Calvary Cemetery in Springfield is in the process of erecting a columbarium area for the respectful inurnment of cremated remains. It will be the first Catholic cemetery in the diocese to have a columbarium area.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki joined Catholic leaders from across the state at a press conference in the Illinois State Capitol on April 6 to call attention to pending legislation of particular concern to Catholic teaching.

DECATUR — Little did Sister JoAnn Schullian, OSF, realize the impact attending a talk would have on her life.

QUINCY and BRUSH CREEK, Mo. — Chicago Cardinal Francis George, OMI, led a pilgrimage April 6 and 7 to Quincy and nearby Missouri sites relevant in the life of Father Augustus Tolton, the country’s first acknowledged black priest, whose cause for beautification and canonization is under way. At St. Peter Cemetery in Quincy, the archbishop made a canonical examination of Father Tolton’s gravesite and led the group in prayers.

In the midst of Lent, Springfield's Patricia Kendall finds her expertise in the field of cooking fish a much sought after source of knowledge. For over 20 years, Kendall, a St. Cabrini parishioner who calls herself "The Fishlady," has been teaching people how to cook fish. She has done food demonstrations, taught cooking classes, given seminars and written a cookbook, all with the goal of helping others discover how easy it is to cook fish.

CHICAGO — The Archdiocese of Chicago held the first session in the cause for the beatification and canonization of Father Augustus Tolton on Feb. 24 at St. James Chapel in the Archbishop Quigley Center in downtown Chicago. Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, diocesan postulator for the cause of Father Tolton, and Bishop John Gaydos, of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., were among those participating in the formal occasion.

One Church, One Home project helps homeless mothers rebuild their lives

CHATHAM — Catholics recognize reaching out to help people who are in need as part of their baptismal call. Thanks to the generosity of parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker, in Chatham, a homeless mother with three young children moved into a fully furnished two bedroom apartment in January. The parish partnered with MERCY Communities in its new project called One Church, One Home.

Quincy, Mt. Sterling students celebrate Catholic Schools Week at all-schools Mass

QUINCY — More than 1,200 students from Quincy’s four Catholic grade schools — Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis Solanus, and St. Peter — plus Quincy Notre Dame High School and St. Mary School, Mt. Sterling, came together at the QND gymnasium on Jan. 31 for Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. The liturgical celebration marked the start of Catholic Schools Week.

Pro-life advocates from throughout the Springfield diocese who participated in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., last month, returned home inspired by the scores of young people they witnessed standing up for the unborn.

EFFINGHAM — When Maggie Seiler, a former student at St. Anthony Grade School, became ill and was hospitalized for 12 days at St. Louis Children’s Hospital last November, her former classmates offered to have a fund-raiser to help offset her family’s medical costs.