The visit of the Bishop

Here follows the press release I sent to the media regarding the Bishop's visit last night.

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, met with Chapter 517 of the Dead Theologians Society Sunday, 19 November 2006. His visit coincided with his Pastoral Visitation to St. Anthony of Padua parish in Effingham.

Bishop Lucas spoke to the youth about his life and ministry as a Bishop. He also stressed the purpose of the Church and the local parish as the place to encounter Jesus Christ.

Speaking on the lives of the saints, he reminded the youth that a saint is someone “who follows Jesus to the end” and that “each of us is called to be a saint.” He also told the youth that they are not simply the church of tomorrow, but also the church of today.

At the same meeting, ten new members were received into the Society and were given a black hooded sweatshirt with the DTS logo and a rosary made in the Holy Land for the Society. The Dead Theologians Society in Effingham now numbers sixteen, with several more to be received in the coming weeks. Membership requires either attendance at three consecutive meetings or five meetings overall.

The Dead Theologians Society formed at St. Anthony of Padua parish on Sunday, 1 October 2006. The Society, which is open to high school-aged youth, meets weekly from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings in the parish center. Each meeting includes games and snacks, with time for a teaching about the life of a particular Saint, questions and discussions, shared prayer, a decade of the Rosary, and the Divine Praises. Through the saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow.