The Office of Communications and Publications for the Diocese of Rockford hosted a breakfast on Feb. 6 to celebrate Catholic communications. The event welcomed employees of the Diocesan Administration Center as well as the owner of Castle Printech, which prints The Observer and El Observador newspapers, Observer freelance writers and Tim Walter, director of the Catholic Press Association. Bishop David Malloy was recognized for his contributions and support as publisher and as bishop. The breakfast featured casseroles and cheesy potatoes from Observer editor Penny Wiegert, who is also the director of communications for the diocese, as well as fruit, pastries and beverages. The annual event also celebrated ongoing efforts to digitally archive the print publications.
On Sunday, Feb. 2, scouts of several kinds and from many places in the Diocese of Rockford gathered at the Cathedral of St. Peter for Scout Sunday. Bishop David Malloy celebrated Mass and distributed a variety of religious awards earned by adults, boys and girls this past year. Other Scouting awards were presented in various parishes across the diocese.
See more in the Feb. 7 issue of The Observer.
Catholic schools across the Diocese of Rockford celebrate Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 26-Feb. 1 this year. See the Jan. 24 issue of The Observer for photos of most of the schools and several biographies of Catholic school graduates.
Reverend Manuel “Manny” Gerardo Gómez Reza died at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois, Thursday December 26.
Father Gomez was born on December 2, 1983 in Súchil, Durango, México to Manuel Gómez Fernández and Julia Reza Serrato. He attended Minor Seminary in Durango, México from 1998-2001 and Major Seminary in Durango, México from 2001-2008 where he received a BA in Philosophy in 2008. Father Gomez came to the United States in 2010. He then attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota from 2010-2013.
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ST. CHARLES--Reverend Edward F. Gillespie died Dec. 9 in St. Charles, Illinois. Father was born on April 1, 1931, in Chicago to Edward Gillespie and Mary Agnes O’Byrne Gillespie.
Father Gillespie attended St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Md., where he received two bachelor’s degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and Sacred theology. He later attended Loyola University in Chicago, where he received a Master’s degree in Education in 1964. Father Gillespie was ordained by Bishop Loras T. Thomas Lane at St. James Pro-Cathedral in Rockford on May 25, 1957.
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Bishop David Malloy stopped for a photo with diocesan seminarian James Linkenheld after Mass at the tomb of St. Paul at St. Paul Outside the Walls Church in Rome. Bishop Malloy is in Rome, along with other bishops from this Midwest region, for his Ad Limina visit with Pope Francis. Linkenheld is currently studying theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and is scheduled to be ordained in 2021.
