Dear Parishioners,

I am delighted to welcome to our parish staff Konnor Damery as our new Director of Adult Faith Formation. I am also happy to welcome his family as parishioners -- Ayla, his wife, and his two children Eden Marie (1 yr.) and Augustine Rex (2 mo). Konnor grew up on a small farm outside of Decatur, IL while his wife was originally from Naperville. Konnor was raised Catholic. During his first year in college, while at the Newman Center of Illinois State University, his faith in Jesus Christ deepened especially as he experienced Christ in the Eucharist.

Dear Parishioners,

On July 11, 2023, our parish staff celebrated the feast of St. Benedict with Mass at 8:15 and a festive midday lunch at which Abbot Austin Murphy OSB from St. Procopius Abbey honored us with his presence. In addition to his company, Abbot Austin presented our parish with a check for $100,000.00 as the Abbey’s contribution to our capital campaign. This very generous gift from the monks of St. Procopius community will greatly assist us in our efforts to repair and enhance the place where we worship which is a major aspect of our upcoming centennial celebration.

Dear Parishioners,

St. Benedict, in full Saint Benedict of Nursia, Nursia also spelled Norcia, (born c. 480 CE, Nursia [Italy]—died c. 547, Monte Cassino; feast day July 11, formerly March 21), founder of the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino and father of Western monasticism; the Rule that he established became the norm for monastic living throughout Europe. In 1964, in view of the work of monks following the Benedictine Rule in the evangelization and civilization of so many European countries in the Middle Ages, Pope Paul VI proclaimed him the patron saint of all Europe.