Priests of the Springfield diocese will gather at the Northfield Center in Springfield Sept. 19-22 for their annual convocation. Each year priests of the diocese meet with the bishop to continue their ongoing formation.

A small group from Springfield attended the Feast of the Assumption ceremony at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, in northeastern Wisconsin. Approved last December by the Catholic Church as a shrine worthy of belief, it is the first Marian shrine in the United States on the site of an approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Nearly 100 young people and their adult leaders from the Springfield diocese; Bishop Thomas John Paprocki; Fathers Brian Alford, Chris Brey and Daren Zehnle, and Nnamdi Moneme, OMV, and seminarians Steve Arisman and Hyland Smith were part of the 1.5 million pilgrims from around the world who participated in World Youth Day 2011 in Spain.

An ecumenical service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

A Sangamon County judge ruled Aug. 18 the state does not have to renew contracts to provide foster care and adoption services with Catholic Charities in four Illinois dioceses — Springfield, Peoria, Joliet and Belleville. The 40-year history Catholic Charities has of providing these services does not entitle them to an automatic renewal of their contracts, Circuit Court Judge John Schmidt wrote in his ruling, released one day after he heard oral arguments in a packed Springfield courtroom.

Catholic schools throughout the diocese are making plans to help their students not only learn liturgical changes which will be made as a result of the implementation of the new Roman Missal, but also to understand the reasoning behind these changes.

At age 11, Lily Camp is doing her part to help a young girl and her family, who live half a world away, to have a better life. She is making and selling "pew babies" to raise money to purchase fishnets for a fisherman in the Philippines.

VANDALIA — Relics of St. Padre Pio (1887–1968), one of the most well-known stigmatics of the 20th century, were personally transported from the shrine of Padre Pio in Italy, to Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry in Vandalia, for veneration and prayer at two sold-out retreats in early August.

MADISON — Parishioners of St. Mary and St. Mark Parish in Madison and Venice held a farewell celebration July 17 for Sister Mary Clare Fichtner, OP, who is leaving after 10 years as their parish life coordinator.

Theresians International will celebrate their 50th anniversary at the Theresians USA National Conference in Dubuque, Iowa, Sept. 29-Oct. 2.