And the

Word

became

fl esh and

made His

dwelling

among

us, and

we saw

His glory,

the glory

as of the

Father’s

only Son,

full of

grace and

truth.— John 1:14

Have a Blessed Christmas

Holy Doors Open For Year of Mercy in Rockford DioceseBishop David Malloy prays before opening the holy doors at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford Dec. 13. It is one of eight churches on the diocesan holy year pilgrimage route.

pgs. 4-5

This Issue index on pg. 3

Volume 81 | No. 4 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015

ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy

THEOBSERVEROfficial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford

(CNS/Bridgeman Art Library)

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

Quick NewsDAC to Mark Holidays The Diocesan Administration Center will be closed Dec. 24, Christmas Eve; Dec. 25, Christ-mas Day; Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve; and Jan. 1, the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

Next Observer in 2016 There will be no issues of The Observer Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. The next issue will be Jan. 8.

Two Holy Days of Obligation on CalendarChristmas Day, the feast of the Nativity of Christ, on Dec. 25 and the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God on Jan. 1, are holy days of obliga-tion. Check your parish bulletin for Mass times.

ABOUT THE COVER: Mary and the child Jesus are depicted (above) in a 17th-century painting by Il Sassoferrato.

Let Us Encounter Mercy and Grace This Christmas and in the New Year

Last week, as he opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Francis spoke about the Jubilee Year

of Mercy that we are observing. He said, “This will be a year in which

we grow ever more convinced of God’s mercy. … Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befi t men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experience the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things.”

Growing convinced of God’s mercy and encountering the grace that transforms all things is a wonderful summation of our Christmas celebration as well.

Think of how often, at this time of year, we pass by the nativity scene in front yards and churches. We see the movies and reread the Gospels about Jesus’ birth. We go to Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Still, the temptation for us is just to go through the motions and not to refl ect suffi ciently on the depth and full meaning of the Son of God coming among us. Yet that is really what Pope Francis is asking.

Before Jesus came to be born of Mary in Bethlehem, the world was alienated from God by the sin of Adam and Eve. God loved us. But the human race had broken

the friendship offered by God. One of the failures of our modern world

is to lack any consciousness or intuition of the consequences of sin. Before Jesus came, sin ruled. Our hearts and minds were weakened and darkened. We could not pass the doors of heaven.

The lyrics of a famous Christmas carol sum up that reality when we sing, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ’til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”

This basic element of the Christmas message is at the heart of Pope Francis. The coming of Jesus, that birth that we celebrate was not a given. God could have simply accepted, once and for all, the sinful decision of the human race.

But His love and mercy for us moved Him to reach out to us again. And how personally He reached out. He sent not a messenger or an angel. Instead, He sent His own Son.

Pope Francis said, “let us experience the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things.” The night of Jesus’ birth experienced exactly that joy.

Angels who had remained faithful to God’s love, witnessing this explosion of God’s love are said to have rejoiced themselves before this mystery. They came to the poor and the lowly who had a

purity of heart and told them of the birth. They urged the shepherds to go and adore the child in the manger.

In that baby, through faith, we recognize precisely the grace that Pope Francis reminds us of. It is the grace that overcomes sin and gives us the offer of forgiveness and life eternal.

Of course Christmas reminds us there is work yet to be done. The baby Jesus must grow up, teach us, die for us and then rise.

We too have work to do. God’s Mercy is not acquired at no cost or effort on our part. Like the shepherds, we must go to Christ.

Our Catholic faith is not, as some would have it, a set of rules. Rather, it is the road map of friendship. It is the way to experience the joy of God’s grace. That is a lifetime task for all of us.

Of course in this Year of Mercy we not only seek God’s forgiveness. It is also our task to forgive others. Only by seeking mercy and being willing to give it do we truly imitate that child whose birth we celebrate.

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, may all of us be truly blessed with God’s grace and forgiveness.

A blessed Christmas and New Year to all!

BY BISHOP DAVID J. MALLOY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer2

In a few moments I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door of Mercy. We carry out this act ... so simple yet so highly symbolic, in the light of the word of God which we have just heard. That word highlights the primacy of grace. Again and again these readings make us think of the words by which the angel Ga-briel told an astonished young girl of the mystery which was about to enfold her: “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1:28).The Virgin Mary was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. When Gabriel entered her home, even the most profound and impenetrable of mysteries became for her a cause for joy, a cause for faith, a cause for abandonment to the message revealed to her. The fullness of grace can transform the

human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history.The feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the grandeur of God’s love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary he even averts the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world. This is the love of God which precedes, antici-pates and saves. The beginning of the history of sin in the Garden of Eden yields to a plan of saving love. The words of Genesis refl ect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God’s will. This is the enmity which keeps striking at people’s lives, setting them in opposition to God’s plan. Yet the history of

sin can only be understood in the light of God’s love and forgiveness. ... Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures.

But the promised triumph of Christ’s love enfolds every-thing in the Father’s mercy. The word of God which we have just heard leaves no doubt about this. The Immacu-late Virgin stands before us as a privileged witness of this promise and its fulfi lment.

This extraordinary year is itself a gift of grace. To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infi nite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out per-sonally to encounter each of them.

It is He who seeks us! It is He who comes to encounter us! This will be a year in which we grow ever more convinced of God’s mercy.

How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by His judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by His mercy! (see St. Au-gustine, De Praedestinatione Sanctorum, 12, 24) But that is the truth.

We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgment will always be in the light of His mercy.

In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of love, of tender-ness. Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befi t men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experi-ence the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things. ...

May our passing through the Holy Door today commit us to making our own the mercy of the Good Samaritan.

Let God’s Grace Lead Us to RejoiceFrom the homily, Saint Peter’s Square, Dec. 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

BY POPE FRANCIS

Don’t miss the daily refl ection weekdays (about 6:58 a.m.) on WREX-TV, Channel 13, Rockford

And the Wednesday refl ection during the Spanish newscast (5:30-6 p.m.) on My Network TV, Channel 17.2, Rockford

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The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015

BY PENNY WIEGERTEditor

DIOCESE—Reports about the 2015 Ministry Day, the third diocesan Youth Summit and the annual Mass count re-sults were just part of the discussion at the Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting, Dec. 12.

DPC Executive Secretary Dr. Michael Cieslak reported that the Ministry Day held in October for pastors and their staffs was well attended and provided some strategies for reaching out to those people registered in parishes but not regularly attending weekly Mass.

Council members who attended the ministry day said they appreciated the quality of the presentations and appre-ciated the challenge to the status quo in parish life given by speaker Rich Cur-ran.

This report fed directly into a dis-cussion about the Mass count numbers

which revealed a continuation of a 10-year decline in the numbers of Catholics attending Mass in all deaneries of the Rockford Diocese.

Cieslak’s research revealed although the decline in Mass attendance contin-ues, the decline was much less than in 2014. The decrease from 2014 to 2015 was 0.7 percent. The data show that there are now about the same number of people attending Mass as there were in 1991.

Cieslak reported that changes in Mass attendance across deaneries refl ects changing secular demographics, with western deaneries refl ecting an aging and shrinking population while eastern deaneries refl ect a growing population that is more Hispanic.

And even though the numbers this year show a slight decrease in Mass attendance, they also show that atten-dance at Spanish Masses throughout the diocese continues to increase, with

27.1 percent of all attendees during the count, Oct. 18 and 25, present at a Span-ish Mass.

Cieslak reported that “parishes are highly differentiated on Mass atten-dance by the presence of Hispanics and their responses to it. Attendance at parishes where most attendees are at a Spanish Mass increased by 17.7 percent over the last decade while parishes with no Spanish Masses decreased 23.1 per-cent.”Assistance for disabled

Bishop David Malloy and council members also listened to an overview report by council member Nadine Konieczny, who represents the McHen-ry Deanery, on the pastoral care of per-sons with disabilities.

Konieczny outlined the importance and need for serving Catholic persons with disabilities and described the spe-cifi c program she leads at her parish

and others in her deanery and how it has grown over the last several years. She also supplied the council with sev-eral supporting documents including the guidelines for the celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabili-ties written by the United States Con-ference of Catholic Bishops.Youth Summit

The 2015 Youth Summit report was provided to the council by the Diocesan Offi ce for Educational Services. Coun-cil members who attended the summit provided some feedback on what was of particular value at the event and offered ways to improve the gathering for the next year.

There was some back-and-forth dis-cussion of whether to continue holding the event annually but the consensus of the group indicated that this particular outreach to youth should be maintained

Contined on page 7

Diocesan Pastoral Council, Bishop Discuss Ministries, Mass Counts and Mercy

3

Bishop Malloy’s Public Schedule

FULTON — Dec. 19, 10 a.m., Confi rmation for Immaculate Conception, Fulton; St. Patrick, Albany; St. Ambrose, Erie; and St. Catherine, Prophetstown at Immaculate Conception Church

ROCKFORD — Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m., Sunday Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter

ROCKFORD — Dec. 25, 12 a.m., Christmas Midnight Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter

ROCKFORD — Dec. 25, 10 a.m., Christmas Day Mass, Winnebago County Jail

ROCKFORD — Dec. 27, 7:30 a.m., Sunday

Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter

ROCKFORD — Dec. 27, 7 p.m., Mass for the Diocesan Vocation Offi ce Winter Discernment Retreat, Bishop Lane Retreat Center

ROCKFORD — Jan. 3, 7:30 a.m., Sunday Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter

OREGON — Jan. 9, 10 a.m., Confi rmation for St. Mary, Oregon, and St. Mary, Polo, at St. Mary Church in Oregon

ROCKFORD — Jan. 10, 7:30 a.m., Sunday Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter

AURORA — Jan. 10, 1 p.m., Confi rmation, Holy Angels Church

The Rev. J. Robert Cama-cho — to be Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Elgin, Illinois, effective Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.

The Rev. Ricardo F. Hernan-dez — to be Parochial Vicar at St. Bernadette Parish, Rock-ford, Illinois, and the Minister of the Sick and Dying at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford, Il-linois, effective Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.

The Rev. Timothy J. Sei-gel — to be Parochial Vicar at Church of Holy Apostles, McHenry, Illinois, effective Mon-day, Jan. 18, 2016.

The Rev. Diego F. Ospina — to be Coordinator for Hispanic Catholic Ministry for the Freeport Deanery effective Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

Given at the Chancery, Dec. 15, 2015

O� cial Appointments

Parishes Celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

pg. 6

Passing Through Holy Doors Meaningful to Many

pg. 6

Lay Men and Women ‘Missioned’ at MSC Ceremony

pg. 7

Quick News

Inside

Get Your Year of Mercy Passport The Rockford Diocese is encouraging participation in the Year of Mercy through its pilgrimage to all eight holy doors. Download your pass-port and learn more at http://www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/

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Bishop Malloy ............................. 2

Headliners ..................................... 3

Diocesan .................................... 4-9

Nation/World ..................... 10-11

Worth the Wait ........................ 12

The Junior Observer .............. 13

Christmas Season .................... 14

Around the Diocese ......... 15-17

Young Observer .................18-19

Faith Forum ............................... 20

Viewpoints ................................ 21

Media/Arts ................................ 22

For the Record ......................... 23

This Issue

Headliners

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer4

Holy Doors Open for Year of

(Observer photos by Louise Brass)

In Sterling, Father James Keenan (right), pastor of St. Mary Parish, prays before opening the holy door (left).

(Observer photo by Margarita Mendoza)

Father Richard A. Rosinski, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Elgin, offers prayers.

(Observer photo by Margarita Mendoza)

Father Richard A. Rosinski, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Elgin, stamps the diocesan pilgrim-age passport for a family who attended the opening ceremony for the holy door in the Elgin Deanery. Now that all eight doors are open, people can print the passport and carry it with them to each of the eight churches on the pilgrimage route as a remind-er of their journey during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Visitors to the eight churches also receive a special indulgence when they walk through the holy doors in the diocese.

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

Bishop David Malloy grasps the handles at the holy door at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford before he opens them Dec. 13.

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

(Observer photo by Jason Akst)

At St. Mary in DeKalb Fathers Yovanny Dorado (left), Dean Russell, pas-tor, and Anthony Vu Khac Long (right) take part in the ceremony.

ABOVE: Sever-al people gath-er outside the Cathedral of St. Peter for a pro-cession before the opening of the holy door by Bishop Da-vid Malloy.

On Dec. 13, around the world and in the Rockford Diocese, cathedrals and other designated parishes opened their holy doors. These actions imitated Pope Francis, who opened both the doors at St. Peter’s Ba-silica in the Vatican and the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Diocesan

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 5

Mercy in Rockford Diocese

(Observer photo by Tony Carton)

Father David Reese, parochial administrator, opens the holy doors at St. Michael Parish in Galena. The parish is the oldest in the Rockford Diocese, having been assigned its first pas-tor in 1832.

(Observer photo by Penny Wiegert)

ABOVE: Father David Vogel, chap-lain for the Poor Clares of Rock-ford, prays before opening the public holy door at the Corpus Christ Monastery chapel. LEFT: The Corpus Christi Monas-tery in Rockford is the only church in the Rockford Diocese with two holy doors. One of the cloistered nuns reaches for the private holy door that allows members of the community to enter the chapel and obtain the same indulgence as other Catholics.

(Observer photo by Dan Szpekowski)

(Photo provided)

ABOVE: Bishop Emeritus Rob-ert Kurtz, CR, of Hamilton, Ber-muda, a mem-ber of the order of the Congre-gation of the R e s u r r e c t i o n which serves St. John the Baptist Parish, reaches to open the holy door. He was invited by the pastor, Father Jacek Junak, CR, to open the Holy Door to begin the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the parish. The im-age of Christ associated with Divine Mercy Sunday was in-corporated into several of the holy doors in the diocese, but most notably at Johnsburg, where it covers the entrance.

