DIOCESE—Catechetical Sunday, Sept. 18, is a day to honor teachers of the faith. This year’s theme is “This is my body given for you.”

 

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 given 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. 17-18.

 

Long-term catechists (and years of service)

 

AMBOY -- St. Patrick: Bonita Willis 10, Sue Ely 15, Amanda Powers 25

 

AURORA --
St. Nicholas: Esmeralda Bustos 10, Diana Hernandez 10, Juan Torres 10, Rosario Ramirez 10, Andres Giron 10, Ronaldo Tovar 10, Faviola Zavaleta 10, Alma Ramirez 10, Olga Martel 10, Siria Gonzalez 15, Noelia Ruiz 15, Guadalupe Esparza 15, Olga Cervantes 20, Alfredo Ruiz 20

 

St. Rita of Cascia: Araceli Jimenez 10, Candi Szczepanik 15, Emma Solis 15, Emilio Solis 15, Heremilinda Garcia 20, Jerry Grimes 25

 

BELVIDERE -- St. James: Diane Kereszturi 10, Samuel Zummo 10, Joanie Zummo 10, Pamela Barr 30

 

CARPENTERSVILLE -- St. Monica: Virginia Ayala 10, Aida Ceja 10, Nora Gonzalez 10, Isabel Jaquez 10, Oralia  Quiroga 10, Maria Teresa Sosa 10, Marisela Ramos 20

 

DEKALB -- St. Mary: Josefina Perea 10, Noemi Hernandez 10, Paulina Morales 10, Maria Del Rosario Estebes Hernandez 10, Jesus Blanco 10, Mauricio Perea 10, Susana Castorena 10

 

ELGIN -- St. Mary: Victor Pierce 25, Marjorie J. Harris 45

 

GENEVA -- St. Peter: Nikki Lutzow 10

 

HAMPSHIRE -- St. Charles Borromeo: Lori DeDina 10, Cassie Dumoulin 10, Christopher Gisseler 10, Theresa Gisseler 10, Deacon Jerry Ryndak 10, Linda Ryndak 10, Donald White 10, Leonard Oleferchik 15, Kimberly Alberth 20

 

HUNTLEY -- St. Mary: Arnold Rutkowski 15

 

MCHENRY -- Holy Apostles: Jason Stanes 10

 

ROCKFORD -- Holy Family: Haley Glietz-Held 10, Christine Cooper 25, Mary Lego 30

 

SOMONAUK -- St. John the Baptist: Elizabeth Westbrook 20

 

ST. CHARLES -- St. John Neumann: Chris Jenson 10, Cathy Edgar 10, Ann Hyler 15, Celeste Scimo 20, Michaela Hull 10

 

WOODSTOCK -- St. Mary: Rosa Bernal Cruz 10, Mary Bjork 20, Kathy Stanger 40

 

Bishop O’Neill Award

 

ALGONQUIN -- St. Margaret Mary: Emmy Lou Franco

 

AMBOY -- St. Patrick: Amanda Powers, Sue Ely, Bonita Willis

 

AURORA -- St. Nicholas: Aleyda Santillan, Teresa Ramos, Emma Gutierrez

St. Rita of Cascia: Melissa Pasillas, Nicole Pasillas, Eileen Pasillas, Nathaly Quintana, Isabel Resendiz, Eleanna Resendiz

 

DEKALB -- St. Mary: Josefina Perea, Mauricio Ortega, Noemi Hernandez, Paulina Morales, Mary Kay Sullivan, Cheryl Wieczorek

 

GENEVA -- St. Peter: Lauren Dunne, Kelly Fisher, Christi Mondi

 

HAMPSHIRE -- St. Charles Borromeo: Deacon James Ward

 

HUNTLEY -- St. Mary: James Quicho

 

JOHNSBURG -- St. John the Baptist: Mariann Johnston

 

MCHENRY -- Holy Apostles: Nancy Wegworth, Michelle Grande

 

ROCKFORD -- Holy Family: Magi Nafranowicz

 

SAVANNA -- St. John the Baptist: Angela Kamper

 

STERLING -- St. Mary: Gabriel Ocampo

 

WOODSTOCK -- St. Mary: Nate Selof, Mary Kiesling, Jose Luis Lugo, Javier Hernandez, Veronica Dias