March 9: Time to Pick Mr. Marmion

(Photo provided)

AURORA--On Friday, March 9, Marmion Academy's Student Council along with the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program will host Mr. Marmion, a mock talent/beauty show to benefit charity. Three students from each class will compete in four different events and a panel of faculty and student judges will determine who will win the coveted 2018 Mr. Marmion crown! Several additional students will also showcase their unique talents throughout the evening.

This year's Mr. Marmion contestants are seniors Louie Auriemma of North Aurora, Austin Flanagan of Naperville and Jack Kirtley of St. Charles; juniors Christian Henkel of Batavia, Isaias Ponpa of Aurora and Ben Saloga of Sugar Grove; sophomores William Dietz of Geneva, Ben Okolita of Geneva and Joshua Pura of Naperville; and freshmen Ryan Fitzgerald of West Chicago, Zachary Hoschouer of North Aurora and Warren Swanson of Batavia.

Money raised through this event will be donated to benefit cancer research programs through St. Baldrick's Foundation and the Illinois Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Show time is at 7 p.m. at Marmion Academy's Alumni Hall located at 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora. Tickets are $7 each or $5 if purchased in advance. To purchase tickets in advance, please contact Mark Malkowski at 630-897-6936 ext. 296 or email: mmalkowski@marmion.org. 

Mr. Marmion is a community event; all current students, prospective students, family members, friends and community members are invited to enjoy the show and support a wonderful cause.

Feb. 26: Call-in Day for Dreamers

Diocese of Rockford joins USCCB in National Effort

ROCKFORD--The Diocese of Rockford joins with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ president, vice president, and migration chair in encouraging Catholics to join in a National Call-in Day for Dreamers on Feb. 26. Below is the press release issued by the USCCB regarding this event. View a related video at https://youtu.be/z77N6mEWN4o.

USCCB President, Vice President, and Migration Chair Announce National Call-in Day for Dreamers for Feb. 26

WASHINGTON—Late last week, the Senate failed to achieve the 60 votes needed to move forward with debate on legislation to provide relief to Dreamers. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president; Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, USCCB vice president; and Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, together issued the following statement:
"We are deeply disappointed that the Senate was not able to come together in a bipartisan manner to secure legislative protection for the Dreamers. With the March 5 deadline looming, we ask once again that Members of Congress show the leadership necessary to find a just and humane solution for these young people, who daily face mounting anxiety and uncertainty.
"We are also announcing a National Catholic Call-In Day to Protect Dreamers. This coming weekend, we will be asking the faithful across the nation to call their Members of Congress next Monday, Feb. 26, to protect Dreamers from deportation, to provide them a path to citizenship, and to avoid any damage to existing protections for families and unaccompanied minors in the process.
"Our faith compels us to stand with the vulnerable, including our immigrant brothers and sisters. We have done so continually, but we must show our support and solidarity now in a special way. Now is the time for action."

Galena sees first Catholics in northwest Illinois

As Illinois celebrates its bicentennial this year, The Observer will present occasional features from Rockford Diocese history books.

In 1820, just two years after Illinois was made a state, rich lead mines in northern Illinois gave rise to the town of Galena, “the cradle of organized Catholicity in the Diocese of Rockford.” Pioneers in the area were Irish Catholic immigrants. Bishop Joseph Rosati, D.D., had barely settled in St. Louis when the Catholics of Galena, also called Fever River, sent a letter dated April 29, 1827.  In the phrasing and spelling of an older English, it read in part, “The solicitude of the numerous body of Catholics assembled in this section of country inspires them with a confident hope that their numbers and their zeal for our holy Religion will entitle them to your favorable notice.
“Their means, to support a Priest, are ample, their dispositions are, certainly, corresponding with their means, and they rely with confidence, that, considering these two essential requisites, they are entitled to that favourable notice.”
It was signed by a committee of Patrick Walsh, Patrick Hogan, James Foley, John Foley and Michael Byrne, several names still common in the diocese.
After the exchange of several letters, in September, 1830, Father Joseph Lutz was sent to Galena and Prairie du Chien, Wis. When Father Lutz came to the territory that is now the Rockford Diocese, he was sent as a missionary.
The bishop of St. Louis sent the first regular pastor, Father John McMahon, to Galena on Aug. 22, 1832.
Source: 1924 Complete History Book of the Diocese of Rockford

Drawing of Galena in the19th Century.

Feb. 1-23: Check out FORMED

(Observer photo)

DIOCESE--FORMED is an online platform that provides access to Catholic audio talks, movies, ebooks, and video-based studies from trusted providers like the Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, Catholic Answers, the Knights of Columbus, St. Paul Center, Sophia Press and more.
All parishes in the Diocese of Rockford have free access to formed.org through Feb. 23.
For this free trial, simply go to www.formed.org and click LOGIN. Then enter email rockford@formed.org and password formed#18 in the spaces shown above. Click submit and look around.
Look for Catholic faith features in English and Spanish.

