Members pledge to foster vocations to priesthood, religious life

ALTON — A new Serra Club of Madison County has received its charter, and its membership of 38 men and women have been installed as charter members of Serra International. The installation took place at St. Ambrose Church, Alton, Sept. 12, during Mass celebrated by Msgr. Carl Kemme. Msgr. Kemme, the diocese’s vicar general, is the club’s chaplain.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki continues to make his way around the 28 counties in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, to celebrate a Mass of Welcome and Reception in each on the diocese’s seven deaneries.

Former soldier turned artist is commissioned to sculpt statue

ALTON — Sculptor Daniel “Zeke” Balan spent the summer working on a project in his in-laws’ basement — a project which has inspired and challenged him to take a deeper look at a popular and well-known saint, Joan of Arc.

TEUTOPOLIS — Over 450 people from throughout the Effingham deanery were at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Teutopolis for a 7 p.m. Mass, Sept. 1, to welcome Bishop Thomas John Paprocki on his first formal visit to their deanery after his June installation as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Year Three of Why Catholic? will start up soon in parishes throughout the diocese. Sign up Sunday for the fall small-group sessions will be after Masses the weekend of Sept. 12, with the six fall sessions to run from Oct. 3 through Nov. 7.

ALTON — For the first time in more than 30 years, Marquette Catholic High School in Alton is in the midst of a capital development campaign, in which leaders hope to raise $3 million to make upgrades throughout the campus and enhance the school’s endowment fund.

TAYLORVILLE — Handmade baby quilts and hand-knit and crocheted baby covers are on their way to Haiti to help the smallest of victims in the aftermath of last year’s earthquake in the island nation.

At least five groups totaling more than 100 people from the Springfield diocese are already making plans to participate in the 2011 World Youth Day next summer in Madrid, Spain. The WYD pilgrims are from: St. Anthony High School, Effingham, led by Father Daren Zehnle; a Spanish ministry group, led by Father Christopher Brey; a group led by Becky Bauerle from Mother of Perpetual Help, Maryville, and Mother of Dolors, Vandalia; a group from St. Paul, Highland led by Jack Cygan; and a group organized by Kyle Holtgrave, associate director of youth in the diocesan Office of Catechesis, which includes youth from Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bethalto, Sacred Heart in Virden, and St. Mary in Alton.

EDWARDSVILLE — Middle school students from St. Mary School in Edwardsville came off as big winners in the 14th International Botball Robotics Tournament held in conjunction with the Global Conference on Educational Robotics, July 8-10, on the campus of nearby Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

DECATUR — Several Decatur Catholics are working hard to establish a Decatur Catholic radio station. A capital campaign to raise $300,000 is under way, with $135,000 raised so far. The new station’s call letters will be WDCK. Organizers promise the FM station will offer genuine Catholic programming.