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Bishop Malloy Archives Columnists Features News / EventsAdvertise Contact Us Catholic Forum Top of the Morning Young Observer Junior Observer Destinations Blog Special Features Book Club What’s Up+plus Calendar of Events National/World News El Observador Digital Observer Meet The Staff Diocesan Web Site Subscribe to 2024 Subscription Clipart Cookbook Bulletin Art Subscribe to the Observer Submit Death Announcements Submit Events and News Submit Wedding Announcements Change Your Subscription AddressNational Eucharistic Revival Holy time with GodTiempo santo con Dios The Parish Phase of the Eucharistic Revival is Here! To help parishioners understand the Eucharist and adoration, published a special 24-page bi-lingual booklet, Holy Time With God, featuring all the adoration chapels in the Diocese of Rockford. The four-color book includes photos, a map, locations, and open times for the individual chapels along with tips on how to spend your time in adoration. And of course, there is the Eucharistic Revival Prayer composed by our own diocesan director of the Office for Divine Worship, Father Jonathan Bakkelund. The Holy Time With God booklet was an exclusive gift to all subscribers of . However, you can now download a copy so you, your family or your parish group can begin your diocesan pilgrimage to some or all of these chapels during this parish year of the revival.24 page booklet available in .PDF format(Click on image at left) Freeport Aquin Schools Ends Grades 9-12, Begins New PreK-8 Catholic Micro Academy By Penny Wiegert, Editor May 9, 2024 FREEPORT—Administrators from the Catholic Diocese of Rockford and Aquin Catholic Schools announced good and bad news to Aquin employees and parents at meetings on May 1. The bad news is that with only 18 students registered for grades 9-12 for the 2... Read More What is a micro school?” May 9, 2024 A micro school is an intentionally small-scale educational environment that typically serves a limited number of students across various age groups. In the context of a Catholic elementar... Read More Why Flannery? The Thought And Work Behind Wildcat” By Amanda Hudson, News Editor May 9, 2024 Actor Ethan Hawke and producer Eric Groth met virtually with members of the Catholic press to talk about their new film, Wildcat,” and how they came to make a movie about the late Catholic author, Mary Flannery O’Connor. Hawke wrote and... Read More A Short Review of Wildcat” from a Flannery O’Connor Neophyte By Amanda Hudson, News Editor May 9, 2024 I watched the movie knowing nothing about Flannery O’Connor or her work other than that she was a controversial Catholic author. Listening to Ethan Hawke and Eric Groth talk about the film, I got a better sense of their approach and how what sometimes seemed a bit disjointed actually d... Read More What’s Up May 9, 2024AURORA Christmas in July craft show July 13 Abbey Farms will hold its first Christmas in July craft show July 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at 2855 Hart Rd. Will feature over 75 local vendors, and food a... Read More Family Events Coming Up Fast May 9, 2024 May 17, 19: Hip-hop worship concerts in Geneva, Huntley On May 17, 7-9 p.m., St. Peter Parish in Geneva will hold a night of worship and music at the parish, 1891 Kaneville Rd. There is no cost for the... Read More New Tabernacle, Doors Blessed at Aurora Parish By Margarita Mendoza, Editor El Observador May 2, 2024 AURORA—Parishioners of St. Therese of Jesus and Father Darwin Flores, parochial administrator, are joyful because Bishop David Malloy blessed two significant parish renovations. The April 23 evening of blessings started with 6 p.m. Mass celebr... Read More Annual Gathering Celebrates Jubilarians, Priesthood By Amanda Hudson, News Editor May 2, 2024 ROCKFORD—We are called to something that is beyond our own natural human powers, but not beyond His, not beyond those of the One Who has called us,” Bishop David Malloy said at the annual Jubilarian Mass held on April 23 at St. Rita Church. ... Read More Magnificat Breakfast Tickets on Sale May 2, 2024 CRYSTAL LAKE—Reservations are open for the May 11 prayer breakfast at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 1023 McHenry Ave., here. The breakfast is sponsored by the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist” McHenry chapter of Magnificat, an internatio... Read More Holy Name Society Honors Two Military Veterans May 2, 2024 ROCKFORD—The Holy Name Society of St. Anthony of Padua Parish honored two U.S armed forces veterans for their long-time membership at a Mass April 14. Receiving Lifetime Service Awards were (from left) Joseph Montalbano, a veteran of World War II and Purple Heart recipient, and... Read More To the Next Five Years: Springfield Dominicans Elect New Leaders, Evaluate Mission at General Chapter Meeting May 2, 2024 SPRINGFIELD—The Dominican Sisters of Springfield gathered in April for their week-long General Chapter meeting, a week of prayerful conversation and deliberation, which plans for the next five years. The first five days, called the Chap... Read More Discern Priesthood at July Vocation Retreats May 2, 2024 LOVES PARK, BATAVIA—Young men in the Diocese of Rockford are invited to two retreats this summer to discern the priesthood. Father Jack Reichardt, Vocations Office director, will lead the one-day retreats along with current seminarians. The da... Read More Church Joined by Illinois Medical Society in Opposing Assisted Suicide By Penny Wiegert, Editor April 25, 2024 ROCKFORD—In February this year a bill was introduced that would legalize assisted suicide in Illinois. Should it pass, Illinois would join California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington in being a so-cal... Read More Participate Along the Marian Route April 25, 2024 Some Illinois sites (there are many more events in Chicago) if you would like to join the pilgrims somewhere along the way are: Read More Boylan’s First Lacrosse Season Has Smashing Start By Lynne Conner, Observer Correspondent April 25, 2024 ROCKFORD—Boylan Central Catholic High School’s inaugural lacrosse season is off to a sensational start. In their first home game at Titan Stadium on April 6, Boylan posted a 15-2 victory over the Geneva Vikings. This game was held during spring break, so we were down some ... Read More Magnificat Prayer Breakfast May 11 April 11, 2024 CRYSTAL LAKE—The Mary, Mother of the Eucharist” McHenry chapter of Magnificat, an international ministry program for Catholic women, will host a prayer breakfast and guest presentation May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon., at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Paris... Read More About 40 Days for Life February 22, 2024 The first coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign took place in 2007, begun by four people in Bryan/College Station, Texas, after Planned Parenthood opened a facility in town. Read More Catechumens and Candidates Gather for Rite of Election ROCKFORD By Amanda Hudson, News Editor February 22, 2024 ROCKFORD—The Cathedral of St. Peter was the setting for two gatherings of people from across the diocese for the annual Rite of Election on Feb. 17: a 10 a.m. English-speaking group and at 11:30 a.m. those whose first language is Spanish. Bishop David Malloy welco... Read More 40 Days for Life Campaign Begins with Encouragement By Amanda Hudson, News Editor February 22, 2024 ROCKFORD—A group of prolife people gathered Feb. 13 for the kickoff of this year’s 40 Days for Life campaign in the Rockford area. The event at St. Bernadette Parish featured guest speaker Steve Karlen. Karlen got involved in the pro-... Read More A 30-Year American ‘Adventure’ Celebrated By Amanda Hudson, News Editor February 22, 2024 ROCKFORD—It’s been 30 years since the Bilic family arrived in Rockford — the first refugee family fleeing the Bosnia-Herzegovina War to arrive in Rockford. An article from the Feb. 25, 1994, Observer quotes the then-28-year-old Croatian couple about t... Read More Lent Reflection2nd Sunday of Lent In...