Feb. 15: Creighton fertility discussion in Rockford

(Photo courtesy https://www.creightonmodel.com)

ROCKFORD--OSF Institute for Women’s Health and Fertility will offer an introductory session to the Creighton Model Charting System The system is a means to help married couples avoid or achieve pregnancy, or help married or single women monitor their gynecological health naturally and effectively.
Creighton Model is a charting system with a user effectiveness rate of 96.8 percent. As a women learns to chart her cycle, NaPro Technology provides medical and surgical treatments to address reproductive and gynecologic abnormalities. These treatments don’t just mask abnormalities, the goal is to eliminate them completely.
As a Catholic health care system, OSF believes in offering alternatives to contraception and artificial reproductive technologies that are safe, effective and consistent with their commitment to the sanctity of life.
There is no cost to attend the session on Feb. 15 in the OSF St. Anthony Medical Center Foundation Room at 5666 E. State St., but registration is requested. (The session will be repeated March 15.)
Info: Mary O’Grady, RN, CFCP, 815/332-3015, mary.e.o’grady@osfhealthcare.org;  osfhealthcare.org/fertility

The first Catholics in Illinois were French

As Illinois celebrates its bicentennial this year, The Observer will present occasional features from Rockford Diocese history books.

As long as Illinois and the vast territory east and west of the Mississippi was a possession of France and its civil government under the jurisdiction of France, the language, customs and institutions of the Illinois settlements were French, and the priests who labored in these missions were French. They were the Jesuits and the Fathers of the Foreign Missions or Seminary of Quebec.
The Illinois church was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Quebec until the year 1784, when, on June 9, by a decree of the Propaganda de Fide of Rome, the newly federated United States became a separate ecclesiastical division, and the Very Rev. John Carroll was appointed Prefect Apostolic. In the year 1810 Illinois came under the jurisdiction of the new Bishop of Bardstown, Ky., and in 1827 of the new Bishop of St. Louis, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Rosati, D.D.
Source: 1924 Complete History Book of the Diocese of Rockford

Jan. 7-14: Events in the Rockford Diocese

Jan. 7 and 9: Boylan to host tax credit scholarship talk

Parents and others are welcome to attend one of two sessions about the new Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program scheduled at Boylan Central Catholic High School.
The first session will be Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. The second will be Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Both will be in the school cafeteria on the campus at 4000 St. Francis Dr. in Rockford.
Elizabeth Heitkamp, assistant superintendent of the diocese's Catholic schools will present information and answer questions.
The event is free and open to parents of students in kindergarten through high school.

Jan. 10: Prayer breakfast in Batavia

The Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary will host a prayer breakfast, 9-10:30 a.m., Jan. 10,  at the Nazareth Spirituality Center, 717 N. Batavia Ave. Mary Cornell will talk about Pietra Fitness, a stretching and strenghthening class that integrates Christian prayer into the workout. A donation is asked for the continental breakfast. Registration is requested.

Info: Linda Isleib, 630/879-1296

Jan. 14: Dixon KC free throw contest starts

(KC photo)

Dixon area students age 9 to 14 are eligible for the annual Knights of Columbus Council 690 free throw contests. They will be held Jan. 14, Feb. 11 and March 11 at St. Patrick, 612 Highland Ave., in Dixon. Students must enter the council contest on Jan. 14 in order to advance to later events. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. and competition at noon each day.

Sister who was inspiration for 'The Trouble With Angels' character dies

(Photo provided)

SINSINAWA, Wis. (CNS) -- A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 2 for Dominican Sister John Eudes Courtney, who spent 68 years in religious life. Sister Courtney died Dec. 22 at age 95 at the Sinsinawa Dominicans' motherhouse in Sinsinawa.

She served as inspiration for the character of Mary Clancy in the book "Life With Mother Superior" by Jane Trahey, which was turned into the movie "The Trouble With Angels," starring Hayley Mills as Mary Clancy and Rosalind Russell as the mother superior. Trahey was best friends with young Mary Courtney when both were students at Providence High School in Chicago.

Also featured as a nun in the movie's fictional convent was Marge Redmond, who parlayed the role into a two-season stint as Sister Jacqueline in the television series "The Flying Nun."

Sister Courtney was born Sept. 26, 1922, in Chicago, the daughter of Harvey and Josephine Ogden Courtney. She made her first profession in 1949 and took final vows in 1952.

