Rockford Observer

ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE BSERVER OOfficial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 85 | No. 47 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 Some Schools Already Online Increased COVID-19 cases Nov. 29 with a planned return to on-site instruction on Nov. 30. cause Catholic schools to nMontini, McHenry — remote learn- move to e-learning for ing from from Nov. 12 through Nov. 29 with a planned return to on-site instruc- holiday season tion on Nov. 30. n St. John the Baptist, Johnsburg — BY PENNY WIEGERT remote learning from Nov. 16 through Editor Dec. 4 with a planned return to on-site instruction on Dec. 7. DIOCESE—Just after the Rockford n St. Mary, DeKalb — remote learn- Diocese Department of Educational ing from Nov. 30 through Dec. 11 with Services announced an e-learning a planned return to on-site instruction schedule to help circumvent the spread from Dec. 14 through Dec. 18. Christ- of the coronavirus after the Christmas mas break will begin on Dec. 18. The holiday, schools began reporting in- return for the week of Dec. 14–18 is so creased cases of the virus. teachers can give end of quarter tests Principals were advised that if their and assessments and do further plan- school met one or more of the following ning for the return to remote learning criteria they should contact the Catho- beginning on Jan. 4. lic Education Office to discuss the pos- According to Michael Kagan, su- sibility of moving to remote learning perintendent of Catholic schools in the before Christmas break. E-learning Rockford Diocese, “The biggest issue may be necessary if: that St. Mary (in DeKalb) is facing is n Two or more grade-levels are re- a lack of substitute teachers. They are quired to quarantine; down to just one or two. Most people n Schools have difficulty covering on their sub list have either decided not in-class teaching or supervision be- to sub because of COVID or have taken (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) cause of the number of staff in quar- other jobs, which puts the school in a A Thanksgiving Day table features foods from local farms, ranches and purveyors in antine or isolation, or the inability to very precarious position in addition to Arizona. secure substitute teachers; those who are sick or quarantining due n Five or more positive COVID cases to positive tests.” (students or staff) have been identified Kagan told The Observer on Nov. Bless us, O Lord, and these within a school building. (As defined 13 that he and assistant superintendent by the Illinois Department of Public Vito DeFrisco met with the principals Thy gifts, which we are Health, five or more cases linked to a of St. Bridget in Loves Park, Holy Fam- common location during a 14-day pe- ily, St. Rita and All Saints Schools in about to receive from Thy riod is considered an outbreak.) Rockford to discuss their COVID-19 n The local health department rec- situations. bounty, through Christ, ommends remote learning. Due to an increase in positive tests With positivity rates in Illinois now and those already in quarantine, the at 15% or higher, schools are report- schools will all move to remote learn- Our Lord. Amen. ing increased cases of the coronavirus ing beginning on Nov. 23 and continue in students and staff and a shortage of through Jan. 18, 2021. substitutes for sick staff. On-site instruction will begin again Happy Thanksgiving! Diocesan Catholic schools that have for the Rockford-area schools on Jan. moved from in-person to e-learning at 19. Additionally, each principal dis- See Bishop David Malloy’s Thanksgiving video message press-time are: cussed the situation with his or her pas- at https://www.rockforddiocese.org/starting Nov. 21 at 9 a.m. n St. Margaret Mary, Algonquin — tor or executive pastor and has received remote learning from Nov. 13 through his support, Kagan said. This Issue Official Quick News Appointments Bishop Malloy ....................... 2 Father Lutz Dies Nov. 16 Observer Online for free at http://observertoo. The Rev. David E. Beauvais — rockforddiocese.org/. Headliners ............................... 3 Father Joseph L. Lutz died Monday, Nov. 16, to be Parochial Administrator Subscribers to the print edition will continue to Diocesan .............................. 4-6 2020, while under hospice care. Information of St. Peter Parish, South Beloit, receive it by mail. Nation/World ........................ 7 effective Nov. 12, 2020. about his services will be available online at Given at the Chancery, Nov. 13, 2020 https://www.rockforddiocese.org/ and in the Our Catholic View ............ 8-9 DAC to Close Nov. 26-27 next issue of The Observer. The Diocesan Administration Center in For the Record .................... 10 Read The Observer Online Free Rockford will be closed Nov. 26 and 27 for the Media/Arts ............................ 