Displaying items by tag: vocations - Diocese of Springfield in Illinois https://www.dio.org Mon, 26 Mar 2018 00:00:45 -0500 Joomla! - Open Source Content Management en-gb An unexpected Christmas gift https://www.dio.org/blog/item/373-an-unexpected-christmas-gift.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/373-an-unexpected-christmas-gift.html

A few days I read an e-mail from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Roman Pontiff to the rector of Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary, where the college seminarians study. Several of the seminarians, as I mentioned earlier, are in Rome for Christmas.

The rector had requested that the nine seminarians "attend the Mass." This morning my suspicions after the response to his request were confirmed: they are serving this evening for His Holiness Pope Francis when he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass.

They are still a bit shell-shocked, but happy and excited, as well.

Here is the entire group of nine
seminarians serving christmas mass 2014

And here are the seminarians for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois:
dio seminarians serving christmas mass 2014

One might say that's not a bad Christmas present.

]]> Diocesan Blog Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:12:47 -0600 Bishop Paprocki running for vocations https://www.dio.org/blog/item/325-bishop-paprocki-running-for-vocations.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/325-bishop-paprocki-running-for-vocations.html

On Sunday Bishop Paprocki will run his nineteenth marathon - this year in St. Louis - to help raise funds for charitable causes.  Since 1995, His Excellency has raised more than $330,000 for a variety of causes, including Pro-Life organizations and the Chicago Legal Clinic.  This year, he will be running for vocations.

Writing in the Catholic Times, Bishop Paprocki explained the need the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has for additional funds for the formation of seminarians:

Since my installation as your bishop on June 22, 2010, I have spoken frequently in our parishes and on various other occasions about the need to pray for and promote increased vocations to the priesthood and religious life. God has so far answered our prayers with an increase from 11 seminarians in 2010 to our current number of 25.

While the growing number of candidates for the priesthood is most welcome and needed for the future of the diocese, it also comes with a cost. At the college level the diocese splits the costs of tuition, room and board with the seminarians and their families, giving loans, if needed, that the diocese assumes if the men are ordained priests. At the level of the major seminary, the diocese pays the full tuition, room and board of the seminarians, plus health insurance and a monthly stipend. If you have ever sent a son or daughter to college, you know how expensive higher education is. We are sending 25 of our diocese's sons to college and major seminaries, so you can see that training our future priests needs more than prayers, but some real revenue as well!

Bishop Paprocki invites those who are able and willing to "consider donating a dollar or more per mile to support my 26.2 mile Run for Vocations. If you are able to 'go the extra mile' and underwrite the full cost of one year's education for one of our seminarians, please contact me or our director of vocations, Father Christopher House, by telephone at (217) 698-8500 or by e-mail at vocations [AT] dio [DOT] org."

If you are able to make a donation, you do so online or mail in your pledge.  Any gift you can give will very much be appreciated!

Please, pray for our seminarians every day, that will be formed after the heart of Jesus Christ.

]]> Diocesan Blog Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:50:54 -0500 Good news from Alton! https://www.dio.org/blog/item/323-good-news-from-alton.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/323-good-news-from-alton.html

On August 15, 2012, thirteen women made their Final Profession and three women made their First Profession in the Community, even as two women entered the Novitiate. Somehow, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George remain one of the best kept secrets in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Yesterday, the diocese learned some very good ndews in regard to their community: three women entered the Community as Postulants last week, four entered this week, one will enter this week, and there are several more women who will enter as Postulants before the end of the year.

The Holy Spirit is moving in the hearts of the young people of this Diocese and across the country in very clear ways; we have seen this also in the increasing numbers of our seminarians.

Let us continue to pray that more young men and women will continue to respond with courageous and generous love to the call of the Lord to dedicate themselves to his service.

