts 8:32-35; Rom 4:25; Rom 10:16; Rom 15:21; 1 Cor 15:3; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pt 2:22-25. 

Christ combines in His person both the features of the glorious Messianic King of the Davidic family (2 Sm 7:12-17; Is 7:14; Is 9:5; Is 11:1-5) and the suffering Servant of the Lord (Is 52:13-53:12; Ps 22). Christ Himself identified Himself as the Servant of the Lord (Lk 22:37).

Father Michal Rose is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Effingham.

A Cinderella story of a visionary who went from the kitchen to the board room

Sister Marianna Kosior, OSF, age 99, passed away on Dec. 11, 2021 at St. Francis Convent, Springfield. Sister Marianna was the founder of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a multi-institutional health care system in 14 communities in Illinois and Wisconsin with 15 hospitals, health centers and clinics, physician partners, and colleagues.

In the early 1970s, “Sister Marianna found herself responsible for 12 Catholic hospitals at a time of considerable flux in sponsorship and organizational arrangements within Catholic health care,” said Sister Jomary Trstensky, OSF, chair, Hospital Sisters Ministries, and HSHS president from 1989 to 2006. “She led the way with her creative vision and unwavering belief that the future of Catholic health care would be built on strong systems and lay leaders. With no blueprint she established Hospital Sisters Health System and entrusted others to give life to her vision.”

In a 2006 interview, Sister Marianna stated, “As the Lord served people and washed his Disciple’s feet, I have tried to live my life in service to others.”

When she entered the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in 1943, she was ready to devote her life to God and the service of his people. The path that God paved for her was something that most women, including those not in religious life, could not imagine would be possible. In 1978, Sister Marianna was one of the first women CEOs of a multibillion-dollar corporation as she founded HSHS and was named its executive vice president. At this time in U.S. history, health systems had only been formed by three other religious communities, and Sister Marianna, the provincial superior of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis from 1973 to 1979, pioneered the process for the hospitals the Sisters had founded.

Sister Marianna was born in 1922 in Indiana. After graduating from high school, she worked as a secretary, and as her friends were signing up to help in the war effort in 1941, she wondered if she should find ways of serving God. A friend invited her to a weekend retreat where Sister Marianna asked the retreat leader if he thought she had a religious vocation. He sent her to visit a “nice Franciscan group in Springfield, Ill.,” and Sister Marianna recalled that her visit to the Motherhouse felt like home. She entered the community in 1943 and professed first vows in 1946.

Despite her lack of interest in nursing, she attended St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield. “I remember sitting in the balcony of the chapel facing a picture of the healing Christ and I said, ‘Well Lord if this is what you want, you’re just going to have to help me.’ I was in tears because I just didn’t know how I was going to do it.” 

Throughout the following years, Sister Marianna worked at St. Mary’s Hospital (Decatur) and St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital (Effingham). An election by the Hospital Sisters in 1969 brought Sister Marianna to the Motherhouse as a member of the leadership team and four years later, she was elected Provincial Superior and served until 1979.

During this time in the U.S., religious congregations were closing their Catholic hospitals or turning them over to be run as community facilities because of Medicare regulations. While facing these challenges, the Hospital Sisters also faced the decline of women entering their community and so they began discussing the future of their hospitals. Sister Marianna and her team researched options for an organization that would oversee the management and operations while keeping the Sisters involved with sponsorship and governance. 

One of the first steps she implemented was the establishment of a holding company in the late 1970s with a parent corporation and subsidiary corporations. The members of the parent corporation were the Sisters’ leadership team, who were similar to major stockholders. The health system was the holding company, and the hospitals were the subsidiary corporations.

“The Catholic Church has a long history of care for the sick, which is a work of mercy,” Sister Marianna explained in a 1981 interview with the Catholic Health Association. “The religious congregations have been given this apostolate almost as a trust and if congregations can’t continue in the same way, then what can we do to preserve that work as a mission of the Church? If we develop strong systems and begin to pass our torch to laypersons who see health care as a mission, possibly it could survive through lay leadership,” she added. “It is the age of the laity, and even if they are not in the traditional religious congregations, they have an obligation to do the works of mercy. They find a different working environment in Catholic hospitals with value other than profit and the bottom line.”

On Dec. 26, 1978, HSHS was incorporated, and Sister Marianna was named president in August 1979, a position she held until her retirement in October 1989. 

“My Cinderella story of my life as a Hospital Sister took me from the kitchen to the board room, and throughout my life, I was open to the Spirit and waited to see where the Lord was calling me,” she stated. “All people are called to holiness, and so it is my hope that we should always strive to develop a greater love with our neighbor, and in doing so, we will share our love with the Lord.” 

