Love Focus of Diocesan Appeal
Kick-off Weekend April 28-29
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
April 26, 2018
DIOCESE—“Love One Another” is this year’s theme for the 2018 Rockford Diocese Annual Appeal.
Ministries supported by the Diocesan Appeal include Catholic education provided through Catholic schools, religious education programs and adult formation. That includes the diocesan-wide Ministry Formation Program, which has educated and certified 1,380 lay men and women over the years to serve in their parishes with greater effectiveness.
Education of seminarians is essential to the future of our diocese; that education and formation is made possible by this appeal. Classes of permanent diaconate candidates also are taught and formed through a multi-year program provided at the diocesan level.
Laity of all ages benefit from programs offered through diocesan offices such as marriage preparation provided by the Life and Family Evangelization Office, which also oversees the annual Youth Summit for young people in the diocese.
College campus ministry receives funding from the diocese along with smaller ministries such as the Deaf Apostolate. The diocese also helps support SPRED (Special Religious Development) ministries in a growing number of parishes.
Efforts to share the love of Jesus with others are found in significant, hands-on ministries provided by the diocesan Catholic Charities Office, which serves everyday people as well as those who need extra assistance. From the Long Term Care Ombudsman Office to Adolescent Outreach to Refugee Resettlement and more, Catholic Charities assists our neighbors in our pews and in our neighborhoods.
English and Spanish videos about the diocesan appeal will be shown at parishes the weekend of April 28-29. It will highlight some of the work of the Diocese of Rockford that supports its parishes and communities. Those featured include Bishop of Rockford David Malloy, Father Richard Rosinski of Elgin in English and Father William Vallejo of Rockford in Spanish, Ministry Formation graduate Carla Odahowski, and SPRED program advocate Karen Bradshaw-Zagorski.
“With your help, the Rockford Diocese can continue to share the love of (Jesus’) Sacred Heart,” says Bishop Malloy in his appeal letter, “and shine His light into the world.”