Diocese of Joliet

Bishop Conlon Announces Plans for the Blanchette Catholic Center
Obispo Conlon Anuncia Planes para el Centro Católico Blanchette
Biskup Conlon ogłasza plany powstania Centrum Katolickiego im. Biskupa Blanchette

The Diocese of Joliet is moving forward toward an agreement to sell the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville to Lewis University, while at the same time announcing it has purchased a never-occupied property at 16501 Weber Road in Crest Hill. The diocese will relocate its staff from three separate sites – the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville, as well as the Chancery and the Tribunal in Joliet – into the new location, said Doug Delaney, the executive assistant to Bishop R. Daniel Conlon. The new facility will be known as the Blanchette Catholic Center.

Bishop Conlon Addresses President Obama's Decision on Marriage

President Obama’s decision to endorse a redefinition of marriage is another significant step by government leaders in our country to weaken marriage. Rather than viewing marriage as an essential building block of society, especially for the benefit of children, the president and others seem to think that marriage is a private matter to be defined and arranged any way that suits individuals. In addition, the president justifies his position on marriage with an oversimplified interpretation of one verse of the New Testament, while ignoring the rest of the Bible on the subject of marriage, as well as three millennia of Judeo-Christian tradition.

Preserving the understanding of marriage as the union of a man and a woman is no more today a sign of discrimination than it ever has been. It is simply recognition that men and women are different, and that difference makes a true union of persons, in all its dimensions, possible.

Most Rev. R. Daniel Conlon
Bishop of Joliet

Bishop Conlon Talking about the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Vatican's Call for Renewal of the Conference

(05/07/2012)

Thank you message from Fr. Burke Masters, Diocesan Director of Vocations regarding the Annual Appeal

Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal

I would like to personally thank you, on behalf of all of our seminarians, for your generous donations for the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal. A part of every donation for the appeal goes toward educating our future priests for the Diocese of Joliet.

When a young man, who has not completed college, is accepted as a seminarian for the diocese, we pay for his first year of room, board and tuition in the seminary. This is meant to encourage him to give the seminary a try because we feel true discernment happens in the seminary. Usually a young man can discern whether or not he is being called to be a priest during the first two years of seminary. After the first year of college seminary, the diocese pays for half of their remaining costs through the rest of their college seminary years. Once a man finishes college seminary, he continues on to major seminary, where he studies theology for four years. The diocese pays for all of their room, board and tuition during major seminary because their formation is now a full-time commitment.

Just imagine how one priest who is helped by your donation may affect the souls of thousands of people throughout his priestly life. I was a beneficiary of your generosity during my days as a seminarian, and I am eternally grateful for you. God bless you.

US Conference of Catholic Bishops

April 12, 2012

BISHOPS ISSUE CALL TO ACTION TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Urge strong lay involvement
Outline threats to First Freedom at all levels of government and abroad
Call upon dioceses to pursue religious liberty fortnight, June 21-July 4

WASHINGTON —The U.S. bishops have issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged laity to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights. They outlined their position in “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom.” The document was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), approved for publication by the USCCB Administrative Committee March 13, and published in English and Spanish April 12.

The document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/our-first-most-cherished-liberty.cfm.

“We have been staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past. We have a solemn duty to discharge that duty today,” the bishops said in the document, “… for religious liberty is under attack, both at home and abroad.”

The document lists concerns that prompt the bishops to act now. Read more...

More religious freedom resources

US Bishops Launch Nationwide Prayer Effort for Religious Liberty

At a recent Administrative Committee meeting, bishops from around the country agreed that prayer was needed to support its call to protect religious freedom and conscience rights, especially concerning the Health and Human Services’ contraception/sterilization mandate.

So the bishops have announced a nationwide call to prayer for religious liberty.

“Most importantly of all, we call upon the Catholic faithful, and all people of faith, throughout our country to join us in prayer and penance for our leaders and for the restoration of our First Freedom -- religious liberty -- which is not only protected in the laws and customs of our great Nation,” the bishops said in a statement, “ but rooted in the teachings of our great Tradition. Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength -- for without God, we can do nothing; but with God, all things are possible.”