By DAVID BERTAINA
Special to Catholic Times

1. Why is Dec. 25 the date for Christmas? 

Matthew and Luke are the only two Gospels that mention the birth of Jesus Christ. Although they do not provide a clear date for Jesus’ birth in their narratives, they did leave implicit clues. As Christians began to be interested in celebrating Jesus’ birth as a special feast date annually, they used the Gospels to calculate Dec. 25 as the specific date for the Nativity. 

In Luke 1:9, the Gospel author notes that Zechariah “was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.” This location was the altar of incense just outside the Holy of Holies in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Early Christians, who believed that Zechariah was serving as high priest that year, associated this special event with the feast of Yom Kippur, or the Day of the Atonement, which usually falls in late September. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he gave him the news of the coming of his son John the Baptist. In fact, the Church recognizes the conception of John the Baptist on Sept. 23. 

The second key point from Luke is the date for the Annunciation. According to Luke 1:26-27: “In the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy], the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” Based upon this information, we can determine that six months from late September brings us to a date in late March. The Feast of the Annunciation is in fact held on March 25. Continuing with this information, three months later (June 24) is the date for the birth of John the Baptist. And finally, nine months from the Annunciation brings us to the 25^th day of December. This biblical information is what led early Christians to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25. In the fourth century, St. John Chrysostom even explains these calculations in one of his Christmas sermons as the reason for celebrating the feast on this date.

Early Christians also believed that God had chosen Dec. 25 because it fulfilled biblical prophecies of the Old Testament and because of its cosmic significance. As for biblical prophecy, Malachi 4:2 predicted the coming of God’s judgment with his Messiah: “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” Early Christians noticed that the Sun of Righteousness was a symbolic sign for the Messiah, who would come when the sun would rise. In the Julian calendar of the ancient world, the winter solstice fell upon Dec. 25. Therefore, the image of the sun rising held significance as the date predicting the birth of the Messiah. This is further confirmed in the New Testament. The Gospel of John points to cosmic solar symbolism as a sign of Jesus Christ: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it … . The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.” In John 3:30, John the Baptist admits that “He must increase, but I must decrease.” In other words, Jesus Christ, the light of the world, came at the time when light was increasing. Since the winter solstice is the beginning of the increase in light, early Christians recognized that God had given His Son this auspicious birth date to prove his divine origins to all people. The Old Testament, New Testament, and cosmic symbolism all suggested to Christians that Dec. 25 was the birth date of Jesus Christ.

2. Where was Jesus born? 

According to Luke, the Holy Family traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem (the city of David), and the Virgin Mary gave birth to him and “wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). The ancient term for an inn was not meant to convey a formal place for travelers, but mostly likely a simple lodging where one could stay at a residence. 

Imagine a Nativity scene like the one that many Catholics have in their homes. There is a stable made of wood, with farm animals such as an ox, donkey (Isaiah 1:3), and sheep gathering around the Holy Family. This image comes from the popularity of the manger scene spread by St. Francis of Assisi (d. 1226), who celebrated a Mass at a stable with living animals. Later, living Nativities and artistic Nativities became widespread across medieval Europe. 

However, the typical Jewish stable would not have been made from wood, which is a plentiful source in Europe but was already depleted in Israel by the first century. Instead, caves functioned as stables for animals in the region. An early second-century Christian tradition about the Nativity recounts the cave birthplace. It notes how as onlookers approached the cave, a dark cloud hovered over the cave and Mary’s midwife declared it a miracle. As the cloud withdrew, suddenly a great green light appeared in the cave. Then when the light subsided, the child Jesus was born.

The tradition of Jesus’ birth in a cave is found in the writings of early Christians such as Justin Martyr (d. 165) (“he took up his quarters in a certain cave near the village”). The Christian teacher and theologian Origen also confirmed the cave as a sacred site of veneration in the early third century: “There is shown at Bethlehem the cave where He was born, and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling-clothes. And this site is greatly talked of in surrounding places, even among the enemies of the faith, it being said that in this cave was born that Jesus who is worshipped and reverenced by the Christians.” This location was a shrine by the second century where Christians venerated Jesus’ birth at the site of the Church of the Nativity, which was built around the cave by Constantine in the fourth century. 

The cave also had theological significance for pointing out how God uses signs to prove the coming of His son Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus’ birth was in a cave, so his body would be placed in a cave at his death. Just as he was wrapped in swaddling clothes at his birth, Jesus was wrapped in cloths at his death. Just as angels announced his birth, so too they would announce his resurrection. These theological parallels and the early Christian traditions indicate that Jesus was born in a cave. 

