ROCKFORD—Three men were ordained to the diocesan priesthood in front of a packed-full Cathedral of St. Peter on Saturday, June 6. The diocese now faces a three year “drought” before its next priesthood ordination in 2030. But on a new, positive note, the diocesan vocations office has received over 780 responses from parishioners across the […]

WINNEBAGO—Bishop David Malloy reflected on the sacrifices of service members and offered prayers for peace in war-torn parts of the world at the annual Memorial Day Mass held at Calvary Cemetery. “As we gather for Mass today, we pray in this deepest and most solemn way…for those who have sacrificed their lives to give us […]

FREEPORT—After receiving a petition from Freeport area pastors, scores of impassioned letters and a final recommendation from a special task force charged with examining demographics, enrollment and financial status, Bishop David Malloy accepted the final recommendation to close Aquin Catholic Academy. School staff were informed of the decision on May 22 and will be assisted […]

ROCKFORD—Several different ethnic groups joined together for Pentecost Mass on May 24 at St. James Church here. The multicultural celebration included parishioners from Burma, Tanzania, Mexico, India, Ukraine and Poland who presented parts of the Mass in their native languages. The multicultural Masses are held five times a year on the Church feast days of […]

Priests from three religious orders new to the Rockford Diocese have been assigned with permission from their religious superiors, to work and serve here. Heralds of the Good News Fathers Peddineni Arogyaswamy and Maddala Jayanthi Babu, who will be serving at St. Michael Parish and St. Mary in Galena and Holy Trinity in Scales Mound, […]

HANOVER—St. John the Evangelist parishioners joined Bishop David Malloy, pastor Father Joachim Tyrtania, native son Congregation of Holy Cross Father Stephen Wilbricht, and retired Father Howard Barch and Canon Stanislaw Kos to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hanover parish. As he began the Mass, Bishop Malloy noted “three privileges” of the day beginning with […]

Official Appointments The Rev. John R. Evans, Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Dixon — to also be Vicar Forane of the Sterling Deanery, effective June 22, 2026. The Rev. James R. Keenan — to be Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Savanna, and SS. John and Catherine Parish, Mount Carroll, effective June 22, 2026. […]

By FATHER JACK REICHARDT, Director of Vocations Office The Observer staff, The Observer As we at The Observer attend ordinations, parish missions and Masses at parishes hosting seminarians, we hear a variety of questions from supportive family members and parishioners. “How did you know you wanted to be a priest? How many years will you […]