DIETERICH — As a woman with a houseful of children, a husband and a part-time job, 42-year-old Katie Waldhoff certainly has a full and busy life; however, when she heard information on LIFE Runners participating in the St. Louis Rock-N-Roll Marathon she thought to herself, "I'd like to train for that."

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated the first diocesan-wide Red Mass at noon on Monday, Oct. 8 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Some of the attendees at this initial Red Mass were members of the new Catholic Lawyers' Guild of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, which Bishop Paprocki formed earlier this year with the help of Father Peter Harman.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki admitted 13 diocesan men to the candidacy for Holy Orders. The admission ceremony took place during 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Another man, Jeff Wolf, could not attend the Mass due to illness and will be admitted at a later date.

DECATUR — When Ss. James and Patrick parishioner Jeanine Decker wanted her pets blessed on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4 she only had to drive to St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur. That's where Father Nick Husain, executive director of Spiritual Care and Mission Integration at St. Mary's, blessed a large number of pets at the Cancer Care Healing Garden.

DECATUR — On nearly any given weekday, Sister Anna Phiri, a Hospital Sister of the Third Order of St. Francis, can be found helping others around St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur. Her mission in life is simply to bring Christ's healing presence to the world.

Couples celebrate 50 years or more of marriage

It was a beautiful late summer afternoon both inside and outside of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, Sept. 16 as Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated the annual Mass for couples married 50 years or longer. About 160 couples, many of them attending Mass with children and grandchildren, were at the Cathedral that afternoon.

VANDALIA — Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has officially declared by a canonical decree that Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry (OSMM) in Vandalia is a Private Diocesan Association of the Christian Faithful.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will celebrate the first-ever diocesan Red Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, Oct. 8 at noon. The Mass will be followed by a luncheon in the atrium of the Cathedral. Father Peter Harman, pastor of Cathedral Parish and chaplain of the Catholic Lawyers' Guild of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, will concelebrate.

St. Patrick Catholic School at 1800 South Grand Ave. E. in Springfield has formed a collaborative partnership with The Family Literacy Program through the Christian non-profit Fishes and Loaves Outreach. "This is the first building block to our dream of a Parent Academy," said Judi Willard, development director at the east-side school that is open to children who are in grades PreK-5.

‘Living faith fully, sharing faith freely’

The Office for Catechesis will present the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference Nov. 4-5 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel in Decatur, 4191 US 36 West (Wycles Road).