3. Who were the Magi and why did they bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh? 

The Magi are mentioned only in the Gospel of Matthew. According to Matthew, “wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him’.” After speaking with King Herod, “the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

The term Magi (plural) comes from the singular Magus, which means someone who examines the stars for auspicious signs that point to real world events. These wise men were in a sense like astrologers, who had noted the star of Bethlehem and came from the East. The Magi were known as religious adherents to Zoroastrianism in the ancient world — so why would they be interested in a Jewish king? An Old Testament prophecy predicted that when the Messiah appeared, wise men from the East would arrive. In Numbers 24:17–18, Balaam, a wise man from the East, tried to put a curse on Israel, God made him speak only words of blessing, saying: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Jews knew that the appearance of a star would signal the coming of the Messiah King. This passage was a foretelling of the coming of Magi following their guide, the star of Bethlehem. The ones who worshipped stars were taught by a star to worship the true star and light of the world, Jesus Christ. 

In the western Church, there developed a tradition that there were three wise men: Balthasar, Melchoir, and Gaspar. By the fifth century, there were already mosaics of the Magi offering their gifts to the Christ child with their names mentioned in the artwork in the Basilica of St. Apollinarus in Ravenna, Italy. 

The three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were both a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah as well as a symbol of the status of Jesus Christ. In Psalm 72:10-15, the author affirms that kings of nations will bow before the son of David, bringing him gifts of gold. This passage is where we get the tradition that the Magi were also kings. Likewise in Isaiah 60:3 and 6, we read that kings will come at the rising of the Messiah, and that “they shall bring gold and frankincense.” Therefore, the Magi represent all of humanity across the world acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord. As for the symbolic significance of these three gifts, they also demonstrate Jesus’ rank. Gold is the sign of a king. Frankincense is the sign of worship for a divinity. Myrrh, which is a burial ointment pointing to Jesus’ eventual death, is the sign of his humanity. Therefore, Jesus’ kingship, humanity, and divinity are revealed through the gifts of the Magi. 

This Christmas season, think about the gift of Jesus Christ to the world. Remember the gifts of the Magi. Gift-giving does not have to be a materialist and consumer-driven motivation to acquire more things. God is the ultimate gift giver. And in return we can be like the Magi and offer our gifts to the only one worthy of worship this Christmas season.

- David Bertaina, PhD, is a professor of history at the University of Illinois Springfield and is a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield.

Laura in Springfield

The titles of Venerable, Blessed, and Saint are given at various stages to those whom the Catholic Church is considering for canonization, the title of Saint, of course, being the last one.

Once a local bishop receives permission from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome to investigate the life of a person who has died and who had a reputation for holiness, the title of Servant of God is given to the person. The bishop then begins a formal inquiry into the biography of the Servant of God to be certain he or she actually existed, has died, and researches the Servant of God’s writings looking for anything contrary to the faith. When the investigations are complete, a report is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. 

After the cardinals and bishops who are members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints read through the report, they make a recommendation to the pope as to whether or not the pope should declare that the person in question lived a life of heroic virtue. If the Holy Father so declares, he grants the title of Venerable to the person because his or her life is worthy of imitation by the Christian faithful.

After a person is declared Venerable, the Church begins looking for possible miraculous healings that can be attributed to the intercession of the Venerable. When such a case is reported to the bishop, an investigation is done which involves a team of medical professionals to ascertain whether the healing can be attributed to any natural means. If the investigation finds the contrary, another report is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. If the cardinals and bishops who serve on the Congregation judge the healing to be miraculous, they recommend it to the pope. If the pope finds it to be a miracle, he grants the title of Blessed to the person in question through a formal declaration that the Blessed is in Heaven because he or she has been shown to have interceded before the throne of God. When a person is declared Blessed, liturgical prayers for the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours may be prayed in the location where he or she lived and/or died, but not throughout the universal Church.

After a person is declared a Blessed, a search begins for a second miraculous healing that can be attributed to the Blessed’s intercession. If such a miracle is found and so determined by the pope, he names the Blessed a Saint, which allows for liturgical prayers to be prayed in the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours in honor of that person throughout the whole world.

Father Daren Zehnle is pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Ashland and is the director for the Office of Divine Worship and the Catechumenate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor 

Founded by the Franciscan friars from Germany in 1860, St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy is rich in history and deeply Catholic. The church, built in 1885, is home to beautiful statues, gorgeously colored Stations of the Cross, a towering ceiling that makes you look up toward heaven, and a high altar unlike any in the diocese.

“This church is so spectacularly built, so well appointed, and so beautiful,” said Father Steven Arisman, pastor. “They put so much effort into making sure it lasted and truly it has because all these years later, it is still standing.” 

One of the biggest parishes by family count in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, St. Francis Solanus Parish was known for 160 years as having the Franciscan friars minister to the people of the parish. This included decades ago when dozens of Franciscans would offer Mass every half hour starting at 5 a.m. until 8 a.m. at the five different altars in the church. In 2020, the order transferred the staffing of the parish to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

“This parish was the Franciscan’s novitiate, this is where they would do some of their studies, and formation as Franciscans,” Father Arisman said. “Beyond that, at one point, there were 55 priests who at one point lived here that took care of this parish and the people at Quincy College and St. Francis Solanus College, which is now Quincy University. Those Franciscans have left such a legacy of building a Catholic culture and people who follow the Lord as disciples.” 

