Catholic Times (Springfield, IL)

By FATHER CHRISTOPHER TRUMMER, S.T.L. Special to Catholic Times Few issues in American public life are as divisive and emotionally charged among Catholics as immigration. The topic stirs deep and often conflicting convictions: compassion for migrants and refugees, concern for national sovereignty and legal order, a longing for justice, and anxiety about social and economic change.

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Managing Editor NOKOMIS — Every October the Missions Office for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois hosts the annual Mission Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. That Mass promotes all the good done by the missions and thanks the Catholic schools for promoting the missions monetarily and, of course, in prayer. At the end of that Mass, awards are given for the highest per capita donation to the Missionary Childhood Association.

What is World Mission Sunday Oct. 26? Each year, on the second-to-last Sunday of October, Catholics around the world unite in celebration of World Mission Sunday — a day of prayer, reflection, and financial support for the Church’s missionary work in 1,124 mission territories. These are regions where the Church is still young, growing, and often facing poverty, conflict, or persecution. World Mission Sunday (Oct. 26) is not just the occasion of another second collection.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, October is Respect Life Month, which began this year with the announcement that Sen. Richard “Dick” Durbin (D-Illinois) had decided to decline a lifetime achievement award that the Archdiocese of Chicago had planned to give him on Nov. 3. When the award was announced, I issued a statement on Sept. 19th saying, “I was shocked to learn that the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to honor Sen.

Hey, Father! When we pray for the conversion of someone who is doing wrong, we are praying that he or she changes their actions? If God uses our prayers/faith to help make that happen, then how do we rectify that with the fact we have total free will? It seems like God is directly acting to change that person’s behavior because of our prayers. Or another example: If I pray that a friend gets a job and he gets the job, it seems like God used my prayers to ensure the hiring manager pick him.

‘Miracle baby’ Nicholas thriving at 9 months By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Managing Editor Expecting a new baby is usually both exciting and a little frightening, but last November and December were unexpectedly anxiety-filled for Sarah and Joseph Williams and their family, who were so looking forward to their family’s little addition.

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Managing Editor VIRDEN — Sometimes it takes a family to bring a project to fruition. That’s just what happened when Sacred Heart Parish (Virden) secretary Marcella Rosier, her niece Claire McGrath, and nephew Father Daniel McGrath worked together to come up with a T-shirt that would honor two new saints, celebrate the Year of Hope, and raise money for diocesan seminarians.

Migrant shares struggles, helps others feel at home By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Managing Editor National Migration Week is Sept. 22-28, and the Jubilee of Migrants will take place Oct. 4-5. Here, a Springfield woman who migrated to this country over two decades ago, remembers what it was like and tells us what she is doing to help others in similar situations. It was just about 25 years ago when Springfield resident and St. Katharine Drexel parishioner Ana Manriquez came to the United States from Mexico.

Diagnosed in 1995 with the most aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme, and given only a few months life expectancy, Dr. Ben Williams, a professor of psychology at the University of California San Diego (who is still living), summed up his experience this way: “When I was diagnosed with brain cancer, I knew almost nothing about the disease, other than it was one of the worst medical diagnoses you can get. … I hadn’t even heard of a glioblastoma at that point.

What are some of the best online resources I can go to when it comes to answering questions about the faith for my children? I have a 5-year-old, a 10-year-old, and teenagers. When they ask a question, my response needs to vary because of what they can understand, but I don’t want to blow off their questions or not give them good, authentic answers. So, can you help by listing resources by age?