Bishop Thomas John Paprocki ran his 20th marathon on Oct. 20, completing the first-ever Springfield Marathon, in four hours, 24 minutes and 48 seconds.

In conjunction with the annual Red Mass and luncheon for members of the Catholic Lawyers Guild held on Oct. 14, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki announced that Catholic Charities in the Springfield diocese is initiating a volunteer legal services program to assist those who cannot afford legal representation with civil matters.

Over 750 students from Catholic grade schools in various parts of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, as well as a large number of high school students, gathered during the first week of October for Diocesan Youth Days. This year the youth came from Decatur, Jacksonville, Springfield and Quincy.

It has been a busy autumn for diocesan members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, an ancient order that dates back to the First Crusade.

Sunday, Sept. 22, would have been a beautiful day for a wedding. Instead, some of the longest-married couples in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois gathered that first day of autumn for a celebration of their many years as husbands and wives.

Enrollment in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois seems to be on the upswing, with one Catholic high school and the Quincy Catholic elementary schools showing exceptional growth.

Sister Hugh Holtmann, OSF, reached an important milestone on Sept. 3, celebrating her 100th birthday with her fellow Sisters, the staff at St. Francis Convent, and various friends. She was honored at a Mass and with a birthday party organized by her friends from Litchfield and Gillespie. Also in attendance was Dan Perryman, president/CEO at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield — a staff position that Sister Hugh held for about a decade beginning 40 years ago.

The 24th annual Family Camp, held Sept. 14-15 at Lake Williamson Christian Conference Center in Carlinville was especially bittersweet for Elaine Vonderheide, who is retiring as associate director for Special Needs in the Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life. Putting together Family Camp was the first project she undertook nearly 25 years ago and it was her last official act as she retires.

It’s a new school year, and men preparing to be priests for the Springfield diocese are once again beginning their studies at their assigned seminaries. At the same time, leaders in the Office for Vocations are settling into their new roles and preparing to help those men and others who might also choose the priesthood or religious life.

Friends and family of Danielle Loftus have organized a 5K run/walk to benefit the Springfield teenager who was severely injured in a jet ski accident on July 11, 2010. Danielle’s story was first featured in Catholic Times on Sept. 26 of that year.