Serving Mass at the Cathedral and St. Mark's

Eight St. Mark's students joined other students from around the Peoria Diocese in serving the Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral celebrating the 100th anniversary of Archbishop John Lancaster Spalding's death and the rededication of the Cathedra.

Luke had the opportunity to serve Mass at two beautiful churches this past week: the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception 

and St. Mark's. 

The Mass at the Cathedral celebrated the 100th anniversary of the death of Archbishop John Lancaster Spalding, the founding Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and 

the rededication of the Cathedral after major renovations. 

The liturgy at St. Mark's was the first all-school Mass of the year.

Archbishop Spalding was one of the giants of the 19th century. 

Born in Kentucky, he returned there after his ordination in Belgium and started St. Augustine, one of the first parishes for freed African-American Catholics. In 1877, he was consecrated the first bishop of Peoria. Archbishop Spalding was a major proponent of education, including for girls. He was one of the founder of the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. In Peoria, he started Spalding Institute, a high school for boys that was named after his brother, also a priest. Archbishop Spalding wrote essays and poems and was known for his oratory. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him to the commission that helped to successfully arbitrate the coal strike. Under his supervision, the Cathedral, where his anniversary Mass was celebrated, was constructed and dedicated in 1898.

Also begun during his tenure as Bishop was St. Mark's Parish in 1891. Four years later, the school was started and 120 years later, both are still going strong. Luke and three of his fellow 8th graders served at the first all-school Mass of the year.