Catechists Lauded for Being ‘Witnesses for Jesus’
September 13, 2018
DIOCESE—Catechetical Sunday is a day to honor teachers of the faith. This year’s theme is “Enlisting Witnesses for Jesus Christ.”
In the Rockford Diocese, long-term awards will be given to catechists who are being honored for a milestone year of service.
Recipients of the Bishop O’Neill Award in Catechetics are faithful Catholics who deserve recognition for outstanding service, normally rendered over a considerable period of time.
It is not necessary that a parish or school have award recipients every year. Persons receive the Bishop O’Neill award only once.
The following catechists will be honored at parishes, most during the weekend of Sept. 15-16.
Long Term Catechist Awards
Algonquin:
St. Margaret Mary: Bob Armstrong, 10
Aurora:
Annunciation BVM: Deacon Michael Giblin, 25; Mary Glosson, 15; Deborah Jenicek, 10; Richard Jenicek, 10;
St. Nicholas: Maria Almanza, 10; Veronica Alvarez, 15; Olga Cervantes, 15; Paty Gomez, 10; Siria Gonzalez, 10; Lucila Gudino, 10; Gerardo Herrera, 10; Filemon Herrera, 15; Victor Mancilla, 15; Antelmo Rojas, 15; Sara Rojas, 15; Noelia Ruiz, 10; Alfredo Ruiz, 15
St. Rita of Cascia: Pedro Andrade, 10; Maria Martinez, 10; Martha Rodriguez, 10; Candi Szczepanik, 10
St. Therese of Jesus: Maria Bello, 10; Rosemarie Montanez, 25; Noemi Reyna, 30; Deacon Bruce Watermann, 35
Batavia
Holy Cross: Lenore McArdle, 10
Belvidere
St. James: Pamela Barr, 25; Mary Luetkenhaus, 40
Carpentersville
St. Monica: Joan Brislem, 25; Catalina Escontrias, 10; Rosa Hernandez, 10; Patricia Power, 45; Oralia Quiroga, 10; Maricela Ramos, 15; Patricia Sanchez de Castillo, 15; Maria Ana Servin, 20; Graciela Tenorio, 15; Fany Tinajero, 10
DeKalb
St. Mary: Mary Beth Jilek, 20
Elgin
St. Mary: Marjorie Harris, 40; Charles Summers, 25; Phyllis Summers, 25
Freeport
St. Mary and St. Joseph: Mary Loring, 15
Lena
St. Joseph: Teresa Brown, 5*; Dan Brown, 5*; Kim Goebel, 5*; Amy Kempel, 5*; Louise Workinger, 5*
Hampshire
St. Charles Borromeo: Joseph Hahn, 25; Katherine Nelson, 10
Huntley
St. Mary: Pamela Roxworth, 10; John Ryan, 40
Sandwich
St. Paul the Apostle: Mark Oropeza, 10; Joanna Sondgeroth, 30
Warren
St. Ann: Jan Bussan, 40; Mary Hartzell, 35; Connie Hill, 30; Jean Doersam, 25; Lois Lenzen, 20; Nancy Petsche, 20; Kam Stake, 20; Teri Williams, 10; Sara Janecke, 10; John Leuenberger, 10
West Dundee
St. Catherine of Siena: Judy Baj-ko, 10; Jessica Cranston, 10
Woodstock
Resurrection: Anne Whitney-Tubridy, 16; Nancy Neumeister, 24
St. Mary: Yesenia Flores, 10; Mel Gaytan, 10; Diane Johnston, 15; Adalia Popoca, 25
Bishop O’Neill Awards
Amboy
St. Patrick: Tim O’Laughlin
Aurora
Annunciation BVM: Mary Walton, Nichole Warner
St. Nicholas: Norma Avila, Esmeralda Bustos, Columba Nino
St. Peter: Navor and Diana Alanis, Adelfa Ebel
St. Therese of Jesus: Jerber Mendoza, Marisol Stinson
Batavia
Holy Cross: Abigail McLoughlin, Angela Parker
Carpentersville
St. Monica: Virginia Ayala
Cary
SS. Peter and Paul: Robert and Linda Kunz, Thomas Sklena
DeKalb
Christ the Teacher: Kathy Love, Elizabeth Botts
St. Mary: Robert Taylor, Jim Ball, Deacon Steve Puscas
Elgin
St. Laurence: Guadalupe Monsi-vais, Melanie Marcordes
Freeport
St. Mary/St. Joseph: Heather Dailey, Mary Loring, Ieasha Munda
Galena
St. Mary and St. Michael: John Scott, Jr.
Hampshire
St. Charles Borromeo: Alexandra Dumoulin
Huntley
St. Mary: Keith and Sandra Larkin
Lena
St. Joseph: Deborah Heim
North Aurora
Blessed Sacrament: Sara Casher, Jennine Bourge, Ken McLaughlin
Rockford
St. Rita: Patrick Owens, Jill Phillips
St. Charles
St. Patrick: Christine Glassmeyer, Ellyn Sempsrott, Joan VanDyck, Ann Marie Burke, Angela Horner
Sandwich
St. Paul the Apostle: Mark Oropeza
Sterling
Sacred Heart: Myles Newberry
Sugar Grove
St. Katharine Drexel: Megan Jones, Katie Kempski
West Dundee
St. Catherine of Siena: Marcy Dobush, Suzy Weber
Woodstock
Resurrection: Anne Whitney-Tubridy
St. Mary: Theresa Emricson, Gerald Smith, Diane Johnston, Mel Gaytan, Yesenia Flores, Rosa Bernal, Lori Thomas
Source: Office of Faith Formation