Bishop Malloy extends Mass dispensation

(Observer file photo) 2019 Chrism Mass

DIOCESE--Bishop David Malloy has extended permission for Catholics in the Rockford Diocese to be absent from Sunday Mass indefinitely. With the Illinois Stay at Home directive extended at least through April 30, the bishop has decided also to remove the pain of sin for missing Mass for the near future.
In a letter issued April 9, he said, "Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday itself will be for us special acts of faith this year. Because we hope and trust in Christ, even without the opportunity to be physically present for the Masses and ceremonies, we know that we can join the Church of all time and throughout the world in venerating Christ’s suffering and death and in spiritually uniting ourselves to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, even if we can only watch by television or social media."
Read his complete letter at http://www.rockforddiocese.org/
Bishop Malloy will celebrate the traidtional Triduum Masses and services at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford, but the church will be empty of the faithful.

Triduum and Easter streaming schedule

The Chrism Mass begins at 11 a.m. April 9. The bishop will celebrate with Msgr. Glenn Nelson, Vicar General; Father Stephen St. Jules, cathedral rector' and masters of ceremonies.At 7 p.m., the bishop will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the cathedral. 
He will celebrate Good Friday, April 10 at 2 p.m.
His Easter Vigil Mass on April 11 will be at 7:30 p.m.
Look for links to the streamed events at the Rockford Diocese Facebook page.

Televised and streamed Easter Mass

Bishop Malloy's April 12 Easter Sunday Mass will air at 10:30 a.m. on WREX Channel 13 in Rockford. (Check local listings and cable channel numbers.) The Easter Mass will also be streamed at https://wrex.com/news/wrex-live-stream/ and on the WREX Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wrextv/ 
The Diocese of Rockford will share the link on its Facebook page.
WREX has been the home of the weekly Sunday Catholic Mass for more than 50 years.
Priests at all diocesan parishes may also celebrate Holy Week and Easter Masses and other services without the faithful present and may stream those services online. Check with your parish for details.

March 24, 25, 30: Passion play in Genoa

(Photo provided)

GENOA--"The Mystery of the Passion of Christ" is a dignified, dramatic, theatrical performance of the Christ's Passion that will be performed at St. Catherine of Genoa Parish, 340 S. Stott St., here. 
Performed by 100 volunteers from Catholic and non-Catholic churches in the DeKalb Deanery and the surrounding area, the play promotes, evangelizes, educates, and makes its audience aware of the events surrounding the Easter Triduum based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and on the principles and doctrines of the Catholic Church. The Passion 
Performances will be at 1 p.m. on March 24; 3 p.m. on Palm Sunday, March 25; and 4 p.m. on Good Friday, March 30.
Cost: a donation
Info: Carole Serotzke at (815) 784-2355, secretary@st-catherine-genoa.org