Inside, the church is a treasure of everything Catholic. Relics of saints can be seen including St. Francis Solanus, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Anthony of Padua. Franciscan saints line the main area of the pews, towering above the faithful. Nearly 1,000 people can be seated inside. Most eyes, however, are immediately drawn to the white and gilded high altar. It was designed by 19th century designer, Franciscan Brother Adrian Wewer and built by Henry Schenk of Quincy. Standing more than three stories tall, the base includes a replica of Leonardo DaVinci's Last Supper and closer to the top, the statue of St. Francis Solanus. The statue depicts St. Francis baptizing a native of Peru while he was a missionary in South America. 

The statue of the crucifix that is just above the tabernacle is unlike any in the diocese. That is because there are three crucifixes with three different backgrounds. All the priest must do is spin the mechanism and depending on the solemnity or what the priest wants to portray, that is the crucifix and background that is displayed. 

To side of the high altar is the friar’s choir, where the Franciscans would pray together. In the etching of each of the dozens of wooden seats is a phrase from the Psalms that when you read them from one side to the other, it reads that Psalm out in Latin. 

“One of the other unique things about the church is the stained-glass window on the font of the church which depicts St. Francis Solanus playing the violin for the native people,” Father Arisman said. “That was one of the ways he drew them to Christ — the beauty of music.”

Other interesting spaces in the church include the library, which includes a ladder and stairs so readers can find books on two levels. In the basement, under the sacristy, is an area where altar servers used to get ready for Mass decades ago. The old cabinets their vestments would hang in are there and are still in good shape. This changing area for the servers was accessible by an outside door. That is because with so many Masses going on daily, this allowed the dozens of daily servers to enter and exit the building without making any noise for the faithful praying in the church. 

The church itself is 75 feet high, with the steeple climbing to 217 feet high, making it one of the prominent structures in the Gem City. Right next to Quincy University and Underbrink’s Bakery, in one of the most historic parts of Quincy, St. Francis Solanus is a refreshing reminder of the dedication and faithfulness of Catholics from the past and the present. 

“There have been so many different people who have walked through here with so many stories,” Father Arisman said. “There are so many families who are tied to this parish, and they have very large families. With that, some have been tied to this parish from the very beginning. The work the Franciscans and these families have done to build up this parish community is quite beautiful. The work they have done with native peoples, the work they have done with the Hispanic culture, and the work they did with (Venerable) Father Augustine Tolton, and to think that Father Tolton was in this building at one point in his lifetime, is quite astounding to us as a parish — to have that kind of history to stand on, a foundation rooted on Christ with Him as our cornerstone and the people of this parish following after Him.”

SPRINGFIELD 
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m.;
 Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

Blessed Sacrament Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

Christ the King Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m.

Little Flower Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

St. Agnes Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

St. Aloysius Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m.

St. Francis Cabrini Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m., 9:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m.

St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m., 8 a.m. (Latin), 9 a.m. (St. Patrick Church), 10:30 a.m. (Spanish), 12:30 p.m. (Latin)
All Masses are at Sacred Heart Church, except 9 a.m. Christmas Day, which is at St. Patrick Church.

ALEXANDER

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

ALTAMONT

St. Clare Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

 ALTON

Immaculate Conception Parish (St. Mary)
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

Ss. Peter and Paul Parish

Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

ARCOLA

St. John the Baptist Parish
Christmas Eve, 7:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m.

ARENZVILLE

St. Fidelis Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

ASHLAND

St. Augustine Parish
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

ASSUMPTION

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.

ATHENS

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

AUBURN

Holy Cross Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.
Overflow seating in the parish center.

BEARDSTOWN

St. Alexius Parish
Christmas Eve, 7:30 p.m. (Spanish);
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. (English/French)

BENLD

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m.

BETHALTO

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

BETHANY

St. Isidore Parish
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m. (Latin)

BRUSSELS

Blessed Trinity Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. Mary Church, Brussels);
Midnight (St. Joseph Church, Meppen);
Christmas Day, 8 a.m. (St. Barbara Church, Batchtown)

CAMP POINT

St. Thomas Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 pm.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

CARLINVILLE

Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

CHARLESTON

St. Charles Borromeo Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m.

CHATHAM

St. Joseph the Worker Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

COLLINSVILLE

Ss. Peter and Paul Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

DECATUR

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m. (Spanish);
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m.

Ss. James and Patrick Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. James Church), 6 p.m. (St. Patrick Church), 11 p.m. (St. James Church);
Christmas Day, 10:15 a.m. (St. Patrick Church)

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

DIETERICH

St. Isidore the Farmer Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church, Bishop Creek), 7 p.m. (St. Joseph Church, Island Grove), 10 p.m. (St. Aloysius Church, Bishop Creek); 
Christmas Day, 10 a.m. (St. Joseph Church, Island Grove) 
No 6 p.m. Mass on Dec. 25.

