Confirmation students at both St. Peter Parish in Petersburg and Holy Family Parish in Athens raised funds to purchase a new Mass kit for a Catholic community in Ghana. The fundraising was led by Lisa Reeves, director of parish ministries at the two parishes, and assisted by Father Christopher Brey of St. Augustine Parish, Ashland, and several other parishes.

Sunday, Oct. 16, is to be celebrated "as a Day of Thanksgiving to God in all parishes, churches, shrines and chapels within the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois for the life, teaching and ministry of Blessed John Paul II." This is according to a decree by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki sent to parishes and religious institutions in the diocese during the first week of September.

I am Father Prince Adelaayitar from Ghana. Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, gained independence in 1957 from Britain. It is located in West Africa, bordered on the east by Togo, the west by Cote d'Ivoire, the north by Burkina Faso and the south by the Gulf of Guinea.

EFFINGHAM — The Effingham Knights of Columbus will host a religious vocation support Mass and banquet on Sunday, Oct. 9. The event begins with a Mass at 3:30 p.m. presided over by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at Sacred Heart Church, Effingham, and a sit-down meal at the Effingham Knights of Columbus building followed by a program featuring Bishop Paprocki.