Sr. Anitawa Fearday, ASC, works on one of the 120 woven pieces she has created through the years (Submitted). By Carlos Restrepo For The Messenger Every night before Sr. Anitawa Fearday turns out the light, she looks at a homemade vision board fastened to the wall of her room at […]
Belleville astronaut Sandy Magnus with residents at the Benedictine Living Community before her April 17 visit (Submitted). By David Wilhelm Messenger Editor Sr. Barb Biver remembers the time several years ago when an Elvis Presley impersonator came to entertain residents at the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our […]
Dominic Grzegorek, of Ashley, regularly prays at the grotto (right) for the Blessed Mother Mary that was built on his property by Nashville mason Dave Schuette. “It’s a way of honoring her and showing respect for her, and it turned out really good,” Grzegorek said (Submitted). By Linda Norris Messenger […]
Raphael H. “Rafe” Middeke, 92, of Trenton, formerly of Damiansville, died at 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Aviston Countryside Manor. He was born June 21, 1933, in rural Clinton County, a son of the late Bernard and Mary (nee Hellmann) Middeke. After attending St. Rose Elementary School, Rafe […]
Maci McCabe, a native of Breese and a graduate of Mater Dei Catholic High School, is held aloft during a cheerleading routine at a recent Lindenwood University football game in St. Charles, Mo. McCabe is less than a year removed from a serious car accident that threatened to end her […]
Denny Koesterer, a native of Freeburg who lives in Smithton, holds the Order of St. Sebastian Award that he received at the Catholic War Veterans National Convention in August. Koesterer was one of just three recipients (David Wilhelm photo). By David Wilhelm Messenger Editor Denny Koesterer didn’t understand what was […]
Cairo in Alexander County receives support from Breaking the Cycle (Kathleen Hunt photo). By Linda Norris Behrens Messenger Staff Alexander County is the southernmost county in Illinois. Pulaski County is adjacent to it. Both counties, located within the Diocese of Belleville, lead the list of the highest percentage of families […]
