Priesthood Sunday at St. Peter Church

Priesthood Sunday at St. Peter Church

Priesthood Sunday, September 29, 2024 with Father Varghese receiving a thank you from St. Peter Parishioners for his vocation as a priest and shepherd for our St. Peter Catholic Community. He was gifted with a small bag filled with individual Spiritual Bouquet gifts from parishioners, along with flowers, balloons and a bottle of wine.

Pastoral Council

Director of Religious Education/Office Administrator

Director of Religious Education/Office Administrator

St. Peter & Holy Family Parishes

Director of Religious Education/Office Administrator Job Description

• The Director of Religious Education for St. Peter and Holy Family administrates a parish catechetical program and provides leadership to assist the parish community in building a solid foundation of catechetical ministry for the children and youth of the parish. Will work closely with the vocation couples of the parishes and youth minister. (Fifty percent of the employee’s time.)

• The St. Peter and Holy Family Parish Office Administrator plays a crucial role in supporting the administrative and clerical functions of the parish office. This position serves as the primary point of contact for parishioners and visitors, providing clerical assistance, maintaining parish records, and assisting with various administrative tasks to ensure the efficient operation of the parish office. (Fifty percent of the employee’s time.)

Job Duties
1. Administrative Duties
a. Organizes, schedules & oversees religious education programs for the youth of the two parishes.
b. Prepares and schedules sacramental programs and worship services for students and parents.
c. Orders textbooks, teaching materials and resources for the program.
d. Prepares a yearly calendar; presents to the pastor & Parish Council for approval by the June meeting.
e. Reports monthly to the Pastor and Parish Council with an updated project list.
f. Supports and endorses diocesan and parish board policies.
g. Revises Catechist requirements as needed and presents information to the Pastor.
h. Supports the office secretary in work needed and oversees projects when needed in the parish office.
i. Maintains parish records, including sacramental records, membership databases, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
j. Works in the various web programs, including but not limited to parish websites, ParishSOFT, Parish Staq.
k. Greets parishioners in a warm and welcoming manner, both in person and over the phone. Ensures messages are updated on the recording for the office phone.
l. Greet the visitors to the Parish.
m. Assists the Pastor and Committee Chairs in scheduling meetings, as necessary.
n. Ensure timely response to the office voicemails and parishioner requests.
o. Manage the parish office calendar.
p. Maintain office supplies inventory and reorder as needed. Orders, when necessary, to various printing, publishing companies and liturgical stores.
q. Prepares and distributes parish bulletins and other communication as needed.
r. Prepares and tracks mass intentions.
s. Prepare the call to worship weekly.
t. Prepares liturgical ministers schedule for both parishes.

2. Community Outreach within the Parish duties
a. Provides support and supervision for the Assistant Coordinators of Religious Education (if applicable)
i. This includes diocesan retreats, classes, and furthering education for Religion Educators that is up to par with the diocese requirements.
ii. Administer ACRE tests for teachers and students.
iii. Provide mandatory Safe Environment training to parents and students annually.
b. Provides support, supervision, funding options for VBS, Totus Tuus, or mission camp each summer.
c. Provides resources and supervises RCIA process, including sacrament requirements for RCIA candidates.
d. Provides resources and programs for Adult Formation if needed.
3. Spirituality and Prayer Leadership
a. Prepares and presides over para-liturgical celebrations for students which includes family day to further the education of students and parents each month.
b. Coordinates and plans with pastor sacramental rites for RE students.
c. Attend quarterly CORE meetings at the diocese if needed.
d. Attend education classes if approved or required by the diocese.
4. Staff Responsibilities
a. Works with Assistant Coordinators to integrate the total parish religious education program.
b. Meets regularly with parish staff for planning and coordination of parish programs.
c. Possesses a working knowledge of computer operation including typing skills, Microsoft Office applications, and web- based programs. Utilizes the two parishes’ websites as communication tools.
d. Other duties as needed by the Pastor or the Parish Councils.
5. Responsibility for Quantifiable Measures
a. The Director of Religious Education is responsible for submitting/overseeing the annual RE budget by June 1.
b. The Director of Religious Education supervises CRE, and assists if needed on projects related to RCIA, and adult programs staff and volunteers.
c. Prepare audit information for the diocese when requested on a yearly basis, after the Pastor and Parish Council approve it.
d. The performance on the key responsibilities and attributes for this role.
e. The ability to develop and maintain relationships with Parish staff, parishioners, and volunteers.
f. The participation in fulfilling the mission and vision set forth annually by the Pastor and Parish Councils.

