ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE BSERVER OOfficial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 81 | No. 30 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY JULY 8, 2016 Inside Nominations Open For 4 DPC Seats Learn how you may be able to serve the diocese. page 3 (Observer photos/Amanda Hudson) Rockford’s Poor Clare Colettines pray behind the grill (left) as Bishop order’s centennial in the Rockford Diocese. They arrived at the invita- David Malloy and other priests offer a Mass June 29 celebrating the tion of Bishop Peter J. Muldoon in 1916. Bishop Celebrates July 4th Mass at St. Peter in Geneva Bishop David Malloy talks with some of the children Poor Clares Celebrate who attended Mass in Geneva. page 3 From God, For God A Century of Prayer Father Joel Lopez sings and records to BY AMANDA HUDSON honor News Editor God, the ROCKFORD—“How right and just it is source for us to be here this morning,” said Bishop As the bishop’s of his David Malloy as he began the 8 a.m. Mass escort, Fourth Degree skills. in honor of 100 years of the Poor Clares in Knights of Co- the Diocese of Rockford. page 5 lumbus, guard In his homily, the bishop acknowledged the door to Marriage that the Corpus Christi Monastery Chapel Corpus Christi Rite was filled to overflowing with people of Chapel, friends all ages from near and far before he spoke of the Poor Changes about the “very Catholic understanding” Coming Clare Colet- of the deep spiritual values and graces tines assemble Words and “that have come from having the sisters for Mass. The customs get here these 100 years.” tiny chapel new options. The Poor Clare Colettines “came very was full for early in the life of this diocese,” he said. Forever Family, the celebra- pages 14-15 The first Bishop of Rockford, Peter J. Mul- tion June 29 in doon, wished for “a continual beseeching Rockford. of heaven” on behalf of the diocese, Bishop They remind many, he said, that “only “You are here nearly as long as the dio- Malloy explained. heaven and life in Christ is forever,” and cese … that is Providence,” he said. “We This Issue The Poor Clares located in Cleveland, they do so, “without making a loud noise.” are grateful to you, but mostly we are Ohio, responded to Bishop Muldoon’s re- Bishop Malloy ............................. 2 quest and sent five nuns to Rockford. Those Bishop Malloy encouraged those gath- grateful to God.” Headliners ..................................... 3 five first lived at a home on Avon Street, ered not only to receive the help of the sis- Thanksgiving was uppermost in the an- Diocesan .................................... 4-5 moving a bit later to the monastery’s pres- ters’ prayers, but also “to pray for them … niversary thoughts of the Poor Clares’ ab- Nation/World .............................. 6 ent location on South Main Street. to carry out this specific call (which is) a bess. Poor Clares Centennial ..... 7-13 In addition to the important assistance of gift to them (and) a gift shared by us.” “Our attitude is just plain gratitude,” Forever Family ................... 14-15 their prayers, the Poor Clares have embod- Addressing the sisters directly, he says Mother Mary Dominica Stein. “It’s Faith Forum .............................. 16 ied the “practice of (the poverty of Saints) thanked them for the role they and their really the people who keep us going. They Viewpoints ................................ 17 Francis and Clare,” Bishop Malloy said. predecessors have played. Continued on page 8 For the Record ......................... 18 Media/Arts ................................. 19 Around the Diocese ................ 20 See More of the Poor Clares’ Centennial Inside 2 | FRIDAY JULY 8, 2016 | The Observer Don’t Miss Comforting the Bishop The Observer (ISSN 0029- 7739), is published weekly, Malloy’s A icted Conveys except fi ve times a year by the Diocese of Rockford, TV Messages BY BISHOP 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 DAVID J. Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax Weekday Refl ection MALLOY Hope and Mercy 815/399-6225. (about 6:58 a.m.) Periodical postage paid at on WREX-TV, Channel 13, uring this Jubilee Year of Mercy, When we visit or speak to someone who has Rockford, Ill., and additional Rockford Pope Francis has continually asked just lost a loved one, how often we feel our own mail offi ces. us to recall the love and mercy of human powerlessness of standing before death. POSTMASTER: send address Top o’ the God. We have been refl ecting on the To take their hand and say “I am so sorry for changes to The Observer, 555 Dworks of mercy to remind ourselves of how to your loss” seems so little at that moment. To Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box Morning live that mercy in our lives. visit someone who is ill or in the hospital or 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 So far, from among the Spiritual Works of who has lost a job and say “I will be praying for For ADVERTISING information: with Mercy, we have in this column considered you” cannot simply be empty words. We must Contact The Observer at the instructing the ignorant, counseling the commit to following up by prayers at home or at address above or call 815/399- Bishop doubtful, admonishing sinners, bearing wrongs Mass on Sunday. 