The Chancery received word Monday, October 5, that Reverend Perfecto Vasquez died at Loyola Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
Father was born on September 6, 1947 in Binan, Laguna in the Philippines, to Perfecto M. Vasquez, Sr. and Paz Lim-Aco. He attended Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Urban Transportation. He later attended Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois where he received a Master’s degree in Divinity and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy.
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Bishop David Malloy announced in a letter to all priests Oct. 8, a list of changes to the “Back in His Presence” guidelines issued in June of this year.
Bishop Malloy said in his letter that modifications to the original protocols are being made periodically “based in the experience that we gain as we live through this pandemic.”
After consultations with the Deans and with the Presbyteral Council, the following modifications have been made to “Back in His Presence.” These changes were made effective for Masses beginning Oct. 10-11, 2020.
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Spanish
Rockford Diocesan seminarian James Linkenheld was ordained as a transitional deacon at St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 1 by U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
See more in the Oct. 9 issue of The Observer.
Date: October 1, 2020
Bishop David Malloy issued a letter to all parish priests and administrators today updating them on the current status of parish operations in light of Governor JB Pritzker’s new directives in regard to the ongoing mitigation of the COVID-19 virus.
The directives apply only to the nine counties of the Rockford Diocese included in Region I of the Restore Illinois plan. McHenry and Kane Counties are not affected.
Catholic faithful are reminded that the following guidelines are still in effect for all Catholics.
• All vulnerable individuals with underlying health conditions, compromised immune systems, those aged 65 and older and anyone feeling sick are asked to please stay home and those individuals may watch Masses on television or online and make a spiritual communion.
• A dispensation from the obligation to attend Holy Mass has been granted and still in effect during this pandemic until further notice. However, it is suggested that Catholics unable to publicly participate in Mass should do so through broadcast or online Masses and make a sincere spiritual communion.
• All those attending Mass must adhere to the requirements of social distancing, wearing of masks and proper sanitation before and after Mass.
Click here to read the letter
Spanish
BETHLEHEM, PA.--Father Frank John Timar a priest for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, (MSC) 87, died on Sept. 10, 2020, at Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, PA.
Father Timar was born in Nazareth, Penn., on Dec. 27, 1932 to Frank and Angela (Petrasovits) Timar. He attended Holy Family School, Nazareth, and Sacred Heart Mission Seminary, in Geneva, Ill. He made his first profession of vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart (MSC) on Sept. 14, 1952. He continued his studies for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary, Shelby, Ohio and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, where he was ordained to the priesthood on July 13, 1958.
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Join us in prayers of thanksgiving and congratulations as Seminarians Aaron Downing and John McFadden prepare to take one step closer to the diocesan priesthood. Aaron and John will be ordained as transitional deacons on Saturday, July 18 at the Cathedral of St. Peter. The ordination liturgy can viewed by livestream right here at 11 a.m.
DIOCESE— Bishop David Malloy issued a letter June 1 to diocesan pastors authorizing them to move to the second phase of reopening for public Mass celebrations beginning with Masses on June 6-7.
The second phase allows for more people at Masses.
However, parishes can only welcome more parishioners if they have completed all the necessary requirements issued in “Back in His Presence” and complete at least one week of Masses with groups of 10. Health and safety guidelines for the gradual reopening listed in “Back in His Presence” were issued in early May so parishes could begin offering Mass to groups of 10 on May 25.
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Date: May 31, 2020
WASHINGTON – Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement on George Floyd and the protests in American cities that have taken place over the last several days. This follows the Friday statement from seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the USCCB.
Click here to read the full statement
ROCKFORD--On Saturday, June 6, at 11 a.m., Bishop David Malloy will ordain Jack Reichardt as a priest to the Rockford Diocese.
The Sacred Rite of Ordination will take place in the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church Street, Rockford. Due to the coronavirus restrictions the ordination will be a closed event for family only.
However, the ordination will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/RockfordDiocese/
And on the Diocese of Rockford Facebook page.
Rev. Mr. Jack Reichardt, age 26 is the son of Mark and Debbie Reichardt, Rockford and his home parish is Holy Family. He attended Holy Family School, Boylan Central Catholic High School and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. He attended seminary at St. John Vianney College Seminary at St. Thomas University. He studied theology in Rome at the Pontifical North American College and Gregorian University before transferring home to the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein where he graduated in May.
Click here for all information regarding the reopening plan and all COVID-19 related information.
As the Stay at Home order to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the State of Illinois continues through the month of May, our churches remain closed to public worship but their ministries and the Catholic faith that compels them, goes on and remains strong.
Bishop David Malloy seeks to acknowledge that work as well as send encouragement and thanks to the people in the entire diocese for their patience, prayer and good work.
To do this, Bishop Malloy has released a video message of thanks. This message can be viewed on the diocesan YouTube channel, the Diocese of Rockford website and Facebook page.
The links to Bishop Malloy’s message are also included here in English and Spanish.
You are invited to post this video on your parish and school websites as well as on any and all your social media channels.
Bishop David J. Malloy will begin offering Sunday Mass online beginning Sunday, March 22 at 9 a.m. He will continue through the suspension of public Masses in the Rockford Diocese.
Bishop Malloy will also offer a devotion and/or reflection every Wednesday at 12 noon.
Click here for the full press release
