“Every now and then you have an experience, one that will remain with you forever — purposeful, fun and challenging,” says Maria Zumbahlen of her recent week chaperoning and taking part in Catholic HEART Workcamp (CHWC).

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will be travelling to Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 15 to run the Kansas City Marathon with LIFE Runners, a team of pro-life runners dedicating to spreading the Gospel of Life and raising funds for pro-life charities. October is, of course, the month the Catholic Church celebrates life from birth to natural death.

Consistency and transparency is the goal for a year-long rollout of standardized financial software for parishes in the Springfield diocese.

When the new translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition is implemented on the Nov. 27, the First Sunday of Advent, Catholics will experience some noticeable changes in the words of the Mass. Most impacted of all, perhaps, will be priests. Not only will they have to learn and proclaim the new texts themselves, but they will have to help parishioners become comfortable with responding and praying with the new translation.

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.

ALTON — The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George will celebrate the profession of first vows and the reception into the novitiate of several Sisters during Mass at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 15. Two novices will make their first profession of vows, and four postulants will be received into the novitiate.

ST. LOUIS — The Ursuline Sisters of four regional U.S. provinces elected the leadership team for the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union, United States Province, during a chapter of elections meeting held July 9-13 in St. Louis. The new United States province is being formed through the merger of the four provinces into one.

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

From now until the end of August, people in the Springfield area have a chance to get an up-close look at photographs that not only portray history, but bravery and kindness. They also inspire hope, says Rabbi Michael Datz.

The story of Father Augustus Tolton, first acknowledged black Catholic priest in the United States and candidate for sainthood, is available on the Springfield diocese’s website at www.dio.org/tolton.

Ninety-one young people and adult leaders from throughout the Springfield diocese will attend World Youth Days Aug. 16-21 in Madrid, Spain. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will join the diocesan youth and leaders at WYD on Friday, Aug. 19, to celebrate Mass for them. Father Daren Zehnle will serve as master of ceremonies for the bishop.

The state of Illinois has notified Catholic Charities in the Springfield, Joliet, Belleville and Peoria dioceses that they are no longer eligible for state foster care and adoption services contracts.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has given permission for parishes in the Springfield diocese to gradually introduce some of the people's parts of new musical Mass settings in anticipation of the Nov. 27 implementation of Roman Missal, third edition.

When Father Dan Willenborg was ordained to the priesthood his father, Francis Willenborg Sr., told him, “Be a priest of and for the poor.” Now, by serving as chaplain to both the Taylorville Correctional Center in Taylorville and Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, Father Willenborg says that he feels he is fulfilling the role his late father suggested.

Early in June, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, at the invitation of Chaplain Father Dan Willenborg and acting warden Lynn Dexheimer, visited the Taylorville Correctional Center where he celebrated Mass and had an informal tour of the facility.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Deacon Scott James Kallal, a native of Jerseyville, was ordained to the priesthood Saturday, June 18, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kan., by Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois assisted in the ordination along with Archbishop James Kelleher, retired of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan.

A Sangamon County judge ruled July 12 that Catholic Charities of the Springfield, Joliet and Peoria diocese may continue to serve children in their foster care and adoption services program.

MT. OLIVE — As of July 1 the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has a parish named Blessed Pope John Paul II. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki issued a decree consolidating Ascension Parish and Holy Trinity Parish in Mt. Olive into the new parish.

Prayer and spirituality central to young participants

The annual Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) was held June 19-24 on the campus of Benedictine University in Springfield. This year 37 individuals, including youth participants and their leaders, spent the first days of summer concentrating on leadership and communication skills, liturgy planning, community building and group dynamics.

Father Richard Chiola, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Springfield, received the award for adjunct faculty member of the year at the graduation of physicians from the psychiatry department at Southern Illinois School of Medicine on June 22. 

On Pentecost Sunday 44 confirmandi from throughout the Springfield diocese were confirmed by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki during the 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

MARYVILLE — Student recruitment has begun for the new Father McGivney Catholic High School (FMCHS). The school’s board of directors said in a statement that plans to accept students for the 2012 academic year have been approved by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in consultation with area pastors and local parents.

Brother Jason Nesbit, CSV, a native of Granite City, was ordained to the priesthood at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at Maternity BVM Church in Bourbonnais by Chicago Auxiliary Bishop George Rassas. He celebrated his first Mass of thanksgiving there at 11 a.m. the next morning, June 5.

Early summer is the traditional time for parishes to get new priests. Beginning this summer, Catholics in the Effingham area will be welcoming not only a new pastor, but a new team of priests and a deacon who will be serving them in several parishes.

QUINCY — Catholics from Quincy and other parts of the Springfield diocese welcomed visitors from Chicago to St. Peter Church in Quincy June 5 for a Mass commemorating the 125th anniversary of ordination and first Mass of Father Augustus Tolton.

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.

Twelve years ago when Patrick O’Toole was pursuing his bachelor’s degree in theology at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, he told his curriculum advisers his dream was to one day preach parish missions. For his college senior project he preached a parish mission for his home parish, St. John the Baptist in Joliet.

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) recently awarded $500 scholarships to four high school senior girls. The High School Leadership Scholarship Awards went to Katie Lynn Bruntjen, Danielle Joann Krabbe, Michelle Meloche and Claire Murphy Watson.

On Saturday, May 28, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki ordained Father Brian Alford to the diocesan priesthood. At 32, Father Alford, who grew up in Troy and lived in Maryville as an adult, is now the youngest diocesan priest in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.