EDGEWOOD

St. Anne Parish
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

EDWARDSVILLE

St. Boniface Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. (Spanish)

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.
No 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas

EFFINGHAM

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight; 
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m., 5 p.m. (Spanish)

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

FARMERSVILLE

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

FIELDON

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.

FRANKLIN

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.

GILLESPIE

Ss. Simon and Jude Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

GIRARD

St. Patrick Parish
Christmas Day, 4 p.m.

GLEN CARBON

St. Cecilia Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m., 4:30 p.m.

GODFREY

St. Ambrose Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. (St. Michael Church, Beltrees), 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m., 4:30 p.m.
Masks are highly encouraged. Seating is limited. Two sections remain “safe distanced” seating.

GRAFTON

St. Patrick Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

GRANITE CITY

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

St. Elizabeth Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.
No 4:30 p.m. Saturday Mass on Dec. 25 in anticipation of Sunday, for Sunday obligation.

GRANTFORK

St. Gertrude Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.

GREEN CREEK

St. Mary Help of Christians Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

GREENVILLE

St. Lawrence Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

HIGHLAND

St. Paul Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. (St. Paul Church), 4:15 p.m. (K.C. Hall), 6 p.m. (St. Paul Church), 11 p.m. (St. Paul Church);
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. (St. Paul Church), 10 a.m. (St. Paul Church)

HILLSBORO

St. Agnes Parish
Christmas Eve, 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

HUME

St. Michael Parish
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

ILLIOPOLIS

Resurrection Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:15 a.m.

JACKSONVILLE

Our Saviour Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.
The 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and 9 a.m. Christmas Day Masses will both be LIVE streamed and interpreted for the deaf.

JERSEYVILLE

Holy Ghost Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8:30 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10:15 a.m.

LIBERTY

St. Brigid Parish 
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

LILLYVILLE

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m.

LITCHFIELD

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

MADISON

St. Mary and St. Mark Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

MARYVILLE

Mother of Perpetual Help Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

MATTOON

Immaculate Conception Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

MENDON

St. Edward Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Midnight

MONTROSE

St. Rose of Lima Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

MORRISONVILLE

St. Maurice Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

MOUNT OLIVE

St. Pope John Paul II Parish
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

MOUNT STERLING

Holy Family Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 7 a.m.

MOUNT ZION

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

 MOWEAQUA

St. Francis De Sales Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.

NEOGA

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

NEW BERLIN

Sacred Heart of Mary Parish (St. Mary)
Christmas Eve, 4. p.m.

NEWTON

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish 
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m.

NOKOMIS

St. Louis Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

NORTH ARM

St. Aloysius Parish
Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.

OBLONG

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

PANA

St. Patrick Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

PARIS

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

PETERSBURG

St. Peter Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

PIERRON

Immaculate Conception Parish
Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

PITTSFIELD

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m.

POCAHONTAS

St. Nicholas Parish
Midnight

QUINCY

Blessed Sacrament Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 11 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

St. Francis Solanus Parish

Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.
No 4:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 25.

St. Joseph Parish

Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

St. Peter Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

St. Rose of Lima Parish
Christmas Eve, Carols at 11;20;
Midnight; 
Christmas Day, 11 a.m.

RAMSEY

St. Joseph Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.

RAYMOND

St. Raymond Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

RIVERTON

St. James Parish
Christmas Eve, Carols 3:30 p.m., Mass 4 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m.

ROBINSON

St. Elizabeth Parish
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

ROCHESTER

St. Jude Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

SAINTE MARIE

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish 
Christmas Eve, 6 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

ST. ELMO

St. Mary Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

ST. JACOB

St. James Parish
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

SHELBYVILLE

Immaculate Conception Parish
Christmas Eve, 8 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

SHERMAN

St. John Vianney Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

SHUMWAY

Annunciation Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m.

SIGEL

St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

STAUNTON

St. Michael Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 9 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

SULLIVAN

St. Columcille Parish
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

TEUTOPOLIS

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.
No 4:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 25

TROY

St. Jerome Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 10 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m.

TUSCOLA

Forty Martyrs Parish 
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 8 a.m.

VANDALIA

Mother of Dolors Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

VILLA GROVE

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, Carols 4 p.m., Mass 4:30 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

VIRDEN

Sacred Heart Parish
Christmas Eve, 5:30 p.m.

VIRGINIA

St. Luke Parish
Christmas Eve, Carols 5 p.m., Mass 5:30 p.m.

WAVERLY

St. Sebastian Parish
Christmas Day, 9:30 a.m.

WINCHESTER

St. Mark Parish
Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.;
Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

WOOD RIVER 

Holy Angels Parish
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.;
Midnight;
Christmas Day, 9 a.m. 

