Raphael H. “Rafe” Middeke, 92, of Trenton, formerly of Damiansville, died at 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Aviston Countryside Manor. He was born June 21, 1933, in rural Clinton County, a son of the late Bernard and Mary (nee Hellmann) Middeke. After attending St. Rose Elementary School, Rafe […]
A U.S. Army detachment from Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri carries the remains of World War II veteran Edgar William “Billy” Nevois to his final resting place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairie du Rocher. At left, Illinois Patriot Guard Riders hold flags and salute Nevois, who died in […]
By Linda Norris Staff Writer Four years after the sisters of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) moved out of the Ruma Center, they have sold the property buildings and 33 acres of land to Books for All, a nonprofit organization establishing community libraries with free resources. ASC […]
Bishop Godfrey Mullen, OSB, wearing his mitre and carrying his crozier for the first time, blesses parishioners who attended his ordination and installation as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Belleville on May 1 at the Cathedral (Tim Vizer photo). The sun shined brightly on the face of Bishop […]
After a half century and more of studying, teaching, and writing about the Gospels, it should be possible to some extent to observe at work the mind of the author of a given Gospel. The authors are not writing biographies of Jesus but catechetical instruction about Jesus.
When Jesus said “come follow me,” he didn’t say when it’s sunny outside and the temperatures are moderate, when you have plenty of time, when your children are healthy and grown, in effect, when “all is right” in our world. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that all the time — sometimes yes, but often not.
Chapter 15 of Luke’s Gospel is the “Lost and Found” chapter. The headline: “Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him, but the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” Tax collectors were among the most despised of all people by their fellow Jews. Why?
