New diocesan rules and regulations, developed in response to the Illinois Cemetery Oversight Act have been instrumental in standardizing operations of Catholic cemeteries in the Springfield diocese, said Brad Fisher, cemetery associate in the diocesan Office for Finance.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will ordain 14 men from the Deacon Class of 2012 to the Order of Deacons on Saturday, June 16 at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. A reception in the parish hall will follow.

During a Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, May 20, at Sacred Heart Chapel in Springfield, 22 candidates made a public commitment to witness Gospel values as Dominican associates. They join more than 300 men and women in the United States and Peru who accompany the Dominican Sisters of Springfield on a life-long journey of prayer, study and preaching. This year's Dominican associates hail from Illinois, Arkansas and Mississippi.

As Court Madonna Catholic Daughters of the Americas nears the close of a year-long celebration commemorating its 100 year existence in Springfield, the court sent a centennial donation to the CDA national headquarters Growing Tree in recognition of Mary Frances Lavin.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Quincy native Kevin Thomas Drew, 46, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri by Bishop Robert W. Finn on May 19 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City. He was one of six men ordained that day; a member of the largest class ordained for that diocese since 1967.

Nearly 400 people traveled to Springfield's Calvary Cemetery on Memorial Day to attend an outdoor Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in honor of the men and women in the military who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will ordain transitional Deacons Albert Allen, Zachary Edgar and Scott Snider to the priesthood on Saturday, May 26, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. The liturgy will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has been named LIFE Runner of the Year by the National LIFE Runners board of directors. Following the March 26 death of Joseph Castle, the man known as the patriarch of the National LIFE Runners, a memorial was established in his name. Bishop Paprocki is the chaplain for the group and is the first team member to be honored.

GRANITE CITY — The annual St. Elizabeth Parish Picnic, June 8-10, will offer a new dimension to its lineup this year: financial relief for families.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki received the Illinois State Deputy Medallion from State Deputy Richard Spada at the 114th annual Knights of Columbus State Convention, held May 4-6 in Lombard. Bishop Paprocki also accepted a donation of $21,000 from the K. of C. Newman Fund for the Newman centers in the Springfield diocese.

When some couples decide on a destination wedding, they are planning on inviting guests to a romantic island or exotic vacation spot. However, when devout Catholics Christa Davis and Olivier Bathany were married on April 21, the majority of their guests — in fact the bride and groom themselves — traveled from far-away places to take part in the nuptial Mass at St. Joseph Church on Springfield's north end.

At the end of each school year, educators and catechists in parish schools and religious education programs in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are honored for special service anniversaries.

Priests in the Springfield diocese will join Bishop Thomas John Paprocki for the annual priests' jubilee celebration on Tuesday, May 8, at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center at Lake Springfield.

On Saturday, April 28, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki ordained two third-year diocesan seminarians to the transitional diaconate during a 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

UMUHU OKABIA, Nigeria — Michael Ndebueze Ndeanaefo, father of Father Aloysius Okey Ndeanaefo of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, died Feb. 18 at Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria.

ALTON — Marquette Catholic High School in Alton has seen significant progress in meeting the $3 million goal of its ongoing capital campaign.

The 2012 Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield will be held Saturday, May 5, through Tuesday, May 8 at various venues in the Springfield area. The theme is "Come, Creative Spirit."

Seminarians David Curtin and Hyland Smith will be ordained transitional deacons by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 28, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Curtin is from Cathedral Parish and Smith is from St. Michael Parish in Greenfield.

MARYVILLE — Knights of Columbus Council 6625 is bidding a sad goodbye to historic Buffalo Park at the end of this month. The Knights have owned and operated the park since 1975, holding meetings, bingo and fish fries there for decades.

The Office for Marriage and Family Life will host a Diocesan White Mass at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 27 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will celebrate the Mass, which will be followed with a lunch and presentation in the Cathedral atrium.

EFFINGHAM — More than a half-dozen choirs from St. Anthony Parish in Effingham will be featured in an All Choirs Concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 in St. Anthony Church, 101 E. Virginia Ave.

The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has received, along with most other U.S. dioceses, notification that in accordance with the most recent audit, the diocese is in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

RAYMOND — Two days of on-going formation for priests in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois focused on the explosion of pornography, including child pornography, which has happened within the last decade as Internet technology and social media technology has proliferated.

COLLINSVILLE — The women of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Collinsville are sponsoring their seventh annual Women's Day on Saturday, April 28. The day, which is open to women over age 16, is entitled "Lady in Blue, Teach Us to Pray" and will be held at the Collinsville K.C. Hall on Rt. 157.

ALTON — Former European pop star and current Christian performer Tajči will be performing a free concert on Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary Church in Alton. Sponsored by Saint Anthony's Foundation, the event is open to the community at no cost; a freewill offering will be available to benefit the Sisters of St. Francis and their mission at Saint Anthony's Health Center.

EFFINGHAM — Effingham Catholic Charities is teeing up for its 13th Annual Austin Luckett Memorial Golf Tournament to be held Friday, May 11 at the Cardinal Golf Course. It is a fund-raising event for the Effingham-based charity.

BRUSSELS — Christmas Eve 2011 brought tragedy to many Blessed Trinity parishioners when the historic Immaculate Conception (St. Mary's) Church burned, but this Easter the mood is much brighter among the people in Brussels and Southern Calhoun County. Not only are parishioners celebrating the resurrection and the Easter season, but they are rejoicing about recently announced plans to rebuild their beloved St. Mary's.

SPRINGFIELD — St. Joseph School, a 135-year-old fixture on Springfield's near north side, will close at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year.

During Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday (April 1), Lent ends and the Paschal triduum — a single three-day celebration of the Paschal mystery — begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday evening.