Acknowledging that many people have supported them in their efforts in this matter, the bishops decided to offer a prayer as a resource for people and parishes to offer up. Called the “Prayer for Religious Liberty,” the prayer is now available in several different images and can be downloaded and printed locally. Go to the following site to do that: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/resources-on-conscience-protection.cfm#prayers.

The prayer cards, in English and Spanish, can also be ordered in bulk at the following site, with shipping available starting in early April: www.usccbpublishing.org.

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon fully supports the prayer campaign and the need to educate others on the issue.

O GOD OUR CREATOR,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be “one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer Card in English

Prayer Card in Spanish

More religious freedom resources

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Bishop Conlon Gives Benedictine University’s Commencement Speech

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon gave the commencement speech on May 13 at Benedictine University. He offered three models of community for the students to ponder as they leave college. One model of community is the Holy Trinity, Bishop Conlon said, adding that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were “the perfect community.”

The second model, he said, was the Church. He said that many people might not think they need the Church.

“Indeed,” Bishop Conlon said, “it is commonplace today to call oneself ‘spiritual’ rather than ‘religious.’ Spiritual is fine. However, a purely spiritual approach reflects the isolation and self-satisfaction that lead to a dead end.”

And the third model is marriage.

“Husband and wife collaborate with the Trinity as a creative force by allowing their love to extend into the world around them,” Bishop Conlon said. “That’s why their love can never be just for themselves.”

He encouraged the graduates to “reach out our hands in front of us toward the Community of Three, who desire to embrace us in their union, through others like us.”

Bishop Conlon Announces Two Curia Appointments

Mrs Molly Fara has been hired as the first Director of the newly established Office of Child and Youth Protection. She will be taking over the safe environment responsibilities from Sister Judith Davies OSF. This is a full time position so that more attention can be given to this area, particularly to help parishes with their responsibility to protect children.

Ms. Fara is a licensed clinical social worker who is skilled at counseling individuals, groups and families. She is an active member of St. Margaret Mary Parish Naperville and a founding member of All Saints Regional Catholic Academy. Please welcome Mrs Molly Fara to the Diocesan Curia. She begins her term of service on May 10, 2012.

On July 1 2012 Sister Judith Davies OSF will replace Sr Theresa Galvin CND as the Delegate for Religious. Sister Theresa has served as the Delegate for Religious for 15 years and has chosen to retire. We are all grateful for her years of service to the men and women religious of the diocese on behalf of the Bishop of Joliet. Sister Judith will continue her responsibilities as Chancellor.

Natalie Bayci to Receive Honorary Doctoral Degree for Service to the Poor and Leadership in Diocesan Missions

Lewis University will award an honorary doctorate at the Spring Commencement Ceremonies in May, recognizing the achievements of Natalie Bayci, Coordinator for University Missions for the Peace and Social Justice Ministry of the Diocese of Joliet. Since 2001, Mrs. Bayci has organized and completed nearly thirty mission trips. She and her mission teams, including numerous students and other members of the Lewis University community, have served the very poorest of people, by educating orphans, caring for disabled children, building homes for people who are homeless, assisting at daycare centers, and raising money for food and medicines. Most recently, in January, 2012, Mrs. Bayci returned from her fifth trip to the Philippines, where she and others helped to build houses and provide health care to those in need. In June 2011, this dynamic grandmother completed her fifteenth mission trip to Sucre, Bolivia, where the Diocese of Joliet earlier helped build a hospital. She also was instrumental in establishing a guest lecture program and a Bolivian exchange student program at the University of St. Francis, in which fourteen Bolivian students have come from Sucre to the United States. In January, 2011, Mrs. Bayci served for the first time in Kenya, in a collaborative faith-based effort to extend care to individuals and families struggling with HIV/AIDS, in the midst of severe poverty, limited access to clean water, drought, and political upheaval.

The VIRTUS PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN™ Program is on-going in the Diocese. This program represents a commitment to the safety and well being of the children of our communities. For more information about VIRTUS, see VIRTUS Online™. Click here for more information including policies, reporting, background checks, resources and other references. Click here for a workshop schedule.

Agencies and offices are partially or fully funded by
generous donations to the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal.

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