Fr. Gene Neff marks 50 years as director of Catholic Ministry to Sick & Aged

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 […]

Posted on May 23, 2024

Lanham exits Gibault to become Associate Director of Education

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 […]

Posted on May 23, 2024

Sweet sounds of strings

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. […]

Posted on May 23, 2024

Once a recipient of help, Vienna parish now ‘paying it forward’

Father Tom Barrett and St. Paul Catholic Church, Vienna, parish council members Lee Givens, Cathy Hinton, Frank Dueker, Joan Galey, Steve Pobst, Cathy Kruep and Jared Bergmann whose parish recently “paid it forward.”

More than 30 years ago, St. Paul Parish in Vienna, Ill., was able to take a big step forward with the help of Catholic Extension. The parish was ready to expand from a small wooden structure in order to accommodate its growing congregation. Among the groups that contributed money to the project was what was then known as the Catholic Church Extension Society, an organization devoted to building and strengthening isolated faith communities.