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Rockford Observer ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE BSERVER OOfficial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 85 | No. 34 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY AUGUST 14, 2020 St. Edward Catholic Preparatory Academy Opens Sept. 8 in Elgin BY PENNY WIEGERT identity from pre-kindergarten to 12th Editor grade,” said Michael Kagan, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. ELGIN—The new school opening in Despite the restrictions and interrup- Elgin could be called a bridge. Because, tions of the COVID-19 pandemic cou- for the first time in the Diocese of Rock- pled with severe thunderstorms in late ford, Catholic elementary and Catholic July that knocked out power and com- high school education programs are munication systems, the school is still being formally and directly connected on track to welcome its first students for through the creation of the St. Edward in-class instruction on Sept. 8. Catholic Preparatory Academy. According to the new principal, Dr. The new school is located in the for- Kathleen Miller, former principal at St. mer St. Joseph School on the campus of (Observer file photo) James School in Belvidere, “Every nook St. Joseph Parish here. The old St. Joseph School in Elgin will be the home of the new St. Edward Catholic Prepa- and cranny of the school has been re- St. Edward was created through the ratory Academy. New signs for the building are among the many changes taking place newed.” closing of St. Joseph and St. Laurence at the school. Opening day is set for Sept. 8. That renewal has taken place in the Catholic schools which both faced fi- form of a deep cleaning of the entire nancial difficulties and dwindling en- Elgin area by creating a natural link to Preparatory Academy is a great oppor- facility, new paint and air purifiers in rollment. the academic program at St. Edward tunity to partner with one of our Catho- every classroom and office along with The new school plan was created to Central Catholic High School. lic high schools in providing a strong minor repairs to all areas of the building strengthen Catholic education in the “The creation of St. Edward Catholic flow of Catholic education, mission and Continued on page 7 Poor Clares Celebrate Feast of Patroness Bishop David Malloy recounts the life of St.Clare of Assisi during a Mass onher feast day for the Poor Clare Colettines (behind grille, left) and a few of their friends at Corpus Christi Monastery on Aug. 11. See page 3 (Observer photo/Amanda Hudson) This Issue Quick News Official Inside Bishop Malloy ....................... 2 Read The Observer Appointments St. Bridget Parish Welcomes Several into Headliners ............................... 3 Online Free The Rev. Kyle A. Manno — to be Catholic Church Forever Family ...................... 4 Anyone in the Rockford Diocese Vicar Forane of the DeKalb Dean- Callum Watts readies his Diocesan ................................. 5 ery, effective Tuesday, August 4, may read The Observer Online mask before entering Back to School ................ 6-15 2020. free at http://observertoo. Given at the Chancery, Aug. 6, 2020 St. Bridget Church for a Our Catholic View ....... 16-17 rockforddiocese.org/. parish RCIA ceremony. For the Record ............. 18-19 page 5 Media/Arts ............................ 19 Subscribers to the print edition will continue to receive it by mail. Nation/Wold ........................ 20 (Observer photo/Amanda Hudson) 2 | FRIDAY AUGUST 14, 2020 | The Observer The Assumption Shows Us the Reality The Observer (ISSN 0029- 7739), is published weekly, Of Mary and All Human Persons except fi ve times a year by the Diocese of Rockford, his Saturday, we celebrate the Solemnity Apostles and gathered a following. But always the 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 of the Assumption of Mary. That feast most faithful to Him and to the message of His Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax highlights the constant faith of the Church Father and the Kingdom was Mary. At the end 815/399-6225. that Mary, at the end of her life, was taken of her life then, she had never for a moment been Periodical postage paid at Tup body and soul into the glory of heaven. separated from her Son. Rockford, Ill., and additional The dogma or defi nitive teaching to be held Another lesson for us, badly needed in our world, mail offi ces. about Mary’s Assumption was declared for by is that the Assumption displayed the reality of POSTMASTER: send address Pope Pius XII in 1950. That did not make the BY BISHOP Mary and of every human person. We are meant changes to The Observer, 555 Assumption to be a new element of faith, however. DAVID J. to be saved and glorifi ed in the