What it means to belong to a Diocese… 

One of my jobs as a pastor is to help keep our parish connected to the ‘bigger Church’ of the diocese and the universal Catholic Church. Our own Diocese of Belleville includes over 100 parishes throughout southern Illinois. The diocese has a variety of offices run by lay people who provide resources for each parish to have great Catholic schools, PSR (Sunday School) programs, and ministries of liturgy, pro-life, service to the poor, and many others. 

Once a year our diocese asks each Catholic to support the many services it takes to run a Church that covers all Southern Illinois, from the poorest areas of Cairo, IL, to helping out our own parish and school ministries here at St. Clare. 

This week you should have received a mailing about the “Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal.” Thank you in advance for reading this material and doing your best to support your local diocese. Thank you for seeing the ‘bigger picture’ and your commitment to what it really means to be Catholic – being a part of something sacred beyond our own parish. 

If you did not get a mailing on this sent to you from the diocese, please pick up an envelope on the center table in our gathering space. 

May God bless our generosity! 
Fr. Jim Deiters