Reverend Francis E. McDonnell, S.T.L. died Nov. 14 at Presence Cor Mariae in Rockford, Illinois. Father was born on February 21, 1927 in Sterling to Thomas J. McDonnell and Margaret A. Weber.
Father McDonnell was ordained by the Most Reverend John J. Boylan at St. Mary Parish in Sterling, Illinois on April 11, 1951. Father attended St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Md., where he received a Bachelor’s degree in 1947 and a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology (STB) in 1949 as well as his Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) in 1951. He later attended the University of Notre Dame, where he received an Master’s degree in Philosophy.
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The first ‘A Movable Feast’ fundraiser for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockford was held Oct. 24 at the Nordlof Center in Rockford. The evening featured the culinary arts of Greenfire restaurant, a painting created onsite that evening, music during the reception and dinner and the play “Damien” performed by Wayne Messmer.
More about this first event that will head to Aurora next year in the Nov. 1 Observer.
Bishop David Malloy joined Father Philip Kaim and others involved with the Holy Family capital campaign for a groundbreaking ceremony the morning of Oct. 11 near the church. Work on the site where new parking lot space is planned as well as foundation work for new construction will soon begin. The $8 million campaign includes some work already completed, such as a new roof for the gym and new bathrooms for the school. The original school boiler from 1962 has been replaced and soon will be up and running once some chimney work is completed.
See more photos and information in the Oct. 18 edition of The Observer.