There are a couple of things that happen. First, we are reminded of our baptism. The blessed water, which fills the baptismal fount, calls to mind for us that we were immersed in water or had water poured over our head as infants or perhaps as adults when we came into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil, in the case of non-baptized persons. 

We recite the doxology, the holy names of the persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to remind us that we were baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. We became children of God and adopted as His sons and daughters and brothers and sisters in Christ upon being baptized.

Second, we make the Sign of the Cross reminding us that in our baptism we entered into the death of Jesus on the cross. The cross also reminds us of Jesus' prescription to His Disciples that if they wish to follow Him, they must take up their cross and follow Him. In a deeper way, we recognize that we belong to a community of believers and are connected more closely to the Church. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that sacramental signs point us toward the reality of what we receive in the sacraments. Dipping our fingers in holy water and making the Sign of the Cross are sacramental signs which point to the salvific grace we receive in the sacrament of baptism. It is also true, as the Church teaches, that participation in these sacramental signs cleanses us of venial sin and provides protection against evil. 

There is a tradition that in Catholic homes families have small founts in the home to remind them of the sacramental signs of baptism, and if regularly used, provide the grace necessary to live out their discipleship in Christ. The use of these sacramental signs will also help us to remember that our baptism had a cleansing effect of original sin and the need for ongoing repentance of our sins.  

It is important to remember that when we perform these sacramental signs that we do so with great reverence.

Father Stephen Thompson is pastor of Holy Family Parish in Granite City and St. Mary and St. Mark Parish in Madison.

By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

In 1908, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Decatur opened to feelings of awe and glory. Today, its splendor continues to radiate and makes people look around in amazement. 

“The moment you walk into the church, you are drawn to how massive it is, how high the ceiling is, how wide the transepts are,” said Father Chris Comerford, pastor. “Everyone who comes looks up and takes it all in, and it gives you that sense of ‘wow.’ It is a great way of being drawn into the immensity of God too.” 

In 1908, the church, located on Eldorado Street, was part of a quiet neighborhood. Today, U.S. Route 36 runs right in front of it, which when the highway was built, took out the church’s stone steps, trees, front lawn, and front parking lot. The structure of the church is considered a Neo-Gothic design influenced by many of the classic Gothic churches in Europe. Inside, the design reflects the reverence of worshipping God. Like many churches built more than a 100 years ago, the colors are plentiful and no detailed spared. The stained-glass windows, statues, and architecture all help the faithful better understand the Bible, important moments in Salvation history, and helps focus their worship toward Jesus Christ. 

“Wherever you look in this church, you see symbols of the faith,” Father Comerford said. “There are lots of statues, lots of stained-glass windows, beautiful woodwork — all of it drawn to Christ, to the saints, to Mary. It is an incredible way of saying, ‘Yes, this really is a place of worship for our faith.’ You cannot look anywhere without taking that in.”

The church has gone through several makeovers over the decades. Remodeling was done in 1961 and the interior was refurbished in 2002. 

As you enter the main entrance, on the exterior of the church, you will see a bas-relief on the tympanum of St. Patrick baptizing Brian Boro, an Irish tribal chieftain. This scene is what is credited as the official conversion of Ireland from a pagan kingdom. You can also find dozens of carved shamrocks around the church, as shamrocks are the symbol of St. Patrick, which according to legend, he used to illustrate the three persons of the Holy Trinity. When driving through downtown Decatur, the steeple acts as the church’s most prominent feature, stretching 150 feet high. The church bell, cast in 1902 in West Troy, N.Y., is 3.5 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and weighs 4,000 pounds and is rung daily. 

Back inside the church, the most striking feature is considered the reredos behind the altar. The pointed tops are from the altar from Holy Family Catholic Church in Chicago, and they are believed to predate the Civil War. The sanctuary is cruciform in design, meaning it is in the shape of the cross, to remind the faithful of the sacrifice of Jesus. Behind the altar located in what would be considered the upper level of the apse is gold lattice work on a black background. This gallery was originally built for the cloistered nuns who served St. Patrick Parish in the early part of the 20^th century. The old baptismal font, made in 1880, is still used today to baptize infants. Hand carved in Italy; it was originally from St. Aloysius Church in Litchfield. The ambo at St. Patrick is taller than most ambos. This is because it contains part of the original 1908 altar. The front of the current altar, which was constructed in 2002, is made from the gates of the original Communion railing in the church. Originally, the dome at St. Patrick adorned the pictures of four saints. Today, you can see a pure white dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit.   

“I love the tabernacle,” Father Comerford said. “The way it was created out of wood, it looks like a small model of the church. I think that it is such a great sign that where the physical Eucharist is kept, is also connected to the larger church building too — even the tabernacle itself is another house and dwelling place for God.” 

Built for $125,000, the treasures inside St. Patrick Church are priceless and historic. Known as an unofficial landmark in the Soy City, the church, and the history here are rich and deeply Catholic. For Father Comerford, his grandmother was baptized here, his grandparents were married here, and his father was baptized here. 