fullness of what Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box Even though Mary’s fi nal days are not part of the 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 MALLOY we are. Because we are both body and soul, our Scriptures, the memory of the Church and of the redemption or our eternal hell will involve both. For ADVERTISING information: faithful, recounted and handed on over time, is Mary’s Assumption was the fullness of who she is, Contact The Observer at the e do itself a part of revelation and so worthy of our taken up and glorifi ed. Even now, along with Jesus address above or call 815/399- 4300; fax 815/399-6225, well belief. who ascended to the Father in the body, Mary is in W We do well to recall the full meaning of Mary’s Email: kmccarthy@ heaven, body and soul. That is what we are off ered rockforddiocese.org. to recall the Assumption and its implication for each of us. if we are faithful in our belief, our charity and our full meaning First, Mary’s closeness to Jesus is always marked Send NEWS information to The moral lives. of Mary’s by the mother-son relationship. The closeness of Observer at the address or fax What is important is to recognize that our bodies number above; send email to Mary to Jesus in this world was natural and deep, a Assumption are not simply instruments in support of our mind, Observer@rockforddiocese. model for every mother’s love for her son. But the and its the real me. Each of us is wholly body and soul. org; or fi ll out a form at Assumption of Mary goes far beyond any sense of http://observer.rockforddiocese. That means that our bodies must be respected and implication infi nitely extending that earthly joy. org/contact-us. prepared for glory. for each of Beyond Mary’s role as mother is the gift of Subscription rate $28.00 per us. sinlessness that she not only accepted but guarded The moral life, especially lived in our time of the year (48 issues); Canadian and lived during her every earthly and eternal sexual revolution, is tempted to reduce the body to and Pan American $29; other moment. For that reason the Assumption is linked much less. Our Catholic faith teaches us the correct foreign: surface mail $37, air mail $97; single copies $1. to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Unlike the use of the body, especially through chastity and the rest of us who were born as fallen descendants of avoidance of contraception and sterilization. Our The Observer Online digital Adam and Eve, Mary was the new beginning. She acceptance of the gender of our body as a gift from subscriptions are also available. alone was conceived without original sin. God, whether we are male or female, is part of our Publisher: While Mary, growing up and living among us, receiving God’s creative love, as Mary did. Most Reverend David J. Malloy would have externally appeared like one of us, The good news of the Assumption is that the fi rst Editor: Penny Wiegert among those saved is not only Jesus’s mother, she hidden from us was a soul totally given to God. It is News Editor: Amanda Hudson hard to imagine one who never for a moment gave is also our mother. Her glory, body and soul, is the in to selfi shness or willfulness that would separate glory we are called to. She is a mother praying to Features and Multimedia her from God. join all of her children. That means she seeks to Editor: Sharon Boehlefeld As Jesus grew and began His ministry, He chose join us to Christ for all eternity. Circulation/Proofreading: Susan Sabrowski Accounting: Jill Bonk Advertising and Marketing: Prayer Reaches for the Father Who is Love Kevin McCarthy Production and Web From General Audience, Library of the Apostolic Palace, May 13, Part 2 disciples, Jesus says this: “No longer do I call you Administrator: Gary Haughton servants, for the servant does not know what his Christianity is the religion that continually Contributing Writers: master is doing; but I have called you friends, for celebrates God’s “manifestation,” that is, His Father Kenneth Wasilewski, all that I have heard from my Father I have made epiphany. The fi rst feasts of the liturgical year are Lynne Conner, Tony Carton, known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose the celebration of this God who does not remain Pat Szpekowski, Margarita (CNS photo/C. Peri via Reuters) Peri photo/C. (CNS you and appointed you that you should go and hidden, but rather off ers His friendship to mankind. Mendoza, Louise Brass, Patrick bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that BY POPE God reveals His glory in the poverty of Winn whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may FR ANCIS Bethlehem, in the contemplation of the Magi, in the give it to you” (Jn 15:15-16).
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