Megan Massie is first recipient of Althoff scholarship that honors fallen Marine

Megan Massie (middle) on June 14 became the first recipient of the Capt. Eleanor LeBeau Cooke Memorial Scholarship. She is pictured with the parents of LeBeau Cooke, David and Victoria LeBeau (left) and her family, parents Steve and Kasey Massie, brothers Jack, 11, and Nathan, 8, and her sister, Marianne, […]

Posted on June 7, 2024

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 June 7, 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 June 7, 2024

Retired priests, sisters continue to make their mark on local parishes

For many retired priests and women religious, retirement doesn’t lead to a gold watch and a condo in Florida – it’s the first step to a continuing calling to help others. They serve in individual parishes and schools, in diocesan roles and in private prayer, serving as a spiritual force multiplier to accomplish greater goals than might be possible otherwise. The Diocese of Belleville will support their work through a special collection at Masses on Dec. 8-9 to benefit elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

Bishop Braxton’s Statement on the Holy See’s Request to Delay Voting on Abuse

As you know, I am in Baltimore for the autumn meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. On Sunday, I participated in the meeting of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People during which we discussed a number of issues critical to the current crisis. The Bishops spent yesterday primarily in prayer and listening to lay women and men expressing their concerns for those who have been abused by members of the clergy and their dissatisfaction with the way some Bishops have responded to this abuse.