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The Observer salutes the 2020 Graduating Class
Photos of graduating seniors from Aquin Central Catholic, Aurora Central Catholic,
Boylan Central Catholic, Marian Central Catholic, Marmion Academy, Rosary High School, Newman Central Catholic, St. Edward Central Catholic and St. Anthony College of Nursing. View online at: http://observertoo.rockforddiocese.org |
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
July 2, 2020
DIOCESE—The Diocese of Rockford took another step toward bringing back business-as-usual in the not-so-usual time of pandemic.
Bishop David Malloy issued a letter to pastors on June 29 authorizing the opening of parishes for meetings, pr... Read More
Biking for Babies is Back
Marian CCHS graduate ready for 2020 Life Ride
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
July 2, 2020
WOODSTOCK—St. Mary parishioner Lucca Kenyon, a 2018 graduate of Marian Central Catholic High School, is now a collegiate athlete at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis.
She’s taking on a new athletic challenge this summer — the Jul... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
July 2, 2020
FREEPORT—Father Kenneth Anderson, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Freeport, grew up on the west side of Rockford at a time when it was changing into a place with families of many races.
“We had an excellent opportunity to engage with pe... Read More
By Sharon Boehlefeld, Features Editor
July 2, 2020
ROCKFORD—A ministry to the Black community here opened during the tenure of Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill.
On Jan. 5, 1975, he dedicated Martin House on South Main Street a few blocks north of the St. Elizabeth Community Center.
&nbs... Read More
July 2, 2020
Prejudice, although often irrational, is an act of our minds. We “pre-judge” people, places and things frequently, making decisions and acting without taking time to closely examine facts. That of course can lead to bad decisions and harm us or others. Sometimes prejudice works a... Read More
July 2, 2020
by Father David Beauvais
Retired priest of the Rockford Diocese
Catholics are now in a sacred moment in our country that challenges us to reflect on our parishes and our proud histories. Think of y... Read More
June 25, 2020
DIOCESE—Fourteen priests in the Rockford Diocese recived new pastoral assignments from the chancery this month.
Such changes are traditionally announced near the ordination of new priests and take effect in July.
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 25, 2020
SUGAR GROVE—Father Robert Jones, pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Sugar Grove, points to the patroness of his parish as a model for addressing racism in America.
St. Katharine, he says, “devoted her life to teaching children. She was e... Read More
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
June 25, 2020
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is not lengthy in its treatment of the topic of racism. But what it tells Catholics is powerful and to the point. In a nutshell, racism is incompatible with God’s design.
The color of one’s skin, the ... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 25, 2020
Do You Feel Racist?
Do you have racist tendencies that are hidden even to yourself? Even if you have never directly insulted or attacked people of another race, these questions might show you that you may have a prejudiced or racist way of looking at others.
&nb... Read More
June 18, 2020
The Rev. Ryan Browning — to be Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Elgin, effective July 1, 2020.
The Rev. Christopher DiTomo — to be Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Huntley, effective July 1, 2020.
&n... Read More
DPC Discusses COVID-19, Racism
COVID distancing leads to first ever virtual meeting
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
June 18, 2020
DIOCESE—The world-wide health crisis of COVID-19 has not only changed the way the world operates, but it also seems to be shaping how we plan, at least in the short term.
Also poised to change our world-view are the protests and calls for chan... Read More
Call to Prayer in Aurora
City prays for justice, reconciliation and healing
By Al Benson, Observer Contributor
June 18, 2020
AURORA—Father Jerome Leake offered opening prayers before more than 200 people at “A Call to Prayer for Social Justice, Reconciliation and Healing” in Aurora June 14.
The 90-minute service was held outdoors at St. John AME Church Cathedr... Read More
June 18, 2020
DIOCESE—Confirmations that have been delayed since March are resuming throughout the Rockford Diocese, but with restrictions for health and safety.
Individuals who would have received confirmation on the Vigil of Easter are among the first to be res... Read More
June 18, 2020
60 years
Father Aloysius Neumann
Born in Evanston, Father Aloysius Neumann was ordained to the priesthood by Apostolic Delegate Most Rev. Egidio ... Read More
June 18, 2020
SERVANTS OF THE HOLY HEART OF MARY
75 years
Sister June Hoffman, SSCM
Sister June Hoffman cel... Read More
June 18, 2020
SPRINGFIELD DOMINICANS
60 years
Sister Mary Harold Herrmann, OP
Sister Mary Harold celebrates... Read More
June 18, 2020
SINSINAWA DOMINICANS
To honor Sinsinawa jubilarians, go to the Sinsinawa Dominicans’ website at www. sinsinawa.org/jubilee.
<... Read More
Diocese Welcomes Newest Priest
Ordination 2020
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
June 11, 2020
DIOCESE—Like so many things this year, ordination was different than ever before. Due to the ongoing concern over the coronavirus attendance at the June 6 celebration was restricted.
