Hello and Welcome! Our PSR (Parish School Religion), aka Sunday School, meets most Sundays from 9:15 AM-10:15 AM at St. Peter Parish Center in Petersburg, IL. We serve Pre K (Ages 3-5) & K, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade (Reconciliation Sacrament), 3rd Grade (Confirmation and First Communion Sacraments), and 4-6th Grade in this program. Grades 7th -12th grades are served through a youth group that will meet the 2nd & 4th Sundays of each month.

In PSR our teachers will go over many topics including: Who God the father; son and holy spirit is, Living as God teaches us to, Church etiquette, Bible stories, Ways to put our faith in action, Prayers, 7 Sacraments and Sacrament Preparation. Our youth group will discuss scripture, participant topics, serve our community, have offsite fun, pilgrimages and more.

Please join us for our Kickoff Events:
Saturday September 6th after 4:30 PM Mass at St. Peter – PSR Meet the Teacher Night at St. Peter Parish Center.
Sunday August 24th – Youth Group kickoff party at St. Peter Parish Center.

Use this link to register for PSR & Youth Group: https://dio.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/195/responses/new
If you are interested in volunteering, registering your child, or have any questions please reach out to Emily Wilson; Stphf-dre@parish.dio.org or office 217-632-7118.

What a week we had!?! Thirty-two 1st -6th graders from St. Peter (Petersburg), Holy Family (Athens) and surrounding communities registered for our day program and five 7th & 9th graders for our evening program.

We laughed, we sang, we played games, enjoyed skits by our 4 missionaries all the while learning about the 5 joyful mysteries of the rosary, 7 sacraments, and some church etiquette. Although the majority of our students were baptized Catholics, we still had a couple students that were not Catholic, and they too enjoyed the games and lessons with their friends.

Totus Tuus, Latin for Totally Yours, is a weeklong summer bible camp like no other. First, it is led by young, 18–24-year-old, missionaries teamed up to spread God’s word throughout the Diocese of Springfield, IL. Mary Lorriane, Steven, Wyatt and Alexis were knowledgeable of our faith, energetic and very creative with acting skills for skits. Quite literally wearing multiple hats and playing roles. Second, the kids are engaged in mass. Catholic mass is awesome, but if you don’t know the significance of the parts it’s not. The kids were our lectors reading God’s words, our chorus singing beautifully, and our servers assisting our pastor with mass. Each day before mass the missionaries and kids prepped with song practice, etiquette reminders, and discussion about a part of the mass or symbol within the church. Even as an adult, I learned a lot. Lastly, it is activities, songs, skits, games, throughout the day and evening. We even had a fire truck visit us and cool down the day before an epic water balloon fight in church parking lot.

Every program takes a village, and it cannot go unsaid how much our parishioners jumped in to make this week in July a success. Our missionaries needed a place to stay, lunches, and dinners. Our campers needed snacks, drinks and supervisors. Our parish center and church needed helpers to prep and clean up. It’s the millions of little joyful actions of our parish that show we are Catholic.

I hope you will join us next year.

Looking to fill a gap in your 1st-6th graders’ time or couple evening hours for your 7th-12th graders July 6th-11th? Register today for Totus Tuus with the attached flyer or below link. It’s not your average summer bible camp and could spark a lifetime of salvation.

https://dio.org/totus-tuus-camper-registration/

Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and eucharistic worship. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation.

Grades 1st-6th meet 9:00AM-2:30PM Monday-Friday. Bring a sack lunch, a snack is provided.
Grades 7th-12th meet 6:30PM-8:15PM Sunday-Thursday. Snack provided.

Who is teaching your kids?
A team of four 18–24-year-old paid missionaries travel throughout the diocese and complete this weeklong program. This group is dedicating their summer in service of the church and having fun while they do it. They have completed background checks and safe environment training. They will be staying with host families for lodging and dining with additional host families each night they are here.
What will your kids be doing?
Having fun with their friends and making news ones while learning about the 7 Catholic sacraments, eucharistic adoration, the joyful mysteries of the rosary, etc. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to prayer, learning the sacraments, and going to Mass. Attached is a breakdown of day program and evening program.
What is the cost?
$35/family of 1-2 children, or $65/family of 3+ children. Scan the QR code on the attached flyer, go to St Peter website and use Push Pay to pay online, or bring check/cash to parish office.

Totus Tuus Registration Flyer

Totus Tuus 2025 Evening.Day Breakdown

Congratulations to our 2025 High School graduates! As you are off on your next leg of life do not forget your Catholic identity. You have been responsible for your faith journey since you were confirmed and now as a high school graduate, and legal adult, you are even more responsible for keeping yourself on track.

A few practical ways to practice your faith and put it in action:

Use your calendar. Add calendar events in your phone for church mass times, adoration, bible study, etc. It is no less a priority than class, lunch, or parties.
Find a Catholic group or St John Catholic Newman Center at your school. These locations are there to meet you where you are spiritually and support you. Life is easier when you surround yourself with people that pray with you.
Be Active in your Faith. Don’t just sit around and wait for Jesus, meet him. Go to adoration, join a community service group (breadline, read at senior living centers, help out at Sunday school, etc.), listen to a daily Catholic podcast or subscribe to a daily devotion.
Read the Bible. It may have been thousands of years in the making, but it will surprise you when you find yourself in it. Challenge yourself to complete a gospel each quarter then tackle the rest of the Bible. There is an app for that.
Go to Church. Church is home regardless of your geographical location. Jesus is there to listen no matter the topic you want to speak or pray on.

Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone, take a breath, be kind, and call home. Let’s Go Blue Jays!