ISSN: 0029-7739 $ 1.00 per copy THE OBSERVER Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford Volume 78 | No. 43 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2013 Parishes, Others Learn About Evangelizing With New Media BY AMANDA HUDSON News editor Offi cial Appointments The Rev. Lorenzo Gon- ROCKFORD—About 300 people received some evangeliza- zalez: to be Parochial Vicar tion inspiration on Oct. 18 at the Digital Church Conference held for Our Lady of Good Coun- at St. Rita Parish. sel Parish, Aurora, effective Responding to evaluations from past Ministry Day annual gath- Nov. 1, 2013. erings, the conference was organized to meet the need expressed Given at the Chancery, by parish staffs for information on how to reach out to parishio- Oct. 21, 2013 ners digitally. Keynote speakers were Brandon Vogt, author of “The Church Inside and New Media”; Josh Simmons, founder and CEO of eCatholic, which provides websites for Catholic parishes; and Matthew War- ner, creator of FlockNote, a parish email-based communications system. Bishop David J. Malloy welcomed participants by telling of a person he heard about who spoke six languages “but he has noth- (Observer photo by Margarita Mendoza) ing to say in any of them.” Father David Austin, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Albany, and Immacu- Technical knowledge is important, but even more important, Year of Faith to End Nov. 24 late Conception Parish in Fulton, takes notes on his tablet during the The Junior Observer, pg. 11 he said, is who we are communicating — Jesus Christ and the Digital Church Conference at St. Rita Parish, Oct. 18. About 300 people, Catholic faith. including guests from the Catholic Press Association and midwestern Drawing on Pope Francis’ thoughts on communication, Bishop dioceses attended the gathering. Continued on page 4 Solemn Profession a Big Celebration BY AMANDA HUDSON Bishop David Celluloid Heaven: How Profession and Consecration Popes Took Church, News editor on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Poor J. Malloy was Gospel to the Big Screen Clare Colettines Corpus Chris- principal pg. 15 ROCKFORD—“Are you re- ti Monastery. celebrant at solved to give yourself to God The rite continued as she the Mass and alone,” asked Bishop David prostrated herself on the fl oor rite of solemn J. Malloy, “in solitude and si- Quick News and was covered with a funeral profession at lence, in persevering prayer the Poor Clare and willing penance, in humble pall to signify her death to the Colettines’ work and holiness of life?” world as the Litany of Fran- With her response of “I am ciscan Saints was sung by her Corpus Christi determined, with God’s grace, fellow nuns, Bishop Malloy, Monastery. to do this,” Sister Mary John Msgr. Michael Kurz, Fathers Paul of Merciful Love com- David Vogel and Matthew De- Those friends included several of my Lord Jesus Christ, whom (CNS photo/Dwain Hebda, Arkansas Catholic) pleted her part of the exami- Block, Deacon Ronald Graw sisters from the religious com- I have seen, whom I have loved Cowboys, 49ers Owners nation in the Rite of Solemn and her family and friends. munity she initially had joined, and in whom is my belief and Donate $10M to Arkansas the Marian Sisters of Lincoln, my delight.” Catholic High School Neb., before discerning a call Earlier in the week, Mother Jerry Jones (second from left), to become a Poor Clare. The Dominica explained that this owner of the Dallas Cowboys mother superior of the Mar- solemn profession ceremony NFL football team, and his ian Sisters, Sister Cecilia Ann goes back in time to long be- sons Jerry Jr. and Stephen Rezac, read the fi rst reading at fore St. Francis and St. Clare and son-in-law Shy Anderson the Mass. were born. “We’ve maintained announced, Oct. 10, that they Sister Mary John Paul’s the old rite,” Mother Dominica are among donors making a parents, Dan and Carol Run- said. She noted that the two $10 million gift to Catholic High School in Little Rock, Ark. nebaum, joined Bishop Malloy parts of the rite — the conse- Other donors are San Fran- at the grate for their daughter’s cration of virgins from the 100s cisco 49ers co-chairmen and profession and the remainder of and the profession ceremony former co-owners Denise and the rite. that was begun in the 600s — John York and an anonymous Following an ancient song were separated by St. Clare to Catholic High alumnus. sung by Sister Mary John Paul accommodate people like her as the professed sisters gath- own mother who joined the This Issue ered around her with lighted then-new Poor Clares order af- Bishop Malloy ............................. 2 candles, she made her profes- ter being widowed. Headliners ..................................... 3 sion on her knees with her The rite used by today’s Poor Diocesan .................................... 4-6 hands in the hands of Mother Clares, Mother Dominica said, Around the Diocese ........... 7-10 Maria Dominica Stein, abbess can be combined or separated, of the community. All the sol- The Junior Observer .............. 11 depending on the life circum- emnly professed sisters then stances of the woman who is Nation/World ..................... 12-14 gathered around and sang with making her solemn profession. Media/Arts ................................. 15 (Observer photos by Amanda Hudson) their newly professed sister in After the sisters’ song, Bish- Faith Forum ............................... 16 Sister Mary John Paul of Merciful Love greets her mother, Carol Run- English: “I hold the kingdom op Malloy said the prayer of Viewpoints ................................ 17 nebaum. Carol and her husband, Dan, renewed their wedding vows of this world and all its allure- consecration, calling on God to For the Record ......................... 18 shortly after witnessing their daughter’s solemn profession. ments in contempt for the love Continued on page 5 2 FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2013 | The Observer Commitment, Perseverance Signs The Observer (ISSN 0029- Of Healthy Maturity and Faith 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 hy is life so hard? What that really meant must before us is eternal life. There Pontifical North American Col- Phone: 815/399-4300; Fax Why is faith so have hit home on Good Friday may be temptations, sinfulness lege in Rome. God willing, he 815/399-6225. hard? Those are as Jesus hung on the cross. But and just plain moments of tired- will be ordained a priest next Periodical postage paid at deep questions. the glory of Easter was worth ness making us wonder if it is June. Rockford, Ill., and additional WThey might need a philosopher all the effort. all worth it. Our prayer must be The willingness of young mail offices. to help us answer them. What is difficult about the for the grace not to give up on people not to flee from the POSTMASTER: send address Still, they are questions that challenges of life and of faith our faith nor to abandon or wa- world but to engage it head changes to The Observer, 555 almost everyone asks himself is that they test something that ter down its moral obligations. on by offering themselves and Colman Center Dr., P.O. Box at some point. Life and living many of us have in short sup- It is the project of a lifetime their lives to something greater 7044, Rockford, IL 61125 our faith are filled with joyful ply. That is patience and perse- leading to eternal life. than themselves gives hope, en- For ADVERTISING information: moments. Think of birthdays, verance. This month, there have been couragement and even satisfac- Contact The Observer at the summer vacations, Christmas Because of the relative mate- several notable examples of tion to the rest of us striving for address above or call 815/399- Mass and maybe the Diocesan rial wellbeing of our society, as perseverance both in faith and fidelity to our own calling and 4300; fax 815/399-6225, E-mail: rbergman@ Youth Summit. well as our modern mentality in the course of life. path to Christ. rockforddiocese.org. But those moments all share that insists we either fix some- Last week, I presided over Some days we just don’t feel something in common. 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