]]> Diocesan Blog Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:06:10 -0500 An afternoon in Alton https://www.dio.org/blog/item/322-an-afternoon-in-alton.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/322-an-afternoon-in-alton.html

On Wednesday I traveled with Bishop Paprocki to St. Anthony Hospital in Alton for a Mass and luncheon with the Serra Vocations Club of Madison County. The Serra Club meets at the hospital the second Wednesday of every month, beginning with Mass at 12:05 p.m. If you are in the area and would like to join the Serra Club, I will be happy to put you in contact with the group.

The chapel, I was very happy to see, was filled both with members of the laity and with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George. The fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard for the Bishop, who was assisted by two deacons. Four priests also concelebrated the Mass the vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, and the consecrated life.

Bishop Paprocki received a very warm welcome at the luncheon from all in attendance. He used the occasion to speak of the dual importance of prayer and personal invitation in the work of vocations. The group must have enjoyed the Bishop's remarks, which they interrupted with applause at least three times.

As always, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George were very gracious in hosting us.

When the Bishop and I arrived in the Bishop's Conference Room to vest for the Mass, I was surprised to find a small gift for me:

Against my better judgment, I didn't look inside until after the luncheon; one of the Sisters gave me a can of Dr Pepper (I love those Sisters!).

Inside were also two cards from two of the Sisters. The first was from one of the Sister Karolyn, who helped us on the recent Catholic Leadership Institute. I particularly enjoyed the back of the envelope she used:

If you can't make it out, she wrote: "Because otherwise this poor letter never gets good use!"

The second card was from Sr. Alexandra, with whom I have been coordinating for their Feastday celebrations next week:

The next few days for her will be tremendously busy as she sees the final preparations for the Mass in which 13 Sisters will make their final profession, 3 will make their first profession, and two will be received as postulants.

Those making their final profession are:

  • Sister M. Mercedes Diaz
  • Sister M. Christina Lanuzga
  • Sister M. Ignatia Cooney
  • Sister Mary George Brown
  • Sister M. Andrea Goeckner
  • Sister M. Vianney Ebben
  • Sister Mary David Tappan
  • Sister M. Clementia Toalson
  • Sister Mary Jude Marsella
  • Sister M. Bridget Martin
  • Sister Mary Gianna Nazar
  • Sister M. Catherine Welte
  • Sister M. Teresa Pandl

Those making their first profession are:

  • Sister M. Lucy Gantt
  • Sister Karol Marie Baumgarten
  • Sister Cordia Marie McKenie

Those being received as postulants are:

  • Lauren Kissel, who will receive the name Sister M. Gemma
  • Marilis Pineiro, who will receive the name Sister M. Immanuela

Please keep these Sisters in your prayers as the continue their retreat leading up to the Feastday on Wednesday, which will be a glorious and happy day!

 

]]> Diocesan Blog Fri, 10 Aug 2012 23:38:22 -0500 Diocesan seminarian to be ordained a deacon https://www.dio.org/blog/item/300-diocesan-seminarian-to-be-ordained-a-deacon.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/300-diocesan-seminarian-to-be-ordained-a-deacon.html

Snider-ScottTomorrow afternoon His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, will ordain eleven men to the Sacred Order of Deacons in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. One of the men to be ordained, Scott Snider, is a seminarian for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

A former Protestant minister, Scott entered the full communion of the Catholic Church in 2003 with his wife Pam and has been working as a Pastoral Associate at St. Gregory the Great parish in Chicago since 2004.

After Scott completed his studies and formation for the priesthood at Mundelein Seminary, Bishop Paprocki requested the permission of the Holy Father to ordain Scott to the priesthood under what is known as "the pastoral provision."

Last week the Holy Father granted his permission; the timing of the response did not allow time to publicize the announcement.

When Scott learned of the affirmative response of the Holy Father he asked to be ordained by Cardinal George, who was already scheduled to ordain ten men tomorrow to the diaconate; Bishop Paprocki granted his permission.

Please keep Scott in your prayers.

I will attend the ordination and hope to be able to provide a few pictures.

