Thirty youth participants from 14 parishes attended a diocesan Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) that ran June 28 through July 3 at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center on Lake Springfield. The students, who are entering their freshman through junior years in high school, were there to learn leadership and communication skills, community building and to begin to understand group dynamics, said Becky Bauerle.

Bishop George J. Lucas has received a letter thanking the people of the diocese for a $64,000 contribution to the Jerusalem Mother Church for the 2007 Good Friday collection.

Five Illinois State Knights of Columbus Council's from District 76 have been recognized as Illinois Spirit Award winners for outstanding programs during the 2006-2007 fraternal year. The announcement was made at the Knights of Columbus Illinois State Convention held recently in Springfield. Only 56 out of 420 Councils in Illinois earned these distinctions.

Recent visitors to the Web site for the Springfield diocese, www.dio.org, have no doubt noticed the site has a more modern look and several new capabilities.