ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE BSERVER OOfficial Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 86 | No. 13 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2021 Rite Welcomes the Elect BY AMANDA HUDSON sons Brendan and El- Melanie O’Neill News editor liott as they took this See the and her sons names of important step toward Brendan (left) ROCKFORD—As with most all events the new and Elliott becoming Catholic. in the diocese this past year, the 2021 Rite catechumens attended the of Election on Feb. 20 was smaller than David attends college on page 11 Rite of Election usual and deeply significant. in Boston and partici- in person. Her Usually, both catechumens (those to pated virtually. son David, a receive the sacrament of baptism as well Like other catechumens (and can- college student as sacraments of confirmation and the didates), they have studied the faith in in Boston, Eucharist) and already-baptized candi- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults attended virtually. The dates pack the Cathedral of St. Peter for (RCIA) classes offered by their parish the event. This year only catechumens, family attends — St. Peter in Geneva. Brendan and El- their sponsors and select family members St. Peter Parish came, to assure social distancing and liott also both attend Catholic schools. in Geneva safety. The rite also was live-streamed to After many years of close encounters where Elliott allow for remote participation. with the Church that included teach- is a student at For Melanie O’Neill, that meant her ing in a Catholic high school, Melanie the school. son David could “join” her and her felt the time was right to join the faith of her husband, Michael, a lifelong Vigil, April 3. With only three Catholic, and her three sons agreed. That evening, candidates will receive catechumens St. Peter’s pastor, Father Jonathan Bak- whichever of those sacraments of the attending the Spanish- kelund, and Deacon Gregory D’Anna Catholic faith they have not yet received. language Rite were “warm and welcoming” to them, Bishop David Malloy welcomed both of Election in Melanie says. groups of catechumens — at English and person, after Now the O’Neills and the other cate- Spanish-language ceremonies — calling the ceremony chumens of the diocese are members of it “a moment of particular grace of God Bishop Malloy “the elect” since they have been elected given ... to you and the rest of us.” spent a few by the Church (in the person of the bish- One point he shared is that, as new moments for op) to become members. Catholics, they can have an impact on the photos with The Rite of Election is the ritual that people beside them in the pews. each one, marks their entry into the final phase of “In one way you are receiving this including preparation to receive the sacraments gift for yourself,” Bishop Malloy said, catechumen Esperanza of initiation. They will be baptized, “but don’t underestimate what it means Orrala (left). confirmed and will receive first Com- for the rest of the Church to see you.” Observer photos/ Amanda Hudson) munion in their parishes at the Easter Continued on page 11 Word Change in Missal Returns to Original Phrasing WASHINGTON (CNS)—A change U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ to Christ. Therefore, the correct trans- other languages, including Misal Roma- in wording to the concluding doxology Committee on Divine Worship said the lation ... is simply “in the unity of the no, the USCCB’s Spanish translation of of orations in the Roman Missal, from Vatican Congregation for Divine Wor- Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever,” the the missal. “one God, for ever and ever” to “God, ship and the Sacraments wrote to the memo said, adding that the prefect of English translations of the Roman for ever and ever,” took effect on Ash English-speaking bishops’ conferences the congregation “pointed out the im- Missal for use by Catholics prior to the Wednesday, Feb. 17. in May 2020 about the change. portance of affirming this Christologi- Second Vatican Council, such as the St. According to the online Catholic The memo pointed out the current cal truth amid the religious pluralism of Joseph’s Missal of the 1950s, “reflected Encyclopedia, doxology is a word that English translation that concludes “in today’s world.” the correct translation,” the memo said. “means a short verse praising God and the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, A copy of the memo was provided to “However, when the postconciliar beginning, as a rule, with the Greek for ever and ever” is “incorrect.” Catholic News Service. texts were published in English, the word Doxa,” which means glory. “There is no mention of ‘one’ in the It said the correct translation was al- word ‘one’ was added.” A Feb. 4 memo to bishops from the Latin, and ‘Deus’ in the Latin text refers ready reflected in the Roman Missal in Continued on page 3 This Issue Quick News Inside Bishop Malloy ....................... 2 Read The Observer British DNR Orders Parental Headliners ............................... 3 Online Free Called ‘Immoral’ Notification Nation/World ........................ 4 While we fight COVID, Bishops in England and Wales Being Challenged Diocesan ....................... 5-6, 11 anyone may read decry medical orders against in Illinois Ashes to Ashes ...................... 7 The Observer Online attempting to resuscitate Catholics urged The Junior Observer ........... 8 for free at http:// patients with learning to write to state Our Catholic View ................ 9 observertoo.rockforddiocese.org/. disabilities during the latest legislators. For the Record .................... 10 Subscribers to the print edition will COVID-19 lockdown in the U.K. (CNS photo/Damir Sagolj, Reuters) page 6 Media/Arts ............................ 11 continue to receive it by mail. page 4 2 | FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2021 | The Observer Confession is Good Medicine for the Ills of Sin ne of the most remarkable refl ections in back to God. But like the prodigal son who starved The Observer (ISSN 0029- the writings of St. Paul is to be found while he herded swine, we cannot summon the 7739), is published weekly, in his Letter to the Romans. There, in will to turn back, to return to Mass, to make that except fi ve times a year by Chapter 7, St. Paul deals with the struggle necessary confession. the Diocese of Rockford, with sin that he and all of us fi nd within ourselves. All of this is a mystery with which we are 555 Colman Center Dr., P.O. O Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 He famously comments, “For I do not do the good I familiar. Evil has a strong attraction to us, even Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax want, but I do the evil I do not want” (Rm 7:19). against our better judgement. It is for this reason 815/399-6225. By this comment, St. Paul helps us to think about that we need to enter into the practices of Lent each Periodical postage paid at BY BISHOP the tendency, even on the part of people who truly year. DAVID J. Rockford, Ill., and additional seek to do God’s will, to still fall into sin. During Lent, we are to turn more intensely to mail offi ces. MALLOY Every one of us at some point in life looks back God and ask His help to be done with our sins and in shame on something that we have done, even with that deadly attraction to evil. Our prayer, our POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Observer, 555 fasting, our Lenten confession, are all our arms very one though in our conscience we knew we should not Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box have. Retrospect tells us we should have held our against evil. 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 Eof us at tongue. We should have avoided that situation. We In some ways, our Lenten observances are like For ADVERTISING information: knew the right thing to do and for some reason we the vaccines now being administered against the some point Contact The Observer at the in life looks didn’t do it. coronavirus. Like sin, the virus is invisible, but address above or call 815/399- What St. Paul is telling us is that often our we feel its consequences, from light discomfort 4300; fax 815/399-6225, back in sinfulness is not simply a question of calculating to even death itself. Our Lenten penances and the Email: kmccarthy@ shame on what God wants against what is sinful. We can sacraments are like the injections that work within rockforddiocese.org. something often evaluate that correctly and as a matter of us to ward off the eff ects of sin and return us to the Send NEWS information to The that we faith. But still something goes wrong. path of spiritual health. Observer at the address or fax Even after saying prayers, going to Mass, Once again, don’t forget that confession during number above; send email to have done resolving to sin no more, when confronted with the Lent is one of our greatest needs and best defense Observer@rockforddiocese. ... moment of truth, we can still fail. Perhaps we do against sin. Our Be Reconciled Day will take place org; or fi ll out a form at so out of fear. Fear of being ridiculed or derided as on Wednesday, March 24. Confessions will be held http://observer.rockforddiocese. out of step with the crowd or the accepted thought in parishes of the Diocese of Rockford from 9 a.m. org/contact-us. of the moment. Temptation can come also from to 8 p.m. Check for local details.