]]> Diocesan Blog Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:47:49 -0500 A Prayer for More Priests https://www.dio.org/blog/item/284-a-prayer-for-more-priests.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/284-a-prayer-for-more-priests.html

Some time ago I composed a prayer asking the Lord for more priests through the intercession of the Servant of God Father Augustus Tolron.

His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, has approved the prayer and it will soon be printed on holy cards to distribute throughout the Diocese.

The text of the prayer is as follows:

God our Father, you have found Father Augustus Tolton to be an obedient servant of Christ our eternal high priest and a faithful steward of the mysteries of God.

Father Tolton’s sharing in the Cross of our salvation led him to a life of long suffering in the face of prejudice and misunderstanding, which produced within him the fruits of a great joy and a humble love for you and for your people. His zeal for the priestly ministry shines brightly before us in this Diocese of Springfield in Illinois in which he served, illuminating for us the path to you.

Through his example and intercession, may many young men within this Diocese respond with generous and courageous love to your Son’s invitation to share in his priesthood so that each of your altars in this Diocese may be served by such a faithful priest as this Servant of God.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I thought today, on which we will soon celebrate in Quincy Father Tolton's priestly anniversary, a fitting day on which to share this prayer with you.

]]> Diocesan Blog Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:39:47 -0500 Paprocki: It is fitting that Brian Alford's last name begins with an "A" https://www.dio.org/blog/item/283-paprocki-it-is-fitting-that-brian-alfords-last-name-begins-with-an-a.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/283-paprocki-it-is-fitting-that-brian-alfords-last-name-begins-with-an-a.html

Yesterday His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois ordained his first priest, Father Brian Alford.

The text of Bishop Paprocki's homily follows, with my emphases:

My dear priests, deacons, consecrated religious, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ: because this our son, who is your relative and friend, is now to be advanced to the Order of Priests, consider carefully the nature of the rank in the Church to which he is about to be raised.


The ordination of a priest is a very important moment in the life of the whole Catholic community, but especially in the life of the man to be ordained and in the life of the diocesan bishop and his presbyterate as well.

The ordination of a priest is a very important moment in the life of the whole Catholic community because it is a sign of faith, hope and love. Faith, because the ordination of a priest indicates that the faith is still very much alive and well even now in the third millennium of Christianity. Hope, because the ordination of a priest gives reassurance that the Word of God will continue to be preached and the mission of Jesus Christ will continue to be carried out in the world. Love, because the ordination of a priest assures the community that there will be continue to be shepherds who will love the flock and care for them.

The ordination of a priest is a very important moment in the life of the man to be ordained because by the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, he is signed with a special character and is so configured to Christ the High Priest that he will have the power to act in the person of Christ the Head. Brian Alford has come to this graced moment in response to God’s call as mediated by the Church after much prayer and preparation.

The ordination of a priest is a very important moment in the life of the diocesan bishop and his presbyterate because priests take part in the Bishop’s priesthood and mission. As virtuous co-workers with the episcopal Order, called to serve the people of God, they constitute one presbyterate in union with their Bishop, while being charged with different duties. We are not lone rangers doing our own thing. We are collaborators in a great spiritual symphony. Without the musicians in an orchestra, the conductor can make no sound. Without the conductor, the musicians’ sounds will disintegrate into a cacophony of dissonance and disharmony. Working together in concert, the Bishop and his priests can produce the “mystic chords of memory” of which Abraham Lincoln spoke in his First Inaugural Address one hundred and fifty years ago, “stretching . . . to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land” and swelling the chorus of communion, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Today’s ordination is also personally significant for me because Brian Alford is the first priest that I have ever ordained. It is fitting that Brian Alford’s last name begins with an “A,” because it is my ardent hope and fervent prayer that this will be just the first of many, many more priests that I will have the privilege to ordain through God’s grace for service to the mission of the One who is the “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22: 13).

