ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE OBSERVER Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 78 | No. 1 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2012 Feast of the Bishops OK Immaculate First New Conception, Dec. 8, is Preaching Holy Day of Obligation This year, the Feast of the Immaculate Document Conception holy day of obligation falls on a Inside Saturday. But your Saturday evening Mass will not fulfi ll your obligation. In 30 Years Check your parish bulletin to fi nd out BY MARK PATTISON whether your parish will be offering a special Catholic News Service Immaculate Conception vigil Mass on Friday in BALTIMORE—The U.S. addition to a holy day Mass on Saturday. bishops approved their fi rst For the people of the Rockford Diocese, this is Hispanic/Latino Track new document in 30 years on New Feature of Conference a special feast day because Mary, under her title of the preaching Nov. 13, the second pg. 4 Immaculate Conception, is the patron saint of our day of their annual fall general diocese. assembly in Baltimore. The Holy Day has been celebrated since Pope Pius The document, “Preach- IX issued a constitution, Ineffabilis Deus, on Dec. 8, ing the Mystery of Faith: The 1854. In it, he explained that, from the moment of her Sunday Homily,” encourages conception, Mary’s soul was without original sin. preachers to connect the Sunday homily with people’s daily lives. The vote was 227-11, with four The face of Mary is shown in a detail, side view of “The Mens’ Conference Draws Virgin of the Immaculate Conception,” a painted and abstentions. Approval required Many to NIU gilded statue attributed to Juan Martinez Montanes. two-thirds of the membership of pg. 5 It was part of an exhibit — “The Sacred Made Real” — the U.S. Conference of Catholic at the National Gallery of Art in Washington in 2010. Bishops, or 182 votes. The document was prepared (CNS photo/courtesy of National Gallery of Art) Continued on page 13 Boston Auxiliary Bishop Kennedy Begins Lecture Series Dec. 2 BY PENNY WIEGERT called the that department, and was also Editor Theologi- Toys, mittens, director of a master of arts in Knights’ Event Gathers Many cal Institute gloves and theology program at St. Paul Holiday Helping Hands ROCKFORD—Bishop Ar- for the New socks will Seminary. pg. 6 thur J. Kennedy will begin Evangeliza- be collected In more recent years, he has Bishop David J. Malloy’s Year tion, known for Catholic served as chair of the Theology of Faith Lecture series, Dec. 2, as TINE. Charities as Department at St. Thomas and and set the stage for the other The TINE ‘admission’ executive director of the United talks in the series. program in- to the Dec. 2 States Conference of Catholic Bishop Kennedy’s topic, cludes Mas- free lecture. Bishops Secretariat for Ecu- “Faith: the Heart of Vatican II ter of Arts menical and Interreligious Af- and the Foundation of the New in Minis- fairs. Evangelization” will provide a try; certifi cates in catechesis, In 2010, he was ordained by Jesus Tells Us About His look at the historical context of Scripture, and apologetics; a Cardinal O’Malley as an auxil- Kingdom the Second Vatican Council as new degree program (the mas- iary Bishop of the Archdiocese The Junior Observer, pg. 12 well as its importance for to- ter of Theological Studies for of Boston along with auxiliary day. the New Evangelization); and Bishop Peter J. Uglietto. Quick News Bishop Kennedy is cur- scholarship funding for the “It is an honor for our diocese rently an auxiliary bishop for programs through the Promise to have Bishop Kennedy speak No Observer Nov. 30 the Archdiocese of Boston for Tomorrow Fund. on a topic for which he is not and serves as the Episcopal Bishop Kennedy There will be no issue of The Bishop Kennedy was or- only experienced, but also very Vicar for the New Evangeliza- Observer on Nov. 30, a fi fth demic and faith formation pro- dained a priest for the Arch- committed,” said Bishop Mal- tion there. He was appointed Friday. The next issue will be grams while establishing new diocese of Boston at St. Pe- loy. to that post by Archbishop of ter’s Basilica in Rome in 1966 Dec. 7. programs that prepare semi- Bishop invited speakers Boston Cardinal Sean Patrick narians and lay leaders for the and spent the following eight O’Malley in 2010. This Issue future. years of service at parishes in Each speaker in the Year of Bishop Kennedy has served Methuen and East Boston. Bishop Malloy ............................. 2 During his tenure at the sem- Faith Lecture Series was per- Headliners ..................................... 