News Releases

Chesterton Academy students from across the U.S. kicked off a 10-day pilgrimage to Italy with Pope Leo XIV’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 18. About 240 students from the Chesterton Schools Network, which includes over 70 classical, Catholic high schools in the U.S. and abroad, are taking part in the trip, visiting churches and pilgrimage sites in Rome, Florence and Assisi. Nora Kennedy, a student from the Chesterton Academy of the Holy Family in Illinois, described being in Rome as “the best experience” of her life.

The Catholic Education Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Carbery, CFA, as Executive Director. Carbery joins the foundation with extensive leadership experience in finance, banking, fundraising, and education. He most recently served as Senior Director of Development at DePaul University, where he helped strengthen philanthropic partnerships and advance major institutional initiatives.

The Diocese of Joliet has appointed Gregory N. Porod as Superintendent of Catholic Schools, effective June 29, 2026. A veteran educator and administrator with more than four decades of experience in both public and Catholic education, Porod will lead the Diocese’s 47 Catholic elementary schools and high schools in advancing their mission of forming disciples and delivering academic excellence.

Joliet, Illinois — [February 6, 2026] — The Diocese of Joliet announces that Bishop Dennis E. Spies has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Joliet, effective immediately. Bishop Spies assumes this role in accordance with the norms of the Catholic Church, ensuring continuity of leadership and pastoral care for the nearly half-million Catholics across the seven counties of the diocese.

On Monday, January 12, 2026, a lawsuit was filed by a John Doe against a former priest within the Diocese of Joliet, John Barrett. Fr. Barrett passed away in 2014.  The Diocese does not comment on pending litigation; however, we want to assure the people of the diocese that the litigation does not involve any of our living priests.

Joliet, Illinois, December 18, 2025 — The Vatican announced today that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ronald A. Hicks as the 11th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York. Archbishop-designate Hicks will be installed on Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Below is a statement from the Catholic Conference of Illinois, of which the Diocese of Joliet is a member, on Assisted Suicide Bill which would legalize physician assisted suicide in Illinois.

Today the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a powerful and unified “Special Message” on immigration. Deeply rooted in our Gospel tradition of loving our neighbor, this letter affirms our solidarity with all our brothers and sisters as it expresses our concerns, opposition, and hopes with clarity and conviction. It is grounded in the Church’s enduring commitment to the Catholic social teaching of human dignity and a call for meaningful immigration reform.

I write to you with deep sadness and disappointment that the Illinois General Assembly has passed legislation to legalize physician assisted suicide in our state. This bill now sits on Governor Pritzker’s desk, and he has not yet decided whether to sign it into law. As you know, the Catholic Church firmly upholds the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. Assisted suicide contradicts our moral teaching and threatens the well-being of the poor, the elderly, and those with disabilities. It sends the tragic message that some lives are no longer worth living.

The Diocese of Joliet has been made aware of a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual misconduct by a member of our clergy with an adult woman. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on the specifics of active litigation. However, we wish to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our parishioners and employees.