ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE OBSERVER Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 78 | No. 15 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2013 God Bless Pope Francis (CNS photo/Paul Haring) Pope Francis greets the crowd before celebrating his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 19. See more coverage beginning on pg. 9 Pope Francis Pledges to Protect Church, Human Dignity BY CINDY WOODEN Hindus, Sikhs and Jains present, Pope times it was quite loud; he punctuated husband to Mary, “at her side in good Catholic News Service Francis preached the Gospel, but insist- with clenched fi sts his remarks about times and bad,” and as a father who ed the values it espouses are essentially the strength required to be tender and watched over Jesus, worried about him VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis for- human, “involving everyone.” compassionate to others. and taught him a trade, the pope said. mally began his ministry as bishop of While the rites and rituals of the in- “In the Gospels,” he said, “St. Joseph St. Joseph responded to his called to be Rome and as pope by pledging to pro- auguration of his ministry as pope took appears as a strong and courageous a protector “by being constantly attentive tect the Catholic Church, the dignity of place immediately before the Mass, the man, a working man, yet in his heart we to God, open to the signs of God’s pres- each person and the beauty of creation, liturgy itself was a celebration of the see great tenderness, which is not the ence and receptive to God’s plans, and just like St. Joseph protected Mary and feast of St. Joseph, patron of the univer- virtue of the weak, but rather a sign of not simply his own,” the pope said. Jesus. sal church and “also the name day of my strength of spirit and a capacity for con- Fidelity to God’s word and God’s plan “To protect creation, to protect every venerable predecessor,” Pope Benedict cern, for compassion, for genuine open- for individuals and for all of creation man and every woman, to look upon XVI, the former Joseph Ratzinger. ness to others, for love.” makes the difference, he said, calling them with tenderness and love is to open The retired pope was not present at “We must not be afraid of goodness, on everyone to be sensitive and loving up a horizon of hope,” he told between the liturgy, but the crowds applauded of tenderness,” Pope Francis said. toward those in their care, especially 150,000 and 200,000 people gathered enthusiastically when Pope Francis said, The new pope said exercising the role toward children, the aged, the poor and under sunny skies in St. Peter’s Square “We are close to him with our prayers, of protector as St. Joseph did means do- the sick. and the nearby streets. full of affection and gratitude.” ing so “discreetly, humbly and silently, “In the end, everything has been en- With representatives of other Chris- The new pope stood at a lectern to but with an unfailing presence and ut- trusted to our protection, and all of us tian churches and communities, delega- read his homily, sticking to the text ter fi delity, even when he fi nds it hard to are responsible for it,” he said. “Be pro- tions from 132 countries, Jewish and he had prepared in advance. At times understand.” tectors of God’s gifts.” Muslim leaders as well as Buddhists, his voice was extremely soft and other The Gospels present St. Joseph as a Continued on page 10 This Issue Offi cial Quick News Inside Bishop Malloy ............................. 2 Appointments Third Talk Examines Headliners ..................................... 3 DAC to Close March 28-29 The Rev. Bernard Sehr Church- Diocesan ................................ 4, 6-7 to be Parochial Admin- — The Diocesan Administration World Nation/World .............................. 8 istrator of St. Patrick Par- Center in Rockford will be Connection Pope Francis .......................... 9-12 ish, Dixon, Illinois, effec- tive Dec. 17, 2012. closed Holy Thursday, March pg. 3 Around the Diocese ......... 13-14 28, and Good Friday, March Easter, the The Junior Observer .............. 15 Deacon Thomas Mc- Kenna — to be Secretary 29. It will reopen April 1. Celebration Faith Forum................................ 16 to the Bishop, effective that Puts Viewpoints ................................ 17 March 6, 2013. Next Observer April 5 Everything in Media/Arts ................................. 18 Given at the Chancery, There will be no edition of Perspective For the Record ......................... 