3 as rector of St. John’s Semi- In 1974 Cardinal Medeiros sonally selected and invited by nary since July 2007. In fi ve inary, the cardinal and Bishop Diocesan .................................... 4-7 granted him permission to ac- Bishop Malloy, who will act years, he has been instrumen- Kennedy announced the estab- cept a position as a member Around the Diocese ............. 8-11 as host for each lecture, which tal in signifi cantly increasing lishment of the new institute of the theology faculty at the will begin at 6:30 p.m. with The Junior Observer ............... 12 the number of seminarians en- of faith formation at St. John’s. University of St. Thomas in St. evening prayer. Nation/World ..................... 13-15 rolled, advancing the cardinal’s Embracing and expanding the Paul, Minn. “I look forward to these lec- Faith Forum ............................... 16 goal of expanding the seminary seminary’s current offerings When the university later tures being well-attended,” said Viewpoints ................................ 17 to a regional presence, enhanc- for the laity as well as for per- established a Catholic Studies Bishop Malloy. “I truly believe For the Record .......................... 18 ing the seminary’s status of manent deacons and professed program, Bishop Kennedy was the insights from these very Media/Arts ...........................18-19 national prominence in its aca- religious, the new institute is named a faculty member in Continued on page 5 2 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2012 | The Observer Make a Special Point of Thanking The Observer (ISSN 0029- God for All His Gifts this Holiday 7739), is published weekly, except five times a year by BY BISHOP DAVID J. MALLOY the Diocese of Rockford, 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. here are two days of gifts during the past year by t may well be true that Thanksgiving? Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 the year that have al- coming to that Mass before be- when we are overwhelmed Why not follow the example Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax ways made an impres- ginning the work on the turkey with gifts, lavished as we of that one grateful leper this 815/399-6225. sion on me since my or the ritual of visits and foot- are with God’s love, we can week? You could do it this Periodical postage paid at Tearliest years as a priest. They ball. Ibegin to take that generosity for way: first take a little bit of qui- Rockford, Ill., and additional mail offices. do so because I have seen time Saying “thank you” to God is granted, even without intending et time and make a list (men- and again how, even though the a fundamental part of our faith. to do so. tally or by writing it out) of all POSTMASTER: send address days are not a Sunday or a holy Our very existence is His gift to Think for example of the 10 of the gifts of God that you can changes to The Observer, 555 day of obligation, many people each one of us. And from there, lepers cured by Christ as re- recall having benefitted from Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box come to Mass. every grace, every blessing, and corded in the Gospel. Isn’t that since last Thanksgiving. Start 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 The first of those days is Ash the calling to eternal life with a great story of gratitude? Nine with the gifts involving those For ADVERTISING information: Wednesday. Yes, they are com- Him is an on-going gift of His of the lepers rejoiced in the gift closest to you: spouse, family Contact The Observer at the ing for ashes, which will often love and generosity. We should of their healed bodies and flesh and friends. address above or call 815/399- be proudly worn to the office or be grateful 24/7! and, presumably, ran off to see Have t hat fi r m ly i n m i nd when 4300; fax 815/399-6225, school or around the house. But Still, I wonder if we were to family and friends from whom attending Mass this Thanksgiv- E-mail: rbergman@ rockforddiocese.org. even more, there is a sense of a ask ourselves if we say thank they had been separated by the ing weekend. Then go, prefer- day of real penance, of a need to you to God each day, or if we disease. Can you blame them? ably with the whole family. Be Send NEWS information to The draw closer to God. And what even asked when was the last Still, one turned right around. like the leper who had his pri- Observer at the address or fax better way than that first Mass time we thanked God explicitly, That one former leper probably orities and his thoughts right. number above, or send e-mail of Lent? we might feel a pang of con- had the same family members Hearts filled with gratitude to Observer@rockforddiocese.