Orientation Shares Svdp Ministry with Local Parishes After Long Illness from Page 1 of My Life, Because It Aff Ects Our Forming Svdp Groups
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ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE BSERVER OOfficial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 82 | No. 26 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY JUNE 9, 2017 Inside Jubilarians Priests process into the annual Jubilarian Mass. Read the biographies of priests and sisters who are celebrating anniversaries of holy orders or final vows. pages 8-13 Quick News Msgr. Nelson and retiring DPC members DPC Members End (Observer photos/Lynne Conner) Terms at June Meeting Ron Toti and Barb Frampton of St. James, Rockford take part in a small ing an Ozanam Orientation to the St. Vincent de Paul ministry. Holy group discussion with Bob McLaughlin of Holy Family, Rockford, dur- Family Parish hosted the June 3 workshop. Msgr. Glenn Nelson (above left), Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia posed at the June 3 meeting with Diocesan Pastoral Council Orientation Shares SvDP members who are ending their service this year. With him are (from left) Cindy Augustine, representing the Aurora Deanery; Gerri Ministry with Local Parishes Navarro, appointed by Bishop Thomas G. Doran; BY LYNNE CONNER parish are always looking for innovative Beth Swanson, of the Observer Correspondent ways to help the needy. DeKalb Deanery; and Gerry “Since last year, we have had a garden Williamson, representing ROCKFORD—Ministering to the poor to grow fresh vegetables for the needy in the Sterling Deanery. Also while growing spiritually are just two of our area. We also do prison visits to near- concluding their terms the many blessings connected with the out- by correctional facilities, we have a food on the council but not reach of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. pantry and do a clothing drive four times a present were Evelyn Dubbs, So learned about 50 people from Rock- year,” he said. representing the McHenry ford area parishes at an Ozanam Orienta- “We partner with the Joliet Diocese for Deanery, and Edgardo tion, June 3. Named after Frederic Ozanam the clothing and furniture drive. They help Urbina of the Elgin Deanery. who began the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) us by providing the trucks,” he added. On behalf of Bishop David Society in France in 1833, the orientation “Being a part of St. Vincent de Paul has Malloy, Msgr. Nelson thanked aims to familiarize those attending with truly been my life,” Karpowicz said. “I’ve the retiring members of the the work of the SVdP Society. been involved for over 30 years and just to DPC. During the meeting, The day-long event hosted by Holy Fam- visit the people we serve, to see their faces he presented an overview of ily Parish in Rockford featured speakers and to know that we’re helping them, it the workings of the diocesan — Larry Case of SS. Peter and Paul Par- means everything to me,” Karpowicz said. ish in Cary, Frank Karpowicz of St. Mary administration and how it Frank Karpowicz of St. Mary Parish in Huntley, “Being there for the poor, being in their relates to the work of the Parish in Huntley, Deacon Kevin Prunty addresses those gathered for the Ozanam presence, I think is what means the most individual parishes and of St. Patrick Parish in Amboy and Bill Orientation June 3 in Rockford. to Vincentians.” to the universal Catholic Wenzloff of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Par- Kevin Hunter of St. Rita Parish in Rock- Church. ish in Crystal Lake — who worked through ing assistance and several parish SVdP ford, attended the Ozanam Orientation in a training manual with participants. groups in the same geographical area par- hopes of bringing SVdP to his parish. The society’s focus is to organize parish- ticipate in “twinning.” “There is a call within our parish for the This Issue based groups who, “…engage in a number Bill Wenzloff explains, “If a certain fam- Holy Spirit’s presence and we are in the of works covering all the needs, trials and Bishop Malloy ............................. 2 ily that the SVdP Society is working with process of trying to discern how we will tribulations of human life, both corporal Headliners ..................................... 3 has a home repair that costs $5,000, the be a part of St. Vincent de Paul,” he said. and spiritual.” SVdP members, or Vincen- Around the Diocese ............... 4-5 need goes out to Vincentians from near- “We know that the need (to help the poor) tians as they are called, run thrift stores, by parishes and these other parishes con- in Rockford is large and perhaps St. Rita’s Nation/World .......................... 6-7 provide eldercare, work in prison minis- tribute what they can to this repair. In this outreach could help the areas of southwest Jubilarians ............................. 