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• 40 Days for Life
Feb. 17 - March 28,
6 a.m.-6 p.m.,
Northern Illinois
Women's Center,
1400 Broadway, Rockford.
Info: 815-968-5640 or www.40daysforlife.com/rockford

• The Student Council from St. Rita of Cascia School, Aurora, raised over $1500 from a penny drive held for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

• The 'Olympic Spirit' was alive and well at Provena Fox Knoll, Aurora, as the senior living community held games of their own.

• A praying snowman was erected by students at St. Margaret Mary School, Woodstock, following a recent snow.

• Clean-up slow, housing a priority in Chilean towns.

• Spanish art at National Gallery.

• Pope to visit Santiago de Compostela, Barcelona in November.

• Around the Diocese
and Good for YOU: Activities and events people and organizations have taken part in.

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Please help the people of Haiti with your support in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that struck near the capital of Port au Prince. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and was still recovering from deadly 2008 hurricanes when the quake struck.

News from Haiti - Click to find updates from Deacon Patrick Moynihan, president of The Haitian Project, on the ground in Haiti.

Haitian Priest Visits ‘Sister’ Parish in Huntley
BY AMANDA HUDSON, NEWS EDITOR

HUNTLEY—“I want to cry for him,” admitted Gail Muren on March 7, after meeting Father Yves Marie Brissault of Haiti.

The devastation in Haiti, Muren said, seems far away from the blessings found in Huntley, and she wondered how the priest felt when he saw the big homes and St. Mary’s beautiful church.

St. Mary Parish in Huntley began a “twinning” program in 2009 with St. Louis Roi de France Parish in Leger Matheux, Haiti, located in the mountains some 14 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Read more …

Gathering Highlights Catholic Social Concerns
BY LYNNE CONNER, OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT

SPRINGFIELD—Making a difference, one meeting at a time. That’s what about 1,000 Catholics from across Illinois tried to do here March 3.

They gathered for the second Catholics at the Capitol advocacy day — an event which gives concerned Catholic citizens a chance to meet with their legislators and discuss pending bills and issues that encompass Catholic social teaching. Read more …

Caritas Luncheon to feature raffle

ROCKFORD—Some great raffle prizes will be part of an April event that will help area foster children.

The annual Caritas Luncheon and Fashion Show will be held April 21, 10:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. at Giovanni’s Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford. Read more …

RDCCW Convention April 10 in Aurora

AURORA—Women throughout the Rockford diocese are invited to the Biennial Convention of the Rockford Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (RDCCW), April 10 at Holy Angels Church in Aurora.

The day will be a mix of business and inspiration with registration scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. During the business meeting, beginning at 9 a.m., convention delegates will elect their leadership for the next two years. Read more …

Father Shindelar Dies After Long Illness

ROCKFORD—Father Vincent J. Shindelar died Thursday, March 4, after an extended illness at Provena Cor Mariae Center in Rockford.

Father Shindelar was born on March 24, 1929, in Calmar, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Agnes (Kopacek) Shindelar. Read more …

International Appeal Weekend — March 13-14
Funds help in disasters, areas of special need
By Amanda Hudson, News editor

DIOCESE—With earthquakes rattling the hemisphere, hunger and disease continuing to threaten millions, now more than ever there is a need for contributions to the annual international appeal.

The special collection on March 13-14 in parishes of the Diocese of Rockford will help a combination of four international funds. Read more …

Survey seeks Catholics Come Home reactions (March 5, 2010)

By Sharon Boehlefeld, The Observer

DIOCESE—About a month has passed since the last Catholics Come Home television ad ran, and members of the organizing committee would like to know how people around the diocese feel about the initiative and the Church.

To find out, they’ve launched a survey. It is available in English and Spanish, both online and on paper, to make it easy for everyone to respond. Read more …

New Illinois cemetery law applies to diocesan, parish cemeteries (March 5, 2010)

By Amanda Hudson, News editor

ROCKFORD—One bad apple sometimes does affect the whole barrel.

The bad apple was Burr Oak Cemetery in Oak Lawn where owners and operators were accused of digging up bodies and reselling the graves, leading to an investigation last year. Read more …

How to
Find answers to Catholics Come Home questions (March 5, 2010)

As part of the Catholics Come Home initiative, the Rockford Diocese recorded 10 videos to answer frequently asked questions — or FAQs. With help from Msgr. Eric Barr, Vicar for Clergy and Religious, and Eric Groth, owner and director of Big Grin Studios and a parishioner of St. John Neumann Church in St. Charles, the set is now online at YouTube. Follow these steps to watch them. Read more …

Events offer chances to get away, be renewed (March 5, 2010)

DIOCESE—Adults of all ages will have opportunities for spiritual get-aways in upcoming weeks. Read more …

Cursillo weekends welcome men, women to grow in faith (March 5, 2010)

OREGON—Cursillo (ker-see-yo) is a Spanish word meaning “little” or “short course.” Cursillo weekends have been providing a short course in Christianity since it was begun in 1949 by Bishop Juan Hervas and Dr. Eduardo Bonin.

The weekends begin on a Thursday evening and end on Sunday evening. Over those three days, candidates listen to talks to gain a deeper awareness of the Catholic faith. There is also plenty of light-heartedness, discussions, joy and song. The weekend provides a framework for participants to grow steadily in love and service of God and others for the rest of their lives. Read more …

Parishes get creative with their alms (February 29, 2010)

By Amanda Hudson, News editor

DIOCESE—Almsgiving has long been one of the three Lenten disciplines — the others are prayer and fasting — to help Catholics grow in faith.

Parishes around the Diocese of Rockford have developed almsgiving programs and tools to help parishioners with this important, life-long discipline that gets special attention in Lent. Some of their ideas include: Read more …

A Catholics Come Home Story
‘I Want to Go to Mass’

Editor’s Note: Mary Ellen Albano shared with The Observer the following story about her father and his recent desire to come back to church. As part of our ongoing coverage of the Catholics Come Home initiative here in the Rockford Diocese, we share Ms. Albano’s story. Read more …

Author headlines day for divorced Catholics

ROCKFORD—Author, teacher and motivational speaker Rose Sweet will head up a day for divorced Catholics called “Helping You Find Peace, Power and Passion after Divorce,” scheduled March 21 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center, here. Read more …

Seniors’ retreat set for Lent

ROCKFORD—Msgr. Robert Wilhite will lead a Lenten retreat for Catholics age 55 and older on “Praying With The Saints,” March 16-17, at Bishop Lane Retreat Center. Read more …