By LINDA BEHRENS Contributing writer At age 54, Father Steven Pautler was called to priesthood “later in life.” “I was always a service-type person,” Father Pautler says. He worked 32 years for Xerox Corporation. He started fixing copiers, eventually becoming a senior customer service engineer. “I could always fix the […]

Dozens of couples from across the Diocese attend Mass celebrating the meaning and value of married life. The Mass recognized couples celebrating their 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and beyond wedding anniversaries. Bishop Michael McGovern served as principal celebrant and homilist.

“Standing in front of a clinic in a prayerful, peaceful way,” Mary Fleming says, “sends a message for women coming to the clinic and to those who work there.” Fleming recently shared her perspective about praying at abortion clinics as Respect Life Month begins in October. Fleming is the coordinator of Respect Life Ministry for the Diocese of Belleville and the leader of the Respect Life Committee at St. Clare Church in O’Fallon. In her role with the diocese and her parish, Fleming hopes by participating in peaceful prayer at these clinics that people understand they are there to help. “This is our way of reaching out to the community to let them know there is another side to this, and we care about your unborn child,” she says.