LEFT: The door at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora, a par-ish which serves both English and Spanish speaking Catho-lics, reflected its bilinguial heritage in the decorations of the doors.BELOW: Father Timothy Mulcahey, parochial adminis-trator at the parish, prays af-ter opening the holy doors. A group of parishioners and visi-tors wait behind him to pro-cess into the church for Mass.

(Observer photos by Sharon Boehlefeld)

Diocesan

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer

Parishes Celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

6

‘Catholic Mass’ Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on WREX-TV, Channel 13 in Rockford or you can watch on the Web at http://observer.rockforddiocese.org.

Brought to you by The Diocesan Office of Communications and Publications

Watch

Passing Through Holy Doors Meaningful to Many

(Photo provided)

St. Joseph in Harvard

(Observer photo by Sharon Boehlefeld)

Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, pastor, thanks parishioners at Sacred Heart in Aurora for their beautiful tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

(Observer photo by Sharon Boehlefeld)

At Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora, Father Timothy Mulcahey, pastor, blessed a new home for Our Lady of Guadalupe in a side chapel Dec. 13. Supporting the image are Jose Torres (right) and Candelario Rios, who were instrumental in making the new wooden support. Also helping with the project were Joe Luis Nunez and Guadalupe Martinez.

(Observer photo by Margarita Mendoza)

St. Monica in Carpentersville

(Observer photo by Margarita Mendoza)

St. Laurence in Elgin

DIOCESE—Among the many parishes that celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guada-lupe Dec. 12 was St. Monica in Carpentersville.

Bishop David Malloy joined other priests, including Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, Vicar for Hispanic Ministry; Father Josue Lara, parish administrator, and Father Carlos Monsalve.

St. Laurence in Elgin held its first celebration of the feast at a bilingual 8 a.m. Mass Dec. 12.

At St. Joseph in Harvard, pa-rishioners (in photo, from left) Jose, Azucena, Karina and Isabella Martinez with Kateri, Lanie, Trinity, J. P., Michelle and Tony Villarreal decorated a side altar to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.

At Sacred Heart in Aurora, parishioners rebuilt their ceil-ing-high mountain of flowers.

At Our Lady of Good Coun-sel, a new wooden stage to sup-port the image was blessed in a side chapel.

DIOCESE—“This is the Lord’s own gate: Let us enter through it and obtain mercy and forgiveness,” said Bishop Da-vid Malloy on Gaudete Sunday, Dec. 13, as he opened the main door of the Cathedral of St. Pe-ter in Rockford, its ribbons and lock removed.

“How wonderful it is for the Holy Father to begin this Year of Mercy so close to Christ-mas,” he said in his homily at the Mass that followed the rite, pointing out the birth of Jesus as the greatest example of God’s mercy to a fallen humanity.

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in Rome on Dec. 8 last

week to begin the extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.

Bishop Malloy explained that the cathedrals of the world were following the pope’s re-quest to each open their own doors of mercy this Sunday, all of them “linked and united to that door” at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The bishop explained that there is a “long standing tradi-tion” of making a pilgrimage to Rome during a Jubilee Year and “to pass through that door is the end of that pilgrimage.”

With the many holy doors located beyond that Rome ba-silica, “we are given an oppor-

tunity close by” our homes, he said, to make our own Jubilee pilgrimages even if we can’t travel to Rome.

Algonquin residents Bob and Kathy Chwedyk were in Galena for the weekend and attended the holy doors rite at St. Michael Parish.

“We come here every year for the luminaria,” Chwedyk said. “We came to St. Michael for Mass last night and talked with Father Reese. He told us he would be doing the holy doors event, so we came over to be part of it.”

She said she did not realize that St. Michael Church was a pilgrimage site.

“It is pretty interesting,” she said. “I’m very interested in the Year of Jubilee. I got my Year of Mercy book and I’ve been read-ing it. I think there is time for mercy and this is certainly that time. I think it is our only hope.”

Becky Hilby attended the ser-vice Sunday morning. She said the congregation was there to open the door to a new Jubilee

Year.“To me the Jubilee Year is an

opportunity to renew our faith and give more time to prayer and keep God in our hearts,” Hilby said.

Robert Bradley, a parishioner at St. Mary in Sterling, was tak-ing a wait-and-see approach to the Holy Door’s affect.

“I don’t really know. I’ve

belonged to this parish for 70 years. ... I don’t think they’ve ever had a Holy Door before,” he said.

“I read something about what the pope said in The Ob-server,” said Teresa Gingrich, a third grade teacher at St. Mary School in Dixon, who attended the blessing ceremony.

Continued on page 9

Visit Churches for IndulgenceHoly doors also were opened at the Cathedral of St. Peter in

Rockford, six other churches in the diocese, plus a public holy door at the Poor Clare’s Corpus Christi Monastery in Rockford.

An indulgence is available to those who pass through one or more of the holy doors, Bishop Malloy said, explaining the “beau-ty and joy” of the Year of Mercy as including this opportunity to forgive “that need for purification” from sin “by the explicit will and direction of Pope Francis.”

Once a day, pilgrims can pass through a Holy Door and receive an indulgence for themselves or for someone who is deceased, he said. Further requirements include: being in a state of grace and free from attachment to sin, going to confession within a short time, receiving the Eucharist worthily, and praying for the Holy Father’s intentions.

Bishop Malloy also called upon all to practice works of mercy and encouraged his listeners to “pass through that door with the intention of being (freed) of sin.”

Diocesan

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 7

Holy Land Group Gathers for Annual Mass at CathedralBy AmAndA HudsOn

News Editor

ROCKFORD—On Dec. 11, Bishop David Malloy celebrat-ed Mass for several members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

The annual Mass was fol-lowed by dinner and fellow-ship.

Calling the Holy Land “the obscure place where Christ lived and talked and died for us,” Bishop Malloy spoke of the work of the order to support that Holy Land with “prayers, funding, lobbying, witnessing.” He noted how “so many of our fellow believers are being driv-en away (or) are in dangerous

straits” in that part of the world.The goal is, he added, “to

support, assist, strengthen the presence of the Church (and its) faithful” in the land where the eyes of visitors and resi-dents “look upon the same out-lines of geography that Christ’s eyes” saw, perhaps standing in the same spot where He once stood.

“I hope by means of this Mass (of Advent) that our faith, our resolve, our conviction will be deepened … we need especially to be in solidarity with our suffering and dying brothers and sisters in the Holy Land,” the bishop said.

Priests concelebrating with

Bishop Malloy were Father Da-vid Peck, Father Richard Kram-er and Father Leroy Wickowski of River Forest. All three are

members of the Equestrian Or-der of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Father Kramer was recently

awarded the order’s Bronze Palm of Jerusalem for meritori-ous service. It is the third high-est honor in the order.

Lay Men and Women ‘Missioned’ at MSC CeremonyBy AmAndA HudsOn

News Editor

AURORA—The Missionar-ies of the Sacred Heart held a ‘missioning’ for just over a dozen men and women at the MSC headquarters on Dec. 8 – the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is the date the MSC was founded by Fa-ther Jules Chevalier in France in 1854.

A total of 15 laity recently completed a two-year formation program, meeting monthly in separate classes for English and for Spanish speakers.

The classes “focused a lot on spirituality of the heart,” says Richard Salazar of St. Mary Parish in DeKalb. Other topics explored included what it means to be the heart of Christ for oth-ers, solidarity with the poor and service to the poor, along with surrendering and doing God’s will, he says.

Salazar’s wife, Marlene, also

was missioned at the evening Mass. She notes that she once had prayed to marry a mission-ary man. Now her prayer is be-ing answered, she says, along with her own calling.

The third person to round out the new English-speaking lay missionaries is Christopher Ad-amsick of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, located in the part of Aurora that crosses into Ken-

dall County in the Diocese of Joliet. Before he was married, Adamsick says, he had consid-ered joining a religious order. He adds that he finds the MSC priests to be “awesome,” and akin to Pope Francis.

The new lay missionaries next will discern what their mission-ary calling is, says Richard Salazar. As a recipient of the benefits of the MSC’s Life’s Healing Journey retreats, Rich-ard says he is grateful that he has been invited to begin train-ing to assist the MSC with those retreats.

However, the MSC laity “cov-ers all apostolates,” including parish work, feeding the hun-gry, building homes and the like, “all under the umbrella of bringing God’s love to the world,” he says.

Grace Delgado has been a lay MSC since 2008 and is execu-tive director of the LHJ retreats.

Speaking of the LHJ retreats, she notes that for some lay mis-sionaries, “that’s a very specific way, a very concrete way of be-ing involved.”

Lay LHJ leaders use their own funds to join MSC priests in bringing the retreat and parish missions to various places in the United States and Mexico, she says, and “live that experience of spreading God’s love and Father Peter’s work.” (Now deceased, Father Peter Campbell, MSC, was instrumental in developing and founding the Life’s Healing Journey retreats, which began some 40 years ago.)

Delgado considers the larger MSC community to be her ex-tended family.

“I can travel anywhere there

are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and I feel welcome,” she says, noting that the lay mis-sionaries started more than 25 years ago in the Aurora area, and more than 75 are currently active. Other LMSC commu-nities are located in Texas and California — all connected to MSC priests in those areas.

“We try to meet every month,” Delgado says, adding that His-panic laity have been joining in

for the past eight years, and their presence “enriches our commu-nity as well.”

All the lay missionaries are invited to pray daily prayers and to attend daily Mass and prayers at MSC headquarters when they can, she says.

The Mass booklet for the missioning shared the common thread among all the members: “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere!”

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

Several members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem gathered for an annual Mass with Bishop Malloy on Dec. 11 at the Cathedral of St. Peter. The priests who joined them are Father Leroy Wickowski of River Forest, Father Richard Kramer and Father David Peck.

The new lay Missionaries of the Sacred Heart each received a candle, “a sign of our Lord’s love of you and of all people.” They also each received a medal to wear.

(Observer photos by Amanda Hudson)

Maria Guadalupe Hernández signs her commitment statement as MSC Father Raymond Diesbourg, provincial superior, looks on.

J. Gabriel Martinez Romero reads aloud his commitment statement before signing it.

A Brief History of the Order

The origins of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem are generally dated back to the First Crusade, when the Crusade’s leader liberated Jerusalem and founded the

Order of Canons of the Holy Sepulchre. Some of those were armed knights chosen from the crusader troops for their quali-ties of valour and dedication.

They vowed to obey the Au-gustinian Rule of poverty and obedience and undertook spe-cifically to defend the Holy Sep-ulchre and the Holy Places, un-

der the command of the King of Jerusalem.

Only rarely did the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre take part in military action to defend Christi-anity. And, in the 14th century, the Holy See arranged that the right to protect the Christian sanctuaries be given to the Franciscan Friars Minor.

In 1847 Pope Pius IX re-founded and modernized the Order, issuing a new Constitu-tion which placed it under the direct protection of the Holy See and assigned its govern-ment to the Latin Patriarch.

The Order’s fundamental role was also redefined: to up-hold the works of the Latin Pa-

triarchate of Jerusalem, while preserving the spiritual duty of propagating the Faith.

There are 70 members in the Rockford Diocese, part of a to-tal of around 30,000 members throughout the world.

Joining the Order is a lifetime commitment in support of the Holy Land and its peoples.

diocesan

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer8

Missionaries of St. Charles — Scalabrinians (CS)

Provincial House: Province of St. John the Baptist — Oak Park

Represented in the Diocese of Rockford at St. Joseph Parish in Harvard

Who they are: The Scalabrinians are an international community of religious serving migrants and refugees of different cultures, religions and ethnicities in 32 countries and on five continents.

The congregation was founded on Nov. 28, 1887, by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini (1839-1905), bishop of Piacenza (Italy). It was the period of massive emigration from Italy and Europe toward the Americas. It was a far-

reaching phenomenon whose importance Bishop Scalabrini was able to grasp in both its social and religious dimensions.

The Province of St. John the Baptist is located in four countries (USA, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala).

The provincial office is in Oak Park. Membership comes from 13 countries.

Missionary focus: For the last 25 years, it has been “to be migrants with the migrants and to be in mission with people on the move along with a special priority for the poorest migrants. What has become very obvious is that as we have taken more missionary risks and made an effort to clarify our Charism we have been blessed with more and more vocations. The blessing is doubled by the fact

that we are currently receiving the vocations that match our present need.”

Source: www.scalabrinians.org/website/

Sisters of Loretto (SL)

Motherhouse: Nerinx, Kentucky

Represented in the Diocese of Rockford at St. Mary School, Dixon

Who they are: The Sisters of Loretto and co-members comprise the Loretto Community. The Loretto Community exists to praise God and minister to people. They are people of faith and service bound together by their love of God and love of one another.

History: Loretto’s founders, Mary Rhodes, Ann Havern and Christina Stuart, began by teaching the children on the Kentucky frontier. When they decided to form a religious community, they turned to Father Charles Nerinckx, the Belgian missionary priest who served the area, for his advice and help in writing their rule and receiving approval for their new community.

Founded in 1812 as Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross, the first sisters dedicated their lives to God as religious women and educated poor children of the area. They derived strength from communal living and prayer.

They later took the name Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross.