Absent too were others to be ordained to the transitional di... Read More
June 11, 2020
Father Reichardt chose an antique chalice for his ordination.
“I found a French antique dealer through a mutual friend who specializes in high quality antique church (and)sacred items. We just started emailing and he had a slew of chalices. I love t... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 11, 2020
DIOCESE—“This year in celebration of our 45th year of the annual appeal we thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the generosity of the parishioners that have been so dedicated to supporting the appeal and the ministries it supports,” says Denise Dobrowols... Read More
June 11, 2020
Parishes across the Diocese of Rockford are working to accommodate more parishioners.
All parishes of the diocese have now been certified to open for 30% of building capacity as long as social distancing is maintained.
... Read More
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
June 4, 2020
DIOCESE— Bishop David Malloy issued a letter June 1 to diocesan pastors authorizing them to move to the second phase of reopening for public Mass celebrations beginning with Masses on June 6-7.
The second phase allows for more people at Masses. ... Read More
A Little Delayed But Much Needed
Annual Appeal Under Way by Mail
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 4, 2020
DIOCESE—The original date for the Diocesan Annual Appeal was more than a month ago, but the pandemic and its various hardships caused the Office of Charitable Giving to rethink its timing. (See “Annual Appeal Delayed” in the May 22 issue of The Observer.)
&nb... Read More
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
June 4, 2020
SOUTH BELOIT—After offering Catholic elementary education in the northern most part of the Rockford Diocese for the last 63 years, St. Peter Parish School here will close.
The news was announced in a letter released to families May 20 by St. Peter p... Read More
By Margarita Mendoza, El Observador Editor
June 4, 2020
With different platforms and services such as Facebook, Google Meet, or Formed, religious education continued in parishes from Algonquin, to East Dubuque in the Rockford Diocese after the Illinois governor ordered people to stay at home as much as possible.
... Read More
June 4, 2020
AURORA—The Dominican Literacy Center here is conducting an annual Sponsor-a-Student fundraiser.
Sister Kathleen Ryan, OP, center director, said the public is invited to support fall students by donating funds for books and materials.
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 4, 2020
DIXON—Seminarian James Linkenheld has been living at the North American College and studying at the Gregorian University in Rome for three years. He is on track to be ordained a transitional deacon later this year in Rome.
Such a setting provides op... Read More
Parishes Slowly Reopening for Masses
Phase 1 Offers Transition Time
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 4, 2020
DIOCESE—It has taken lots of work by the diocese and by parishes to design and to meet requirements to safely celebrate Mass with parishioners, and all that preparation now is beginning to bear fruit.
Volunteers have been trained in more than 70 par... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
June 4, 2020
GENEVA—The current St. Peter Church here was built in 1993. One year later, the roof began to leak, says Father Jonathan Bakkelund, pastor.
A variety of efforts to patch the leaks over those 25 years were unsuccessful, he says. Sometimes all they di... Read More
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
June 4, 2020
DIOCESE—Bishop David Malloy joined bishops around the country in decrying the racism and violence that played a part in the death of George Floyd.
Floyd was an unarmed black man pinned down by a police officer kneeling on his neck in Minneapolis May... Read More
June 4, 2020
DIOCESE—The Northern Illinois Food bank serves several of the Rockford Diocese’s 11 counties. Remaining scheduled June food deliveries in the diocese are:
Boone
June 13: 10-11:30 a.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 1300... Read More
Diocese, State Plan to Resume Mass
Diocese of Rockford part of statewide measures to return to safe worship
May 21, 2020
ROCKFORD—In a letter written May 13 to the priests and the Catholic faithful, Bishop David Malloy announced the plan to bring the public back to Mass in church.
Bishop Malloy, along with the bishops of the Chicago Province, developed a multi-p... Read More
May 21, 2020
DIOCESE—An executive summary and the plan to reopen the Rockford Diocese for Masses, sacraments and other worship were released May 13. This summary includes guiding priciples and plan basics for the entire Chicago Province.
Executive summar... Read More
DeKalb Distillery Switches To Making Hand Sanitizer
Family company adjusts its business during pandemic
By Louise Brass, Observer Correspondent
May 14, 2020
DEKALB—Locating hand sanitizer during the coronavirus pandemic is a problem that is becoming easier to overcome thanks to the efforts of Whiskey Acres Distillery Co., which has switched the focus of its operations to meet the need.
Jamie Walter, pre... Read More
Aurora Catholic Loses Fight to COVID
Coronavirus sadly completes vows for couple and strengthens family faith
By Margarita Mendoza, El Observador Editor
May 7, 2020
AURORA—“In sickness, in health and until separated in death ... .”
Sadly, Pedro Rodriguez and Martha Martinez fulfilled this part of the promises they made March 25, 39 years ago because of the coronavirus. Read More
Diocesan Ministries Keep On Keeping On
Bishop Malloy joins St. Elizabeth volunteers to distribute food to those who need it in Rockford
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
April 30, 2020
Serving those most in need has never been more important than in this time of shuttered businesses, churches and gathering places.
