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N.Y. AGAIN APPEALS ON SHEEN 2 LIST OF CLERGY APPOINTMENTS 3 ABORTION ISSUE HEATS IN STATES 5 BARTONVILLE PARISH TURNS 50 6 IN DEATH, HE GAVE GIFT OF LIFE 7 ST. BEDE 'ROARS' TO $300,000 13 AROUND THE DIOCESE 14 OBITUARIES 15 JOIN GLOBAL PRAYER CAMPAIGN 16 LIVING THE WORD 18 MUSEUM EXHIBIT LIFTS HEARTS 20

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Newspaper of the Diocese of Peoria

Sunday, May 26, 2019 Vol. 85, No. 11

In this issue

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Index

GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS

Kara Spear of Hanna City receives a "Bless- ing of Hands" from Father Dennis Spohrer during the Baccalaure- ate Mass May 18 at the Peoria Civic Center for graduates of the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. Spear was one of 93 stu- dents earning a bache- lor of science in nursing degree. Father Spohrer is assistant chaplain at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. Also administering the blessing were Msgr. Mark Merdian, dioc- esan episcopal vicar for health care, and Deacon Joseph Knapp, pastoral care manager at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody After receiving their diplomas, Destiny Dye, Mollie DeBord, and other members of the Class of 2019 at Schlarman Academy in Danville transfer their tassels from right to left to signify that they are now gradu- ates. The ceremonies took place on Sunday in conjunction with a 1 p.m. Mass at St. Paul Church in Danville. Provided photo/David Calkins Whether they are graduating from a Catholic college, high school, or grade school, members of the Class of 2019 in the Diocese of Peoria are being asked to stay close to the Lord and share Christs love wherever life takes them in the future. Your love of God brings an additional quality to your professional competence, Msgr. Mark Merdian told more than 125 persons receiving nursing degrees on May 18 from the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. Msgr. Merdian, episcopal vicar for health care in the Diocese of Peoria, was principal celebrant and homilist at the Baccalaureate

Class of 2019 being sent forth with prayers, gratitude

Mass and Commencement that filled the spacious Peoria Civic Center ballroom with the graduates, their families and friends. Take the healing power that ultimately comes from Jesus the Lord to your nursing care wherever you go, said Msgr. Merd- ian, who moments later called the gradu- ates forward for a ceremonial Blessing of Hands. Commencement ceremonies took place last Sunday at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, The High School of Saint Thomas More in Champaign, Schlarman Academy in Danville, and St. Bede Acad- emy in Peru. This Sunday, graduates of Peoria Notre Dame, Marquette Academy in Ottawa, and Alleman High School in Rock Island will receive diplomas.

COLUMN ON CONGRATULATIONS

Graduates, of course, are not the only ones being celebrated in this season of joyous occasions in the church. There are also congratulations being extended to confirmands, first communicants, clergy and Religious celebrating jubilee years (see our special section in this issue), newly- weds and newly ordained. Don't miss the related column by Lucia Silecchia found on page 17. Section profiles, honors those in milestone years of service New shrine to Mary blessed on site of former Naplate church: P2 Educators thanked at end of school year Mass, luncheon: P10