In service: “We live in the desert Southwest, the hills of Kentucky, cities dotting the East and West coasts, and

many places in between … some live in Europe, Canada, South America, and Africa. Our spirit and mission are grounded in the Gospel. The name Loretto Community incorporates the two types of membership in Loretto: sisters who make public profession

of vows and co-members who affiliate with the spirit and mission of the community. In recent years, the community began a volunteer program for short-term service opportunities.”

Source: www.lorettocommunity.org/

(Photo provided)

Sister Ann Skeffington, SL, helps preschoolers at St. Mary School, Dixon.

(Observer photo by Margarita Mendoza)

Father Jorge Bravo, CS, serves as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Par-ish in Harvard.

Year of Consecrated LifeFor a religious, to advance on the path of obedience means to abase oneself in service, that is, to take the same path as Jesus, who “did not deem equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil 2:6). By emptying Himself, He made Himself a servant in order to serve. — Pope Francis

Families Inivited to Join Diocesan Prayer for VocationsCRYSTAL LAKE—Join Father Keith Romke at 7

p.m. on Dec. 21 at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave., here, for a family evening of prayer.

Called to Pray opens with a talk and ends with a holy hour and prayer for vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life and marriage.

Info: http://www.rockforddiocese.org/vocations/

(Photos provided)

Marmion Moves Tons of ClothingMarmion Academy’s Theology classes and Campus Ministry collect-

ed more than 2 tons — 3,600 pounds — of clothing in their co-sponsored winter clothing drive. With help from Marmion Moms and Dads, they sorted and delivered the clothes to Hesed House, Lazarus House, Way-side Cross Ministries and the Kane County Advocacy Center. Sopho-more Zachary Dietz (left) of Geneva not only persuaded participants of the clothing sale at Western Avenue Elementary School in Geneva to do-nate items, but he also convinced his family to go through their closets and donate more than 400 pounds of clothing to Marmion.

Diocesan Pastoral Council, Bishop Discuss Ministries, Mass Counts and MercyFrom page 3on a diocesan level.Year of Mercy

The final report was on the Year of Mercy from the Office of Communication. Council members got a virtual tour of the new web pages added to the diocesan website at www. rockforddiocese.org for the Year of Mercy which began worldwide Dec. 8 and contin-ues to November 2016. Besides an overview of what the Year of Mercy is and why, the web pages include opportunities for Catholics of all ages to engage in the Year of Mercy and help the wider world encounter the works of Mercy through them. The web pages contain a way to share “moments of Mercy” in an online submission form and a “Pilgrimage Passport” for those wishing to visit the eight designated Holy Doors in the diocese thus gaining a holy year indulgence.

“The Year of Mercy is so important because it is a very real opportunity for all of us to practice and share God’s for-giveness,” Bishop Malloy told the DPC.

The DPC consists of people from each of the seven deaner-ies from the Rockford Diocese representing laity, religious, deacons and priests, various cultures and age groups. Just as a parish council assists an indi-vidual pastor, the DPC provides Bishop Malloy with advice and guidance in his pastoral care for the diocese.

The Catholic Church has had a long tradition of co-operative action to help the bishop care for God’s people in his dio-cese. Specifically, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council urged every diocese to estab-lish a pastoral council “whose responsibility is to investi-gate under the authority of the Bishop all those things which pertain to pastoral works, to ponder them, and to propose practical conclusions about them.” (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops, no.27).

The DPC meets four times each year to discuss topics rel-evant to the pastoral care of the Rockford Diocese as needed by Bishop Malloy.

For more information on the DPC, contact Dr. Cieslak at mcieslak@

rockforddiocese.org

Submit Online: Parish, school and organization publicists may send news and photos, including Year of Mercy events, using inter-active forms at The Observer website http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/contact-us. Click on Submit Events and News. (You may attach one picture per form.) Information from this form also is submitted to El Observador and to the diocesan calendar.

Submit by Mail: Send mail submissions to The Observer, P.O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125.

Diocesan

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 9

Diocesan

(Photo provided)

Miller, Wurzer, Aguilera, Kerrigan

(Photo provided)

Fourteen students at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock who were in-ducted as new members into the Tri-M (Modern Music Masters) Music Honor Society on Nov. 12 are (front, from left) Sarah Wilson, Catherine O’Neill, Regina Antonetti, Katrina Dionela, Joanna Gutshall, Alyssa Consolo, (back) Johnalie Almaria, Michael Cronin, Joseph Paffrath, Nicholas Caliendo, Matt Snell, Landon Martin, John Hintz, Alexandra Krak

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

Bishop O’Neill Scholarship winners pose with Michael Kagan (back, left), superintendant of diocesan Cath-olic schools, and Bishop David Malloy.

(Photo provided)

Fourteen students at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin have been named Illinois State Scholars. They are (from left) Melanie Christian, Melanie Schmidt, Allison Stratman, Trine Jensen, Gwynneth Schaefer, Leslikarina Patino, Sean Phelan, Kimberly Grant, Michael Chammany, Maxine Scotty, Karl Bibler, Tess Schuck, Eric Parks, and Noah Enright.

LEFT: Students from Marian Central Catholic High School from Woodstock named Illinois State Scholars this year are (front, from left) Alexandra Ball, Megan Wells, Julianna Ignacio, Johnalie Almaria, Justin Wiener, Nicholas Teteak, Payson Wilde, Lucas Dowell, Carter Strode, Jake Higgins, (middle) Monica Juarez, Sheila Sagear, Emily Minneci, Shannon Hoople, Diana Slater, Hannah Gillespie, Benjamin Taylor, Grif-fin Martin, Shane Redman, Justin Santopadre, Andrew Payton, Max-well Hufman, (back) Nora Tucker, Allison Paprocki, Rachel Giustino, Lydia Herbst, Alexandra Kaufmann, Lauren Caselton, Nickolas Riedel, Lucas Morrissey, Cole Johnson, Daniel Matousek, Liam Skrzypczak, Derek O’Neill and (not pictured) Allison Royer.

RIGHT: Seniors from Rosary High School in Aurora who are Illinois State Scholars are (front, from left) Kate Jar-ecki, Hannah Eng, Kellie Buckley, Amy Iwatsuki, Neeth-ara Abraham, Rachel Loy, Taylor Drozdowski, Ellie Davis, Emily Laughead, (back) Emma Molenhouse, Mackenzie Malley, Gretchen Klug, Christina Koranda, Victoria Pyle, Kara Wong, Katherine Rentz, Meera Vyas, Grace Wehner, Isabella Duarte, Lauryn Streid, Madison Ronzone, Sonja Popovich, Ries McCue, Emma Leuer, Alissa Brankey, and (not pictured) Shea Vero. (Photo provided)

(Photo provided)

Bishop O’Neill Scholarships: On Dec. 10, seven families of Catholic elementary school stu-dents received $600 Bishop O’Neill scholarship awards at a mid-morning gathering at the Di-ocesan Administration Center in Rockford.

The tuition awards are made possible each year through a fund established in 1993 by the late Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill, begun with what was collected by school children for him upon his retire-ment as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Rockford. Others have since contributed. The Catholic Foundation for the People of the Diocese of Rockford administers the fund.

Up until about a year before his death, Bishop O’Neill attended the annual award gathering held close to, or on, his birthday.

This year, Bishop David Malloy

attended, meeting and talking with each student. Michael Kagan, di-ocesan superintendent of schools, assisted by Margo Shifo, assistant superintendent, distributed gifts to students and the awards to their principals. Several parents and grandparents also attended.

The award recipients in 2015 are Abby, Charlotte and Evelyn Regis of St. Peter School, Auro-ra; Grace and Nathanael Schoen of St. Mary School in Sycamore; Alyssa Baugus, Alejandras and Natalie Arambula of St. Laurence School in Elgin; Shirley Hounnou of Aquin Junior High School in Freeport; Connor Donaldson of St. Joseph School in Harvard; Mary Jane Arias of St. Edward School in Rockford; and Luis Xique, Jonathan and Steven Ahuatl of St. Anne School in Dixon.

KC scholars: Boylan Central Catholic High School students

Emily Miller of St. Mary Parish, Byron, and Romeo Aguilera of St. Rita Parish, Rockford, each re-ceived a $400 tuition award from Knights of Columbus Bishop Mul-doon Assembly 190. Presenting their awards is Greg Wurzer, past commander of the Fourth Degree Honor Guard and Boylan Principal Jerry Kerrigan.

Good for You

Passing Through Holy Doors Meaningful to ManyFrom page 6

“I like the analogy of opening the door, opening our hearts,” she said. “You can think in your own heart, to whom do I have to be more merciful? Are there particular people in my life I need to have mercy toward? If you’re a parent you might be a little bit more merciful to your husband or children. If I’m a teacher I might ask: Do I need to show a little bit more mercy toward a child?

“Whom do I need to be more merciful to? Is there some-one we meet in our everyday lives, we need to show mercy

to, whether we know them or not?” she said.

Parishioner Craig Pepper said that the Holy Door of mercy is a welcome return to traditional symbols of the faith. “I am a real traditional type Catholic. I remember when they used to do this years ago. It’s just kind of a neat feeling to get the more traditional Catholic beliefs and blessings,” Pepper said.

People at St. John the Bap-tist in Johnsburg expressed hu-mility and awe at having their parish chosen to represent the McHenry Deanery.

“I can’t wait to see the image

of the Divine Mercy at night with the lights lit up around it,” said Kelly Frischmann. Her husband, Ron, and daughter, Debbie, agreed.

Kathleen Moehling, a fourth generation parishioner, visited Rome in the last Holy Year in 2000 and walked through the Holy Door at the Vatican.

“It is so surreal to me that in my lifetime I would have the opportunity to go through a Holy Door twice and one would actually be in my own parish,” she said.

“My two great great great grandfathers Freund and

Schaeffer were early settlers of Johnsburg and helped build this church; this is so meaningful to me, I have no additional words.”

Joe and Judy Schneider and their daughters Emily and Col-leen felt compelled to come to St. John the Baptist Church for the opening of the Holy Door.

“We are parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Crystal Lake,” said Joe. “We read about the Holy Door in The Observer and were going to drive to Rockford to St. Pe-ter Cathedral. But we chose in-stead to attend here, as this par-ish represents our Holy Door in

the McHenry Deanery.”‘When we drove up to the

church and saw the large Divine Mercy on the door,” said Judy, “I was surprised and astounded.”

Parishioners created an infor-mational Divine Mercy display in the narthex.

“We are ready to welcome pilgrims, individuals and groups to our parish,” said Ted Hoeh. “It is going to be a beau-tiful year.”

Amanda Hudson, news editor; Tony Carton, Louise Brass and Pat Szpekowski, Observer correspon-

dents, contributed to this story

News in BriefNation / World

Our Lady of Guadalupe Enthusiasm Overpowers Devotion to St. Juan Diego

MEXICO CITY (CNS)—For the Dec. 9 feast of St. Juan Diego, traditional indigenous dancers known as “concheros” and “chinelos” danced outside the Old Chapel of the Indians on the grounds of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Mexico City Cardinal Nor-berto Rivera Carrera celebrated Mass at the site. Some in atten-dance clutched small St. Juan Diego statues. A few spoke of his importance in evangelizing indigenous populations after Mary appeared before him at Tepeyac Hill — now site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guada-lupe, the world’s most-visited Marian shrine.

“(Guadalupe) chose him,” said Rosario Ledesma, a retired physics professor and conchera dancer. “He is important as a servant of the virgin (and) is her intercessor for all Mexi-cans.”

Ledesma showed an infec-tious enthusiasm for St. Juan Diego, but it is rare. Even at his feast day festivities, images of Our Lady of Guadalupe were more commonly spotted, and pilgrims poured into the basili-ca grounds by the thousands — with almost all ignoring the St. Juan Diego celebrations.

In the 13 years since he was made a saint, a sizable devotion has not developed.

Prior to becoming a saint, Juan Diego was revered for playing an invaluable part in a great act of evangelization, which converted many indig-enous Mexicans to Catholi-cism. But his more recent role as a saint has been met with tepid enthusiasm as Mexicans struggle to see the reasons for sainting a secondary figure in the story of Our Lady of Gua-dalupe, the county’s patroness and a figure whose relevance surpasses the spiritual for many in Mexico and forms an important part of the national

identity. St. Juan Diego was beatified

by St. John Paul II in 2002, becoming the first indigenous saint from the Americas.

Mexico is still 83 percent Catholic, but indigenous popu-lations in the country and Cen-tral America have been falling away faster from the church than any other ethnic group, said Andrew Chesnut, reli-gious studies professor at Vir-ginia Commonwealth Univer-sity who studies Catholicism in Latin America.

Pope Advances Sainthood Causes for Two With U.S. Ties

VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis advanced the saint-hood causes of a Lutheran con-vert who established a branch of the Bridgettine order in her country and a U.S. missionary who died while ministering to the wounded in Vietnam.

During a Dec. 14 meeting with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, the pope signed a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hes-selblad, who refounded the Or-der of the Most Holy Savior of St. Bridget, better known as the Bridgettines.

Born in Sweden in 1870 and baptized into the Reform Church, she immigrated to the United States in 1886. After working as a nurse, she con-verted to Catholicism in 1902. Moving to Rome, she dedicated her life and religious order to prayer and work for the attain-ment of Christian unity.

The pope also signed decrees recognizing the miracles need-ed for the beatifications of:

— Father Ladislao Bukow-inski, a Ukrainian priest who died in Kazakhstan in 1974.