St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center in southwest Rockford has remained active but in a new way. And during the sta... Read More
By Lynne Conner, Observer Correspondent
April 30, 2020
DIOCESE—As priests and parishes in the Rockford Diocese adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that the stay at home directive has also hit most ministries.
Across the diocese, retreats, workshops, seminars and other disciples... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
April 30, 2020
ROCKFORD—Stuffed bunnies started a parish ministry that now is helping some area workers avoid the coronavirus.
A little more than 10 years ago Pam Moore, a parishioner at St. Rita in Rockford, received a donation of kits to make toy bunnies.
... Read MoreMarch 19, 2020
Set the tone
Use a calm, reassuring voice. This will help your children see how you are trying to cope and will help them do the same. They learn best from watching how you handle situations.
Share accurate info... Read More
In the Habit
Habits ‘Should Mark Us’
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
September 12, 2019
Brother Theodore Haggerty, OSB, is one of the younger monks at Marmion Abbey, scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood next year.
He and Benedictine Father Joel Rippinger talk about the “great witness value” of their habits.
&... Read More
August 15, 2019
A retreat is an intentional time away from your daily life.
It can make room for you to experience a new awareness of the presence of God. For generations, people have gone on spiritual retreats to encounter God and experience spiritual renewal.
August 15, 2019
Whether done at home or elsewhere, personal retreats can be helpful and spiritually refreshing.
Get away from your usual surroundings if possible. A change of scene most often results in a change of mind-set. Do this even if you live alone. For a sh... Read More
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
August 8, 2019
ROCKFORD—The paint is dry, the floors and windows are squeaky clean, the staff is anxious and the doors are ready to open wide for students at All Saints Catholic Academy on Aug. 28.
Head of Schools, Renee Payne said Aug. 1 that supplies and equipme... Read More
August 8, 2019
Name: All Saints Catholic Academy
First day: Aug. 28, 2019
History: ASCA is located at 409 N. First Street on the campus of St. James Parish, the first Catholic Church... Read More
By Lynne Conner, Observer Correspondent
May 2, 2019
ROCKFORD—Those “who began a good work” in the life of Boylan Central Catholic High School alumnae, Amanda Clement, are sharing in the performer’s success as Clement made a visit to her alma mater April 29.
She spoke to choir ... Read More
By Louise Brass, Observer Correspondent
April 11, 2019
MAYTOWN—St. Patrick would be proud! The people of the church named for him in Maytown have kept faith with the founding families and maintained the church building through thick and thin for 100 years.
Although the population in the area has thinned... Read More
By Louise Brass, Observer Correspondent
April 11, 2019
MAYTOWN—The roots of St. Patrick Parish in Maytown go back almost 180 years, and the founding families planted those roots deep.
This parish was started in 1840, before the Civil War. The first Mass was said in the home of William Dolan, just a few ... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
April 4, 2019
SPRINGFIELD—It was a busy day March 20 at the State Capitol as an estimated 4,000 pro-life advocates from around Illinois gathered to lobby their elected officials and participate in an afternoon rally against bills that are moving through the House and Senate that would radically dere... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
March 7, 2019
“Katie” has an inner joy that sparkles out, particularly when she talks about God.
Her deep happiness, rooted in God’s mercy, is hard won. Now in her mid-50s, Katie continues to recover from her two abortions, the first done when she was... Read More
March 7, 2019
DIOCESE—Bishop David Malloy asked that his Feb. 28 letter about abortion laws in Illinois be read at all weekend Masses on March 2 and 3. The text of the letter follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
March 7, 2019
Abortions laws are in flux in the United States, ranging from a New York law that allows abortion up to delivery to a Missouri law that bans abortion when the heartbeat of an unborn child can be detected.
Catholic News Service reports new abortion legisla... Read More
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
February 28, 2019
ROCKFORD—“People want to talk with us because we have a wife (and maybe) children,” said Deacon Ignacio Felix.
Deacon Thomas Petit agreed. “People see us (as someone who) has walked in their shoes,” he said. “They think... Read More
February 21, 2019
DIOCESE—On Feb. 13, two new abortion bills were introduced in the Illinois General Assembly.
They are House Bill (HB) 2467: Parent Notice Abortion- Repeal, and HB 2495: The Reproductive Health Act.
“T... Read More
February 21, 2019
DIOCESE—A vote is expected on Feb. 25 in the U.S. Senate on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311/H.R 962).
If passed, it would require health care providers to care for an abortion survivor as they would any newborn.
... Read MoreNovember 15, 2018
ROCKFORD—The Diocese of Rockford on Nov. 14, released a list of those priests, deacons, and religious against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.
The list includes the names of six diocesan priests, one perm... Read More
November 15, 2018
“With all my heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. In my heart I treasure your promise that I may not sin against you.” (Ps 119:10-11)
In January 2004, the Diocese of Rockford published a four-page report to th... Read More
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