11 Thanksgiving holiday. It will reopen Nov. 30. While we fight COVID, anyone may read The Young Observer ................. 12 2 | FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | The Observer God’s Will For Us is to Give The Observer (ISSN 0029- 7739), is published weekly, Thanks in All Circumstances except fi ve times a year by the Diocese of Rockford, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all A year like we are living through, however, gives 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of us an opportunity to refl ect upon giving thanks to Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax God for you in Christ Jesus.” God as an act of faith, even when times are tough. 815/399-6225. — 1 Thess 5:16-18 For the last 10 months, the coronavirus has Periodical postage paid at dominated our lives. For a time, our physical hese are words that Paul wrote to the Rockford, Ill., and additional presence at Mass and the sacraments has been mail offi ces. young Church that he had founded in restricted or regulated. People have learned to POSTMASTER: send address Thessalonica. live with increased isolation. How hard that has BY BISHOP changes to The Observer, 555 The missionary work of St. Paul was been on residents of nursing facilities and on their DAVID J. Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box Tanything but easy. Often it would not qualify as families. Many have lost income or even their entire 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 MALLOY successful if judged from human standards. The livelihood. And the numbers of positive tests are For ADVERTISING information: Church at Thessalonica, for example, saw Paul ominously rising again. Contact The Observer at the year persecuted and driven from the city. We have also gone through a tremendous social address above or call 815/399- like we His opponents from Thessalonica followed him upheaval this year. Controversy and anger over 4300; fax 815/399-6225, A to subsequent stops to try and hinder his preaching the death of George Floyd soon morphed into Email: kmccarthy@ are living rockforddiocese.org. and any rooting of the faith that might result. The demonstrations that at times resulted in violence through, faithful who embraced his message in Thessalonica and attacks on our social structure, history and Send NEWS information to The however, also faced pressures and persecutions after he was even on our church properties. Observer at the address or fax gone. number above; send email to gives us an The Church herself continues to be marked by Observer@rockforddiocese. With this background, we see that Paul’s opportunity heroic acts of faith and witness, both locally and org; or fi ll out a form at admonition to the Thessalonians that they should, throughout the world. But scandals and confusion http://observer.rockforddiocese. to re ect “In all circumstances give thanks” was not simply continue to remind us of the human element of the org/contact-us. upon giving pious optimism. It was formation of their minds and Church and the need for constant conversion. Subscription rate $28.00 per thanks to hearts in the midst of diffi culties. And he links it Still, St. Paul has told us to give thanks in all year (48 issues); Canadian God as an to the very will of God which all of us are to seek circumstances. That means that we stop and thank and Pan American $29; other daily. God for the gift of life He has given us. We thank foreign: surface mail $37, air act of faith, This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. As we Him for the faith that leads us to the truth and to mail $97; single copies $1. even when know, it is a civil holiday, fi rst offi cially proclaimed God’s will for us. We thank Him for our family and The Observer Online digital times are nationally by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the for our daily bread. subscriptions are also available. tough. height of the American Civil War. Still, it resonates But it means we thank God also for grace to face Publisher: with our faith. Consequently many people make every challenge. We thank Him for the strength Most Reverend David J. Malloy going to Mass in the morning a part of their to confront suff ering with Jesus and to deepen Editor: Penny Wiegert Thanksgiving celebration. The Eucharist of course our faith in the midst of confusion and even News Editor: Amanda Hudson means thanksgiving and it is our highest form of persecution. adoration and gratitude to God. In this our thanksgiving is like our need to Features and Multimedia We naturally recognize that we are to say thanks forgive others. It is not at the easy moments, but at Editor: Sharon Boehlefeld for moments of joy, of happiness or for gifts that have those most diffi cult when we thank God, that we Circulation/Proofreading: been received.

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