— Sister Maria Celeste Crosta-rosa, an Italian nun who founded the Order of the Most Holy Re-

deemer in the 18th century.— Sister Mary of Jesus San-

tocanale, an Italian nun born in 1852, who founded the Congre-gation of the Capuchin Sisters of the Immaculate of Lourdes.

— Itala Mela, an Italian lay-woman and Benedictine Oblate who died in 1957.

The pope also recognized the heroic virtues of four women and eight men, including New Hampshire native Brother Wil-liam Gagnon — a member of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God. He tended to the sick and wounded during the Vietnam War, before falling ill and dying in Ho Chi Minh City in 1972.

Prayers OfferedRabbi Hillel Cohn from Congrega-tion Emanu El in Redlands, Calif., embraces a government official during an interfaith service at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino. More than 400 gath-ered in the Diocese of San Bernardi-no’s mother church for the evening vigil Dec. 7. Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino said he and his fellow religious leaders were there to “walk with” the families and friends of the victims in their pain, anger, sorrow and confusion.

(CNS photyo/Dima Otervertchenko, The Tidings)

10 FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer

Report: Sisters’ numbers shrinking but growing more diverseWASHINGTON (CNS)—A new report on U.S. women religious said that religious life is becoming not only more multiethnic but more international as well. The report, “Understanding U.S. Cath-olic Sisters Today,” said that of all women who entered religious life in the past 10 years, only 57 percent were white, while 17 per-cent were Hispanic, 16 percent were Asian, and 8 percent were black — including both African-American women and those born in Africa. Because of the growing numbers of foreign-born women religious, the report noted, Trinity Washington University recently received a grant to study and map the presence of international women religious in the United States and their evolving ministries in response to church and societal needs. The report, released Dec. 9, was commissioned by FADICA, Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities.

Alaska priest who visited parishes by plane and by kayak dies at 46PHOENIX (CNS)—The Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, is mourning the loss of a young priest, an outdoorsman who spread the Gos-pel in tiny Alaskan communities as well as online. Father Thomas L. Weise Jr. died Dec. 6 in San Luis Obispo, California, after suf-fering cardiac arrest while on a family visit. He was 46. One of 10 priests in the diocese, Father Weise served as pastor of two of southeast Alaska’s small island parishes, St. Catherine of Siena in Petersburg and St. Rose of Lima in Wrangell. Referring to himself as a missionary priest, Father Weise often traveled by small plane between Petersburg and Wrangell to celebrate Mass each weekend. On occasion, he would paddle three to four hours by kayak to reach the parishes. In a statement about his death on St. Rose’s website, the parish expressed its sorrow. “We join our hearts and prayers with his family in California, and friends worldwide, in thanking the Lord for the gift of Father Thomas’ life,” it said, “and for the many ways that he touched our lives and enthu-siastically shared the good news to all of God’s people.”

Bankruptcy allows diocese to assist victims, ‘protect church’s mission’DULUTH, Minn. (CNS)—The Diocese of Duluth said Dec. 7 it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because efforts to reach a settlement “that would assist all abuse victims and pro-tect the church’s mission” have been unsuccessful. In Novem-ber, a Ramsey County jury in St. Paul awarded $8.1 million to a 52-year-old man, known only as “Doe 30,” who said that in the 1970s, when he was 13, he was abused by the late Father James Vincent Fitzpatrick. An Oblate of Mary Immaculate, the priest was serving a parish assignment in the Duluth Diocese at the time. The jury ordered the diocese to pay $4.9 million, or 60 percent, of the amount it awarded to the abuse victim. “There is sadness in having to proceed in this fashion,” Father James Bissonette, vicar general, said in a statement about the diocese’s decision to file bankruptcy. “After the recent trial, the diocese again attempted to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. Up to this point, the dio-cese has not been able to reach such a settlement, and given the magnitude of the verdict, the diocese was left with no choice but to file for reorganization,” he said.

Massachusetts highest court denies review of parish protesters’ caseBOSTON (CNS)—The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the state’s highest court, has denied a request for further appel-late review of a case brought by a group fighting the closure of its Catholic parish church in the Boston Archdiocese. The Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini Inc. of Scituate confirmed the denial in a Dec. 4 statement and said that “at this juncture (they) are taking this decision under advisement with their attorney and reviewing as a community potential options and next steps.” St. Frances X. Cabrini Parish was closed — suppressed in canon law terms — under the archdiocese’s broad restructuring plan. It was one of 70 churches that closed beginning in 2004 in a downsizing plan car-ried out under Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley. Archdiocesan officials cited declining attendance, aging priests and rising maintenance costs as reasons for closing dozens of parishes. Since October 2004, St. Frances X. Cabrini parishioners have kept an around-the-clock presence in the church in the hope that various appeals based on canon law would be successful.

(CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Outdoor enthusiast Father Thom-as L. Weise stands with his kayak on a shoreline of Lynn Canal out-side of Juneau, Alaska, in 2014.

(CNS photo/David Agren)

Jose Alfredo Robles, a “conchero” dancer, attends the Dec. 9 feast day for St. Juan Diego at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — To help appreciate and better promote the vocation of religious broth-ers, the Vatican released a 50-page reflection on the impor-tance of their life and mission of evangelization, fraternity and sacrifice.

The Congregation for Insti-tutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life re-leased “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church” in five languages Dec. 14 as a guide for the whole church.

Pope Benedict XVI asked the congregation in 2008 to draft an instruction in order to un-derline the importance of the vocation of lay brothers, es-pecially given “the challenges they must face” in today’s world, said Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, secretary of the congregation. He spoke at a Vatican news conference presenting the document Dec. 14.

At the time, the former pre-fect of the congregation, Car-dinal Franc Rode, had said the steep decline in the numbers of religious brothers was a clear sign “something must be done.”

“We think one of the reasons for the decline in these voca-tions is due to a certain lack of attention on the part of the church” to brothers, who are mentioned only in passing in the documents of the Second Vatican Council and Vatican documents published later, he told Vatican Radio in 2010.

While the numbers of reli-gious in every category have dropped in the past 50 years, the number of religious broth-ers decreased most drastically. For example, the Christian Brothers had 16,000 members in 1965 and have fewer than 5,000 today.

The number of religious brothers around the world to-

taled more than 55,250 at the end of 2013, according to re-cent Vatican statistics. How-ever, the total number of priests — diocesan and religious order — around the world was nearly 415,350, with a steady increase in diocesan priests in Africa, Asia and the Americas, and a continued decline in Europe.

Archbishop Rodriguez said the document is meant to high-light “the richness and neces-sity of all the vocations in the church, especially the vocation of lay religious life for men and women.”

He said it was hoped the re-flection would help all mem-bers of the church become more aware and better appreciate the service and gifts of religious brothers, and help encourage and guide them in living their vocation “with authenticity and joy.”

The instruction underlines the importance of serving like the Good Shepherd in order to make Christ present in the world and to enlighten, bless, raise up, heal and free human-ity.

So many people are expe-riencing a “thirst for spiritu-ality,” it said, and religious brothers, especially those liv-ing in monastic or contempla-tive communities, should offer themselves as guides for those seeking deeper meaning, invit-ing people to prayer, reading Scripture and bridging faith and culture.

The text urged religious brothers to see no human situ-ation as “alien” to their pres-ence. Whether they engage in manual labor, defend human rights, teach, work in health care or serve in other ways, religious brothers must accept God’s invitation to go to the world’s peripheries and lead people to salvation.

“Today more than ever, the world needs consecrated per-sons who, from the heart of

secular realities and of hu-man life itself, bear witness to knowing and loving the God of life.”

The document said religious brothers can be the “prophets for our time” which is witness-ing “great social change.”

What is needed, it said, is “the prophesy of hospitality,” in which all people are welcomed; a “prophesy of the meaning of life” that helps people discover the essential; a “prophesy of the affirmation of feminine values,” which supports and appreciates the presence and vision of women; “the proph-esy of the care and protection of life” and creation; and “the prophesy of the wise use of new technologies,” which is atten-tive to letting information and communication benefit those who are disadvantaged.

The document called for improving relationships and a sense of “equal dignity” in so-called “mixed” religious institutes whose members in-clude lay brothers and religious priests. It said priests and the church hierarchy should pro-mote and better appreciate the vocation of lay brothers and sisters, ensuring they can “par-ticipate actively in the organs of consultation, decision-mak-ing and implementation within the local church.”

Archbishop Rodriguez said his congregation will ask Pope Francis to establish an ad hoc commission to look into the role of religious brothers in mixed or clerical institutes and their “participation in local, provincial and general gover-nance” and administration.

the observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 11

Pope Francis will venerate Mary at Mexico shrine next yearVATICAN CITY (CNS) —On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis announced that he would travel to the Marian shrine in Mexico City and pray to Mary so that Christian communities “may become oases and rivers of mercy. To ask her this, in a strong way, I will travel to venerate her at her shrine on Feb.13. There, I will ask this for all of America, of whom she is especially a mother,” the pope said. The pope made the an-nouncement during a Dec. 12 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

Activists, pope say more work needed after climate change pact PARIS (CNS)—German Msgr. Josef Sayer prayed over a crowd of environ-mental activists at Saint-Merry Catho-lic Church, where they had gathered for Mass after two weeks of lobbying at the U.N. climate change confer-ence. “We have to start and struggle again, and it is a harsh way in front of us,” Msgr. Sayer said minutes after the Mass at the 16th-century church Dec. 13, the day after the climate conference produced its final agreement. He and other Catholic groups varied as to which of their summit ambitions had been met and which had not, but all of them contended that their struggle to save the environment was just beginning, and they called for further mobilization. The same day, after reciting the Angelus at the Vatican, Pope Francis said the agreement required a “concerted commitment” to continue for-ward. “In the hopes that it guarantees particular attention to the most vulnerable populations, I urge the entire international commu-nity to continue the path undertaken with care, in a sign of solidarity that becomes ever more constructive,” Pope Francis said.

Nation / World

Vatican Releases Guide For Religious Brothers

(Cutline -credit)

replace

(CNS file photo/Jim West)

Franciscan Brother Juan Turios of Action Network prays with immigration reform advocates in Washington. The Vatican released a 50-page reflection on the importance of the life and mission of brothers.

(CNS photo/J.L. Gonzalez, Reuters)

A pilgrim holds image of Our Lady of Guada-lupe.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer

Members of the Holy Family Council 13123 and its Ladies Auxiliary at Holy Family Parish donated, delivered and distributed the coats to several families, with additional coats provided for future distribution.

(Observer photos by Amanda Hudson)

Janet Biljeskovic (left), director of the Catholic Charities Refugee Re-settlement Program smiles as youngsters try on new coats.

An adult (above) helps a child find a coat thats fit. Youngsters (neear right) also receive handmade scarves for their new winter wardrobes. Refugees who could not attend the Dec. 2 distribution re-ceived coats later.

12

Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Find interactive calendar at www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/advent/index.cfm

T hese past s e v e r a l weeks of

Advent have been filled with remote preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

We heard in the first week of Advent; “Be vigilant at all times.” In other words, be prepared, your redemption is at hand.

In the second and third Sundays of Advent, we hear specifically from St.

John the Baptist as he cries out that we should “prepare the way of the Lord,” one mightier than he is coming.

Here’s where the rubber hits the road in this fourth Sunday of Advent. We have prepared for Jesus’ coming, we hope well, not totally distracted by the consumeristic mentality that this time of

year can tempt us with. The birth of Jesus is now very

proximate, it is literally five days away and the Gospel this Sunday tells us the proper disposition someone should have when the Lord is near.

What happens in this Gospel? Simply put, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and they are both filled with joy!

Elizabeth cries out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy!”

Joy is the word to reflect on. When the message of Jesus’ birth comes to our ears at Christmas Mass, will we find joy in this?

When the Lord visits our bodies and souls in holy Communion, do we find joy in this?

When our brothers and sisters come to visit and encounter us as Mary did with Elizabeth, do we find joy in this?

Jesus is very near to us. May we never lose sight of how close God is and how much joy this should bring to our lives.

Advent Reflectionby Father John McNamaraParochial VicarSt. Mary, Huntley

The Christ Child is Very Near to Us Now

Knights of Columbus Help Refugees Prepare for WinterThe Knights of Columbus

Holy Family Council 13123 in Rockford, and its Ladies Aux-iliary, donated and distributed three boxes of children’s winter coats on Dec. 2.

Refugee children and a few small-sized adults from Iraq, Syria, Burma and Congo re-ceived the coats that day.

The extra coats will be dis-tributed by the Catholic Chari-ties Refugee Resettlement Of-fice to other refugee families in need who were unable to be at the Dec. 2 event.

Many of the refugee families who come to be resettled in Rockford arrive without suffi-cient winter clothing.

Everyone poses with new winter gear after picking winter coats donated to Catholic Charities.

Worth the Wait

4th Week of Advent

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 13

Catholic News Service

J oseph was a very devout and righteous man who always obeyed God’s laws.

He worked as a carpenter and was not very wealthy, but he did come from a very famous family.

King David, the shepherd boy whom God made king of the Isra-elites during Old Testament times, was one of Joseph’s relatives.

Joseph was betrothed to a woman, a virgin named Mary. “Betrothed” means that Joseph and Mary were married, but they were not yet living together as husband and wife in the same house.

One day, Joseph learned that Mary was going to have a baby.

He did not realize that the an-gel Gabriel had told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Joseph decided that, according

to the law, he should no longer be married to Mary. He also did not want to get Mary in any trouble or cause her to be shamed or harmed, so he decided that he would divorce her without making a big deal about it.

