April 24, 2016

​Dear families,

We learned about Paul’s and Barnabas’ great effort in advancing the newly instituted Church. With awe, we think about our belonging to that same Church. We are also aware of our responsibility to advance the Church we have been incorporated into through Baptism. St. Patrick Catholic Church is not an independent community of faith. We belong to the local Catholic Church, meaning the Diocese of Rockford. We also belong to the Universal Church through the ministry of our Holy Father Pope Francis. We know this as being in communion with the Catholic Church.

Being in communion with the local church brings about many blessings. We are recipients of Pope Francis’ and Bishop David Malloy’s prayers and ministries. St. Patrick’s mission is supported by the Diocese of Rockford in a variety of ways. Ministries and offices such as the Chancery, Tribunal, Family Life Office, Ministry Formation, Diocesan Directors of Catechesis, Hispanic Ministry and many others are in place with the sole purpose of giving support to St. Patrick in Rochelle and all other parishes in the diocese. With great effort and dedication, the Diocese forms, ordains, and assigns priests and deacons to all the parishes.

We also have a responsibility to our local Church, the Diocese of Rockford. Every year about this time we are asked to be generous through the Diocesan Appeal. This year the Diocese is asking us to support once again all the diocesan offices and ministries by contributing with $50,683. The Diocese recommends that we generously give 1% of our yearly income. Please pray about it during this week; and next weekend, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, we will make our family or individual commitment. The above goal can be achieved if we all participate in this effort.

God bless you all.

​Fr. Lopez 

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