“This was the first Catholic parish in Decatur, so this is known as a symbol in downtown and there have been so many people who have been a part of this,” Father Comerford said. “There have been so many great weddings and funerals, and it has affected essentially every Catholic family in the Decatur community.”

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

Just before Christmas, people who are twins celebrate National Twins Day on Dec. 18. It is estimated that 1 in 250 pregnancies will naturally result in twins, which makes being a twin rather unique. 

In the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, several priests grew up with a twin, including Father Brian Alford, Father Dean Probst, Father Rafal Pyrchla, Father Dominic Rankin, and Father Michael Trummer. Interestingly, all these priests have a fraternal twin and all but Father Pyrchla have twin sisters.

Many people know that Father Michael Trummer has a brother very close to his age who is also a priest — Father Chris Trummer — but not as many know that he has a twin sister as well. Her name is Katrina Joy, and they were born on March 10, 1992. With three of their four children born in 16 months, it goes without saying that their parents had a very busy household for many years. 

Young Michael and Katrina were close growing up, said Father Trummer, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, both in Decatur.  “We weren’t best friends, but not super distant, either. But apparently we have the same Meyer’s Briggs (Type Indicator) personality.”

Like many siblings, the two children got into trouble once in a while. “One time I asked my sister if I could cut off some of her hair. We were in kindergarten at the time,” Father Trummer said. “She was hesitant, but I begged her to let me just cut off a little bit with our kitchen scissors. She conceded, but I cut off several inches right in the back of her head.  It was the day before picture day!” 

Now that Katrina Schoenfeld is grown and married, she is raising her own twin babies, Tucker and Clair, and is in the middle of getting her master’s degree in clinical social work. “I baptized one of the twins, and my brother, Father Christopher, baptized the other one.” 

Ronald Dean Probst and his sister Constance Jean Probst were born on Oct. 22, 1952, in Flora. “We were born in the Flora hospital as St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham had burned down several years earlier and wasn’t rebuilt,” said Father Dean Probst, who is pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Newton and St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Sainte Marie. “The doctor said that since Mom was having twins, she should deliver in a hospital.

“Mom wanted our names to rhyme so it was Ronnie Dean and Connie Jean.  Dad asked, ‘Who would name their child Constance?’ and my mom said, ‘You did!’ So we went by our middle names, Dean and Jean. I was the first-born son, and she was their third daughter. I was an hour older by birth.”

Father Probst recalls hearing that his mother was overwhelmed knowing she was having twins. “Our mother was apprehensive about having twins with two children all within four years,” he said. “She cried to her mother about how she would manage, when Grandma had 11 children!” 

Father Dean said he and his twin sister are supportive of one another and were “very close in grade school and high school.” He was a groomsman in Jean’s wedding when she married her husband, Dan Cunningham. The couple had two sons. Jean Cunningham is now a retired schoolteacher who lives in Mattoon. 

Father Brian Alford and his twin sister Cindy were born on March 9, 1979. “Although we were born pretty well on time and at healthy weights, I had some breathing difficulties which required me to spend a little extra time in the hospital before finally coming home,” said Father Alford, rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and vicar for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. 

Growing up, Father Alford said he “doesn’t recall being too mischievous” and said he and Cindy were “pretty close.” “We were both involved in band and had several mutual friends. It was my twin sister who first told me that she thought I was going to become a priest.” Father Alford went on to witness his sister’s marriage and then baptized both of her children. Cindy Bushnell now lives in Houston, Texas and is involved in health and wellness work. 

“Looking back, it never seemed really too different having a twin sister,” Father Alford said. “Thankfully we got along together and still do to this day. I have a good relationship with all of my siblings, but I obviously feel closest to my twin sister, and I am grateful that the Lord blessed my life with this unique gift.”

Father Rafal Pyrchla and his twin brother Bartlomiej were born April 13, 1986, in Poland. “As far as I know we were full term, approximately 5 pounds each,” said Father Pyrchla, parochial vicar at St. Francis Solanus in Quincy. “I was the second born, he is 10 minutes older than me.” Bartlomiej is now a carpenter in Straszecin, Poland. 

In school, teachers couldn’t tell the Pyrchla brothers apart. “That was very funny. We always sat at the same desk in school. We were very close. We wore the same clothes. People, even the close family wouldn’t recognize (the differences in) us, who is who,” Father Pyrchla said and added with a wink, “I am more handsome.” 

Although Bartlomiej was supportive of his twin brother becoming a priest, Father Pyrchla said, “It was hard for him when I decided to join the seminary. Still, he was very happy for me, and he came with our mother to the U.S. for my priesthood ordination.” Now that they live so far apart, the brothers communicate by Skype. 