Then, one night, Joseph had a dream. An angel of God came to him and spoke:

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home,” the angel said. “For it is through the Holy Spirit

that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

What the angel said to Joseph fulfilled a prophesy that God, through one of his prophets, had revealed to his people in the Old Testament: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Em-manuel.” Emmanuel means “God is with us.”

When Joseph woke up, he did exactly as the angel had told him to do. He did not divorce Mary, but instead took her into his home and waited for Jesus to be born.

Q&AWhat famous person was Joseph related

to?To whom was Joseph

betrothed?Read more in Matthew 1

Vol. 30, No. 4 Published by The Observer, Official Catholic Newspaper of the Diocese of Rockford JuniorObserver@RockfordDiocese.org

The Junior ObserverA Good News Story

“Joseph ... do not be afraid”

(CNS)

An Angel Comes to Joseph in a Dream

Color the picture and tell the story in your own words.

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God Speaks to JosephThere were several times when

God spoke to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, through dreams. Three of those dreams were meant to help protect the newborn Mes-siah from harm.

Just before Jesus was born, Joseph took Mary to his family’s home city, Bethlehem, the city of David, to be counted in a census. Mary gave birth to Jesus there,

and the new parents were visited by the Magi, who had followed a star to where Jesus had been born.

Not long after the Magi left, Joseph had a dream. An angel warned him that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus and told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby. After the Holy Family left for Egypt in the night, Herod ordered all male children up to 2 years old who lived in or around Bethlehem

to be killed.After Herod died, Joseph had

another dream in which an angel said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

Joseph did so, but he was warned in another dream not to return to Judea, because it might not be safe. Instead, Joseph brought his family to Galilee to live in Nazareth.

Bible MatchingBelow are some events surrounding the early life

of Jesus. Label them 1-5 in the order in which

they happened. Most of the events can be found

in Luke 2, except for C, which can be found in

Matthew 2:10-11.

__ A) Joseph and Mary lose Jesus after

a festival.

__ B) Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

__ C) The Magi visit Jesus and give him

gifts.

__ D) Jesus is presented at the temple.

__ E) Joseph and Mary name their baby

Jesus.

See answers on page 23.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer14

P a r e n t a l love is expressed

in thousands of kisses and endless caresses. That was the joy and happiness of Mary and Joseph when the God of life became a child in their arms.

With faith we glimpse into the eyes of Mary and Joseph filled with the peace and joy that can only come from God.

This is the same joy that spreads among Christians when we celebrate the mystery of Christmas, the mystery of God Emmanuel. Christmas has its magic and mystery!

By the grace of God the mystery of the birth of Jesus becomes alive and

real in our lives, so much so that we can experience the same joy and the same happiness of Mary and Joseph in the stable in Bethlehem. It doesn’t matter that we celebrate this event every year; for the person of faith this is always something new.

Christmas has the magic that allows us to feel the joy of the angels singing around the child, and the admiration of the kneeling shepherds who worshipped the King of heaven.

“Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace to people of good will.”

Our liturgy is full of rites and beautiful

signs. It’s a custom in our communities to venerate the image of the newborn child on Christmas Day.

Like Mary and Joseph, with a kiss we express our joy and happiness in knowing that this child has brought us salvation. Men and women of good will prostrate themselves before his image as a sign of respect and adoration for the God in heaven.

In fact, when we profess the creed during the Mass of the birth of Jesus, the liturgy tells us to pause and bow at the words “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate.”

Pope St. John Paull II once said, “Look upon the baby born in Bethlehem who is beside his mother Mary. Draw near to him, prostrate yourselves before Him in adoration and offer Him the gifts that

come from your hearts.”St. Paul said “… that at the name of

Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father?” (Phi 2, 10-11)

Merry Christmas to all! May this Year of Mercy bring us even

closer to the Savior of the world as we live the Christmas joy in the experience of sacramental life, reconciliation and community.

May the Lord bless our families, our communities and our ministries.

May the joy and happiness that Mary and Joseph and the angels and shepherds in Bethlehem be always our joy.

May the magic of Christmas transform our hearts.

W hen Santa appears on store shelves before Halloween, it’s easy to

forget that the Christmas season only begins Dec. 25.

Traditionally, the season includes n Christmas Day, Dec. 25Christ is born

n Feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 27Jesus condescends to be subject to His

parentsn Feast of the Holy Innocents, Dec. 28Herod slaughters the baby boys in

order to kill the Christ Child n The Circumcision (the Octave of

Christmas), Jan. 1

Jesus follows the Law n Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 3Jesus reveals His divinity to the three

Magi, and during His Baptism, and at the wedding at Cana n Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus,

Jan. 3After He is circumcised, He is named

and becomes a part of the Holy Familyn Twelfth Night, Jan. 6The Twelve Days of Christmas as a

Feast come to an end n Baptism of Our Lord/Octave of the

Epiphany, Jan. 10Christmas liturgically ends with the

Octave of the Epiphany.

M ost Catholics are familiar with Christmas

symbols, such as the wreath.In Roman times wreaths

(made of laurel) were used as symbols of victory. Christians adopted the practice, using wreaths (usually of pine nowadays) to represent the victory of the newborn King.

Some families turn their Advent wreaths into Christmas wreaths to

be used starting on Christmas morning.

But fewer know rosemary is a very, very old Christmas symbol.

Legend has it that on the flight to Egypt after the Magis’ visit and St. Joseph’s dream, Our Lady washed Baby Jesus’ clothes out and laid them across some rosemary bushes to dry. Since then, God blessed them

with their lovely fragrance.

The Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is a Christmas tradition that springs

from Germany. A legend surrounds it that is similar

to that of the poinsettia: a humble shepherdess felt that anything she gave to Baby Jesus couldn’t compare with what the Magi gave. As she sat

weeping, an angel came and swept the snow away from around her feet, and lovely cup-shaped white blooms sprang up.

The angel said to her, “Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor

gold is offering more meet (appropriate) for the Christ Child than these pure Christmas roses.” This lovely flower can bloom all winter long.

Source: www.fisheaters.com

Christmas Reflectionby Father Oscar CortésParochial Administrator, St. Rita of Cas-cia, Aurora

May the Joy of Christmas Fill Our Hearts

The Christmas Season is Just Beginning Dec. 25

Wreaths, Rosemary and Roses among Symbols of Christmas

(Observer photo by Penny Wiegert)

This is one of Jody Deery’s hundreds of nativities that are on display 4-8 p.m., Dec. 18 and 1-6 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 at her home, 1030 N. Second St., Rockford. Donations collected by the Catholic Women’s League during the annual display help the Poor Clares of Rockford.

Christmas Season

Dec. 25-Jan. 10

Around the Diocese

(Photo provided)

(Observer photos by Margarita Mendoza)

Candlelight Night is an annual tradition at St. Thomas More Par-ish in Elgin. Women gather at the church to share tea and sweets and talk about the significance of Advent and Christmas in their lives. Among the women gathered are Lillian Mendoza, Grace Stu-art, Judy Wright, Mariana Malony, Suzette Fernández, Nancy Pérez, Blanca Kubiuk and María Lozano.

The youngest group at the event was Giovanna Gutierrez, Ashley Tiu, Mia Kubiuk, Cecelia Fragakis, Katie Maloney, Madison Watwood, Mary McKay and Olivia Snow.

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 15

Second graders hoist their signs for the kindergarten through second-grade students at St. Patrick School in St. Charles performed ”Sing-A-Glad Noel,” a Christmas program, Dec. 3.

”Let’s Have Christmas Here Tonight” was the third through fifth grade Christmas program, Dec. 10. Both shows combined music and pageantry to celebrate the magic of this season.

(Photo provided)

Children of Blessed Sacrament Parish in North Aurora perform the Nativity story after Mass Dec. 6. The performance was followed by the annual parish Christmas party. (Photo provided)

Third- and fourth-graders from St. Mary School in East Dubuque carol at Bell Tower Se-nior Living Center. The students participate regularly in activities with the residents, in-cluding playing games, doing crafts, skits and reader’s theater, singing songs and prepar-ing snacks.

Submit Online: Parish, school and organization publicists may send Christmas photos using interactive forms at The Observer website http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/contact-us. Click on Submit Events and News. (You may attach one picture or document per form.)

We Wish Youa

Blessed Christmas!

The Staff and Parishioners ofChurch of the Holy Spirit 5637 Broad Street — Roscoe

815-623-6930

Students and Parishes Celebrate the Christmas Season

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer16

DeKalb Deanery Aurora Deanery

McHenry Deanery

Rockford Deanery

(Photo provided)

School Sister of St. Francis Rita Mary Phalen facilitates retreats for the children at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Aurora. During Oc-tober, she worked with � rst- through eighth-graders on meditating on the rosary and had kindergarten and preschool children meditate on thanking God. After she guided students through a decade of the rosary, she sought their responses, which included these from fourth graders: For the Resurrection: “I felt in peace, not � ghting. I said ‘Jesus you are alive’. And then I ran and gave him a hug,’ ” and for the Ascen-sion: “Well no time to lose. Let’s go out into the world.”

(Photo provided)

St. Peter School Geneva had a standing ovation as its production of “The Wizard of Oz” concluded. Directors were Emily Mueller and Lina Mikuloinis.

(Photo provided)

First graders at St. Mary School in DeKalb have been busy the past few weeks building and constructing their own true-to-size bald eagle nest. They compared the size of a bald eagle nest to a hummingbird nest. This year they are learning about the bald eagle and watching a pair of bald eagles at Berry College in Georgia via a live webcam. As the Georgia bald eagles have their nest ready for egg laying in a couple of weeks, the � rst graders have their nest ready, too.

(Photo provided)

Keeping a two-decade old tradition, the Christ Renews His Parish retreat group men’s choir from SS. Peter and Paul in Cary sang Christmas carols at St. Joseph’s Home for the elderly in Palatine Dec. 12.

(Photo provided)

St. Rita School choir from Rockford performs Christmas songs for residents of the Alden Debes Retirement home on Mulford Road.

(Photo provided)

Sixth-grade students at St. Margaret Mary School in Algonquin have been learning about Ancient Greece. They made posters, brochures, and songs comparing the city-states of Athens and Sparta.

Around the Diocese

Mon Dec 21CRYSTAL LAKECalled to Pray: 7 p.m.; St. Thomas the Apostle, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave. Sponsor: Rockford Diocese Vocations Office. Vocations talk and holy hour with Father Keith Romke, vocations director. For anyone interested in the priesthood, consecrated life or marriage. Families welcome. Info: www.rockforddiocese.org/vocations/

Tue Dec 22AURORAHoliday hoops camp: 1-4 p.m. (also 8-11 a.m. Dec 23); Rosary High School, 901 N. Edgelawn Dr. Sponsors: Rosary coaching staff and players. Cost: $35 in advance; $45 at the door. Info: http://rosaryhs.com/holiday_hoops

Thu Dec 24Christmas EveDiocesan Administration Center closed

Fri Dec 25Christmas DayHoly Day of ObligationDiocesan Administration Center closed

Sun Dec 27Discernment retreat: 7 p.m. (through 3 p.m. Dec. 28); Bishop Lane Retreat Center, 7708 E. McGregor Road. Opening Mass with Bishop David Malloy. Retreat leader: Father Keith Romke, diocesan vocations director. Cost: $50. Info: 815/399-4300 or vocations@rockforddiocese.org

Mon Dec 28AURORABaseball bootcamps: 10-11:30 a.m. and noon-1:30 p.m. (through Dec. 30); Marmion Academy, 1000 Butterfield Road. First session: fifth-sixth grade boys; second session: seventh-eighth grade boys. Sponsors: Marmion coaching staff. Cost: $50 per child. Info: www.marmion.org/baseballbootcamp

Wed Dec 30Deadline for Jan. 8 What’s Up (for events Jan. 11-17)

Thu Dec 31New Year’s EveDiocesan Administration Center closed

Fri Jan 1Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of GodHoly Day of Obligation

Diocesan Administration Center closed

Find more events on The Observer Catholic Newspaper Facebook

page and the diocesan calendar

Around the Diocese

What’s Up

(Pho

to p

rovi

ded)

Deaf Ministry Brings GoodiesVolunteers from the Rockford Diocese Deaf Apostolate Office portray Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a snowman, elves, a Christmas tree, a shepherd and rein-deers for the residents of Jack Mabley Center in Dixon at their annual Christmas party. This year they delivered 105 presents to residents of seven homes at the facility for devel-opmentally disabled adults. Some of the gifts are donated by employees of the Diocesan Administration Center in Rock-ford. Msgr. Glenn Nelson is the director of the deaf ministry.

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 17

Save the DateJan 5ST. CHARLESHealing after divorce: 7-8:30 p.m. (first of 10 weekly sessions); St. Patrick, 6N491 Crane Road. Catholic peer ministry, “Divorce and Beyond,” for men and women. Cost: $10. Info: Lois Mielke, loismielke@sbcglobal.net, 847-863-1268

Jan 8-10ROCKFORDWomen’s retreat: 5 p.m. (through 10 a.m. Jan. 10); Bishop Lane Retreat Center, 7708 E. McGregor Road. Theme: Called to be a Daughter of God. Leaders: Kay Ethington and Jill Kapala. Prayer, talks, reflection, Mass, praise and worship music; fellowship with other adult women – married or single. Register by Dec. 18. Cost: $130-190 private room; $95-155 shared room; $70 commuter. Info: 815/965-5011 or jlotko@rockforddiocese.org

Jan 9HUNTLEYFree throw contest: 9-11:45 a.m., Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center, 10450 Algonquin Road. For boys and girls, 9-14. Sponsor: St. Mary Knights of Columbus Council 11666.Free. Info: Matt Adam, 847/946-6911 or pr@huntleyknights.org.

