Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us from the Peoria DCCW Board hope you have a very BLESSED Thanksgiving!  Feel free to comment below, telling us something you are especially thankful for!

You are Invited!

On Monday November 6th, the Peoria Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will host a special Day of Remembrance for All Souls.  This year's event will be in one of our more northern communities; Sacred Heart Church at 305 West South Avenue in Annawan, IL.  Our location was chosen in a special way to honor one of our dear friends, Maralyn Guthrie.  Here is an outline of the day's events:

9:30 ~ Registration, with coffee and donuts

10:00 ~ Welcome & Opening Prayer

10:15 ~ Presentation by Father Timothy Sauppe

11:00 ~ Holy Mass

12:00 ~ Lunch

12:45 ~ Presentation by Father Sauppe

1:30 ~ Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, & Confession

2:30 ~ Benediction

A special invitation is extended to carpool after the event to the parish cemetery to pray for the soul buried there, including Maralyn Guthrie.  Father Sauppe will explain how the events of this day can help each of us obtain a Plenary Indulgence.

Cost for the day is $18, and men are also welcome to attend.  Click Here for an event flier and registration information.  

Special Christmas Project!

One of the organizations that partners with the National Council of Catholic Women is Cross Catholic Outreach, which provides important ministry to some of the poorest parts of the world.

For Christmas, Cross Catholic Outreach has a special project:  Box of Joy.  the Joliet Diocese is participating on a full scale, and our own International Concerns Chair, Nympha White, is willing to help out by bringing Boxes of Joy to the Joliet area drop off center.

For more information, check out the fliers below, and contact us by email here.

  Box of Joy Church Ideas

  Box of Joy Gift Ideas


Thank you for your interest in helping the needy have a blessed Christmas!

Assistance for Hurricane Harvey Victims

In addition to the NCCW receiving donations, Bishop Daniel Jenky has asked all parishes of the Peoria Diocese to take up special collections at all Masses the weekend of September 9 & 10th.  Please be as generous as possible.

Informational Update

Join us in prayer and aid for the victims of Hurricane Harvey   A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY WASHINGTON—U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) president, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, has called for prayers and solidarity with those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Cardinal DiNardo also called on all people of good will to closely monitor future calls for assistance for victims and survivors in the days ahead. Cardinal DiNardo’s statement: “Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast in a catastrophic and devastating way this weekend, bringing with it severe flooding and high winds which have taken human life, caused countless injuries, and severely damaged homes and property throughout the region. The effects of this storm continue to put people in harm’s way, with horrific scenes playing out all around, such as those of people trapped on their rooftops as water continues to rise around them. Many dioceses of the Church in the United States have been affected; many others will be as the storm continues. As the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, this crisis hits very close to home. In solidarity with my brother bishops in this area of the country, I call on people of faith to pray for all of those who have been impacted by this Hurricane, and I ask people of good will to stand with the victims and their families. May God, the Lord of mercy and compassion, protect all who are still in danger, and bring to safety those who are missing. May He care in a special way for those who were already homeless, or without support and resources, before this disaster. We pray in thanksgiving for the first responders who are risking their lives to save others at this very moment. We include in our intentions the everyday heroes reaching out to help their neighbors in need, those who, like the Good Samaritan, cannot walk by a person in need without offering their hand in aid.” (Full statement is found at www.usccb.org.) The National Council of Catholic Women will be accepting donations for the relief efforts in the Galveston/ Houston Diocese at our national office located at 200 N. Glebe Road suite 725, Arlington, VA 22203, as well as at our 2017 Convention September 6-9 in Dallas, Texas. Please make all checks payable to the NCCW and write "Hurricane" in the note section or call (703) 224-0990 to make a donation. All proceeds will be forwarded to Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church.

Save the Date!!

