Amid January Cold, I Prefer Living Stones
By Penny Wiegert
January may be a month known for cold temperatures and unpredictable weather in this diocese. But it is a month warmed by people of faith and a flurry of activity.
This is the month when our parishes are busy preparing for attending and supporting the annual March for Life. Parishes are also busy promoting vocations to the priesthood, religious life and married life so our young people can be supported in discerning their futures.
Catholics in the diocese are joining with other faith communities to observe the annual Week of Christian Unity through prayer and mutual activities. Parishes are also busy preparing for the celebration of Catholic Schools Week whether it be in their local school or by celebrating in prayer.
January too is the time for the annual National Appeal. I am partial to this combined collection because it includes the Catholic Communications Campaign.
I am so grateful to have a career built around sharing the Catholic faith and the stories and news about the people who bring it to life. After all that’s what our faith is … people … life. I am grateful to have a part in assisting our bishop in his efforts to reach and serve this diocese especially through his daily “Top of the Morning” reflections on the Gospel and the weekly Diocesan TV Mass televised on the local NBC affiliate for more than 50 years.
But most importantly, I am grateful to each and every person who contributes to the Communication Campaign portion of the National Appeal. It is because of you that we are able to share the Good News of our parishes, sacraments, faith and Church in the world. Your generous contributions are very much appreciated and greatly utilized. Thank you.
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On page two, you will find the beginning of Bishop Malloy’s column regarding news and events surrounding the diocese’s efforts to raze the former chancery and the efforts of the Cathedral of St. Peter to raze a former convent on their campus.
The Observer published the original story in November following a meeting held at the cathedral regarding the buildings. We have also provided information of the opposition to that decision and will continue to run news as the story evolves.
I have connections with both these buildings. I was a visitor to the adoration chapel once housed in the former convent, visited the nuns when they lived there and attended meetings held there when it was all but empty.
And of course, I spent many hours taking notes and photos, attending meetings and preparing for the Catholic Forum Radio program at the former chancery. Unlike some people in the immediate Rockford area, my memories are not centered or tied to the stones of that building.
My work, my faith, and my history takes root from what the Gospel calls the “living stones” — the people of faith which form both the foundation and future of our Church.
The Church consists of buildings, yes. The Church around the world has many beautiful structures, and it is pleasing to visit and worship in them and share in the responsibility to maintain them.
But if my faith depended on or is specifically tied to one particular edifice then I truly do not understand what God said. I prefer finding a balance for our resources, and choose to build my bank in the living stones not just in Rockford, but in Albany, Algonquin, Amboy, Apple River, Aurora, Batavia, Freeport, Belvidere, Byron, Carpentersville, Cary, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Dixon, Durand, East Dubuque, Elburn, Elgin, Elizabeth, Erie, Freeport, Fulton, Galena, Geneva, Genoa, Gilberts, Hampshire, Hanover, Harmon, Hartland, Harvard, Huntley, Irish Grove, Johnsburg, Lee, Lena, Loves Park, Maple Park, Marengo, Maytown, McHenry, Menominee, Morrison, Mount Carroll, North Aurora, Oregon, Pecatonica, Polo, Prophetstown, Richmond, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Roscoe, St. Charles, Sandwich, Savanna, Scales Mound, Shannon, Somonauk, South Beloit, Spring Grove, Sterling, Stockton, Sublette, Sugar Grove, Sycamore, Tampico, Virgil, Walton, Warren, West Brooklyn, West Dundee, Wonder Lake, Woodstock, and beyond.