Catholic Diocese of Peoria honors first bishop

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria celebrated an important person in its history today. It’s the 130th anniversary of the installation of Peoria’s first bishop — John Lancaster Spalding. At Sunday mass, the church paid tribute to Bishop Spalding and his contributions to the City of Peoria. The current bishop, Daniel Jenky, says Spalding was a big advocate of education, a legacy Jenky wants to carry on. “He was really a leader in this country. He was recognized including by non-catholics as a great educator and we hope to keep that tradition alive in central Illinois,” said Bishop Jenky. The bishop also introduced Our Mother of Perpetual Help as a new symbol of the Catholic church.