WOODSTOCKPlacement test: 8 a.m.; Marian Central Catholic High School, 1001 McHenry Ave. Report with registration form. Cost: $15. Info: www.marian.com or Mike Maloney, 815/338-4220, ext. 108 or mmaloney@marian.com

Jan 18ST. CHARLESCalled to Pray: 7 p.m.; St. Patrick, 6N491 Crane Road. Sponsor: Rockford Diocese Vocations Office. Vocations talk and holy hour with Father Keith Romke, vocations director. For anyone interested in the priesthood, consecrated life or marriage. Families welcome. Info: www.rockforddiocese.org/vocations/

Jan 22ALGONQUINLife in the Spirit: 7:30-9:30 p.m. (first of five sessions); St. Margaret Mary, 111 S. Hubbard St. Sponsor: In Spirit and In Truth prayer group. Speaker: Father Peter Sarnicki, pastor. Topic: God’s Love and Salvation. Free. Info: John Morici, 847/915-0223 or Mary Ann Watt, 847/854-3178

Jan 27GENEVAWomen’s Bible study: 9:15-11 a.m. (continues Wednesdays through March 16); St. Peter, 1891 Kaneville Road. Sponsor: Fox Valley Women’s Bible Study. Topic: 2 Corinthians with New Collegeville Bible Commentary and Little Rock Scripture Study Guide. Child care available; also group for mothers and infants. Registration required. Cost: $30/$35 for new members; $25 for fall participants; $10 per child for care. Info: 630/377-4629

Submit Online: Parish, school and organization publicists may send news and photos, including Year of Mercy events, using inter-active forms at The Observer website http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/contact-us. Click on Submit Events and News. (You may attach one picture per form.) Information from this form also is submitted to El Observador and to the diocesan calendar.

Submit by Mail: Send mail submissions to The Observer, P.O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125.

At Christmas, more than ever, may your home be a happy place where God grants you and those you love His very special grace; and, where all the many blessings this Christmas holds for you reflect the peace and joyfulness the Holy Family knew.

Keep Christin Christmas

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer18

Like Young Observer on Follow @young0bserver on

W  ell, we’ve all finally made it to the time of year where things get busier than we could ever think possible! Work parties, family 

gatherings, shopping events, and so much more! 

Of course the most important thing is to keep God right in the middle of all of our plans. 

In light of this important task, I’m pleased to announce that over Christmas break the Vocation Office is going to be offering a retreat for young men in high school and college who are open to discerning a call to the priesthood.

This is going to be a more focused event than the summer camps, with more opportunity to allow the Lord to speak through prayer. 

If you fit the description of a high school or college guy who is open to a call to the priesthood, then you have nothing to lose. And if you don’t fit this description, but know someone who does, maybe you could give them a great Christmas gift of an invitation to attend the retreat. 

The event is going to be held at Bishop Lane Retreat Center in the main building. It will run from 7 p.m. Dec. 27 to 3 p.m. Dec. 28, and costs $50 

to cover a portion of the expenses of lodging and breakfast and lunch on Monday.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for this weekend, and I hope that many young men from our diocese will experience what God has been planning for them, so please help me to get the word out.

So if you are interested, e-mail me at kromke@rockforddiocese.org for more information

— Father Keith Romke, Diocesan Director of Vocations Write to him at kromke@rockforddiocese.org.

Vocation Corner

Guys: Is God calling you? Join me and listen

ont h e record By CHARLIE MARTIN | CNS

T he time between Christmas Day and before the start of the New Year is an important time. It invites us to consider our lives and 

envision how we want to enter 2016.Each year is a gift. But when we are prompted 

to evaluate whether we are living well, we can also take the time to evaluate our role as a disciple of Jesus.To help us with this process, I chose Josh 

Groban’s acclaimed 2004 hit “You Raise Me Up.” The song is a testament to the power of God in our lives. The song’s character speaks eloquently about 

how life can be hard as “when I am down,” and “oh my soul, so weary” and “my heart burdened.” He also knows that “each restless heart beats so imperfectly,” and yet, in the presence of God, “I am filled with wonder.”Thus, he can strongly affirm: “You raise me up so 

I can stand on mountains, you raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when I am on your shoulders, you raise me up to more than I can be.”Looking back on 2015, you might see that during 

this year you encountered “stormy seas” or a “burdened heart.” But as you envision 2016, I encourage you to 

tell God how you need Him to “raise” you up. No matter what challenges arise as you begin the upcoming year, make God your ally and most trusted friend.

Tell Jesus what you need. God’s miracles of healing and opportunity are given freely. Consequently, seek God’s help and then be 

open to surprise. As the creator of the universe, our God is quite inventive in how He helps us. Put 

aside expectations of how God should answer, and then open your heart to receive what He gives you.As disciples of Jesus, we 

also know that our focus must go beyond ourselves. Ask how you can help others. In fact, look around at 

members of your immediate family, at school, and elsewhere in your community. Assess how you can help others. Determine who can use your understanding, compassion, and encouragement.

None of us can “fix” the lives or problems of others, but God works through you to bring hope to others. It may be a hope that can 

help individuals improve their lives. Make a commitment to be the type of person who helps others find their inner strength.There is much suffering on 

this planet. And yet, who does God send to “raise” up His family to a new way of being, a new way of healing? You. None of us can solve humanity’s problems but all of us can do something. 

I encourage you to set one goal or plan an action that will help others in God’s family in 2016.Make a commitment in your local community, 

parish, or school, or maybe as a project to support our brothers and sisters in some other part of the world. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to answer this question: What will I do in 2016 that raises up God’s family, with my talent, my time, or my financial support?

We are fortunate to have a new year, a new chance to raise up ourselves and others. May each of you be blessed during 2016.

YO

Send comments to Charlie Martin at chmartin@hughes.net or at 7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary

When troubles come and my heart burdened be

Then I am still and wait here in the silence

Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas

I am strong when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can be

There is no life, no life without its hunger

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly

But when you come and I am filled with wonder

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas

I am strong when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas

I am strong when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up

Sung by Josh Groban © 2004, Reprise Records/Warner Bros. Records/143

Records

(Photo/www.joshgroban.com

YOYO Calendar

Feb. 6, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

What: Date or Danger, a workshop about understanding teen dating violence, for seventh- through 12th-grade studentsWhere: St. John Neumann, 2900 E. Main St., St. CharlesInfo: Jim Kintz, 630/338-9772

HUNTLEY—Ryan O’Sullivan of Boy Scout Troop 157 was awarded Eagle honors Oct. 11 at a Court of Honor held at St. Mary Parish, here. 

O’Sullivan is the son of Ryan and Marie O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan’s Eagle project was the creation of the Msgr. Steve Knox Flame of the Holy Spirit Fire Pit. 

The renovated fire pit was dedicated Aug. 22, 2014, and has seen plenty of use since then. 

The St. Mary Knights of Columbus Council, along with businesses in the local community, supported the project with both money and labor.  O’Sullivan

Huntley scout earns Eagle honors

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 19

This month’s YO Father question is answered by Father Keith Romke. Send your questions to youngobserver@rockforddiocese.org.

Q A guy I like just broke up with a girl from another high school and I think he’s going to ask me out. He’s really nice and I know

he could go out with any girl he wanted. But I’ve heard he’s had sex with some girls already. If he does ask me out, do you think he would be different with me? How can I tell him I’m not ready for sex with anybody yet?

A This is a great question, and I’m glad that you asked it, because I have a feeling that you’re not the only person who struggles with

knowing whether or not to date someone based upon certain things that have happened in their past.

I think when it comes to dating that it is important that we be very selective and prudent!

The whole point of dating, believe it or not, is not about having fun, or being able to be seen with the most attractive or most popular guy, or wanting to be accepted.

The point of dating is to see if someone is future marriage material.

And this means that anyone who you’d even consider dating should be someone that you would be comfortable having as the father of your future children. This means that you should want to date guys that truly respect women!

A huge part of this would be making sure that the

guy wants to protect you and keep you safe, both from dangers in the world, as well as from his own desires.

This may be harsh for me to say, but any guy who sleeps with a girlfriend before marriage is not keeping her safe, because through this action both of them are hurt spiritually.

True love seeks the good of the other, and it is willing to sacri� ce in order to see that good upheld.

I would say that the only way that you should give any guy a chance to date you is if he makes it very clear that he is going to respect your desire for purity.

Regarding how you could tell a guy that you’re waiting until marriage, I would say that you can simply tell him that you care about him enough not to want to put his soul in danger by acting in a way that would pull both of you away from God.

If he just laughs at you, or if he doesn’t understand, or if he disagrees, then walk away and know that you’ve dodged a huge bullet because in that very action he would be revealing that he wouldn’t respect you in a relationship.

If a guy says that he understands and that he respects and agrees with your stance, then I’d say that you could consider dating him, but be true to yourself and your convictions. Then, if at any point in your relationship he begins to act differently than he said he would, get out of the relationship as soon as possible!

Regarding your specifi c situation, with this guy who has slept with other girls before, although I don’t know him, it sounds like this has happened multiple times before. This would not give me a lot of confi dence that he is mature enough to respect your beliefs and

convictions.

Of course it’s important that we don’t judge others but at the same time we have to be prudent!

So I would recommend that you don’t put yourself in a situation that will most likely cause a lot of tension and most likely even put you in a very uncomfortable situation where you might be tempted to go against your beliefs and morals. It’s just not worth it.

There will be other guys, better guys, and you’ll be glad that you waited for one who truly respects women and who will love you for who you are as a person and not just for any benefi ts that he thinks he could achieve from a relationship with you.

As a fi nal litmus test on whether or not you should date a certain boy, especially if you know about some past behavior that you don’t really care for, I’d ask you to consider this: If you had a daughter, knowing what you know, would you feel comfortable with her dating this guy?

If you think that as a mom you would even be the slightest bit hesitant to have your daughter date the guy, then don’t date him yourself!

Finally, I’ll close by saying this: All of us want to be loved, cherished, and accepted, and that is why we seek out certain relationships. The best source of love, whether you are single or married, will always come from God.

So whenever you feel alone or lonely remember this: That loneliness is an invitation to intimacy with God. Spend time with Him and know that He will never let you down.

FatherYO

Share your ‘Catholic life’

If you are a high school or college student who is interested in sharing your faith journey, tell us

in about 250 words. Write about how you live your faith in the world. Talk about what being Catholic

means to you.

Send your essay and a photo of yourself

to youngobserver@rockforddiocese.org. Put “My Catholic Life” in the subject line. Be

sure to include your age, phone number (not for publication), school, parish and town.

Batavia Girl wins � rst Stars and Stripes award in Illinois, Project Aids Parish

Marmion Students Certi� ed to Begin Engineering and Design Careers

Madison Goodwin of Batavia is the fi rst in Illinois to receive American Heritage Girls highest recognition: The Stars and Stripes Award.

She is the daughter of Frank and Julie Goodwin and a member of Holy Cross Parish in Batavia.

A senior in high school, she is a member of American Heritage Girls Troop IL-0224, chartered by her parish.

Goodwin began her scouting journey in 2009 and has held many leadership positions within her troop along with earning more than 40

badges and investing more than 350 hours of service into her community.

Goodwin has attended AHG’s local and regional camps as well as national conventions.

She has received the religious recognitions: I Live My Faith, Marian, and Spirit Alive.

Her Stars and Stripes project consisted of documenting, photographing, and recording the valuables within Holy Cross Parish. The document will benefi t the parish in case of a disaster such as fi re, tornado, or theft.

“This was a big project, but (Goodwin’s) leadership and organizational skills allowed the project to be completed very professionally,” said Deacon Larry Motyka.

He was a direct contact for Goodwin during planning and completing her project.

As she enters college in the fall of 2016, Goodwin plans to pursue an English major and a minor in journalism.

A Court of Awards ceremony honoring her will be held on Jan. 16.

Students in Marmion Academy’s engineering design course have been certi� ed in SolidWorks, a computer aided design program. Students become a Certi� ed SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) by passing the � rst level of the program, which gives them the abil-ity to do 3D modeling in engineering and design careers. This � rst group of CSWAs is helping companies with engineering problems. Twenty-six were certi� ed in the � rst group and 50 additional Marmion students are on track to be certi� ed this school year. Af-ter becoming a CSWA, students begin to work with Dr. Victor Pinks II ‘72, who directs Marmion’s CPARC Engineering Center. Dr. Pinks coordinates internship activities of students with the research and development needs of businesses. The Marmion course is taught by Jeanne McLean.

(Photo provided)

Madison Goodwin of Batavia is the � rst in Illinois to receive the American Heritage Girls Stars and Stripes award.

About AHGAmerican Heritage Girls, a Christ-

centered character-development organization for girls, 5-18, is dedicated to building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country. AHG is celebrating its 20th anniversary

this year. Membership has averaged 30 percent growth annually since 2010 and has more than 40,000 members and more than 900 Troops in 49 states.

AHG focuses on six program emphases: life skill enhancement, girl leadership, teamwork and

confi dence building, and character, social and spiritual development.

About Stars and StripesThe Stars and Stripes award is

a multi-faceted award that honors girls who develop servant leadership skills that are needed to lead with integrity.

