Vocations the Myth That a Dedicated Life of Prayer and Service to God Is Boring
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ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE OBSERVER Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 78 | No. 14 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2013 I want to shatter into a million pieces Vocations the myth that a dedicated life of prayer and service to God is boring. Q&A —Father Keith Romke Father Keith Romke is the new director of vocations for the Diocese of Rockford. Inside He was born in 1985 to Dave and Joyce Romke, and attend- ed St. Thomas More Church in Elgin. His sister, Liz, he says, “gave me the honor of offi ciating at her marriage a mere month and a half after being ordained a priest.” After graduating from Larkin Bishop Emeritus Shares Summary of Church History High School, he entered semi- nary in Nebraska, studying an pg. 3 (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson) additional four years in Rome. Father Keith Romke is the new director of the Vocations Offi ce for the Diocese of Rockford. He was ordained to the priest- hood on May 21, 2011. He answered some questions When I was a freshman in ing, but then I slowly began to The mission of the Voca- high school, but the call re- tions Offi ce is to help people about his vocation and oth- A think about what I could do to A to unleash the joy that God in- ers’ for Observer News Editor ally surfaced when I was trying help others and the priesthood Amanda Hudson. to decide where I wanted to go tends for them to experience in came to mind. for college and what I wanted to their lives! When did you fi rst begin to study. I was torn between ma- What is the mission of the The bottom line is that each of Bishop Malloy Talks about Q think about the priesthood? joring in music or in engineer- Q Vocations Offi ce? Continued on page 8 Pope at Boylan YO, pgs. 6-7 Rockford Pro-Life Case Settled, Other Dismissed Quick News ROCKFORD—After more laws in di- than fi ve years of federal litiga- rect confl ict Check Out the Remaining tion, members of the Rockford with the U.S. Elgin’s Pro-Life Ultrasound Lent Activities Online Pro-Life Initiative have settled Constitution Go to The Observer’s their federal lawsuit against the are revised Services Threatened homepage, http://observer. City of Rockford over the city’s to protect the ELGIN—On March 7 a mobile ultrasound provider fi led a rockforddiocese.org for our alleged harassment of pro-life fundamen- federal lawsuit against the city of Elgin over its new zoning Lent Events List. individuals and other alleged tal rights of restriction which effectively prevents many women from ob- federal civil rights violations. citizens to Kevin Rilott taining free reproductive health services. The agreement reached engage in a For nearly two years, TLC Pregnancy Services has pro- between attorneys from the robust exercise of their First vided the women of Elgin, particularly high-school age girls, Amendment rights,” explained Thomas More Society and the with free pregnancy information, testing, and ultrasound care Tom Brejcha, president and city will result in reforms and through its mobile ultrasound facility. It has operated at two revisions of city ordinances, chief counsel Watch the Video locations, JB’s Pub and Bar, approximately one block from a of the Thom- payment of attorney’s fees, and school, and the Evangelical Covenant Church, adjacent to Lar- If you missed Jane Wisdo compensation for losses suf- as More deliver her Year of Faith talk kin High School in Elgin. Both organizations regularly made fered by the removal of pro-life S o c i e t y , Continued on page 2 at the Newman Center in advertising by members of the “After over DeKalb, March 14, watch it Pro-Life Initiative. fi ve years of of the federal lawsuit in a series the lives and health of mothers and the other talks in Bishop Also, a city complaint against litigation, we of meetings with Rockford of- and the unborn,” says Rilott, Malloy’s lecture series at the long-time pro-life advocate are gratifi ed fi cials going back over several one of the primary plaintiffs in Rockford Diocese website, Kevin Rilott for allegedly jay- that the city Thomas Brejcha years, even after the city’s lone the federal suit. “We are very http://www.rockforddiocese. walking outside the now-for- of Rockford abortion provider was closed af- org. While you’re there, check mer abortuary premises was has agreed to respect these pleased that a positive outcome ter its business repeatedly failed out the resources for the dismissed. Rilott had made 25 rights as a key part of our fi nal was reached that is good for