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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DECATUR — Catholic Radio WDCR 88.9 is on the air in Decatur. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated a Mass of dedication and thanksgiving for the station May 25 at St. Mary’s Hospital Chapel, just down the hall from the station’s studio. A live broadcast of the Mass was the first broadcast on WDCR airways.

Ignoring the cool wet weather outside, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Brownies, their Scout leaders, parents and siblings came to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Sunday afternoon, May 15, for a Scout Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. Msgr. John Ossola was a concelebrant.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Madonna #148 in Springfield will celebrate its 100th anniversary June 11 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

Catholic Charities directors from all five downstate Illinois dioceses were at the Illinois State Capitol May 4 to urge quick legislative action to preserve vital adoption and foster care services which the agencies provide for thousands of children and families throughout Illinois. Directors included: Tricia Fox (Peoria), Steve Roach (Springfield), Gary Huelsmann (Belleville), Glen Van Cura  (Joliet) and Frank Vonch (Rockford).

Mother of Dolors Parish in Vandalia achieved a welcome addition to its 171-year history Saturday, April 30, when parishioner Zachary Edgar was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Deacon Edgar is the first Dolors parishioner to be ordained.