In the Rockford Diocese, long-term awards will be given to catechists who are being honored for a milestone year of service.

 

Recipients of the Bishop O’Neill Award in Catechetics are faithful Catholics who deserve recognition for outstanding service, normally rendered over a considerable period of time. 

 

Prayer for Catechists Loving Father, we pray today for our catechists. We thank you for their gift of ministry in your Church. Grant them your wisdom that they may grow in the understanding and teaching of your Word. Grant them also your love that they may be fruitful heralds of your Word and lead others to love you. Pour forth your Holy Spirit upon them to grant them wisdom about what is important; knowledge of the truths of faith; understanding of their meaning; right judgement about how to apply them in life; courage to persevere even in the face of adversity; reverence before all that is sacred and holy; and that loving zeal which leads others to a transforming encounter with your Son. We pray this through Christ, our Lord.  Amen. Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

It is not necessary that a parish or school have award recipients every year. Persons receive the Bishop O’Neill award only once. 

 

The following catechists will be honored at parishes, most during the weekend of Sept. 18-19.

 

Long-term Catechists (and years of service) 

Algonquin: St. Margaret Mary: Gene Barish 15, Sue Jay 15

Aurora: 

     Sacred Heart: Maria Garcia 15, Eladio Gonzalez 20

     St. Mary: Julia Galvan 40

     St. Nicholas: Diana Hernandez 10, Olga Martel 10, Antonio Piedra 10, Maria Rosales 15

     St. Rita of Cascia: Judith Alvarez 10

Batavia: Holy Cross: Edward Crockett 10

Carpentersville: St. Monica: Socorro Becerra 15

East Dubuque: St. Mary: Kathy Williams 20

Elburn: St. Gall: Darlene Biggs 40

Geneva: St. Peter: Terri Frieders 10, Matthew Reed 15; Lisa Hass 20; Mary Kay Gould 35

Hampshire: St. Charles Borromeo: Rebecca Dumoulin 10, Susan Wiland 10, Jan Olson 15

Harvard: St. Joseph: Abigail Estrada 10, Karla Mejia 10, María Ávila 15, Teresa Ortíz Mondragón 15

Huntley: St. Mary: Michael Sitko 15

Rockford: St. Patrick: Rotha Waldsmith 18

Somonauk: St. John the Baptist: Kristine Taylor 10, Beth Westbrook 15, Karen Taylor 20,

Sugar Grove: St. Katharine Drexel: Matt Striedl 10

 

Bishop O’Neill Award

Algonquin: St. Margaret Mary: Helen Jost, Lisa Parrish, Mary Ann Watt

Aurora: 

     Holy Angels: Patricia Heneghan, Leticia Torres

     Sacred Heart: Irma Almaraz, Griselda Hernandez, Ruth Morales

     St. Mary: Julia Galvan

     St. Nicholas: Victor Mancilla, Marilou Mancilla, Ronaldo Tovar

     St. Peter: Jennifer Gruhlke, Judy Treend

Carpentersville: St. Monica: Aida Ceja, Fany Tinajero

East Dubuque: St. Mary: Deacon Tony Keppler, Deacon Doug Kremer

Geneva: St. Peter: Christie Graham, Jamie Gardner-Haycox, Ken Japlon, Nikki Lutzow 

Hampshire: St. Charles Borromeo: Christopher Gisseler, Theresa Gisseler

Harvard: St. Joseph: Abel Martinez, Sandra Meza, Teresa Ortíz Mondragón

Huntley: St. Mary: Vicki Kubik, Sarah Tunzi

Lena: St. Joseph: Kim Goebel, Amy Kempel

McHenry: 

     Holy Apostles: Amber Emmert, Sabrina Krepel, Maria Macias

     St. Patrick: Robert Foster

Somonauk: St. John the Baptist: Karen Taylor

Sugar Grove: St. Katharine Drexel: Jennifer Contreras, Joseph Riddle, Nicholette Riddle

Sycamore: St. Mary: Kim Coovert