The Diocese of Peoria  will soon begin celebrating the 150th anniversary of Proclaiming Christ, Yesterday, Today and Forever. 

We will be celebrating this milestone for the next two years. As the story goes, on February 12, 1875, the Holy Father established the Diocese of Peoria and sent a letter, appointing Fr. Michael J. Hurley as Bishop. Fr. Hurley wrote back to the Holy Father, saying he did not accept the appointment. However, Rome never received the reply as the ship that carried the letter sank! Finally, after being made aware that there was no Bishop to oversee the new Diocese, Bishop John L. Spalding was appointed and began leading the Diocese in 1877.

The Opening Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 4:00 pm. 

 If you would like to watch the Inaugural Mass of the 150th Anniversary via livestream on the Peoria Diocese YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@peoriadiocese5860/streams.