We are planning a Day of Remembrance for Monday November 6th at Sacred Heart Parish in Annawan.  Father Timothy Sauppe will be the Spiritual Director.   We will remember the souls of the faithful departed, especially members of our parish women’s organizations and, in particular, those who have died this past year.  Our location has been chosen in honor of Marilyn Guthrie, former PDCCW President and longtime parishioner at Sacred Heart.  More details forthcoming.  Please plan to join us!  

March for Mary!

Bishop Jenky invites us all to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions in Fatima with a very special March for Mary!  Please see the image below for registration information.  (The organizers want to make sure they have enough programs, room for banners and other items.)

You can register your parish women's organization, family, or comment below if you would like to join the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women group!

Let's Pray for Our Church! (UPDATED)

During the month of July, Pope Francis has asked all of us to pray for our brothers and sisters who have fallen away from the Catholic faith, hoping that they will return to the One Flock with the One Shepherd.  Last year, the Peoria DCCW invited each vicariate to offer a Mass at one of their parishes for this intention.  To join our hearts and prayers with our Holy Father, several of these Masses will be held again during this month (and some later in the year.)  We invite you to attend the Mass in your area.  Along with attending Mass, please pray the Litany of the Good Shepherd (below) with your women's group, your family, or any other group at your parish.

Here is the schedule of Masses:  New date added and highlighted

• Bloomington Vicariate:  Epiphany, Normal - July 5th, 7:00 a.m.
• Pontiac Vicariate:  St. Patrick, Dwight - July 7th, 11:15 a.m.
• Ottawa Vicariate:  St. Columba, Ottawa - July 8th, 7:30 a.m.
• Peoria Vicariate:  St. Mary, Kickapoo - July 9th, 7:00 a.m.
• Pekin Vicariate:  Blessed Sacrament, Morton - July 12th, 8:00 a.m.
• Danville Vicariate:  Holy Family, Danville - July 14th, 9:00 a.m.
• Galesburg Vicariate: Immaculate Heart, Galesburg - July 14th, 8:15 a.m.
• LaSalle Vicariate:  St. Louis, Princeton - July 26th, 11:15 a.m.
• Macomb Vicariate:  Macomb - August 4th, 5:30 p.m.
• Champaign Vicariate:  Holy Cross, Champaign - September 17th, 8:00 a.m.
• Rock Island Vicariate:  Our Lady of Guadalupe - November 24th, 7:30 a.m.
• Kewanee Vicariate:  TBA

(John 10:16) I have other sheep that are not of this fold. These also I must lead. They will hear my voice. There will be…

         One Flock, One Shepherd.

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Litany of the Good Shepherd

Leader: Let us pray for the return of friends, family, and others who have fallen away from our Catholic faith.

Leader:   God the Father of the Lamb,

Response:    have mercy on us.

God the Son, Sacrificial Lamb, R…

God the Holy Spirit, Life of the Lamb, R…

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Leader:    O Good Jesus, Shepherd of the just,

Response:         hear our prayer.

Vigilant Finder of lost sheep, R…

Fervent Hope of the fallen lamb, R…

Constant Gatherer of a broken flock, R…

O Good Shepherd, R…

Purest shelter of the yearning heart, R…

Perpetual Feast of the hungry soul, R…

Lasting Bread of perfect life, R…

O Good Shepherd, R…

Patient Tamer of rebellious wills, R…

Loyal Teacher of all kind commands, R…

Tender Purger of all blemish of sin, R…

O Good Shepherd, R…

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Leader: From the lures of false shepherds hiding in Thy guise,

Response:   Good Shepherd, protect us, rescue us.

From the mirage of the richer field, seeking to conquer our minds, R…

From diseases of the soul, separating us from Thy flock, R…

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Leader:   O Good Shepherd, at once the Guard and Lamb, Who knows well the sheep He leads, guide us, feed us, shear us,

and bid us come unto Thee,

delighting in Thy heavenly pasture,

and praising Thee forever and ever.

All:   Amen.

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Thank you for participating in this most special prayer!