Qualifications

1. Practicing Catholic in full communion with the teachings of the Church.
2. High School diploma required, associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
a. Demonstrates capability to conduct administrative, clerical, and supervisory duties in a timely fashion, utilizing effective communication and relationship skills.
b. Participates in ongoing formation and educational opportunities to keep current on trends in catechetical ministry.
3. Proven participation and continuing updating of the Safe Environment Program sponsored through the diocese.
4. Working Conditions:
a. This position is full-time but does entail frequent evening and weekend work.
b. This position may require some travel.
5. Excellent written and verbal skills.
6. Valid driver’s license.
7. Desire to learn and assume new and unfamiliar responsibilities and tasks.
8. Some tasks may require standing, lifting, or bending, though most duties are performed while seated at a desk doing office work or planning for RE.

Submit resume no later than September 19, 2024 to meggannbell@gmail.com.

Pastor, St. Peter & Holy Family Parishes

Finance Administrator, St. Peter & Holy Family Parishes

Parish Council Chairs, St. Peter & Holy Family Parishes

Position updated September 2024.

Father Varghese installation Mass and Dinner

Father Varghese installation Mass and Dinner

September 7, 2024 Father Varghese was installed as St. Peter and Holy Family parishes Pastor by Bishop Paprocki at the 430pm Mass. A dinner for everyone was held at Hill Prairie Winery following the Mass. Everyone enjoyed a beautiful night of fellowship, food and celebration! The smiles of Bishop, Father, Deacon Ben, Doug McClain, the altar servers and the young children having fun at Hill Prairie playing before dinner tells the story of what a wonderful night it was!

Welcome Father Varghese, Bishop Paprocki To Attend Mass

Welcome Father Varghese, Bishop Paprocki To Attend Mass

Bishop To Attend Mass

Bishop Paprocki

Bishop Paprocki is planning to attend 4:30 Mass on September 7, 2024 at St. Peter Church in Petersburg to welcome Father Varghese Puthussery to St. Peter and Holy Family parishes. Both parishes are most welcomed and encouraged to celebrate this special mass with our Bishop and our new Parish Priest.

A reception is being planned immediately following the mass.

More details to come.


Welcome Father Varghese

Fr. Varghese A. Puthussery

I recently had the opportunity to meet and visit with our new priest, Father Varghese Puthussery at one of his current parishes in Villa Grove.

My first question was what would he like to be called (Father Varghese) and what is the correct way to pronounce “Varghese”. It’s var-GEESE.

Father Varghese grew up in India, a predominantly Hindu nation with only about 1.5% of it’s 1.2 billion people being Catholic. Father’s home in the village of Mambra, in Kerala state [map] is widely regarded as one that St. Thomas the apostle visited in 52 AD. Thomas is regarded as the patron saint of India and there is a strong Catholic presence in the southern part of India.

Father Varghese speaks with a British/Indian accent which I found very easy to understand.

Father was raised in a devout Catholic family, the oldest of seven children. He felt called to be a priest at the age of 8. He joined the seminary in 1978 at the age of 16.

After being ordained, Father Varghese became the co-pastor of a parish in northern India where he remained for five years. He them moved to another parish in central India going to the Philippines to complete his post graduate studies.

Upon completion of his studies in the Philippines, he returned to central India. He served as executive secretary of the commission of laity and family for the Catholic Bishops of India, the director of the Pallotine animation center, and the National Secretary to the Catholic Council in India, in addition to many other administrative leadership roles.

For all of these responsibilities, however, Father Varghese was called to move back to a role as parish priest, administering the Holy sacraments and ministering to the laypersons of the church. “For my own kind of renewal and I wanted to have more opportunity to administer sacraments as a priest. The sacrament of reconciliation and all other sacraments because I felt that it would bring a kind of or a renewal, a kind of spiritual depth to my life. Living with the ordinary and helping people and journeying with them, listening to their life struggles and challenges and difficulties helped me grow my faith,” he stated.