(Photo provided)

Faith Forum

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer20

In Exileby Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMIPresident of the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas

www.ronrolheiser.com

By JeFF Hedglen Catholic News Service

In May of 1986 I started work as the youth minister of my parish. Later that year when plans were drawn up for a new parish hall, I was promised a youth room with all the bells and whistles of modern design. I was excited but, as often happens in a growing parish, the plans were put on hold until the church could raise the necessary funding.

Along the way, other priorities intervened and the planned facility with the promised youth room was delayed. Finally, 20 years later, the new hall including a state-of-the-art youth room was opened.

That experience came to mind as I was reading this week’s Gospel when Elizabeth says to her cousin Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

To be sure, the promise of a room dedicated to youth ministry pales in comparison to the promise of the coming of the savior of the world, but it reminds me that promises made and promises kept are a huge part of our life and faith.

In our human life there are many promises. Parents promise to be there for their children, and there is an implicit promise that the children will grow up and leave some day. Siblings and friends have an inherent promise to have each other’s backs and to love each other through good and bad times.

In our life of faith the church promises to be faithful and provide the sacraments, and the Scriptures are full of promises. In addition to the promise mentioned in the Gospel, the prophet Micah offers background for the promise that later is fulfilled in Mary when he states that from Bethlehem there shall come a ruler whose origin is from of old.

Micah lived around the year 700 B.C. That means that through him God made a promise that took 700 years to be fulfilled. This makes my 20-year wait for a dedicated youth space seem like nothing.

Sometimes it may seem that God is slow in keeping his promises, but as sure as a youth room would come to fruition at my parish, ever surer is the hope that God will fulfill all that he has promised.

Some Promises Must be Believed a Long Time Before They are Kept

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”— Luke 1:45

© 2015 Diocese of Fort Worth

What promises have you made that have yet to be fulfilled? How have God’s promises been fulfilled in your life?

Word to Life: Dec. 20, 4th Sunday of Advent

Some years ago I was challenged by a bishop regarding an article I’d written. We were talking in his office and the tone eventually got a little testy: “How can you write something like that?” he asked.

“Because it’s true,” was my blunt reply. He already knew it was true, but now, realizing

that, he became more aware of his real agenda: “Yes, I know it’s true, but that doesn’t mean it should be said in that way in a Catholic newspaper like ours. This isn’t a university classroom or the New York Times. It’s a diocesan newspaper and that’s not the best context within which to say something like that. It will confuse a lot of readers.”

I’m not immune to pride and arrogance and so my spontaneous reaction was defensive. Immediately there were certain voices in me saying: “I am only saying what’s true. The truth needs to be spoken. Why are you afraid to hear the truth? Are we really doing people a favor by shielding them from things they’d rather not hear?”

But I’m glad I swallowed my pride, bit my tongue, muttered a half-sincere apology, and walked out of his office without saying any of those things out loud

because, after my initial feelings had subsided and I’d had a more sober and prayerful reflection on our conversation, I realized he was right.

Having the truth is one thing, speaking it in a place and a manner that’s helpful is quite another. It’s not for nothing that Jesus challenged us to speak our truth in parables because truth, as T.S. Eliot once quipped, cannot always be swallowed whole, and the context and tone within which it is spoken generally dictate whether it’s helpful or not to speak it at a given time or to a given person.

Simply put, it isn’t always helpful, or charitable, or mature, to throw a truth into someone’s face.

St. Paul says as much in his epistle to the Romans in words to this effect: We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. (Rom

15, 1) That can come across as patronizing, as if Paul were telling a certain elite to tone down some of their enlightened views and actions for the sake of those who are less enlightened, but that’s not what’s at stake here.

Undergirding this kind of admonition is a fundamental distinction that’s critically important in our teaching, preaching, and pastoral practice, namely, the distinction between catechesis and theology, the distinction between nurturing and shoring-up someone’s faith as opposed to stretching someone’s faith so as to make it more universally compassionate.

Catechesis is meant to teach doctrine, teach prayers, teach creeds, clarify biblical and church teachings, and give people a solid, orthodox framework within which to understand their Christian faith.

Theology, on the other hand, presupposes that those studying it are already catechized, that they already know their creeds and prayers and have a solid, orthodox foundation. Theology’s function,

Continued on page 22

Sensitive to Community, Beyond Ourselves

In a NutshellAm I a consecrated Christian? Are you?“Consecrated life” is a term commonly used

to describe religious orders.In earlier times, walls of one kind or another

tended to divide the church’s laypeople from those in consecrated life.

Sister Maria Josepha (left) prepares food in the kitchen at the Abbey of St. Walburga on a ranch in Virginia Dale, Colorado. There, a community of 24 Benedictine nuns maintain a retreat house for individuals and groups who wish to spend one or more days in prayer and contemplation.

After all, simplicity, hospitality, prayer and communal living are not unique to the consecrated life. Don’t families everywhere work to ensure that their communal home life remains vibrant and strong?

CNS photo/Jim West

It’s tough to reconcile John Donne and Thomas Merton’s view that we live for others, with Simon and Garfunkel’s musical preference for uninvolved isolation. (Listen to the words; “I am a Rock” is not about monastic or cloistered

life.)The variety

of social service agencies across the Rockford Diocese highlights the

fact we all have limitations. Because not every agency can be good at everything, cooperative efforts arise as the various churches, United Way agencies and others that coordinate and unify rather than duplicate and divide.

St. Vincent de Paul Societies, Lutheran Social Services, Home of the Sparrow, Jewish Federation, and many more operate independently and yet cooperatively.

Christmas, too, is a unifying force, whether in the faith-fi lled reverence that focuses on the birth of Our Lord, or the 10-week long commercial season whose messages tell us what we and others don’t know we need but still must buy. (Before we gripe about Christmas ads too much, remember they keep the political ads at bay until after the holiday season is over.)

To those who say “Put Christ back in Christmas,” we say, “He never left.” In fact, He is here all year. At Christmas, He is the unifying force, even when only represented by his surrogate, Santa Claus.

Faith-based social service agencies also neatly coalesce around the Christmas story to heighten awareness about those in need. Can anyone really imagine celebrating an arbitrarily selected day in the fourth week of December without the joy and meaning of Christmas?

Whether it’s collecting and distributing toys or clothes, ringing a bell at a red kettle,

attending midnight Mass, singing carols, or serving dinner at home or a shelter, Christ is there with us and has not left Christmas.

Catholic Charities is the grateful benefi ciary of many holiday gifts. Generous hearts open up to us and the people we serve all year. But at Christmas, the giving and the receiving are special.

High school students step up to deliver food, meet families, wrap gifts, load and unload trucks. They learn about hidden communities that have regular needs, but who also want, indeed need, to give something to others.

Parishes hold giving-tree events; donors deliver gift cards and cash; shopping malls and family-owned stores trust that their generosity will place the material side of the Christmas spirit in the hands of those who need it.

It is the community, coalescing around Christmas with the poor and the marginalized, the prosperous and altruistic, that reminds us that no man is an island.

That’s why we sing “O Holy Night,” “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” and “Joy to the World.” No islands here, only people standing united to bring the fullness of giving to everyone who has a need to give or receive. For us, every day is a chance to celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all, and thank you, from your Catholic Charities.

What follows is Pope Francis’ prayer for the Year of Mercy.Lord Jesus Christ,you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.

Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;

the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after

his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that

you spoke to the Samaritan woman:“If you knew the gift of God!”You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who

manifests His power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorifi ed.

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.That’s a big prayer. But let’s focus on just a few words in this

prayer, especially during this Christmas season when the world is very focused on the exchange of gifts. The same line of the prayer can also be used when everyone starts contemplating the annual resolutions and hopes and prayers for the new year.

“If you knew the gift of God!” Those words spoken by God can be our refl ection about real

gifts, given and received. I think this whole Year of Mercy is that very two-fold gift from our God and our church that is sorely needed in this world right here, right now.

We can use the gift of Mercy to help salve the wounds of hatred in the world, so a gift of healing can begin. And we know, there is plenty of hatred and hurt around us whether it is in political rheteroic, in the threads of social media, in our cities, on the battlefi elds around the world, and worst of all, in the hearts of our fellow men and women.

Mercy is that gift of light which can be opened in our own hearts to shine forth and shatter the dark hate that hangs heavy around us. And the gifts we are privileged to give and receive are so very simple. They are the Corporal Works of Mercy of feeding the hungry; giving drink to the thirsty; clothing the naked; sheltering the homeless; visiting the sick; visiting the imprisoned; and burying the dead. And they are the Spiritual Works of Mercy that call us to instruct the ignorant; counsel the doubtful; admonish sinners; bear wrongs patiently; forgive all inujries; comfort the sorrowful; and, pray for the living and the dead.

So as we rush around to fi nd just the right gift and fi gure out just what our new year resolve should be, perhaps we can use the prayer of Pope Francis and the works of Mercy to give a small gift to the people and world around us and resolve to make a difference that will last long after Christmas and 2016 have become a memory.

May God Bless you and your family at Christmas and into the new year and may you always know and share the mercy of God and strive to be the “visible face of the invisible Father” to all you encounter and who encounter you.

For more on the Year of Mercy visit www.rockforddiocese.org

Viewpoints

Our Year-long Gift of Mercy

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of

speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

To send letters to us please use one of the following:

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Please provide your name, address, and phone number.

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 21

From the Editor

by Penny WiegertEditorThe Observer

pwiegert@rockforddiocese.org

Charitably Speaking

by Patrick WinnDirector, Rockford Diocese Catholic Charities

pwinn@rockforddiocese.org

Different View CNS/H.L. Schwadron

At Catholic Charities, the Giving Is Year Round, Thanks to You

“No man is an Island.”John Donne, Thomas Merton

“I am a rock. I am an Island.”Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel

“O Holy Night”De Roquemaure

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer22

Media/Arts

At the MoviesIn the Heart of the Sea(Warner Bros.)The real-life events that helped inspire Herman Melville’s classic 1851 novel

“Moby-Dick” become the basis for a polished and exciting adventure directed by Ron Howard. As the novelist (Ben Whishaw) interviews the last survivor (Brendan Gleeson) of an ill-fated 1820 whaling expedition out of Nantucket, Massachu-setts, the old salt (played in youth by Tom Hol-land) reluctantly reveals the tragic consequences that resulted from the rivalry between his vessel’s aristocratic but inexperienced captain (Benjamin Walker) and its veteran first mate (Chris Hem-

sworth). While falling short of its own sublime ambitions, Howard’s film is visually striking and generally absorbing. He maintains a light touch is in its incidental treatment of religious and envi-ronmental topics. Despite some grim plot devel-opments, this adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick’s history text, published in 2000, will make fit and even valuable fare for most mature adolescents. THIS FILM CONTAINS stylized seafaring violence with brief gore, mature themes, includ-ing cannibalism and suicide, a bawdy image, profanity, crude and crass terms.

— Catholic News Service; for the latest reviews, visit www.catholicnews.com/movies.cfm

From page 20among other things, is then to stretch its students in the function of giving them the symbolic tools with which to understand their faith in a way that leaves no dark, hidden corners into which they are afraid to venture for fear of shaking their faith.

Catechesis and theology have different functions and must respect each other since both are needed: Young seedling plants need to be protected and gently nurtured; just as older, mature plants have to be given the wherewithal to live and thrive

inside all the environmental challenges in which they find themselves.

Thus the challenge coming to me from the bishop was, in effect, to be more careful with my audience so as to distinguish theology classrooms and academic periodicals from catechetical situations and church newspapers.

It carried too a special challenge to humility and charity, such as was, for example, shown by the scientist-philosopher, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Elderly, retired, and in declining health, he still found himself

“silenced” by the Vatican in that he was forbidden to publish his theological thoughts. But, rather than reacting with anger and arrogance, he reacted with charity and humility.

Writing to his Jesuit provincial, he acknowledged needs beyond his own: “I fully recognize that Rome may have its own reasons for judging that, in its present form, my concept of Christianity may be premature or incomplete and that at the present moment its wider diffusion may therefore be inopportune. … (This letter) is to assure you that, in spite of

any apparent evidence to the contrary, I am resolved to remain a child of obedience.

“Obviously,” he continued, “I cannot abandon my own personal search — that would involve me in an interior catastrophe and in disloyalty to my most cherished vocation; but I have ceased to propagate my ideas and am confining myself to achieving a deeper personal insight into them.”

Recognizing the importance of sensitivity as to where and how we speak the truth, Jesus advises: “Speak your truth in parables.”

(Obs

erve

r pho

to)

Win ‘The Vatican Prophecies’Fill out this form and mail it to The Observer — Prophecies, PO Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125. Mailed entries must be postmarked by

Jan. 14, 2016. (Note the extended deadline.)

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Sensitive to Community, Beyond Ourselves

A-IIIPG-13

On TVBroadcast times may vary; check local listings.

“Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve in Rome” — Dec. 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m. (EWTN): Live with Pope Francis from St. Pe-ter's Basilica (TV-G)

“Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve” — Dec. 24, 9:30-11 p.m.

(EWTN): Live from Washing-ton's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Con-ception (TV-G)

“Urbi et Orbi: Message And Blessing” — Dec. 25, 5-5:30 a.m. (EWTN): Live broadcast of Pope Francis' Christmas blessing to the city of Rome

and the world. Rerun 8-8:30 p.m. (TV-G)

“Solemn Mass of Christmas Day” — Dec. 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EWTN): Live from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Con-ception in Washington, D.C. (TV-G)

The Observer | FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 23

For the RecordParish offices may forward death and wedding information using forms at http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/contact-us. You may also request announcement postcards by calling 815/399-4300, ext. 383. We encourage you to send the information as soon as you receive it. Thank you.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse by an employee or mem-ber of the clergy of the Rockford Diocese, report the matter to law enforcement in the county in which the conduct occurred and then please call the hot-line number: 815/293-7540.

