Click here for all information regarding the reopening plan and all COVID-19 related information.
Former pastor at St. Anthony of Padua, Rockford
PALATINE—Father Anthony Labedis, OFM Conv., died Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Palatine. He was 87.
Born in Kewanee on May 29, 1933, he was the eldest of Anthony and Stacy Labedis’ eight children.
He attended the former St. Stanislaus School there and, after his graduation in 1947, he went on to St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Crystal Lake, under the direction of the Conventual Franciscans.
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The Chancery received word that Reverend Karl P. Ganss died on Monday, February 1, 2021 at his home in Rockford.
Father was born on April 19, 1942 in Philadelphia, PA, to Karl and Philomena Gekle Ganss. Father Ganss attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Geneva, IL (1960-1964). He then attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Shelby, OH (1964-1968) where he studied Philosophy and Theology. Father went on to further his studies at DePaul University, Chicago, IL. (1969-1971) where he received a Master’s Degree in History. He later attended Loyola University, Chicago, IL. (1971-1979) and received his Ph. D. in Education. Father also attended St. Mary University, Baltimore, MD (1983-1984) and received a Doctorate of Ministry.
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Deacon Frank Licari Zammuto, 60, of Rockford passed away suddenly at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center on January 6, 2021.
Born September 20, 1960, in Rockford, the beloved son of Peter J. and Carmella (Licari) Zammuto. Frank graduated from Boylan Catholic High School in 1979. He went on to college and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and received a Master”s degree in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. After graduating he went on to be a Research Associate for UCLA Health Laboratory.
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As we conclude 2020 and look forward to the New Year, I take this moment to offer my prayers for all the faithful, the friends and all those present in the Diocese of Rockford.
Much has already been said about the sadness and challenges to life, livelihood and faith that have been part of 2020. The reasons to continue and deepen our prayer for so many intentions are well before all of us.
Click below to read the full statement:
English | Spanish
Robert Joseph Real passed away peacefully in his sleep Nov. 19 at the tender age of 93. He was born on March 24, 1927 to Emma (Connolly) Real and Theron J. Real. He had one sibling, the late Helen M. (Koch). At the age of 22 he married the late Lois J. Beckman (1930 - 1968) and together they welcomed 8 children into their family.
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Deacon Carlos Navarro, 72, of Aurora, IL passed away peacefully on November 20, 2020 surrounded by his family. He was born on March 12, 1948 in Mexico City, Mexico, the son of Antonio and Maria (Azcarate) Navarro. He retired from Caterpillar after 31 years of dedicated service. Carlos was a man of deep faith, a devout Catholic who was devoted to Mother Mary. He was a Deacon with the Rockford Diocese for over 20 years and served both St. Peter’s and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parishes for the majority of those years.
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November 19, 2020
WASHINGTON—Rev. Michael J.K. Fuller was appointed Associate General Secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on November 19. Father Fuller, a priest of the Diocese of Rockford, has served as executive director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Doctrine and Canonical Affairs since August 2016 and will continue to lead the secretariat while also serving as administrator of the USCCB’s pastoral offices and a member of the executive staff. The appointment takes effect immediately.
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ROCKFORD—The Diocese of Rockford Office of Catholic Education announced in a letter to families that all Catholic schools “will pivot to virtual learning for two full weeks beginning January 4. Schools will return to in-class instruction on Tuesday, January 19 (after the Martin Luther King Holiday).”
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Click here to read the letter to parents
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
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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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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