This afternoon His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John
Paprocki will bestow ecclesiastical honors on 152 members of the faithful of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
In a ceremony commemorating the 160th anniversary of the erection of the Diocese - the See was first raised in Quincy and later transferred to Alton before being raised in Springfield - two awards will be given.
Nine priests will receive the newly established Bishop James A. Griffin Award for many years of dedicated service to the Church. This award is named after the first Bishop of Springfield in Illinois who built and dedicated the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and whose namesake adorns the Cathedral. The Bishop James A. Griffin Award is given in the form of a chalice engraved with an image repeated throughout the Cathedral interior.
The Magnificat Award will be given to 143 individuals or couples for outstanding service to God and neighbor in three categories: to the Diocese; by a member of a religious community; or to the parish and community. The Magnificat Award takes its name from the praises Mary sings to God beginning at Luke 1:46 and is given in the form of a bronze medallion.
I am happy to know many of those being honored today and I wish that I could be present to share in their joy on this happy day. Please join me in keeping them in prayer.
For a full listing of the recipients, click
here.
No comments:
Post a Comment