This Week's Headlines

Nigerian arhbishop visits the diocese

His Excellency, The Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria visited the Diocese of Belleville during the weekend of June 20-21.

He was the guest of Bishop Braxton and he joined the Bishop for the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday, June 21. The Archbishop has generously lent four of his priests to our Diocese as Fidei Donum missionaries. The priests are Fr. Ignatius Okonkwo, serving at St. Mary Parish in Eldorado, St. Mary Parish in Harrisburg, and St. Joseph Parish in Elizabethtown; Fr. Patrick Okwumuo, serving at St. Stephen in Flora (recently transferred to St. Augustine of Canterbury in Belleville); Fr. Justin Olisaemeka, serving at St. Mary Parish in Centralia; and Fr. Michael Mbonu, serving at St. Edward Parish in Fairfield and St. Sebastian Parish in St. Sebastian. Archbishop Okeke has also been instrumental in assisting the Bishop in obtaining other Nigerian priests.
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New pastors appointed to six-year terms

The new pastors whose appointments were announced by Bishop Braxton on June 19, 2009 are appointed for a term of six years. This is in conformity with the 1983 decree of the American bishops concerning canon 522. Since that decree, the majority of bishops in the United States have appointed pastors for a term of six years, with the possibility of a second six-year appointment. Commenting on the long-standing decree and the new appointments Bishop Braxton said, “This decree, approved by the Holy See, makes it possible for priests to have a variety of experiences as pastors during the course of their ministry. It also makes it possible for the parish communities to benefit from the talents, vision, zeal and spirituality of a variety of pastors. The vast majority of American bishops have been making appointments in accord to this decree for nearly 30 years. Since, in the past, pastors in this Diocese have been appointed for an indefinite period of time, this change does not apply to earlier appointments.”
The background for this decree is explained in the following excerpt from the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law.
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Bishop Stanley schlarman celebrates 50th

Bishop Stanley Schlarman grew into priesthood from the time he was a youngster growing up in St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Belleville. It just seemed natural.

His mother told him that from a very early age he was attentive to the Mass. “She always told me I was just riveted to the liturgy,” he said.

Later, his mother told him that she “had promised God my first two children I would give back to him as a priest and a nun,” he said.

Bishop Schlarman’s sister, Sister Pat Schlarman has been a member of the Adorers of the Precious Blood for more than 50 years taking her final vows as an Adorer while her brother was still a seminarian.
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Two diocesan priests celebrate anniversaries

Two diocesan priests celebrated anniversaries this year: Father Joseph Trapp and Father James Voelker.

Father Joseph Trapp, a native of Mt. Carmel, celebrated June 14 with a liturgy at his parish, St. Joseph’s in Benton.
More than 18 priests, including Bishop Stanley Schlarman, attended the liturgy.

A parish liturgy June 7 at St. Michael’s in Paderborn gathered the faithful of his present and former parishes, friends and relatives to celebrate Father James Voelker’s anniversary.

The combined choirs of St. Michael’s and St. Augustine of Hippo in East St. Louis enhanced the music at the liturgy. At one point during the liturgy, Father Voelker went to the choir loft where he played the organ and directed the choir.
Father Voelker, a native of East St. Louis, attended Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis and St. Louis University School of Divinity.
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father jim jeffrey of fargo diocese celebrates 50th

More at home in the Diocese of Belleville these days, Father Jim Jeffrey of the Diocese of Fargo, N.D., is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a priest.

Father Jeffrey is well known in the Latino community in this diocese and works with the Office of Hispanic Ministry to celebrate Mass in parishes with a strong Hispanic population.

These days, he is working with 13 Hispanics at St. Damian Parish to prepare them for the Sacraments of Initiation: baptism, Eucharist and confirmation.
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father richard mohr retires as pastor

He has loved every parish he has served, and now Father Richard Mohr, pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Marion will bid parishioners good-bye as he retires from parish ministry.

Father Mohr, almost 68, will live in Marion and, he said, become more active in Catholic Social Services work in Carbondale.

Always concerned about his community, Father Mohr became active in the ministerial alliance in the Marion area when he became pastor at St. Joseph’s 19 years ago.
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