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!

On May 8th, 2025 Robert Prevost was elected to be pope. Below read his first speech as Pope Leo XIV.

Peace be with you!Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.

Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace. Thank you Pope Francis!

Thank you to my Cardinal brothers who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel. I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian. He said, “With you I am a Christian, for you a bishop.” So may we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting: We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love. Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop. To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.

Today is the day of the Supplicatio to Our Lady of Pompei. Our blessed mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. So let us pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church, and for peace in the world. We ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother.

Hail Mary.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Divine Mercy Sunday is a day that invites us to reflect deeply on the boundless mercy of God and the incredible gift of His love. As we celebrate this special Sunday, we are reminded of the words of Jesus to Saint Faustina Kowalska, who was chosen as the messenger of Divine Mercy: “Jesus, I trust in You.” These words encapsulate the essence of our faith and our relationship with God.
In the Gospel reading today from John 20:19-31, we encounter the risen Christ appearing to His disciples. They were gathered in fear, locked away in a room, uncertain of what the future held after the crucifixion of their Lord. Yet, in their moment of despair, Jesus comes to them, offering peace and reassurance. He greets them with the words, “Peace be with you,” and shows them His wounds, the marks of His suffering and love. This moment is profound. Jesus does not come to chastise or condemn; instead, He comes to offer mercy. He understands their fear, their doubts, and their failures. He knows that Peter denied Him, and yet He extends His peace and forgiveness. This is the heart of Divine Mercy: God’s willingness to forgive us, no matter how far we have strayed.

As we reflect on this Gospel, we see that Thomas, one of the disciples, was not present during this first encounter with the risen Lord. When he hears the others speak of their experience, he expresses doubt, saying, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks, I will not believe.” Yet, when Jesus appears again, He addresses Thomas directly, inviting him to touch His wounds and believe. “Do not be unbelieving, but believe,” Jesus says. In this encounter, we see the depth of Jesus’ mercy. He does not scold Thomas for his doubt; rather, He meets him where he is, offering him the opportunity to believe. This is a powerful reminder for each of us. In our moments of doubt, fear, or uncertainty, Jesus invites us to come to Him, to bring our struggles and our questions, and to experience His mercy.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful expression of God’s mercy, where we can bring our sins and burdens to Him and receive His forgiveness. It is a chance to experience the healing power of His love, to be renewed and strengthened in our faith.
Divine Mercy Sunday is not just a day to reflect on God’s mercy; it is a call to action. We are invited to extend that same mercy to others. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. This can be challenging, especially when we have been hurt or wronged. Yet, it is in forgiving others that we truly embrace the mercy that God has shown us. As we celebrate this day, let us remember the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. These acts of kindness and compassion are tangible ways to live out our faith. Whether it is feeding the hungry, comforting the sorrowful, or forgiving those who have wronged us, each act of mercy reflects the love of Christ in our world.

As we move forward from this celebration, let us carry the message of Divine Mercy in our hearts. I appreciate everyone who are instruments of spreading the message of Divine Mercy. Let us be instruments of peace and reconciliation in our families, our communities, and our world. let us pray for the grace to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful. May we strive to embody the words of Saint Faustina: “I trust in You, Jesus.” Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! May the mercy of God fill your hearts and guide your lives today and always. Amen.

Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC.

Caption: Dale Smith, Pat Noel, Father Varghese Puthussery, Rose Connolly, Peggy Billhartz, and Charlie Jinardina

On Sunday 4/6/25 a contingent from the Catholic War Veterens Post 1916, prayed with us at Saint Peter Catholic Church.
Their Mission is to serve, support, and uphold the values that make our nation and our faith strong.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of veterans, their families, and our communities.

For more information, please check out their website. https://thecwv.org/our-programs/

As we will soon enter into the Sacred days of Holy Week, Father Varghese and the parishes of St Peter & Holy Family want to reach out to invite all of you to St. Peter’s Church, Petersburg and Holy Family Church, Athens for mass. The Holy Week is a time for reflection, prayer, and renewal as we commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each day of the Holy Week provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the significance of this journey with Jesus and to deepen our faith and understanding of His love and the salvation He won for us. Come “let’s journey together in hope” alongside Jesus Christ.

