Bishop Richard E. Pates, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Joliet, today called on state corrections officials to ease the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois prisons by releasing some prisoners early, distributing masks and cleaning supplies among inmates and staff, and issuing accurate infection data. He also urged the shuttering of a reopened unit of Stateville Correctional Center.
Coadjutor Bishop-elect Louis "Lou" Tylka joins host Bob Gilligan to talk about his appointment last week to the Diocese of Peoria. Next, Kathy Stauber and Nancy Lou Cook discuss the Archdiocese of Chicago’s new, volunteer-driven initiative, “A Call to Prayer” phone service. Then, Glenn Van Cura, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, talks about how his agency has adapted services to clients during the statewide stay-at-home order. Finally, film producer Geoff Rogers discusses "Blind Eyes Opened, his latest project that offers a look at human trafficking from the perspective of survivor-victims.
The Diocese of Belleville today announced that Bishop-elect Michael G. McGovern will be ordained on July 22 -- the day pervious to the ordination of Coadjutor Bishop-elect Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, which was announced earlier today. Cardinal Cupich of Chicago, Bishop Braxton of Chicago and Bishop Rassas, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Chicago, will serve as consecrators for the limited-attendance liturgy. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, has confirmed that he will participate in the ordination liturgy.
The Diocese of Peoria today announced that Coadjutor Bishop-elect Louis Tylka will be ordained on July 23 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria. The press release announcing the ordination date comes just a week after the news of Bishop-elect Tylka's appointment to the diocese. Cardinal Cupich of Chicago and Bishop Jenky of Peoria will serve as consecrators for the limited-attendance liturgy. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, has confirmed that he will participate in the ordination liturgy.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois today sent a letter to the state's top education official on behalf of the six Catholic school superintendents, asking that she comply with federal guidelines in distributing pandemic monetary aid to Catholic and other private schools.
The bishops of Illinois' six Catholic dioceses late yesterday released a uniform plan developed in conjunction with state and local civic and public health officials for reopening churches across the state. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker last week released a detailed "Restore Illinois" plan for reopening regions of the state as the COVID-19 pandemic runs it course. Each bishop also released a personal letter to the faithful in his diocese, with some noting regional modifications to the overall plan.
