By Penny Wiegert, Editor
ROCKFORD—Thirty-two years ago, the Rockford Deanery Council of Catholic Women decided to begin recognizing exceptional parish women for their service and contributions to the faith.
That tradition continued with the Women of Inspiration Mass and luncheon held Oct. 18 at Holy Family Parish, here.
The Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist was highlighted in the Gospel on the beautiful fall morning that gathered 16 parishes and at least that many priests to pray and give thanks for their honorees and their lengthy list of contributions.
In his homily, Bishop David Malloy likened the women of the Church, and specifically the honorees, to being collaborators to the faith, much like Luke was a collaborator of St. Paul.
“Paul had a calling and a special task to bring Christ to the world, but he deeply wanted and needed collaborators. He wanted a collaborator for his work, and we might say he wanted it for his own soul to have that comfort, that support and that share in the faith,” the bishop began.
Paul got that help from Luke, the bishop said, and went on to say that not only was St. Luke an evangelizer, but he knew others who collaborated to carry out Paul’s mission and “recognized the role of women in the faith and in following Jesus.”
“So, our honoring the women of inspiration has a great deal that we can learn from and connect with on this feast of St. Luke. As pastors, my brothers here, we know that we have been given a special task in that we answer ourselves to God … a task about living the faith and preaching the faith and about helping and serving the sheep — the faithful. But we are profoundly aware, like Paul, that we need the help that will convey that faith and do it in a way that becomes a part of our lives.
“For that reason how grateful we are to be able to celebrate the Catholic women who take on so many roles as collaborators. Luke’s gifts and works were put in the service of Paul but also stood on their own. This is a characteristic of women of faith. We celebrate women this morning who have a wide range of gifts, of interests, of
circumstances in their lives, that have come together in faith to inspire us” This “is part of the Church’s life of faith [from] the very beginning until the Lord comes again,” he said.
Immediately after the Mass the Mistress of Ceremonies for the RDCCW, Miechelle Terranova, recognized the many contributions of the recently deceased Father Kenneth Stachyra in his role as spiritual advisor to the deanery’s council of women. President of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Josie Whaley then addressed and gave thanks to the women and diocese in Spanish. Then each of the honorees were called forward during a tribute statement from her parish and given a special plaque presented by Bishop Malloy.
After the traditional group photo, the honorees and guests assembled in St. Gabriel Hall for a catered luncheon.
Msgr. Thomas Dzielak, spiritual advisor of the Diocesan CCW, provided the benediction for the event.
Women honored from the parishes of the Rockford Deanery are listed in the box at the bottom of the page.
The 2025 Rockford Deanery Catholic Women of Inspiration
BELVIDERE
St. James: Mary Peterson
BYRON
St. Mary: Stephanie Schermerhorn
DURAND/IRISH GROVE
St. Mary/St. Patrick: Renae Pinter
LOVES PARK
St. Bridget: Nancy Flanagan
PECATONICA
St. Mary: Inga Danko
ROCKFORD
Cathedral of St. Peter: Mary Allen
Holy Family: Christine Cooper
St. Peter and Paul: Petrinella Marie Sewell
St. Anthony of Padua: Marva Tarara
St. Bernadette: Julie Hindenburg
St. Edward: Bonita Stahl
St. James: Anna Key
St. Patrick: Marcela Andres
St. Rita: Mary Knutson
ROSCOE
Church of the Holy Spirit: Denise Van Vleck
SOUTH BELOIT
St. Peter: Jeanne Berner
