Upcoming Events
Diocesan News
-
World Mission Sunday 2026
October 18, 2026 This year marks the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, a special day when Catholics around the…
Read More -
Compassion + Care: Resources Regarding Illinois' New Assisted Suicide Law
As Illinois' new physician-assisted suicide law takes effect on September 12, 2026, many individuals and families may have questions about…
Read More -
National Migration Week 2026
Join us on September 26, 2026, for "Even Just One of These Children," a day of prayer, formation, and fellowship…
Read More -
Stewards of God’s Gifts: Building the Kingdom of God in the Diocese of Belleville
As the Diocese of Belleville continues its mission of faith, stewardship, and evangelization, Bishop Godfrey Mullen, OSB, offers this reflection…
Read More -
Parish Picnics 2026
PARISH PICNICS 2026Only few pinics left for this year!What a wonderful time to gather in fellowship and support local Catholic…
Read More -
Flocknote: Stay Connected, Grow in Faith
Did you know the Diocese of Belleville uses Flocknote?Stay connected with the life of the Diocese of Belleville by signing…
Read More
- 1
- 2
Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal
Following Archbishop Sheen’s Example of Faith
Dear Friends,
On Sept. 18, I had the privilege of preaching in the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria as part of the celebration of a novena (nine days) of Holy Hours with Evening Prayer in anticipation of the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
Archbishop Sheen was born in the Diocese of Peoria in 1895, eventually being ordained a priest there. He later became auxiliary bishop of New York and then Bishop of Rochester. His given name was Peter John Sheen, but he preferred to use his mother’s maiden name, Fulton.
Thousands of pages have been written about Archbishop Sheen. He himself wrote 73 books. He was a well-known personality on radio and television. And all these elements of his life are important.
Along with all this, fundamentally, Archbishop Fulton Sheen had something to say. I can’t imagine that he ever reached the point where be believed he’d said everything about Jesus. The messages he offered in the liturgy, on the radio, and live on television, were all about Jesus, the One he loved.
Archbishop Sheen had been given the gift of knowing and loving the Lord. He’d been given the gift of composing lessons people could understand. He’d been given a grateful and generous heart, so that others might benefit from his gifts, so that others might more easily come to know the Lord he loved.
How much bigger, brighter and more convincing the Church would be if we all were able to recognize our gifts as he did! Then, with gratitude, we might all do well to offer them generously. We have all been given the gift of faith, the gift of knowing and loving the Lord.
Like teenagers who are in love and can never stop talking about their beloved, we too ought to be able to speak freely and readily of Jesus, to tell our favorite story, to speak humbly about our gratitude for His mercy. To speak gratefully of Jesus is to witness to His presence and grace. That is what Archbishop Sheen did. That’s what we’re called to do.
Who of us likes to be told what to do? “You will go to Church on Sunday.” “You will sit up and eat your dinner.” But most of us don’t mind listening to the simple story of goodness in another person’s life. Speaking of why Sunday Mass is important to us, a blessing to us — that might be more effective in welcoming another person to our worshiping community.
During these autumn days, I encourage each of us to take a few minutes, maybe in church before or after Mass, to ask the good Lord to know His will about what we might have to say. Like Archbishop Sheen, let’s start with the fact that we have something to say. Then let’s ask the Lord what that might be. If we all become more willing to speak about Jesus because we know and love Him, our world will more likely flourish to His glory and honor.
In Christ,
Bishop Godfrey Mullen, OSB
