Last spring, Bishop Edward K. Braxton asked capable, dedicated parishioners from throughout the Diocese of Belleville to come forward to serve as lay ecclesial ministers and contribute their time and talent to the renewal, revitalization and strengthening of their parishes. These lay ministers will assist the priests and deacons in the service of God and neighbor, helping fellow parishioners to learn their faith, love their faith, and live their faith.

Vandals may have broken 35 windows at Sister Thea Bowman Grade School, but the small, yet thriving Catholic school in East St. Louis has shown that its spirit is unbreakable. A random act of destruction, which occurred the night before school opened in 2015, began a magical chain of events for the school community.

To address the long-standing racial divide within the United States — and within the Catholic Church in the country — Catholics should learn more about the history of that divide and honestly engage with that history and with others attempting to tackle similar issues themselves.