DIOCESE—Catechists are being honored cross the Diocese of Rockford by parishes and schools for outstanding service and longevity.

The Bishop O’Neill Award is given to recipients only once.  Recipients should be faithful Catholics who deserve recognition for outstanding service.

The award, named for the late Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill is given in recognition of outstanding service in the catechetical and religious education ministry of the parish. That service usually has been given over a considerable period of time. Husbands and wives who serve as a team are generally honored together.

While the intention to honor deserving persons remains, it is not necessary that a parish or school have award recipients each and every year.

Long-term catechists are honored for a “milestone” number of years of service in religious education at their parish.

Information about this year’s honorees (below) was provided by the Department of Educational Services, which administers the awards.

Bishop O’Neill Awards
Algonquin: St. Margaret Mary: Denise Benner, Gene Barish
Amboy: St. Patrick: Jerome and Teresa Wells, Judy Marsili, Kenneth Burkhardt
Aurora: St. Therese of Jesus: Cindy Favela
Batavia: Holy Cross: Cynthia Simmonds, Mary Ann Gruwell
Byron: St. Mary: Jennifer Wicklein, Ron Harvey, Jenny Dallio
Carpentersville: St. Monica: Patricia Canchola, Doug Eschbach
Cary: SS. Peter and Paul: Byron Stone, Patricia Corn
Elgin:
St. Joseph: Lenora Wilkin, Cynthia Schuster
St. Thomas More: Indina Merza, Melissa Klawinski, Nancy Weishaar
Geneva: St. Peter: Deborah Davison, Faust Saponara, Jeanne Danos
Huntley: St. Mary: Mary Walz, Sylvia Rimbergas
Johnsburg: St. John the Baptist: Mary Lou Wilbois, Gina Rooney, Steve Rooney
Loves Park: St. Bridget: Nicole Johnson, Mary Peterson, Mary Ryan
Maple Park: St. Mary of the Assumption: Jim Biggs, Elissa McKnight, Linda Diehl
McHenry:
Church of Holy Apostles: Nancy Pieroni, Kelly Jensen, Denice Schaefer-Roth
St. Mary: Kathleen Berry, Kathleen Etten
Morrison
St. Mary: Melissa Zinke
Mt. Carroll
SS. John and Catherine: Julie Bickelhaupt
Oregon: St. Mary: Laryssa Kramer, Kerrie Peterson, Louise Hall
Rockford:
Cathedral of St. Peter: Kathy Toldo, Rita Creger
Holy Family: Haley Gleitz-Helt
St. Anthony of Padua: Aubrey Capriola, Johnny Fandel
St. Bernadette: Margie Powers, Elizabeth Heitkamp, Gay Rotello
St. Rita: Carol Smith, Mike VanDaele
Sandwich: St. Paul: Edwina Vincent, Mary Weinhold
St. Charles: St. John Neumann: Elizabeth Brazda, Cynthia Ciardullo
Sugar Grove: St. Katharine Drexel: Jim Pullano, Matt and Sue Stiedle, Patrick Mitchell
West Dundee: St. Catherine of Siena: Kathy Clark, Kate Madigan, Vera Heneghan
Woodstock:
Resurrection: Karen Munter, Valerie Birchof    
St. Mary: Gabriela Vilchis, Juan Vazquez, Stephanie Jennings

Long Term Catechist Awards
Algonquin: St. Margaret Mary: 20 years — Pat Hammersmith; 15 years — Mary Crespo; 10 years — Gene Barish, Sue Jay
Amboy: St. Patrick: 25 years — Timothy O’laughlin, Teresa Wells, Jerome Wells; 10 years — Connie Bontz, Sue Ely, Judy Marsili, Deacon Kevin Prunty
Aurora
St. Peter: 30 years — Mary Kay Gould; 15 years — Lisa Hass, Victoria Julitz, Kenyo Marschitz, Kathleen Rizzo; 10 years — Kelly Guzniczak, Sibylla Ottomanelli, Matthew Reed
St. Therese of Jesus: 15 years — Ivette Wesley
Batavia: Holy Cross: 10 years — Ellen Galizia, Amy Gorski, Robin Kippley, Gregory Norris, Jennifer Pyle
Carpentersville: St. Monica: 30 years — Rose Geijer, Mary Helin; 10 years — Petra Aguilera, Socorro Becerra, Patricia Canchola, Maria Cedeno, Olga Pretelt, Maria Rosariolopez, Alma Vega, Maria Zavala
Dixon: St. Patrick Parish/St. Mary School: 25 years — Nancy Dunphy, Teresa Gingrich; 20 years — Cassie Burgess, Joan Miller
Durand/Irish Grove: St. Mary/St. Patrick: 10 years — Lisa Flynn, Laura McCourtney, Kathy Sutherland
Elgin:
St. Joseph: 35 years — Lenona Wilkins; 20 years — Cynthia Schuster; 15 years — Jerry Wagner; 10 years  — Linda Gill, Terry Von Ahnen
St. Thomas More: 20 years — Ernesto Mendoza; 15 years — Chet Arciuch, Emma Rafael, Sue Ward; 10 years — Jennifer Garza, Lynn Harper, Nancy Weishaar
Hampshire : St. Charles: 10 years — Catherine McMillan, Janice Olson
Johnsburg: St. John the Baptist: 25 years — Mary Wilbois; 20 years — Pam Gavra; 10 years — Mariann Johnston
Loves Park: St. Bridget: 35 years — Pam Parnello
Maple Park: St. Mary of the Assumption: 20 years — Linda Diehl; 15 years — Jim Biggs; 10 years — Elissa Mcknight
Rockford
Holy Family: 18 years — Josetta Burchardt
St. Rita: 25 years — Susan Smetana; 10 years — Dawn Wrobel
Sandwich: St. Paul the Apostle: 40 years — Donna Botts; 10 years — Bob Asleson, Theresa Jourdan
Stockton: Holy Cross: 15 years — Debbie Nobis
West Dundee: St. Catherine: 15 years — Vicki Mayer