8- 13 try, staff food pantries and assist with im- way, one branch of our society helps an- and southeast Rockford.” Forever Family ................... 14-15 migration services. Worldwide, there are other and the need is usually met relatively Wenzloff works primarily as a format- Our Catholic View ..............16-17 more than 800,000 Vincentians; in the quickly.” ter for the SVdP Society which means For the Record ......................... 18 United States, membership is near 96,000. Frank Karpowicz has been a member of that he travels around the diocese giving Media/Arts ................................. 19 Two unique aspects of the SVdP are that SVdP at St. Mary Parish in Huntley for 30 presentations to parishes interested in Diocesan ..................................... 20 members go on home visits to those need- years. He said that the Vincentians at his Continued on page 3 2 | FRIDAY JUNE 9, 2017 | The Observer Elijah Shows Us the Need for Silence n a famous passage in chapter While we pray and witness to people on all sides fi lling our The Observer (ISSN 0029- 19 in the First Book of Kings, our faith, we watch as our society television and radio adds to the lack 7739), is published weekly, the prophet Elijah is facing a declines, marriages and families of peace and serenity. except fi ve times a year by full blown crisis. break up, and our freedom of And what about the other kind of the Diocese of Rockford, 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. IHe has valiantly witnessed to God religion is pressured and threatened. ever present “noise” presented by Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 before the people and especially We might be tempted to wonder, our societal addictions to our cell Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax before the evil king and queen, where is God? phones and to the internet? 815/399-6225. Ahab and Jezebel. Jezebel has been We can take two lessons from We are becoming a society that Periodical postage paid at BY BISHOP killing the other prophets and Elijah Elijah and his struggles. craves distractions. Rockford, Ill., and additional DAVID J. has been forced to fl ee into the First, despite any discouragement, Often, however, recognizing mail offi ces. MALLOY wilderness, fearing for his life. we must persevere in our faith. God the presence of God requires what send address Elijah is then led to a cave where does allow us to be put to the test. POSTMASTER: changes to The Observer, 555 the Lord tells Him to stand and wait But this is in order to deepen our marked the experience of Elijah — sn’t it silence. Yes, we are told life is so Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box because God Himself will pass by. faith and trust in Him. 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 Ifascinating What follows is a lesson for the Elijah, after the encounter with busy, who has time for silence? But For information: spiritual life. God, fi nds out that there are many we do have time and the means if ADVERTISING and even Contact The Observer at the other faithful people he did not we want. a little As Elijah stands waiting, a violent address above or call 815/399- wind arises, so strong that it can know about. God’s grace was Silence does not have to be for 4300; fax 815/399-6225, wearisome break rocks around the prophet. always working, even if Elijah didn’t hours and hours. The same desire Email: kmccarthy@ that the Must that not be a fi tting signal of recognize how. for good that makes people set aside rockforddiocese.org. modern God’s presence? But we are told “... Second, if we are truly to meet time daily to brush teeth or to go Send NEWS information to The world seems the Lord was not in the wind.” God and to open our hearts and for a healthy walk can be the source Observer at the address or fax Next followed an earthquake and souls to His presence, we need of discipline to commit to a few number above; send email to allergic then fi re. Surely these were signs of something sorely missing in our minutes of turning off the radio and Observer@rockforddiocese. to the God’s presence? But the Lord was in culture. That is silence. the television to be with God. org; or fi ll out a form at neither one. Elijah encountered God, not in http://observer.rockforddiocese. absence of The accumulation of noise and org/contact-us. Then, we are told, Elijah heard “a power and sound but in a slight distractions in our modern world sound and light silent sound.” It was only then whisper of a breeze. Subscription rate $28.00 per makes it harder for us to listen to the distraction? that Elijah knew he was meeting Isn’t it fascinating and even a year (48 issues); Canadian Word of God and the whisperings of the Lord so he covered his face and little wearisome that the modern and Pan American $29; other spoke to the Lord.