all health and safety inspections. continuing Year of Faith, part court appearances over two settlement of this federal law- the people of Rockford. When “The settlement that was of Pope Emeritus Benedict and a half years regarding suit.” people are willing to listen to reached ended years of strug- XVI’s living legacy to the those charges. Brejcha, co-counsel Peter each other for the good of our Breen of the Thomas More gles and sacrifi ce by our pro- Catholic Church. “We owe a solemn duty to our neighbors who are in need ev- country as well as our clients to Society and attorney Jason R. life community to defend the erybody wins.” This Issue assure that state or municipal Craddock, reached a resolution rights of all people, especially Continued on page 14 Bishop Malloy ............................. 2 From the opening of the conclave Headliners ..................................... 3 to the white smoke heralding a new pope, watch The Observer’s website, Nation/World .............................. 4 http://observer.rockforddiocese. Media/Arts ....................................5 org and The Observer Catholic Young Observer ......................6-7 Newspaper on Facebook for news Vocations and Colleges ........8-9 from the Vatican. Around the Diocese .......... 10-11 Pilgrims huddle under umbrellas (left) to Faith Forum ............................... 12 watch the cardinals gather for the con- Viewpoints ................................ 13 clave, March 12. Members of the fi re and For the Record ......................... 14 rescue (right) service set a chimney on Vatican Update ........................ 16 the roof of the Sistine Chapel, March 9. (CNS photos) Cutline - horizontal 2 FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2013 | The Observer Two Important Saints — Patrick and The Observer (ISSN 0029- Joseph — Honored in the Midst of Lent 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. his coming week, Lent mained there, Patrick’s life betrothed wife is already with out the world and throughout Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax is marked by the cel- would have been a blessing for child, he prepares to divorce her all time. If he could look after 815/399-6225. ebration of two saints the Church. But the faith he quietly in keeping with Jewish Mary and Jesus with such love Periodical postage paid at who have had a tre- taught became rooted in the practice. and solicitude, surely he will be Rockford, Ill., and additional Tmendous impact on the faith of Emerald Isle, as Ireland took up We can only imagine the be- attentive to us and intercede for mail offices. the world. the Catholic faith. wilderment and the spiritual us. POSTMASTER: send address They are, of course, St. Pat- Even up to our own day, the perplexity that Joseph must And just as Patrick is so im- changes to The Observer, 555 rick and St. Joseph. Thank God Irish have treasured, nurtured have endured. Could this really portant to the Irish, St. Joseph Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box for the gift of those men and for and shared that faith. They have be true of Mary; the Mary that has a special place in the faith 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 the examples of all the saints for done so both by emigration and he has known and in whom he of the Italians. that matter. by missionary work all over the has seen such intense holiness? For ADVERTISING information: The model of Joseph sums up Contact The Observer at the When we think about the life world. And yet he must do his duty. a good life of faith: attachment address above or call 815/399- of Patrick, well, talk about over- We still find Irish families Then the angel appears and to Jesus and to Mary, openness 4300; fax 815/399-6225, coming adversity! He was born throughout the Diocese of after the dream, Joseph must E-mail: rbergman@ to the will of God even when in Scotland and by the time he Rockford (and the United States give away his own thoughts and rockforddiocese.org. it means sacrificing one’s own was 16 he was nominally Chris- for that matter) that proudly accept in faith the plan of God. will, and that silent “out of the Send NEWS information to The tian and, by accounts, a worldly baptize their next generation And he does so fully. spotlight” love for God that is Observer at the address or fax youth. But God had plans for with Irish names and hand on He takes Mary as his wife. number above, or send e-mail him! the faith to them. Silently, never speaking in the so often a sign of the humility to Observer@rockforddiocese. He was kidnapped and taken Two days later, we celebrate Gospels, he cares for Mary of faith. org.