BDCCW celebrates 100 years: A record 235 ladies attend convention, Mass at St. Bruno in Pinckneyville

Diocese of Belleville Bishop Godfrey Mullen, OSB, enjoys a laugh with Jo Mayer, outgoing president of the Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, at the organization’s 100th annual convention Oct. 21 in Pinckneyville. Mayer has completed her three-year term and will turn over the role to Pat Butler, who will […]

Posted on October 1, 2026

Welcoming military families to Mascoutah: Holy Childhood named ‘Purple Star School’

Jeff Shelton, a technical sergeant in the Air Force, reads to pre-kindergarten students as his wife, Jessica, the class teacher, sits at right Oct. 13 at Holy Childhood Grade School in Mascoutah (David Wilhelm photo). By Linda Norris Messenger Staff Air Force Technical Sergeant Jeff Shelton returned home March 31 […]

Posted on October 1, 2026

Sr. Carol Durkin, DC, returns to her roots

Sr. Carol Durkin, DC (right), shows a pair of shoes to Garice Terrell at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in East St. Louis. Sr. Carol has been volunteering with the Belleville Diocesan Council of St. Vincent de Paul for the past 12 years. She is returning to Emmitsburg […]

Posted on October 1, 2026

SVDP executive director: Walking in the footsteps of those before him

Troy Herring (left) oversees the registration table at the annual Friends of the Poor Walk on Sept. 19 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Liz Quirin photo). By Linda Norris Messenger Staff “Help relieve poverty, one step at a time …” This is what about 100 people […]

Posted on October 1, 2026

Head of the Class: Diocesan teachers’ excellence recognized with Emerson Awards

Diocese of Belleville educators Peggy Butler (above) of Blessed Sacrament Grade School in Belleville and David Schauer of Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo recently received Excellence in Teaching Awards from Emerson Electric. More than 100 teachers in the St. Louis metropolitan area, from the kindergarten through college levels, were […]

‘Mind-blowing’ – Student from Indiana helps conserve painting of Mary, Christ Child to be used as Christmas stamp

Allie Miller, a senior at Marian University in Indianapolis, uses an X-ray fluorescence macro-scanner to analyze the painting “Madonna and Child” in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields during her time there as an intern this past summer. The United States Postal Service selected the painting […]