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:
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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. |
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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.
Supporters of extreme abortion legislation introduced in Illinois in February have been energized in reaction to the pro-life legislation recently approved in other states. They are making a push to pass the misnamed "Reproductive Health Act" (House Bill 2495 & Senate Bill 1942) and a bill that would repeal current law calling for parents to be notified when a minor seeks an abortion (House Bill 2467 & Senate Bill 1594) before the legislative session ends on May 31.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois has issued a Call to Action, and is asking the faithful to contact their legislators immediately. Please reach out by email or phone call to your state representative and state senator, and tell them to vote "no" on these bills. We also ask the faithful to continue to pray for our lawmakers and for an end to abortion.
Click here to contact your state House and Senate lawmakers and urge them to vote “no” on these bills
Click here to read the full text of the Call to Action issued by the Catholic Conference of Illinois
The Catholic Women’s League in Rockford celebrated its annual Mass for Peace and officers for the coming year were installed. The officers are: Mary Kay Tapp, treasurer; Angie Cash, recording secretary; and Mary Ellen Nash, president.
Bishop David Malloy and a number of priests gathered on April 30 for Mass and a luncheon in honor of this year’s priest jubilarians.
Find more about the Mass and the priest and religious order jubilarians of the diocese in an early June issue 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.
On Holy Thursday, April 18, Bishop David Malloy celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford. Unique to this Mass is the washing of the feet, which featured 12 young people.
See more on this and other Holy Week events in the April 26 edition of The Observer.