Through this calling he came to the United States just over a year ago to serve with the Pallotine Brothers and Sisters in their Milwaukee, Wisconsin location. The Pallotine Father in Milwaukee work closely with the Diocese of Springfield, and when the need for a Parochial Administrator for Forty Martyrs, St. John the Baptist, and Sacred Heart parishes became available, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki was glad to offer him the position. A position where he has felt quite welcomed and at home for the past year.

I asked Father how he felt about being moved to St. Peter and Holy Family parishes and he smiled and told me that he is quite happy to serve wherever the Lord needs him. He told me that he has been to Petersburg before, to visit his friend Father Maurice.

My personal impression of Father Varghese is that he is a warm and happy man who laughs easily, cares about the people in his care, and will be a blessing to our parish.

——-

This article quotes heavily from an article written by Tony Hooker in the The County Chronicle

The Eucharistic Pilgrimage Comes to Our Area!

The Eucharistic Pilgrimage Comes to Our Area!

Wednesday, July 10th and Thursday, July 11th saw a variety of exciting happenings unfold around our Diocesan locality related to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The monstrance which has made its way along the “Serra Route” has been received by our Diocese, making appearances on Wednesday for a procession around the Corpus Christi Priory and St. Francis of Assisi Church campus, followed by a dinner for attendees with testimonials from those inspired by this time of Eucharistic Revival, along with all-night adoration in the Church. The next day, the monstrance was transferred to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where Bishop Paprocki was the lead celebrant of Mass, followed by a grand five mile procession throughout the streets of downtown then stopping at Blessed Sacrament Church, the Dominican Convent, and finally St. Agnes Church. It was a monumental two days of celebration in honor of our Lord in the Eucharist, attended by members of both St. Peter and Holy Family, including Father Maurice. The monstrance will continue on its route to Indianapolis, where the other traveling monstrances will converge, along with tens of thousands of Catholics for the National Eucharistic Congress on July 17-21.


Fr. Constantine Mlelwa Visits St. Peter Parish

Fr. Constantine Mlelwa Visits St. Peter Parish

Fr. Constantine Mlelwa
This past weekend, Father Constantine Mlelwa, a priest from Tanzania, visited St. Peter Parish and Holy Family Parish.

Fr. Constantine was on a missionary trip to raise funds for projects undertaken by the Catholic Church in Tanzania. One of these crucial projects involves drilling wells in areas with limited access to water. During Mass, he explained that women and children often have to walk up to 45 minutes to reach water sources, then carry the heavy loads back. This arduous task is not only exhausting but also poses significant safety risks, as women are vulnerable to assaults during these journeys. The new wells will provide safe and clean water for many rural villages, alleviating these burdens.

Another important initiative is the establishment of schools. Fr. Constantine shared that government-funded schools in Tanzania often fail to provide a quality education, leaving children ill-prepared for college. Currently, there is only one Catholic school in Tanzania, accessible primarily to the wealthy. The funds raised during his mission will help build and support additional schools for children from less affluent families.

These schools will cater to children from Kindergarten through age twenty-one and will operate as boarding schools. This arrangement allows students to focus on their studies and schoolwork beyond regular school hours, free from the domestic chores that typically take precedence in Tanzanian households.

Fr. Constantine emphasized that the economy in Tanzania is weaker compared to the United States, making the funds raised here significantly impactful for these Catholic projects in his country.

Divine Mercy Project– Installation of our 6th sign

Divine Mercy Project– Installation of our 6th sign

Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Petersburg now has the beautiful Divine Mercy sign in the NE corner of the property. May all those who come visit know the strength of our Lord and His Mercy.

PRAYER FOR MERCY FOR SOULS IN PURGATORY
Eternal Father, I offer the most precious blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, for those in my own home and within my own family. Amen

-Prayer of Saint Gertrude (Chosen by Saint Faustina as one of her patrons)

Father Maurice Auction Dinner

Father Maurice Auction Dinner

Father Maurice prepared an African dinner from the recent Fish Fry auction held in March at Wankel’s Petersburg. This meal was one of the live auction items, and Andrew and Anita Riley were the winning bidders this year. The event was held at Three Pines Petersburg, who had donated the venue for the auction June 28th. A fun night, great food and hospitality was had by all who attended. Father Maurice was assisted in preparing the meal by his fellow priest, Father Florent, Pastor in Farmersville, Il. Bettie Churchill and Mary Stewart served as hostesses for the evening, prepping the food for cooking, set up and clean up.

Father Maurice on Retreat July 15-19