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.
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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."
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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
Ourselves in the Light of Jesus
By Most Rev. David Malloy
Bishop of Rockford
(This column will appear in the Feb. 16 issue of The Observer Catholic Newspaper)
We have now begun the season of Lent. It is a period of necessary reflection and action to strengthen our discipleship with Jesus.
Discipleship with Jesus is not simply an empty phrase. It gets to the heart of our calling and our baptism. As Christians and Catholics, we have been personally called by Jesus. Our calling is to be like Him, to follow Him, to imitate Him, to suffer and then rise with Him, and ultimately to be with Him forever.
Jesus has reminded us, however, that to be worthy of the promise, we must put our calling into practice. In our society which is characterized by the emphasis on comfort, individualism and materialism, we are tempted either to put God aside completely, or reduce our relationship with Him to a thought exercise or a mere good intention that does not interrupt or inconvenience our lives.
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Monsignor William Schwartz
The Chancery received word that Reverend Monsignor William H. Schwartz, P.A., S.T.L., 80, of Williams Bay, WI., died on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, while under hospice care in Oregon, IL.
Monsignor was born on May 18, 1943, in Aurora, IL, to Harry and Eula Mable (Satterlee) Schwartz. Monsignor attended and graduated high school from Marmion Military Academy (1957-1961). He then attended Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa (1961-1965) where he received a BA in History. He then attended The Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy (1965-1969) where he received a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.).
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BATAVIA--Reverend Jonathan P. Bakkelund died on Thursday, January 25, 2024, while under hospice care in Batavia. He was 39 years old.
Father was born on April 5, 1984, in Rockford, IL, to Gary D. Bakkelund and Pamela L. May. Father attended Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI (2002-2006) where he received a bachelor’s degree in Theology and a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Father attended Seminary at The Pontifical North American College, Rome (2006-2009; 2010-2011). He received his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB) at the Gregorian University, Rome (2009). In 2011 Father received his Master of Divinity in Dogma at the Gregorian University, Rome.
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