The Encounter Retreat that replaced the former Jeremiah Days for young men in seventh through ninth grades welcomed 22 retreatants from July 7-9. It blended physical activity (including a day trip to Starved Rock State Park) with vocation talks and prayers, indoor and outdoor activities.
See more in the July 19 issue of The Observer.
A special noon Mass on Sunday, June 29 was the last official event where Knights of Columbus, Marquette Assembly 188, wore the chapeaus and capes that have been a KC tradition for the last 60 years. Father Christopher DiTomo, a Knight and pastor of St. Gall Parish in Elburn, celebrated a special Mass that day for around 30 fourth-degree Knights and family members. The international Knights organization retired the familiar Color Corps regalia as of June 30.
See more in an upcoming issue of The Observer
Today is a dark day in the history of the State of Illinois.
With today’s vote by the Illinois Senate to approve the horribly misnamed Reproductive Health Act, that body has declared that abortion in Illinois is a fundamental right. This legislation strips the unborn of any protection or rights under the law, and demonstrates a grievous disregard for the care and human solidarity we owe to the most vulnerable among us.
Click here to read the entire statement
One Transitional Deacon—All Boylan Grads
ROCKFORD--On Saturday, June 1, at 11 a.m., Bishop David Malloy will ordain four men who share a common thread besides their faith and calling to the priesthood – all are graduates of Boylan Central Catholic High School, Rockford.
The Sacred Rite of Ordination will take place in the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church Street, Rockford. Bishop Malloy will be joined by all diocesan priests and permanent deacons as he confers the sacrament of Holy Orders for three men to be priests of the 11- county Catholic Diocese. Bishop Malloy will also ordain seminarian Jack Reichardt as a transitional deacon.
The men to be ordained to the sacred priesthood are:
 |
The Rev. Mr. Robert Blood, age 25 — is the son of Robert and Gerianne Blood of Loves Park. His home parish is St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park. |  |
The Rev. Mr. John Kladar, age 28—is the son of Greg and Erin Kladar of Rockton. His home parish is St. Peter in South Beloit. |
 |
The Rev. Mr. Charles Warren, age 27—is the son of Brain and Mary Fran Warren of Rockford and his home parish is St. Rita Parish, Rockford. |  |
Seminarian Jack Reichardt, age 25—will be ordained a transitional deacon, the last step to becoming a priest. He is scheduled to be ordained in 2020. He is the son of Mark and Debbie Reichardt, Rockford and his home parish is Holy Family. |
The ordination ceremony will be open to the public although seating is extremely limited. The ceremony will be streamed live on the Diocese of Rockford Facebook page. More about the vocation stories of Blood, Kladar, Warren and Reichardt can be found at https://www.rockfordpriest.org/stories/.
Bishop David Malloy celebrated Mass at Calvary Cemetery near Rockford on Memorial Day – a tradition for him since he became bishop. He noted “how good it is” to honor and to pray for all veterans – past, present, and those who died in service to this country – and to pray for the safety of the men and women who currently serve. He also called those gathered to consider how our hard-won freedoms are being used, and to pray for a defeat of the radical, pro-abortion legislation moving that day through the Illinois House. A reception followed the Mass where the bishop mingled with several people decked out in red, white and blue.
More in the June 7 edition of The Observer.
Amanda Clement, a 2008 Boylan Central Catholic High School graduate, visited Boylan choir students on April 29, talking mostly about her Broadway role in the musical, “Hamilton.”
See more in the May 3 Observer.