The ordination of a priest is also a fitting moment to ask what the community of faith asks of a priest. Blessed Pope John Paul II answered that question in this way: “This is what people ask of the priest: The priest is The man of God, the one who belongs to God and makes people think about God. . . . Christians expect to find in the priest not only a man who welcomes them, who listens to them gladly and shows a real interest in them, but also and above all a man who will help them to turn to God, to rise up to him. And so the priest needs to be trained to have a deep intimacy with God.”

As specific means for a priest to be “The man of God, the one who belongs to God and makes people think about God,” a priest promises to pray the Liturgy of the Hours so that the moments of his day and his ministry may be punctuated by the markers of God’s active involvement in the unfolding of our lives. By the promise to live in chaste celibacy, a priest resolves, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, to take on “the likeness of Jesus Christ, the good shepherd and spouse of the Church, and therefore as a choice of a greater and undivided love for Christ and His Church, as a full and joyful availability in his heart for the pastoral ministry.” A priest also promises obedience in order to be open to hearing God’s call as prayerfully discerned by the diocesan Bishop in consultation with his advisors and the priest himself, so that the needs of the diocese will be properly served and the mission of Christ will be effectively embraced.

The ordination of a priest is not just a time to ask what the Church expects of a priest, but also what the priest can expect from the Church. In that regard, my friends, as your Bishop, I ask you to pray for priests; pray especially today for this priest, Father Brian Alford; be with him, care for him, work with him, support him, but most of all, love him, as Christ loves you, for as I say in my Episcopal motto, Lex Cordis Caritas, “The Law of the Heart is Love.”

May God give us this grace. Amen.
]]> Diocesan Blog Sun, 29 May 2011 22:15:09 -0500 Pope: every Christian community, every member of the Church, needs consciously to feel responsibility for promoting vocations https://www.dio.org/blog/item/275-pope-every-christian-community-every-member-of-the-church-needs-consciously-to-feel-responsibility-for-promoting-vocations.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/275-pope-every-christian-community-every-member-of-the-church-needs-consciously-to-feel-responsibility-for-promoting-vocations.html

In his recent Message for the 48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which will be observed on May 15, 2011, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has called upon all Catholics to work for the promotion and encouragement of vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. He said

Particularly in these times, when the voice of the Lord seems to be drowned out by “other voices” and his invitation to follow him by the gift of one’s own life may seem too difficult, every Christian community, every member of the Church, needs consciously to feel responsibility for promoting vocations. It is important to encourage and support those who show clear signs of a call to priestly life and religious consecration, and to enable hem to feel the warmth of the whole community as they respond “yes” to God and the Church.

What will you do for vocations today?

]]> Diocesan Blog Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:22:54 -0600 Past the Boundary: The Journey of Augustine Tolton https://www.dio.org/blog/item/240-past-the-boundary-the-journey-of-augustine-tolton.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/240-past-the-boundary-the-journey-of-augustine-tolton.html

Thanks to WGEM in Quincy for allowing us to post this video!

]]> Diocesan Blog Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:48:23 -0500 Parents and Vocations - Six Common Concerns https://www.dio.org/blog/item/224-parents-and-vocations-six-common-concerns.html https://www.dio.org/blog/item/224-parents-and-vocations-six-common-concerns.html

On November 19, 2009, Fr. Andrew-Carl Wisdom, OP, Promoter of Vocations for the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, spoke with DREs from around the diocese. Fr. Wisdom said that many of the toughest questions he gets about vocations are not from those discerning, but from their parents! Fr. Wisdom identified six common concerns parents have when their children are discerning a religious vocation: parents are often afraid of "losing" their children; mourn the loss of grandchildren in their future; worried about their child's financial security; afraid that their child will be lonely or unhappy; worried about a perceived loss of status for their child; and concerned about celibacy.

You can listen to Fr. Wisdom speak about each of these concerns and how he addresses them with parents:


Download MP3 (18.4MB; 20:11)

Fr. Wisdom also shared a new vocations video produced by his province. While focused on the Dominican Friars, the questions shared by the novices in the video speak to anyone diserning God's call.

]]> Diocesan Blog Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:52:00 -0600