DIXON—Bishop David Malloy spent part of Be Reconciled Day back in jail — at the Dixon Correctional Center — March 25.

While people around the 11-county Diocese of Rockford visited confessionals from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Bishop Malloy celebrated Mass and heard confessions for inmates at the Dixon Correctional Center for the second year on Be Reconciled day.

Like last year, the bishop asked for permission to celebrate the sacraments for any inmates wishing to participate.  In 2014, about 40 or so inmates attended and several confessed their sins to the bishop, some for the first time in many years.

As several inmates have expressed at other locations, the Dixon Correctional Center men appreciated the opportunity to meet Bishop Malloy and receive the sacraments and to know they had not been forgotten by God or the outside world.

More coverage of this second visit will be featured in the April  3 issue of The Observer.