Illinois lawmakers pass budget during shortened, pandemic-driven session
Illinois lawmakers wrapped up an abbreviated session early today, in which they crafted a $42.8 billion budget reliant on borrowing for an upcoming fiscal year that is shrouded in uncertainty wrought by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. The budget set to take effect July 1 relies on a $5 billion loan from a special Federal Reserve fund created to aid state governments during the pandemic. Legislators hope to pay off the debt with monies from an uncertain additional stimulus package from Congress.
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CCI Radio Hour: May 18, 2020
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.
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Bishop-elect Michael G. McGovern of the Diocese of Belleville to be ordained July 22
The Diocese of Belleville today announced that Bishop-elect Michael G. McGovern will be ordained on July 22 -- the day previous 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.
read moreCoadjutor Bishop-elect Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria to be ordained July 23
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.
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Letter to Illinois state superintendent: Follow federal guidance in distributing CARES Act funding to nonpublic schools
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.
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Illinois Catholic dioceses release plan for reopening churches
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.
read morePope Francis names Fr. Louis Tylka of Archdiocese of Chicago as Coadjutor Bishop of Diocese of Peoria
Pope Francis announced early today that he has named Reverend Louis Tylka, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as the Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria, Ill.
A coadjutor is an assistant bishop with the right of succession. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, who has shepherded the Diocese of Peoria since 2002, will continue as diocesan bishop. When he retires, Coadjutor Bishop-elect Tylka will automatically succeed him. Bishop Jenky turns 75, the age when bishops are required to turn in their resignation to the pope, on March 3, 2022.
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Pope Francis accepts resignation of Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of Joliet
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop R. Daniel Conlon from the Office of Bishop of Joliet in Illinois and has appointed Most Reverend Richard E. Pates as the Apostolic Administrator sede vacant. Bishop Conlon has been on medical leave since December 2019 and Bishop Pates, who retired as Bishop of Des Moines in 2019, has been serving as Apostolic Administrator for the diocese.
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CCI Radio Hour: April 20, 2020
Executive Director Bob Gilligan talks with newly-appointed Bishop-elect Michael McGovern of the Diocese of Belleville; Lauren McCormack of USCCB's office of government relations on the CARES Act; Jennifer Junis of OSF HealthCare on its partnership with the state of Illinois in remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients via its Pandemic Health Worker Program (PHWP); and Steve Roach of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield on the agency's new COPE Line.
read morePope Francis names Fr. Michael G. McGovern of Archdiocese of Chicago as Bishop of Diocese of Belleville
Pope Francis today announced that he has named Father Michael G. McGovern, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. Pope Francis also announced that he had accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward K. Braxton, who was installed as the Bishop of Belleville in 2005. Bishop-elect McGovern, 55, is expected to begin his ministry in the Diocese of Belleville later this year.
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