Another diocesan priest who is a twin and has another religious vocation in his family is Father Dominic Rankin, Master of Ceremonies and priest secretary to Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and associate director of the Office for Vocations. He and his twin sister, Sister Mary Thomas of the Holy Name of Jesus, OP (born Nicole Therese) came into the world very prematurely in May 1993. 

“We were due around July 23, but born on May 9, which meant both of us were very small — I was 2 pounds-something and my sister was 1 pound-something — and had a lot of developing still to do. Providentially, my parents were in St. Louis visiting with my dad’s parents, which meant some of the best neonatal facilities were a quick rush across the road when my mom went into labor all those weeks early rather than the hours it would have taken from Quincy to get to St. Louis or Springfield.

“It was touch and go for those 100 days, with plenty of lung, heart, brain, and nutrition challenges all throughout — and my parents said I kept them on pins and needles for several months after coming home when I would decide to stop breathing for heart-wrenching spans, which meant we had oxygen tanks and monitors to decorate the nursery!” 

When they were a little older and healthier, the twins became even more in tune to one another, Father Rankin said. “Mom and Dad say that when we were very little, we had our own language to communicate with each other before we started speaking English. We would run into the room together, chatter something to each other, and start laughing about whatever it was we were scheming before scattering out of the room, with Mom and Dad uncertain what ruckus was about to transpire.” 

Father Rankin believes his sister to be a brave woman who, while she was still a teenager, put her trust in God, applied and was accepted to the convent where she would eventually take vows. She is a cloistered and contemplative Dominican Nun in Marbury, Ala. 

“I was present for both my sister’s temporary profession in fall 2015 and her final vows in January of 2018. In the first case, I had just begun my studies in Rome at the North American College, so I was not ordained, but did assist at the Mass as a seminarian. In 2018, I was a transitional deacon, preparing to be ordained a priest that May, and was blessed to assist the bishop there for her final vows as a Dominican nun.” 

Father Rankin said that because he had spoken about being a priest from his early childhood days, his twin sister knew about his thoughts as they grew up. “By the time I got up the courage to ask the diocese about entering seminary, she had already been accepted to the convent, so at that particular junction it was by means of letters we exchanged that I broke the news to her,” he said. 

He has even more thoughts on that subject. “Although we cannot read each other’s minds, she as a consecrated contemplative nun has a very close connection with Jesus, and He knew I was called before I did,” he said. “So, I wonder if the Lord broke the news to my sister before I got around to it.” 

Father Zehnle remembers his lost twin

While Fathers Probst, Alford, Trummer, Rankin, and Pyrchla grew up with their siblings, Father Daren Zehnle was born a twin, but sadly lost his brother about 36 hours after their birth. Father Zehnle, pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Ashland, has often pondered how his life has turned out and what it might have been like to grow up with that boy. 

In his blog, Servant and Steward, Father Zehnle shared that he and his brother, Matthew William, were born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Quincy on March 26, 1978, about seven weeks before their due date. It was Easter Sunday, and most of central Illinois had been shut down because of a serious ice storm. 

Matthew was born at 10:04 a.m. and weighed 5 pounds and 2 ounces. At 10:12 a.m., his twin brother Daren was born, weighing 4 pounds and 9 ounces. “Both Matthew and I were born with a blockage of some kind in our throats, which made breathing very difficult,” Father Zehnle wrote. “Matthew was viewed by the medical team as the stronger of us, while I was seen as the weaker and not expected to live long.”

Since the twins were both in danger of death, a priest was called to baptize them. “Father Landry Genosky, OFM, came and not only baptized us, but confirmed us as well, a privilege granted to priests for those in danger of death. We had neither godparents nor sponsors and, to my knowledge, no confirmation names. I am simply Daren Joseph,” wrote Father Zehnle.

Sadly, Matthew died at 10:38 p.m. on March 27. At some point a tracheotomy was performed on little Daren. “I’m not sure if this was done before or after Matthew died. The tube remained for the first two or three years of my life, and I still bear the scar to this day,” wrote Father Zehnle, who wonders how life must have been for his late parents.

“Mom wrote that ‘the first three months have been bad. I spent two days in the hospital for dehydration.’ I’ve no idea how my parents coped with the death of their firstborn child together with my difficult first few years,” he wrote. “If they had a baby book for me, I do not know where it is, but I do have Matthew’s baby book. It is an odd feeling to flip through a baby book with only a couple pages filled in and I can well imagine why they may not have kept one for me.”

Father Zehnle wrote he has other thoughts on his life. “I’ve often wondered why I, the weaker one, survived. My arthritis too, before it was finally diagnosed, brought me near to the point of death, and yet I survived. I see in these pivotal moments of my life the protective hand of God.

“And though he lived only slightly more than a day,” he wrote, “there is a part of me that longs for the companionship of a brother and confidant, even a partner in mischief, which I know is the bond shared by twins.”