School and Church Custodian Jobs (Experienced)Cleaning and maintaining facilities throughout the Chicago-land area since 1988, Buck Services is a Christian based, family owned and operated company dedicated to provide quality service. We treat everyone in our organization with trust, dignity, and respect. We specialize in cleaning schools and churches. Buck Services is an equal opportunity employer.Buck Services Inc. specializes in in school and church maintenance. We have immediate positions available for experienced individuals with good communications skills, valid driver’s license, and experience in the school environment.

FULL TIME & PART TIME CUSTODIANS: ($10.00/$10.50 hr) Duties include cleaning of classrooms, bathrooms, cafeteria, gymnasium, floors, windows, dusting, and trash removal. WEEKEND CUSTODIAN: ($10.00/$10.50 hr) Duties include assisting staff with cleaning after events. Saturday and Sunday various shifts available.

If interested, please call Bill Buchholz @ (630) 876-8184, Fax Resume to (630) 876-8320 or

Email Resume to billjr@buckservices.com

The Offi cial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of RockfordThe Offi cial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford

— Contact —Kevin McCarthy 815-399-4300 ext. 385

or emailkmccarthy@rockforddiocese.org

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Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me that you are my mother. O Holy Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Amen. Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. Novena is published in gratitude. E.D.

Powerful Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, who lights all roads so that I can attain my goals, you who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and that in all instances of my life you are with me, I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things and to confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you even and in spite of all material illusion. I wish to be with you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three consecutive days without asking a favor. Then on the third day make your request. Published in gratitude of grace attained and for many requests granted. M.H.

Thanks to SacredHeart of Jesus

Thanks to St. Jude and the Sacred Heart of Jesus for several prayers answered. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us. Amen. Pray this prayer with faith,

relying on God’s will, as a novena, nine times a day for nine days. This published in gratitude. Thank you St. Jude and Sacred Heart of Jesus. B.P. M.C.

Thanksgiving Novena to St. JudeO Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all whom invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to who God has given such great powers to come to my assistance, help me in my present and urgent petition, in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked, say three Our Fa-thers, three Hail Marys and Glory Be’s for nine consecutive days. Publications must be promised, St. Jude pray for us all who invoke your aid. AMEN. I have had my request granted. Publication promised. J.A.J.

Deaths AMBOY—St. Patrick: Alice H. Donnelly, 97, Nov. 29;AURORA—St. Mary: Ignacia Rodriguez, 84, Nov. 30; Rich-ard D. Cobb, Sr., 82, Dec. 6;CRYSTAL LAKE—St. Thom-as the Apostle: Ryan Free-man, 31, Oct. 3; Frances Schultz, 85, Oct. 8; Bryan Malek, Sr., 57, Oct. 13; Paul Przyborski, 86, Oct. 23; Cheryl Szadlenka, 68, Oct. 27; Vin-cent Mottola, 85, Nov. 1; Mary Ann Lupa, 81, Nov. 10; Caro-lyn Witek, 75, Nov. 17; Gabri-ela Salas, 36, Nov. 22;DEKALB—St. Mary: Eugene A. Grosch, 96, Nov. 30;DIXON—St. Patrick: Barbara Boos, 79, Nov. 8; Paul Nus-baum, 88, Nov. 21; Regina Lig-man, 98, Nov. 24;DURAND/IRISH GROVE—St. Mary/St. Patrick: Emmett Cal-lahan, 78, Dec. 6;GENEVA—St. Peter: John Dittrich, 82, Dec. 8;HARMON—St. Flannen: Dan-iel Haley, 69, Dec. 5;HUNTLEY—St. Mary: Wayne Donahue, 88, Nov. 17; Edward Solger, 88, Nov. 20; Joseph Tangorra, 57, Nov. 25; Frank Heabler, 81, Nov. 23; Aurora Corpuz, 65, Dec. 1; Eric Litter-er, 50, Dec. 1; George Russ, 87, Dec. 4;MCHENRY—Church of Holy Apostles: Louise M. Morris, 98, Oct. 26; Bernard Wanagas, 94, Nov. 10; Alfonso Madedo, 96, Nov.19; Mary Ann Becker, 91, Nov. 27; Joan A. Althoff, 85, Nov. 30;ROCK FALLS—St. Andrew: Jason W. Griffis, 37, Dec. 1;ROCKFORD—St. Anthony

of Padua: Peter Saladino, 65, Dec. 5;St. Rita: Patrick Wise, 53, Nov. 26; Patricia Whitmore, 68, Nov. 27; Arlene Meini, 84, Dec. 1;ST. CHARLES —St. John Neumann: James Janet, 69, Nov. 29; Terrence Kloss, 79, Dec. 1; Thomas J. Zambreno, 63, Dec. 5;STOCKTON—Holy Cross: Robert Arand, 80, Oct. 11; Thomas Wild, 70, Nov. 24.

Weddings CRYSTAL LAKE—St. Thom-as the Apostle: Elena Gonza-lez-Mujica and Jose Hernan-dez Martinez, Oct. 24; Claire Maureen Pollasky and Nathan James Peters, Oct. 24; DEKALB—St. Mary: Pamela Sue Schmid and Steven Leon-ard Hart, Oct. 17; Julie Ann Vassilogambros and Patrrick Jon Hamilton, Dec. 5; Jessica Karmen Buck and David An-thony Reo, Dec. 5;GENEVA—St. Peter: Sarah Rachael Lance and Bryce Jar-ett Skriba, Dec. 12;HUNTLEY—St. Mary: Regina Velazco and Harry Arsoniadis, Dec. 15.

Stewardship MomentGiving and Receiving: Let the theme of this Christmas be giv-ing and receiving. Receiving first, the amazing grace of God in the gift of Jesus Christ. Then to give. A gift for someone in need. A thank you-offering of money for the Lord’s work at

your church. Ourselves, our souls and bodies. What do we have that we did not receive?

Courtesy of Parish Publications “Stewardship” newsletter

Mass MeditationSunday, Dec. 20th (4th Sun-day of Advent): The Gospel today tells of the Virgin Mary, pregnant herself, hurrying off to help her cousin Elizabeth. The model of good stewardship, she who had given herself to bear the Savior gave her time and love to others as well.

Courtesy of Sharon Hueckel

Life MomentPray: That Christ, the shep-herd of all nations, will guide world leaders and their peo-ples in the ways of peace and justice.

Courtesy of www.priestsforlife.org

The Junior ObserverFrom page 13

Bible Matching: 1) B, 2) C, 3) E, 4) D, 5) A

24 FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2015 | The Observer

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAYDaily Scripture Readings

† Pray for the priests who have served the Rockford Diocese and who died this month on the days listed.

Pray for those with a religious vocation.

1Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Holy Day of ObligationNm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21† Father Bernard Ratazak, 2015Pope Francis

2Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors of the Church

1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28 (Epiphany vigil readings in bottom row)Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

3EpiphanyIs 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12† Father Frederick H. O’Rourke, 1951; Rgt. Rev. Donald M. Carroll, 2002Bishop David MalloyFather J. Robert Camacho

4Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

1 Jn 3:22-4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25Bishop Emeritus Thomas G. Doran

5John Neumann, bishop

1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7-8; Mk 6:34-44Father Brian Bovee

6Andre Bessette, religious

1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13; Mk 6:45-52Msgr. John Fritz

7Raymond of Penyafort, priest

1 Jn 4:19-5:4; Ps 72:1-2, 14, 15bc, 17; Lk 4:14-22a† Father Anthony Buetter, 1914Priests of the Aurora Deanery

81 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Lk 5:12-16† Father Thomas Smith, 1938; † Msgr. Louis J. Franey, 1989Missionaries

91 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 3:22-30† Father Casper J. Huth, 1913Father Daniel Zdebik, OFM Conv.

10Baptism of the LordIs 42:1-4, 6-7; Ps 29:1-4, 9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22† Father Henry L. Weckerle, 1986Benedictine Monks — Swiss-America Congregation

111 Sm 1:1-8; Ps 116:12-19; Mk 1:14-20† Father Charles K. McCarren, 2002Father George Birungyi

121 Sm 1:9-20; (Ps) 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8; Mk 1:21-28† Msgr. James J. Bennett, 1922Priests and Religious

13Hilary, bishop, doctor of the Church

1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20; Ps 40:2, 5, 7-10; Mk 1:29-39† Father Thomas M. Moore, 1940Father Kenneth Anderson

141 Sm 4:1-11; Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Mk 1:40-45† Father Edward J. Lehman, 1977Father Joseph Lutz

151 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a; Ps 89: 16-19; Mk 2:1-12† Msgr. John L. La� ey, 1966† Father Anthony J. Becker,, 2015Msgr. William McDonnell

16Blessed Virgin Mary

1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1a; Ps 21:2-7; Mk 2:13-17Father Dariusz Barna, OFM Conv.Father Matthew BergschneiderMsgr. Michael Tierney

172nd Ordinary TimeWeek of Prayer for Christian UnityIs 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-3, 7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11Priests of the DeKalb Deanery

18Martin Luther King, Jr., Day1 Sm 15:16-23; Ps 50:8-9, 16b-17, 21, 23; Mk 2:18-22† Father William P. Sta� , 1962 † Father Brian Olsen, Jan. 19, 2013Permanent Deacons

191 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89:20-22, 27-28; Mk 2:23-28† Father Bernard Harezlak, 1983Father Matthew DeBlock Father Edward HughesFather Timothy Mulcahey, LC

20Fabian, pope, martyrSebastian, martyr

1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10; Mk 3:1-6† Father L. Dudley Day, 1983Priests of the Elgin Deanery

21Agnes, virgin, martyr

1 Sm 18:6-9, 19:1-7; Ps 56:2-3, 9-13; Mk 3:7-12† Father Thomas Kearney, 1932; † Father Raymond M. Hettermann, 1990; † Father Leo J. Bartel, 2005Msgr. Glenn Nelson

22Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children1 Sm 24:3-21; Ps 57:2-4, 6, 11; Mk 3:13-19† Father L. Thomas Risley, 2000Priests of the Freeport Deanery

23Vincent, deacon, martyrMarianne Cope, virgin

2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; Ps 80:2-3, 5-7; Mk 3:20-21† Father Anthony Renne, 1920; † Msgr. Thomas P. Bermingham, 1973Vocations

243rd Ordinary TimeNeh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Ps 19:8-10, 15; 1 Cor 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21Father Stephen Glab, CR

25Conversion of Paul, ApostleActs 22:3-16; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Mk 16:15-18Father Christopher Kuhn

26Timothy and Titus, bishops

2 Tm 1:1-8 (or Ti 1:1-5); Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a, 10; Mk 3:31-35Priests of the McHenry Deanery

27Angela Merici, virgin

2 Sm 7:4-17; Ps 89:4-5, 27-30; Mk 4:1-20† Father John L. Daleiden, 1976; † Father Theodore B. McCormick, (Jan. 28) 1953Priests of the Rockford Deanery

28Thomas Aquinas, priest, doctor of the Church

2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29; Ps 132:1-5, 11-14; Mk 4:21-25† Father Bernard L. He� ernan, 1928; † Father Patrick J. Quinn, 1949 Women religious

292 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17; Ps 51:3-7, 10-11; Mk 4:26-34† Father Daniel J. Considine, 1920Father Joseph Kulak

30Blessed Virgin Mary

2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17; Ps 51:12-17; Mk 4:35-41Father Andres Salinas

314th Ordinary TimeJer 1:4-5, 17-19; Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17; 1 Cor 12:31-13:13; Lk 4:21-30† Msgr. Raymond J. Wahl, 2015Priests of the Sterling Deanery

Join Pope Francis in praying for these special intentions this month:Interreligious Dialogue — That sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice.

Christian Unity — That by means of dialogue and fraternal charity and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Christians may overcome divisions.

— http://www.apostleshipofprayer.org

Readings for Epiphany vigil, Jan. 2Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Andre Bessette 1845 - 1937 Feast: Jan. 6Born in Canada, Andre worked for three years in the United States

as a weaver and manual laborer. After returning to Canada in 1870, he joined the Congregation of Holy Cross and took fi nal vows in 1874. For decades, Brother Andre humbly served his community near Montreal as doorman, janitor, barber, gardener and infi rmarian. With St. Joseph as his model and intercessor, he developed a healing ministry and huge following. In 1904, he moved into Montreal to help build the Oratory of the Holy Cross, and remained there for the rest of his life. When this “Miracle Man of Montreal” was canonized in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said he “lived the beatitude of the pure of heart.”

Marguerite Bourgeoys 1620 - 1700 Feast: Jan. 11Growing up in Troyes, France, Marguerite formed a special relation-

ship with Our Lady. She was turned away by two religious communities, but met the founder of Montreal, Canada, when he returned to France to visit his sister. He invited Marguerite to open a school in the New World; she went, despite misgivings, after praying to Mary. From that fi rst school in an abandoned stable, her ministry grew to include teaching women crafts and founding the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. She

managed to keep her sisters uncloistered, despite opposition from the bishop, and served as superior for many years. When Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1982, she became Canada’s fi rst woman saint.

ad, dates moved, vocations, necrology, saints, aofp, readings

Prayer Intentions and Scripture Readings January 2016observer@rockforddiocese.org 815/399-4300 http://observer@rockforddiocese.org

We wish you all the blessings of Christmas ...

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel ... — Matthew 1:23

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