Decree on prayers and Masses for the Pope and the Church

During these historic days for the Church, I hereby decree that the priests of the Diocese of Peoria are permitted to offer Special masses for the Various Needs and Occasions, or Votive Masses, during the Season of Lent, excluding Sundays, Solemnities, and holy Week, in accordance with the norms of the General instruction of the Roman Missal.

Priests should use their good judgment as to which orations and on which days would be most advantageous for the faithful.  Masses in thanksgiving for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI would be most appropriate as well as Masses “For the Church: for the Pope.”  After February 28, 2013, the texts for Masses “For the Church: for the Election of a Pope” should be used.

In particular, I direct that between now and February 28^th, prayers should be included at every Mass in Thanksgiving to God for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI.  And during the “sede vacante” and especially through the conclave, prayers should be offered to the Holy Spirit for His guidance and inspiration.  Sample prayers will be forwarded to you in the near future. 

Given at my Chancery, this 15^th Day of February, AD 2013. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, CSC

Bishop of Peoria

Attest:

Msgr. James Kruse, JCL, Vicar General, Judicial Vicar

Rite of Election

During the rite of election, those seeking to be baptized, those seeking full communion with God’s Holy Roman Catholic Church entirely fill this place with their faith.  Much to the amazement of pagan America and despite the malice and cynicism of the media, men and women still hunger for the Lord, still seek the Lord, and still find the Lord within the community of the faithful.  It is the invisible splendor of God that shines through visible realities of our worship, our praise and thanks, our prayers and devotion, of our Churches service to the sick and the poor, of our apostolate of education for the young, of comfort and fellowship for the old, of living faith and evangelizing witness and of an unshakable commitment to the defense of all human life from conception until natural death. God’s Holy Church continues to manifest extraordinary gifts of faith. 

Click here for my homily: HOMILY 

Click here for the Newspaper Article on the Rite of Election: NEWS

Holy Hour for the Holy Father

We were all quite shocked to learn of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he will be abdicating the Petrine ministry on Thursday, February 28, 2013.  Certainly this historic event deserves our prayer. I invite you to join me for a holy hour at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, on Thursday, February 28, 2013, 7:15 p.m.to 8:15 p.m.

This holy hour will be an opportunity for us to gather as a diocese and reflect on the Pope’s

excellent leadership, wisdom and holiness. It will be an opportunity to pray for his health and

ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as a new pope is elected. I hope that many of you can

join me for this time of prayer.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.

BISHOP OF PEORIA

Memo on Holy Communion

Sanctity and Dignity of Marriage

Scout Mass

To Listen to the Homily at the Scout Mass CLICK HERE

To View Video of Award Presentation CLICK HERE

For Catholic Post Article on Scouts CLICK HERE

Pope Resigns

Official Vatican Release:

DECLARATIO

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.  I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects.  And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

© Copyright 2013 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Official Catholic Diocese of Peoria Release:

NEWS RELEASE

Catholic Diocese of Peoria

February 11, 2013

Contact:

Monsignor James Kruse

Vicar General

Catholic Diocese of Peoria

309.671.1550

Pope Announces Resignation, Response of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria

For Immediate Release

Peoria, Illinois- 

After hearing the news that Pope Benedict XVI announced he

would resign his ministry on February 28th, the Most Reverend Daniel Jenky,

C.S.C, Bishop of Peoria was shocked: “I was completely surprised when I heard

the news.” These are truly historic times and without recent precedent. When

reading the pope’s official statement, Jenky was moved by the Holy Father’s deep

faith in Christ and love for the Church. The resignation of Pope Benedict will be a

great loss to the Church.

Jenky has had the privilege of meeting Pope Benedict many times including his ad

limina visit in February 2012. With each visit he was moved by the Pope’s

brilliance, wisdom and holiness. Jenky reflected that over the last few months, the

Holy Father has looked a bit more tired. This announcement confirmed this.

Jenky called upon all Catholics and people of good will to pray for the Holy

Father’s health and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as a new pope is elected.

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Regulations for Lent and Easter