On Palm Sunday, we joyfully celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, acknowledging Him as our King. Holy Thursday, we commemorate Jesus’ last Supper with his disciples, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist, and washed the disciples’ feet teaching the significance of our call to serve one another. As the week unfolds, we will walk with Jesus through the trials and tribulations He faced, culminating in His Passion and Death, bearing our sins and offering us the gift of salvation, on Good Friday. As we gather for the Easter Vigil and celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, we are reminded of the hope and new life that Jesus’ victory over death brings to the world.

Rev. Varghese Puthuserry, S.A.C

If you are a soon-to-be high school graduate from St. Peter’s or Holy Family parish, you may be eligible for a Sangamon Valley Knights of Columbus parish scholarship.

A total of $5,000.00 is available between the two parishes.

Applications due May 11. If you have questions, contact Aaron Kuehl, Scholarship Chair at 217-341-7171.

Visit and complete the application at https://forms.gle/QHPzeyA2bLHrHWJz6 to apply.

Reconciliation may only be required once a year but can lift the weight of the world from your shoulders every time you visit it.
It is not just rambling off a list of bad behavior or actions to your pastor, but knowing Jesus Christ will forgive them, all of them with words of absolution that only our pastor, in persona Christi, can do.

Please take a moment, pray, examine your conscious and come to reconciliation at Holy Family and Saint Peter Parishes. Reconcile yourself with God through Jesus Christ who is always there with open arms.

For an examination of conscious please see the below link.
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience

For more reasons for reconciliation, join us Sunday 4/6/25 2:00PM at Saint Peter Church for special speaker Father Gregory Dick. Eucharistic adoration and confession times available until 6:00PM

The Bible tells us “He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Everyone must give according to what he has inwardly decided; not sadly, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

See how far your time, treasure and talent can go locally, nationally, or internationally:

Central Illinois Services
https://www.centralillinoisservices.org/
St. Peter Easter Flower Donation
https://pushpay.com/g/stpeterpetersburg
Hydrangea (4) – $29.95/plant or $117.00 total.
Hyacinth (3) – $14.95/plant or $44.85 total.
Tulips (6) – $14.95/plant or $59.80 total.
Easter Lily (10) – $20.00/plant or $200.00 total.
Boston Fern (2) – $32.00/plant or $64.00 total.
Local, National, and International Giving Opportunities – Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
https://dio.org/give/secondcollections/
Rice Bowl Campaign
https://www.crsricebowl.org/

“Do you want to Fast This Lent?” Pope Francis asks in 2023 and then replies:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words, from sadness and be filled with gratitude, from anger and be filled with patience, from pessimism and be filled with hope, from worries and have trust in God, from complaints and contemplate simplicity, from pressures and be prayerful, from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy, from selfishness and be compassionate to others, from grudges and be reconciled, from words and be silent so you can listen.

Dive into fasting and why this Lenten season:

Patriarch Pizzaballa: Lenten forgiveness is stronger than violent words of hatred – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-03/patriarch-pizzaballa-jerusalem-lent-message-conflict-holy-land.html

A Reflection on Lenten Fasting | USCCB
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/catholic-reflection-on-lenten-fasting

Lenten practices designed to foster relationship with God, which brings true happiness – Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
https://dio.org/catholic-times/lenten-practices-designed-to-foster-relationship-with-god-which-brings-true-happiness/

Lent Fasting Rules: Catholic Rules for Fasting During Lent in 2025 – Hallow
https://hallow.com/blog/lent-fasting-rules/

Also, to satisfy our Friday obligation check out these meatless meals from around the world:

Lenten Recipes | CRS Rice Bowl
https://www.crsricebowl.org/recipe Continue reading →