Primarily involved in teaching ministry -- including 30 years of high school English -- Sister Courtney taught at schools in the archdioceses of Chicago; Milwaukee; St. Paul and Minneapolis; and Omaha, Nebraska. She also taught in the dioceses of Nashville, Tennessee; Peoria and Rockford, Illinois; Helena, Montana; Arlington, Virginia; and Owensboro, Kentucky.

In addition, Sister Courtney worked in pastoral ministry and as a community organizer, prison visitor and librarian. Her last assignment before retiring from active ministry in 1993 was serving in the Sinsinawa Dominicans' motherhouse in the transportation department.

See more in The Observer, Jan. 12

Dec. 12: Fox Valley Catholic

Fox Valley Catholic - Gathering young adults (18-35ish) from all over the Fox Valley and surrounding areas

ELGIN--On the second Tuesday of the month, join Fox Valley Catholic at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., from 7:00-9:00 p.m. for some beer, friendships, and a little formation.  

The next Brew Night will be Tuesday, Dec. 12. We hope to see you there! 

Do you know anyone 18-35ish? Please share this invitation with them. 

Info: www.foxvalleycatholic.com

Dec. 12: ACC Christmas concert

Christmas Band Concert Tuesday, December 12, 2017 7:00pm On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017 the Aurora Central Catholic High School Band will be performing its 2017 Christmas Concert in the cafetorium. The school is at 1255 N. Edgelawn Dr. in Aurora.

Nov. 9-12: Rosary High School presents "The Sound of Music":

AURORA--Rosary High School will come alive with The Sound of Music as the school presents this heart-warming musical November 9-12 at Rosary’s McEnroe Auditorium, 901 N. Edgelawn Dr. in Aurora.

The Sound of Music has captured the hearts of audiences of all ages. This classic and endearing musical is based on the true story of Maria Rainer, a spirited young postulant who was sent to serve as a governess for Captain Von Trapp, a widower with seven children. Rodgers and Hammerstein's inspirational musical features favorites such as "Climb Every Mountain," "Edelweiss," "My Favorite Things," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," and, of course, "The Sound of Music."

The production team includes Megan Drahos, producer, vocal and orchestra director, and director Laura Biancalana, both teachers at Rosary High School.

The cast, crew, and pit orchestra includes more than 90 students from Rosary High School and Marmion Academy in Aurora.  Music is provided by members of the Rosary Symphony Orchestra, the Rosary Chamber Orchestra, and the Marmion-Rosary Band, as well as some local musicians. Several Rosary faculty and staff members will make a cameo appearance as abbey nuns.

Show dates are Thursday, November 9, at 6 pm; Friday, November 10 at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 12 at 2 p.m. Show tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens.

Saturday evening features a pre-show wine reception with hot hors d'oeuvres, an opportunity for photos with the cast, and a dessert reception during intermission. A family Picnic in Vienna is planned for Sunday at Noon. Pre-registration is required. Both events are fundraisers sponsored by the Rosary Fine Arts Boosters.

Tickets are available online at www.rosaryhs.com/musical. Tickets may also be purchased by mail and in the Rosary school office. An order form can be found online. For additional information, call the school at (630) 896-0831.

This production marks the fifth time Rosary has staged The Sound of Music in its 55-year history. Cast members from previous shows in 1970, 1979, 1989 and 2009 have been invited and will be recognized at the performances and at the surrounding special events. If you were in one of these shows, please contact the school to let us know you'll be attending at vdanklefsen@rosaryhs.com.

Oct. 15: Celebrity organist to perform at St. Catherine of Siena

WEST DUNDEE— Organ maestro Hector Olivera will perform at 3 p.m., Oct. 15, at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 845 W. Main St., here.
The concert is free but donations to subsidize future organ concerts will be appreciated.
Olivera is a world-renown improviser who can spontaneously generate imaginative, complex compositions. 
As the son of an organist, Olivera started playing the organ at age 3 and entered the Buenos Aires Conservatory at age 6. 
He grew up without access to much printed/published organ music. As a boy, he listened to and transcribed great organ symphonies and concertos.
As an adult, he has played every important organ in every distinguished church and concert hall in the world.
He is known for astonishing keyboard velocity and his savant like musical gifts.  He has been known to say, “Hold onto your hats, this is going to be loud and fast”.
Olivera's concert is being co-sponsored by Allen Organs and Allen Organs of Chicago (Bolingbrook). 
Info: 847/426-2217.

Oct. 14: Erie hosts chicken bar-b-q

St. Ambrose Parish will host a chicken bar-b-q on Oct. 14. Serving will be from 4 to 6 p.m. in the church hall at the corner of Fifth and Main streets.
One-half or one-quarter chicken will be swerved with potato salad, cole slaw, dinner roll, dessert and beverage for a donation.