18 March 15, 2013 The Observer on March 29. pg. 17 2 FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2013 | The Observer Give Thanks to the Holy Spirit and Thanks to The Observer (ISSN 0029- Christ for Pope Francis During Holy Week 7739), is published weekly, except five times a year by the Diocese of Rockford, BY BISHOP DAVID J. MALLOY 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 “You are Peter, and upon this in our faith. Not just one more the voice of singing to invoke bless him, before he blessed us? Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax rock, I will build my Church voice among many, the Holy Fa- the saints of the ages, and ac- Who has not been moved by the 815/399-6225. and the gates of the netherworld ther is, in every age, the face of companied by the prayers of the first images of a pope calling us Periodical postage paid at Rockford, Ill., and additional shall not prevail against it.” the Church. Our love for him and faithful throughout the world back to Francis of Assisi? mail offices. hese words of Christ, for his role is part of what makes including in Northern Illinois, ope Francis’ first mes- recorded in the Gospel our acceptance of the faith and they withdrew from phones and sages to the world have POSTMASTER: send address changes to , 555 of Matthew, Chapter the message of Christ complete. contact with the press to think had three points: love The Observer the poor, have the cour- Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box 16, are engrained in us In the days moving toward and pray and even speak to each 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 Tas Catholics. They express to us the election of Pope Francis, other, preparing for the sacred Page to be a follower of Jesus, the will of Christ in the selec- it was hard to avoid the media moment. And their selection of and don’t give in to pessimism For ADVERTISING information: tion of one man in each moment speculation. Most of it tried to the new pope has shown that or bitterness, and this in the Contact The Observer at the explain the process in a manner they (and we) believe what they context of the unchanging faith address above or call 815/399- of history whose humanity will, 4300; fax 815/399-6225, in a special way, keep us faith- parallel to our recent elections: (and we) say that we believe. of the Church. This simple man, E-mail: rbergman@ ful to friendship with Jesus. progressives (good) versus tra- Thank God for this witness. readily invoking the prayers rockforddiocese.org. The election of our new Holy dition (not good). Problems of The moment when Pope Fran- of Mary, has already begun administration and the usual cis was announced and when he to show us the way he will Send NEWS information to The Father Pope Francis makes clear Observer at the address or fax that these words are not simply dime-store novel depiction of first appeared on the balcony of strengthen our faith as Peter did number above, or send e-mail history written in the Gospels. cardinals and Vatican proce- St. Peter’s Basilica will be one for his brothers and sisters. to Observer@rockforddiocese. Instead, they are essential to dures abounded. of those moments that every- As we head into Holy Week org. our love for the Catholic Church But then what did we see — one will recall where they were. with this new and so inspir- Subscription rate $28.00 per and our friendship with Christ images of the cardinals putting What will ever be striking is ing Holy Father, let’s not for- year (48 issues); Canadian himself, even today. away all their technology and the first image of this new pope, get to thank Christ and the and Pan American $29; other To Peter 2,000 years ago and returning to basics. They pro- overlooking the crowd as if mo- Holy Spirit. Thank you for this foreign: surface mail $37, air to Francis today are entrusted cessed on television to the Sis- mentarily uncertain, then show- gift, this man, this rock for our mail $97; single copies $1. tine Chapel after being exhort- ing his humility and the image faith. Pope Francis, congratula- the Keys of the Kingdom. En- The Observer Online digital dowed with God’s help beyond ed to think and pray and vote of Christ that is his personality. tions! You go forward with the subscriptions are also available. their merits or their abilities, the for the good of the Church and Who will forget his bow and prayers, the gratitude and the popes are the source of unity the good of their souls. With his request for prayers that God love of the Diocese of Rockford! Staff — Publisher: Most Reverend David J. Malloy From Central Loggia of St. Peter’s And now I would like to give Basilica, March 13 The Pope the blessing, but first, first I Associate Publisher: on ... ask a favor of you: before the Msgr.