In this edition of Catholic Times, we feature several Catholic school teachers from across the diocese who retired at the end of this school year. These teachers spent decades shaping minds and building disciples. They built up the Kingdom of God in our diocese and joyfully lived out our faith in their classrooms. We also list those who retired and how many years they taught children in service of the church both in our Catholic schools and at Parish Schools of Religion (PSR).

 As the school year winds down, two Catholic school principals for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are getting ready to hand over the reins to new leaders. Mike Slaughter is retiring from Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, while Diane Wepking is bidding farewell to St. Mary School in Edwardsville. Together they have contributed approximately 80 years of service to Catholic education.

The fruits of moving confirmation and first holy Communion to the Cathedral and having confirmation in third grade instead of eighth grade may be hard to envision for some, but these parents are trusting in God

In the last edition of Catholic Times, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki announced that the temporary general delegation for pastors to celebrate confirmations and first holy Communions in the parish will stop in July and those sacraments going forward will then take place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield (except for those parishes whose pastor has requested special delegation to complete the confirmation of children in fourth grade and older by Dec. 31, 2021). The diocese received both positive and negative reaction to this announcement. Most negative comments focused on that sacraments should be celebrated at their home parish. Others were upset over the prospect of what can already be a stressful day and then having to get a family prepared for and then making a one-to-two-hour drive. For those who are frustrated and or angered by this decision, we offer the following thoughts from several parents of several children who all live more than 75 miles away from the Cathedral. We hope these reactions make you think about how you will prepare and talk to your children in preparation for this sacred event.

After graduating from St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Ind., Sullivan (Moultrie County) native Meredith Vogel (Murphy) spent a year working as an assistant to a speech-language pathologist in the public school system in South Bend. A young boy, named Benjamin, attended the school there. Vogel serviced his classroom.

There were several standing ovations. Tears filled her eyes on several occasions. The love Arlis DeJaynes felt on April 21 was real and profound. DeJaynes, an English teacher and department head at St. Teresa High School in Decatur, was the winner of the 2021 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki presented DeJaynes with the award during a surprise celebration at St. Teresa High School.

Catholic Times is pleased to recognize the following religious sisters, brothers and priests who have lived in or served in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and are celebrating significant Jubilees in 2021. The following biographies were compiled from information submitted for publication by religious orders.These women and men deserve our respect, prayers, and thanks for selflessly and courageously answering God’s call to serve others. Read on to see if you recognize a person who made a real difference in your life or in the life of someone you know.

QUINCY — The life of Quincy’s Venerable Father Augustine Tolton is now on display on marble panels at the Church of St. Peter in Quincy. The idea came from the parish pastor, Msgr. Leo Enlow, who was trying to figure out a way to disguise nine metal plates that were put into a brick wall at the church parking lot.

Answers to frequently asked questions, including why these sacraments take place in third grade.

Starting July 1, confirmation and first holy Communion for children in third grade will take place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

On Dec. 8, 2020, Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, announced a Year of St. Joseph in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the foster father of Jesus as patron of the Universal Church. The Holy Father said, “The aim of this Apostolic Letter,” and one might also presume of this special year, “is to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal” (Patris Corde, 7). The Year of St. Joseph will conclude on Dec. 8, 2021.

On Wednesday, May 5 priests from around the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will gather at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center on Lake Springfield for a day of celebration. That day they will hear from presenter Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, participate in Evening Prayer, a dinner and then, along with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, will honor two priests who are celebrating a special Jubilee this year. Being recognized this year are Father James Neuman, who will be celebrating 50 years as a priest, and Father Christopher Comerford, who will be celebrating his 25-year Jubilee.

Two Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, who currently live in Springfield, celebrated their 100-year-old birthdays in April. Join us in thanking them for their long lives of service to God and his people.

Three students from across the diocese were the top three vote-getters in the national Valentine’s Day Coloring Book Contest, organized by the Catholic War Veterans of the United States.

In February, Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled his budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1, proposing a cut to the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship program that allows low-income and working-class students to receive scholarships to Catholic and other nonpublic schools.

On Friday of Easter Week, April 9, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki ordained two seminarians to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The ordinations of Deacon Zach Samples and Deacon Paul Lesupati took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

Presenting the second annual St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award

We asked everyone from across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois what Catholic teacher in our schools is making a big difference in the classroom? What teacher goes above and beyond, someone whose impact is deep and personal? What teacher authentically lives out what it means to be Catholic and instills our faith into his or her students? What teacher embodies St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded Catholic schools in the United States?

PETERSBURG — With four young biological children to raise, St. Peter parishioners Jesse and Monique Sullivan lead busy lives, yet for the past 18 months they have welcomed foster children into their love-filled household.

The bishops of the six dioceses in Illinois have written a letter urging lawmakers to reject legislation that would repeal Illinois’ Parental Notice of Abortion law. The bishops ask the faithful to contact state lawmakers and urge them to vote “No” to House Bill 1797 and Senate Bill 2190. Read their letter to learn how this legislation would harm women and protect human traffickers.

How you can help

On March 23, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and Donna Moore, director of the Office for the Missions welcomed dozens of school children from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois for the Mission Mass. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, attendance in the Cathedral was much lower than at the usual annual Mass — normally the Cathedral is full — however, many school students watched the Mass on a live-stream.

Identical pieces of legislation pending at the Illinois statehouse would help protect human traffickers while simultaneously harming victims of rape, incest, or other sexual violence. The legislation would repeal the Parental Notification Act, an Illinois law that requires a parent or legal guardian to be notified when a minor under the age of 18 seeks an abortion (the law now is only for notification, not parental consent).

On the Friday of Easter Week, April 9, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will ordain two seminarians to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The ordination will take place at 6 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

St. Ignatius of Loyola encouraged a way of praying among his followers that involved engaging our imagination — to picture yourself as a character in the story, hearing the words that are exchanged, meditating on the look that crosses Jesus’ face, or imagining what it must have been like in the crowd as they witnessed Jesus crucified. As we contemplate the greatest mysteries of our faith in these holy days, it can be good to ask ourselves: What do I see and hear as I pray with these Scriptures?

The first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox is a day more commonly known as Easter Sunday. With the new life of spring comes the new life of Christ. As the earth awakens out of its winter slumber, here are 10 ways to help your soul do the same during the Easter season.

The Easter Vigil is the premier time each year for making of Catholic adults through the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation. This year in 32 parishes and at one university, 71 people will have come to the Easter Vigil to celebrate rites that will have joined them to the Catholic Church.

St. Mary parishioner in Edwardsville shares her conversion story

EDWARDSVILLE — She was raised in the Lutheran Church and attended Lutheran schools, but for Kirsten Tucker of Edwardsville, the decision to become Catholic had been in the back of her mind for a while. Today, the 56-year-old teaches at St. Mary School in Edwardsville — and little did she know that taking that job at St. Mary would be the driving factor to her joining the Catholic Church.

Fear is all around us. From the pandemic and bad economic news to job insecurity and family stress, your life may be full of anxiety right now. Women needing to step back from the noise of the secular world, a refreshing reset, or a spiritual boost are invited to “Freedom from Fear,” a women’s overnight retreat May 1 to May 2 in Springfield.