The DPC needs you!

A young adult representative to the Diocesan Pastoral Council is needed from the western part of the Rockford Diocese. The Council addresses matters of pastoral concern that Bishop Doran raises. He also invites the Council itself to surface matters of pastoral concern that may be forwarded to the Presbyteral Council to be part of their agenda. Recently the Council addressed general issues of pastoral concern and made recommendations about enriching the Sunday Mass experience.

This representative would need to attend quarterly meetings of the DPC, which are held the first Saturday of December, March, and June, and the second Saturday of September. All meetings are held at the Diocesan Administrative Center, Rockford, from 9am to 12 noon, followed by a short, optional luncheon. The next meeting is September 11.

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Who's New at the Rockford Diocese?

There have been some changes in the personnel who serve diocesan Catholics on the diocesan level. Some changes are due to retirements and others have been the result of reallocating duties and office space. Here are some of the new employees joining the residents staffs at the Diocesan Administration Center as of July 1, 2010:

Mr. Michael Kagan is now the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Rockford.

Ms. Margo Schifo is the Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

Father Carl Beekman is the new Director of Vocations.

Father John Fritz is secretary to Bishop Thomas G. Doran and Master of Ceremonies.

Mitch Streidl is now the Director of the Respect Life Office.

Don and Lorrie Gramer, Directors of the Office for Family Life, now have a permanent office at the Diocesan Administration Center . They also have four staff members there including Joetta Haas, Esther and Jim Mortensen and Ann Marie Coyle.

All are available to serve you at 815/399-4300.

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Msgr. Doherty to Be Bishop In Indiana

It was announced by the Holy See and by the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., on Wed., May 12, 2010, that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has named the The Rev. Msgr. Timothy L. Doherty, Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Dundee, and St. Mary Parish, Gilberts, to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana.

Bishop Thomas G. Doran issued a statement to The Observer at press time which said, "Pope Benedict XVI has paid the high compliment to our excellent priests of this Diocese by choosing one of their number, Msgr. Timothy Doherty, to be Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana."

"Msgr. Doherty has distinguished himself in every assignment he has fulfilled since his ordination to the priesthood. After having done special studies in the area of health care ethics, he has been a source of excellent advice in these matters not only to me, but also to our province and region. We wish Bishop-Elect Doherty every success in the apostolic office which he is now to fulfill and our prayers and good wishes go with him as he takes up these responsibilities."

Fr. Michael Lavan has been appointed to succeed Bishop-Elect Doherty at St. Catherine of Siena and St. Mary parish.

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Annual Appeal takes theme
From Year of the Priest

   Some 35 years ago, Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill chose to change an old system, said David Hougan at a recent meeting with employees at the Diocesan Administration Center in Rockford to introduce this year's Diocesan Stewardship Appeal.
   As a parish priest, Bishop O'Neill had been unhappy when the diocese simply gave pastors an annual bill without giving any explanation of, or goals for, how the money would be spent. So when he became bishop, he changed the process.
   "Bishop O'Neill called this the 'kitchen sink model,'" said Hougan, director of development for the Rockford Diocese. "He researched other systems around the country and chose this one because he wanted everyone to know the whole nine yards of how the money would be used, not just the heart-string parts like priest retirement and seminarian education."
   "He used to say that a family budget couldn't just include vacations and other sweet things," but also had to include nuts-and-bolts things like a new water heater and groceries, Hougan added.
   The annual diocesan appeal accomplishes that, he said, by sharing how money is spent, by giving information on administrative offices, by describing the ministries of the diocese, and by allowing the bishop, as diocesan pastor, to directly ask parishioners for contributions.
   The annual appeal will be announced the weekend of April 24-25. The first weekend in May is when parishioners across the diocese will be invited to make a financial pledge to support the work of the diocese and/or to volunteer for a diocesan ministry.
   This year's focus for the appeal is "One Priestly People," to acknowledge the Year for Priests and the collective responsibility of all Catholics to serve, Hougan said. A video that gives witness to the work accomplished through the appeal features priests, laity and Bishop Thomas G. Doran who cheers on "the magnificent work being done throughout the diocese" in parishes and ministries, and adds that "good ministry is never an accident."
   The 10-minute video is to be shown in parishes when possible, Hougan said.
   "There is a principle in stewardship (and other fundraising organizations) that those who are beneficiaries should make their gifts first," Hougan said to diocesan employees at the meeting. "We have a culture in our diocese that is distinctive - one of service. Not all dioceses are like this."
Hougan also described a service to donors - a form for prayer requests from parishioners. Those requests are kept in the administration center chapel, are prayed for at Masses celebrated there, and employees are encouraged to pray for the requests during their private prayer times also.