Fr. Gene Neff (right) visits with Bob Raab at the Catholic Ministry to Sick & Aged Picnic, held June 5 at the Catholic War Veterans Post 370, south of Belleville. Fr. Neff is celebrating 50 years as director of the Catholic Ministry to Sick & Aged (David Wilhelm photo). Father […]
Sarah Lanham, sitting at her desk at Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, has 19 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in the Diocese of Belleville. She will begin her new role as Associate Director of Education on July 1 (David Wilhelm photo). The new educational leadership team […]
Phil Tinge, violin instructor, plays the instrument with a group of Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School students during the spring concert at the East St. Louis school May 4. Tinge, the Concert Master and first chair in violin for the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra, has been working with students at Sr. […]
Bishop Michael McGovern stands with the Range family after the Spring Farm Blessing on April 26 at Braeutigam Orchards in Belleville. The bishop blessed the people, the seed and grain, the machinery and tools, the animals and the land (David Wilhelm photo). A threatening sky and strong wind were followed […]
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.
Dear Friends in Christ,
As many of you know, I spent the beginning of September in Rome for a seminar for 150 new bishops from around the world. It was a good conference, and I especially enjoyed meeting other bishops. Some of the bishops are in very challenging areas especially the five who came from Ukraine and about fifteen who are stationed in the Middle East. I was edified by all the bishops and their commitment to the Lord and the people.
On September 8, our group celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s basilica and prayed at the crypt we believe contains the bones of St. Peter the Apostle. We then proceeded to a meeting room in the Vatican where we were received by the successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis.
The Holy Father invited the bishops to ask questions and he addressed whatever topics were raised. I enjoyed the Holy Father’s words about how each bishop should be close to others and not be a distant figure. He encouraged us to be close to: God, other bishops, our priests and our people, the People of God.
