ROCKFORD—A colorful spiritual bouquet of promised prayers was presented to Bishop David Malloy at the biennial Bishop’s Luncheon sponsored by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women on April 17.

The event, held this year at Giovanni’s Restaurant, brought about 85 men and women together from across the diocese “to honor, appreciate and love” the bishop said Josie Whaley, diocesan president, in her welcoming remarks. The event also welcomed Bishop Emeritus Thomas G. Doran and past and present officers from the Chicago Archdiocese and Joliet Diocese.

Bishop Malloy led the opening prayers and also provided a brief talk after the meal. He thanked the RDCCW for their prayers and noted three “things going on” for their ongoing prayers.

He spoke first about the efforts to bring Mass to prisoners, expressing his gratitude to the priests who have been celebrating Mass at the prisons. Mentioning his own efforts to provide Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation to inmates at the Winnebago County

Jail and the Dixon Correctional Center on or near holidays, the bishop noted that people have expressed happiness at seeing that the Church is serving at prisons. “That’s a part of what we do,” he said.

In response to the efforts by Bishop Malloy and several priests, the women of the RDCCW already have purchased new missalettes for the Dixon facility Masses. They took up a collection at the luncheon to provide Catholic items including rosaries to other jail facilities as well. Bishop Malloy asked them to pray for the effort also.

He then turned to the recent tornado in parts of Rochelle and in Fairdale, “to ask again for your prayers,” he said. “It’s going to be a lengthy clean-up.” The diocese, he said, is working through Catholic Charities to assist those who suffered significant losses. Past tornado experience in Catholic Charities in Joliet, he added, has shown that diocesan assistance will likely be most helpful in another week or two after the first flood of help subsides. Noting the second collection in parishes and help coming from the Knights of Columbus and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bishop Malloy asked for “continuing prayers” for victims of the storm.

And finally, the bishop asked for ongoing prayers for the Be Reconciled initiative and those who participated. Some 9,300 people took advantage of the sacrament last year, and informal reports from priests this year, he said, suggest that the numbers this year “were at least equal” to the 2014 experience.

He mentioned an anonymous letter he had received about a “good man” who had been faithful to his Catholic faith but who hadn’t been to confession for about 50 years. The man participated in Be Reconciled day because he felt invited, the letter said. Such “small, private” moments, Bishop Malloy said, “open us to the wideness of God’s mercy.”

“I’m very grateful to know of your prayers,” he told those gathered. “I’m very grateful for all you do.”
Members of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women come from women’s groups in parishes throughout the Diocese of Rockford.