Archived Articles
Deacon Richard Gerdeman
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Richard Gerdeman 81, who died April 4, 2024. Arrangements are being provided by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on April 12, at 11:00 am at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Rockford with burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery., Winnebago.
Click here for the full obituary
Date: March 27, 2024
ROCKFORD-- Bishop David J. Malloy today issued the following statement in response to reports of acts of stabbing violence in the last two days in the City of Rockford.
"I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the senseless stabbings in the last two days resulting in the loss of precious lives."
Click here to read the full statement.
Pray for the repose of the soul of retired Father Donahugh. May he rest in eternal peace.
https://thompsonfunerals.com/tribute/details/6072/Rev-Donald-Donahugh/obituary.html
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. The day is particularly important for the Diocese of Rockford in that Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, is our patroness. Check your local parish for special holy day Mass times.
The observance of this feast began with a papal encyclical by Pope Pius IX, when he formally defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, INEFFABILIS DEUS, on December 8, 1854.
The Immaculate Conception dogma that states that Mary, whose conception was brought about the human way, was conceived without original sin or its stain. That’s what “immaculate” means: without stain.
It’s important to understand what the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is and what it is not. Some people mistakenly think that the term refers to Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a human father. Others think the Immaculate Conception means Mary was conceived “by the power of the Holy Spirit,” in the way Jesus was, but that, too, is incorrect.
The essence of original sin consists in the deprivation of sanctifying grace, and its stain is a corrupt nature. Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace; from the first instant of her existence, she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.
For on this feast and the upcoming feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, see the Dec. 8 issue of The Observer Catholic Newspaper.
Pope Francis’ prayer for the Immaculate Conception
LARGO, FLA.--Reverend David R. Engbarth died peacefully on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in Largo, Florida, where he was a resident since retiring from active ministry in the Diocese of Rockford in 2014.
Father was born on August 24, 1948, in Rockford, to Joseph M. Engbarth and Frances E. Giovingo. Father attended Lewis University, Lockport, IL (1967-1969). Father Engbarth attended Niles College, Chicago, IL (1969-1971). He then attended St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, MD (1971-1975) and Aquinas Institute, Dubuque, IA (1975-1976) where he received his Theological Formation. In 1979 Father attended Loyola University, Chicago, IL where he received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
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Your help is needed now to save this important scholarship opportunity for children, especially those in our Catholic elementary and high schools.
Please contact your legislator today to support and call House Bill 4194 to a full vote.
For more go to www.savemyscholarship.org
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