Former Diocese of Belleville Bishop Michael McGovern during his installation as the new Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., on May 7 (Susan Szalewski photo). By Susan Szalewski Catholic Voice OMAHA, Neb. — On a warm May afternoon, inside a packed cathedral filled with joyful hymns of praise, Archbishop […]
Fr. Stanley J. Konieczny, OFS, 70, of Smithton, born April 14, 1955, in East St. Louis, died Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at his residence. After graduating from Assumption High School in East St. Louis, he received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary University in San Antonio and a master’s from […]
Bishop Michael McGovern talks with parishioners before the Spring Farm Blessing at the Ruppert home (David Wilhelm photo). Bishop Michael McGovern presided over his final Spring Farm Blessing in the Diocese of Belleville on a sunny and pleasant April 23 at the Lonnie and Melinda Ruppert home on Tulip Road […]
Pope Francis, aboard the popemobile, greets people in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after giving his Easter blessing on April 20, 2025. The pope, whose papacy began in March 2013, died hours later at age 88 (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza). By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — U.S. […]
New Athens, Illinois – The Reverend Gary Paul Gummersheimer, 71, of Murphysboro, IL, formerly of New Athens, IL, passed away Friday evening January 6, 2023 at Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, IL. He was born on September 22, 1951. He was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ by The Most […]
As I am sitting here on December 28 writing this column, I am absorbing the remarks in Rome today by Pope Francis and the Holy See press office concerning the declining health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. I pray each day for Pope Francis and for Pope Emeritus Benedict and […]
One of the most consequential churchman of the last hundred years has died. Pope Benedict XVI (formerly Joseph Ratzinger) leaves a remarkable legacy in both the Church he served and in the wider society. Often pilloried by his opponents as a fire-breathing conservative, he was in fact one of the […]
