It’s become customary for the Pope to offer what’s called a “general audience” on most Wednesdays throughout the year. During these audiences the Holy Father typically offers a Catechetical address to the people who visit St. Peter’s. The idea being that the people of Rome (the Pope’s Diocese) and pilgrims to Rome from around the world get to hear from their Holy Father. 

These audiences began under the time of Pope Pius XII in April of 1939 and they continued until the German occupation of Rome made it impossible in 1943. Later these audiences resumed during the time of Pope John XXIII and have continued until now.  Aside from being an neat development in recent Catholic history, these audiences have become one of the ways that a Pope can fulfill his role as the shepherd and teacher of the Church. 

Obviously the style and the topics of these addresses vary from one Pope to another, but all of them are moments of instruction offered by the Pope. Famously, Pope St. John Paul II gave a long series of audiences on the Theology of the Body, and last year Pope Francis offered a very insightful series on the Virtues and Vices, and currently Pope Leo has just begun a series on the documents of the Second Vatican Council. 

These audiences are an excellent way to study our Catholic faith (since they are like little lectures presented by the Vicar of Christ), but also they are an excellent way to come to know the mind of a Pope. Very often people want to know who the Pope is, or at least to get a sense of what he’s doing over there in the Eternal City. If either of these are true about you, I would these audiences are an excellent way to learn about our faith and to come to know the Pope more than just through news reports. They available on the Vatican website (Vatican.va) or if you look up Pope Leo’s general audiences you can find them that way as well. 

Fidget Sensory bags and items are now available to help children stay calm, regulated, and engaged during Mass.  Fidget bags are available in the vestibule and in the Adoration Chapel. Please take what your child needs and return the items after Mass so it may be shared with other families. These fidget bags were donated through the Come As You Are MomCo Grant, created to ensure neurodivergent children and their parents feel welcomed and supported in faith spaces. We pray these tools help your child feel calm, connected, and loved during worship. To learn more about this grant and the heart behind it, please visit the church locations and scan the QR code.

SDCCW Lenten Retreat: Heaven Meets Earth – A Journey through the Holy Mass – Step away from the busyness of life and enter more deeply into the mystery of the Holy Mass at the Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s Lenten Retreat, “Heaven Meets Earth: A Journey through the Holy Mass,” held February 24–25 at Villa Maria Conference Center on Lake Springfield. Led by retreat director Sr. Margaret Schreiber, OP, PhD, this retreat offers spiritual presentations, prayer, Holy Mass, Confession, fellowship, and time for quiet reflection. All women are welcome—bring your sister, your mom, or a friend. Registration forms with the cost and further information are available in your parish office or at dio.org/events. Deadline to register is February 14. For more information, contact Mary Ann Sullivan at 217-822-1928 or Janet Zimmerman at 217-494-4743, and watch for updates on the SDCCW Facebook page.

All women are invited to attend the Spfld Deanery, Council of Catholic Women meeting on Saturday, Feb 28th at 9am, at Holy Trinity Parish Hall in Stonington, IL. Chuck Martin, Executive Director of the Christian County Coal Mine Museum in Taylorville, will be our guest speaker.  

Did you know that the museum has a special display dedicated to daughters of coal miners? Chuck, who is very passionate about the industry, will offer intriguing stories about the first female coal miners and their rich history in central Illinois!

The meeting includes: a wonderful breakfast, business mtg, speaker(s), recitation of the Rosary, door prizes, 50/50 raffle, and more! Please use the link below to register on Sign Up Genius or contact Janet DeClerck, Christian County Area Rep for the Spfld Deanery at 217-827-9670 by Feb 23r

Bereavement Ministry - Grief ShareCathedral parish will be hosting Grief Share, a weekly, faith-based, grief support group.  If you, or someone you know, would like help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend, please join us beginning Tuesday, March 3, 1:00-2:30pm in the Cathedral School Library.  (Enter through the atrium doors off 5th street parking lot)  Grief Share runs for 13 weeks, but guests may join the series at any point and can pick up content they missed during the next cycle.  For more information go to https://www.griefshare.org/ or contact Berni Ely @ 899-6637 or jackandberni96@yahoo.com  To register call 217/522-3342 or email Vicki at vcompton@cathedral.dio.org All adults, of any or no faith background, are welcome!

YOUTH MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Are you interested in leading teenagers closer to the Lord, to the Church, and to one another? Then we may have an opportunity for you. St Joseph the Worker parish in Chatham is currently looking for a Youth Ministry Coordinator. The position is part-time, and the hours and salary are negotiable. Please consider this important ministry for our parish. If interested, please let Fr. Joe Molloy know, either by calling the office at 217-483-3772 or emailing him at pastor@stjoschatham.org. Listen for the Lord’s call for the present and future of our amazing young people!