The National LIFE (Living in Faith Exchange) Runners pro-life group not only has a new Springfield Chapter, but Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is the 2012 national chaplain.
LIFE Runners was co-founded by Lt. Col. Patrick Castle of Scott Air Force Base and there are 18 LIFE Runners chapters nationwide. Castle invited Bishop Paprocki to run the Kansas City Marathon in October 2011. The two men met several times before the marathon and have continued to correspond about LIFE Runners.
"Bishop Paprocki is on the LIFE Group Advisory Committee and he was interested in having a Springfield chapter, which we are starting," Castle said.
As national chaplain Bishop Paprocki began posting LIFE Group Devotions to LIFE Runners even before Christmas.
Dr. Kevin Vost, a member of St. Agnes Parish of Springfield and the author of several books on Catholicism, is leading the new Springfield LIFE Runners.
"LIFE Runners are LIFE Group Devotions members who pray, raise funds and run. I'm very excited about getting this on the road," said Vost. "We all plan to participate in the first group training run on Saturday, Feb. 25, starting at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.
"Plans are still under way, but we'll probably meet in the Cathedral parking lot at noon. We'll have some prayer and then run," Vost said. "This is so much about the praying, so we'll probably have people who are at different (fitness) levels and they'll be running at their own pace. That day we'll have Bishop Paprocki and Pat Castle there, but I hope we can get a few more strong runners to anchor the group."
People from throughout the diocese are welcome to participate, he said.
Some of the Springfield LIFE Runners will likely be taking part in this year's Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Half/Full Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 21, said Vost, who has traditionally been more involved in weight training. "I am still kind of new to running, but I am glad to do this now because it is for such a good cause. I would be someone who would be running a half marathon," Vost said.
Castle said his goal is to have 262 Life Runners participating in the Oct. 21 marathon, which courses' highlight many of St. Louis' scenic neighborhoods, historic area and parks.
Vost said he is posting information about LIFE Runners in parish bulletins in February and will be announcing the formation of the group during EWTN and Relevant Radio interviews in both January and February.
"I know Springfield gets the EWTN Son Rise Morning Show through Covenant Radio and Decatur gets Morning Air and On Call through Relevant Radio," he said. "Hopefully some other towns in the diocese get one or the other."
For more information or to join the Springfield Chapter, see the LIFE Runners Facebook page or e-mail Vost at .