Joe Paprocki, national consultant for faith formation at Loyola Press in Chicago, was on hand both days at the DAEC discussing a topic he knows well: sharing the Catholic faith with others. His sessions were highly attended.

In a DAEC presentation called "How Your Life Story Can Change Someone Else's: Using Personal Stories for Conversion and Catechesis" Marc Cardaronella admitted that he hasn't always been a fan of "putting himself out there" to help others grow in their faith. However, a mentor kept reminding him to tell stories about himself during catechetical presentations.

A lot of teens go on great retreats, "but trying to get them to pray once back home is not easy," said Jared Dees, a digital publishing specialist with Ave Maria Press in Notre Dame, Ind. Dees' breakout session during the DAEC was "Teaching Teens to Pray in a Digital World."

"Talking to teens About Chastity in a Way That They Will Listen" was a breakout session at the DAEC on Sunday that drew a packed crowd. Paul Masek, coordinator of the REAP Team (Retreat Evangelization and Prayer) in the Catholic Youth Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, led the discussion.

Walt and Judy Unger of Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Maryville came to the DAEC to speak to their fellow diocesan Catholics about social justice. In their session "Go Forth, to Love and Serve the Lord: Battling Poverty and Fighting for Justice," they spoke from many years of experience — experience studying Scripture, fighting poverty and generally helping others. Judy is JustFaith facilitator at her parish, while Walt is RCIA coordinator and a catechist.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki gave the closing address at the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference on the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 5. His topic: The only thing preventing us from living faith fully and sharing faith freely is sin.

The annual Franciscan Nativity Festival will be held from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30; from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1; and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Chiara Center, 4875 LaVerna Road, on the grounds of the Motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis near Springfield.

A statue of the first Native American to be canonized a saint in the universal church was already standing in place on the grounds of the Franciscan Sisters' motherhouse near Springfield on Oct. 21, when Pope Benedict XVI canonized St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Rome.

The Springfield diocese is well on its way to full compliance with a revised training and background checking policy for clergy, employees and volunteers at all parishes, schools and other Catholic institutions, according to Ember Beddingfield.

Over 450 Catholic school students, teachers, missionaries and supporters of the missions from throughout the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois attended the annual Mission Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

QUINCY — Father Kenneth J. Venvertloh, age 73, retired priest of the Springfield diocese, died on Oct. 19 in Blessing Hospital.

Campaign for Justice and Hope ~ Collection Dates: Nov. 17-18

The Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope (DCJH) is an effort by the Diocese of Springfield of Illinois under the direction of Bishop Thomas John Paprocki to promote justice and hope for the poor. DCJH puts into practice Catholic teaching on life and dignity of every human person and the Gospel command to care for "the least of these" (Matt: 25). Drawing inspiration from the Corporal Works of Mercy, DCJH seeks to address the systemic injustices that contribute to poverty in our diocese and to provide financial support for local programs and organizations that give realistic hope for the poor to break out of the cycle of poverty through effective and efficient interventions.

ST. LOUIS — Bishop Thomas John Paprocki finished the St. Louis Rock-N-Roll Marathon on Oct. 21 in four hours, 22 minutes and 53 seconds. It was his 19th marathon.

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."

JACKSONVILLE — Redemptorist Father Gregg Schmitt will lead a parish mission Nov. 11-14 at Our Saviour Church, 453 E. State St. Sessions will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. each evening with time for fellowship afterward.

On Sunday, Nov. 18, St. Joseph Parish in Springfield will host a musical concert in celebration of the recent 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II. The concert will be held at 3 p.m. in the church at 1345 N. Sixth St.

GRANITE CITY — Nearly 300 people attended a diocesan Respect Life Mass Oct. 13 celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at Holy Family Church in Granite City. After Mass, most of those in attendance joined Bishop Paprocki in praying the rosary as they walked several blocks to Hope Clinic for Women for a brief prayer service outside the place where medical and surgical abortions are performed.

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.

Joyce L. Janoski, mother of Father Steven Janoski of the Springfield diocese, died Oct. 12 at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

EFFINGHAM — During Respect Life Month, members of 18 Catholic parishes and some Protestant churches in the Effingham Deanery are participating in solidarity with an international "40 Days for Life" prayer campaign to witness and pray peacefully to show their opposition to abortion. The "40 days" began Sept. 26, continue through October, which is Respect Life Month, and end on Nov. 6.

DECATUR — Catholic Charities of Decatur elected officers and added four new members to its advisory board last month.

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.

St. Louisian Shane Kapler to be guest speaker for luncheon program

GRANITE CITY — Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will celebrate the annual diocesan Respect Life Mass at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at Holy Family Church in Granite City. After Mass he will lead a rosary walk to Hope Clinic for Women, to hold a prayer vigil outside the place where medical and surgical abortions are performed.

Nine members of Knights of Columbus councils in the Springfield diocese will be inducted into the Springfield Diocesan Chapter Hall of Fame at the 2012 induction ceremony and banquet on Oct. 20.

QUINCY — At 5 p.m. on Oct. 20, the feast day of St. Luke, patron saint of physicians, St. Peter Church in Quincy will have a White Mass in recognition of the dedicated work of Catholic health care professionals, who are called to take care of others from conception to death. A reception will be held in the cafeteria after Mass.

MUENSTER, Germany — Sister Sherrey Murphy, OSF, has been re-elected general superior of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis during the General Chapter of Elections on Sept. 14 in Muenster. Since 1994, Sister Sherrey has served in Germany, 12 years as a general councilor and the past six years as general superior. The General Chapter is the highest decision-making body of the congregation and meets every six years to elect the general leadership and set the direction for the congregation for the future.

The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis welcomed 14 new Franciscan associates Sept. 30 during morning liturgy in St. Francis of Assisi Church. The new Franciscan associates are Carol Coleman, Barbara Erdmann, Bjarne Jensen, Jean Jensen, Jim Keys, Rita Keys, Tim Suter, Kathy Travis, and Pat Wright (all of Springfield); Laura Brown (Decatur); Rosemary Hersheway (Streator); Amy Penne (Tuscola); Jane Stevenor (Dalton City); and Steve Werner (Eau Claire, Wis).

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.