4300; fax 815/399-6225, Malloy patiently and forgiving off ences willingly. The We should never lose sight of the fact that the Email: kmccarthy@ next Spiritual Work of Mercy is comforting the consolation that we bring is rooted in our faith. rockforddiocese.org. Listen to archives anytime at affl icted. We bring to others the good news that Christ Send NEWS information to The http://observer.rockfo rddiocese.org. At fi rst glance, this work of mercy seems is with each of us in our suff erings. That will Observer at the address or fax Click on Bishop Malloy on the top left number above; send email to understandable and even attractive. Who of us not take away our suff erings. But it gives every side of the page. cannot picture ourselves consoling someone in Observer@rockforddiocese. person reason to go forward, even in grief. org; or fi ll out a form at Brought to you by grief, being a source of strength and calm? We Jesus Himself went through the suff erings of the Savant Capital Management recognize that such an action would not only be http://observer.rockforddiocese. | Fitzge rald Funeral Homes cross, aware that His pain had meaning for us in org/contact-us. good but would affi rm the image we probably | Illinois Bank & Trust eternity. Mary stood by helpless, consoling her Subscription rate $28.00 per | Diocesan Offi ce of wish for ourselves. However, like other works son but consoled herself by the presence of John year (48 issues); Canadian Communications and Publications of mercy, it is included in the list as a reminder and the other women. and Pan American $29; other | The Observer because it often is not easy. | Offi ce of Charitable Giving, It can be a temptation not only personally but foreign: surface mail $37, air Not infrequently, consoling the affl icted can Diocese of Rock ford societally to avoid the pain of consoling others. mail $97; single copies $1. involve approaching someone who is distraught Consider in our time the recent advancement of The Observer Online digital or frightened by bad news or the suddenly very subscriptions are also available. uncertain future. For many people, the diffi culty laws allowing for assisted suicide. How often is the discussion of whether someone’s life is no Publisher: of comforting the affl icted begins by personally Most Reverend David J. Malloy sharing the understandable emotional agitation longer meaningful a loss of the bedrock medical of the sorrowing person. commitment to assisting the sick and respecting Editor: Penny Wiegert It can be challenging and even disturbing their dignity. Those moments of fi nal care and News Editor: Amanda Hudson consolation, even if at times drawn out and for us to engage those emotions displayed Features and Multimedia by others. For many, the temptation is not to uncertain of when God will call them home, can Editor: Sharon Boehlefeld be a period of deepened love, of reconciliation contact someone in that state. Perhaps we can from long ago hurts or of conversion. Circulation/Proofreading: wait for another moment, a time when the Susan Sabrowski, Keith agitation has passed? But in fact, it is precisely In the end, our consolation of the affl icted is Ludolph an act of mercy that conveys profound hope. in a moment like that when the consolation of Accounting: Jill Bonk Wednesday Refl ection one reaching out is most welcome, and most We give the hope of Jesus to others. And at the during the Spanish needed. same time, it moves us to refl ect on the road to Advertising and Marketing: Kevin McCarthy newscast (5:30-6 p.m.) Along with the challenge to our emotions eternal life that each of us must walk. on My Network TV, can come a further diffi culty that we need to That road will always have moments of Production and Web Administrator: Gary Haughton Channel 17.2, Rockford overcome in consoling the affl icted. That is the diffi culty. How glad we are when others will be realization that often there is nothing that we there to help us along. Our act of mercy is to Contributing Writers: Bishop Minuto de can say or do that will change the source of their accompany others as well, always keeping our Emeritus Thomas G.