Montini Hosts Diocese of Joliet's Jubilee Mass
Barb Dawson • September 20, 2024

Bishop Hicks encouraged all to practice their faith through service.

Montini Catholic was honored to welcome Bishop Ronald Hicks, Bishop Emeritus R. Daniel Conlon, priests and deacons from several local parishes and over 750 guests from surrounding parishes at a special Mass on Saturday, September 14th to commemorate the 75th Anniversary Jubilee of the Diocese of Joliet. The diocese has held two special liturgies so far this year to bring all together in celebration of this special anniversary - (June 22nd at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee) and will hold another on September 28th at Lewis University in Romeoville. They will also celebrate a closing liturgy on Sunday, December 8th at 4PM at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. (The opening liturgy was held on December 11th at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus.) 


During this yearlong celebration, Bishop HIcks has highlighted the great accomplishments of the diocese' past while nurturing the mission of how it was founded in faith. "Today, our diocese is filled with people called to continue that first movement of evangelization and missionary discipleship. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Joliet, we give our utmost gratitude to God for all the abundant blessings that He has bestowed on every person from the time of the first missionaries until today. We acknowledge and celebrate all peoples, living and deceased, who make our diocese strong in faith and compassion, with a heart of service for all people." (Quote from Diocese of Joliet's web page announcing the 75th Anniversary Celebration.) www.diojoliet.org/75th


On December 11, 1948, His Holiness Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois.  The foundations of the faith reach back to the French missionary explorers, Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, who shared the message of the Gospels, evangelizing as they moved from settlement to settlement. It was during their time with the Native American people called the Illinois, that the Catholic faith took root and matured.


Members of Montini's Peer Ministry Team were available to assist in various ways throughout the Mass. "Because our connection to the Diocese of Joliet is such an important one, it was a true honor for Montini to be chosen to host such a significant and celebratory liturgy," said Montini President Kevin Beirne. "I was proud of the manner in which we assisted the Diocese, with the volume of our community members who were present and participated in the Mass, and that so many new people were introduced to our wonderful students."


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