The Observer Catholic Newspaper

12/17/2025

The Observer presents: what's coming up in the Rockford Diocese!
This week’s photo is from the annual Catholic Women's League Mass and Blanket Workshop, a day dedicated to praying for deceased clergy and making fleece blankets to donate to Rockford-area agencies.
"What's Up Wednesdays" will return Jan. 7. Have a blessed rest of Advent and a merry Christmas!

12/10/2025

The Observer presents: what's coming up this week in the Rockford Diocese!
This week’s photo is from Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations at St. Monica Parish, Carpentersville. We celebrate Our Lady on Dec. 12.

11/05/2025

At 2:54 a.m., on October 31, the Illinois State Senate narrowly passed SB 1950 which would make assisted su***de legal in the State of Illinois.
The bill is now on the Governor’s desk. This is the last chance to stop assisted su***de from becoming law.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois, the public policy voice of the state's bishops, is calling on the faithful to ask Gov. Pritzker to veto this assisted su***de bill.

Please pray for the veto of this assault to human life.

10/31/2025

Getting your costumes ready for tonight? Keep the dress-up fun going tomorrow, Nov. 1, at the All Saints Day Bonfire! Resurrection Parish in Woodstock invites youth to come to their 5 p.m. Mass dressed as their favorite saint and enjoy a bonfire and s’mores after.
Celebrate the joy of community with your friends - and our heavenly brothers and sisters!

10/18/2025

Celebrating women of inspiration in the Rockford Deanery. Who are they? Find out in the next issue of The Observer!

09/03/2025

08/22/2025

For our friends in the Sterling Deanery: Plan for a great dinner and great company! St. Patrick in Albany invites you to their spaghetti dinner Sept. 13, 4-7 p.m., in the church hall at 1201 N. Bluff St. Come enjoy spaghetti, salad, French bread, ice cream and more. Donations are $13/adult, $5/child (5-12) and free for little ones.
All are welcome!

08/21/2025

Please be generous with your prayers tomorrow. Check your local parishes for special novenas and prayer gatherings.

07/25/2025

Looking for a fun family event tonight? Join Shepherd's Heart Mental Health Ministry at St. John Neumann Church for a FREE game night from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Hermes Center, 2900 E. Main St., St. Charles.

Sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/07-25-25-sjn

All are welcome! Kids should come with a guardian.

07/14/2025

Calling Catholics in the Huntley area!
St. Mary Parish's Knights of Columbus will host a blood drive June 19, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the parish hall at 10307 Dundee Rd. Walk-ins are welcome; photo ID required. To sign up, visit www.versiti.org/IL and enter zip code 60142 on the "Donate Now" page.

Versiti is a fusion of donors, scientific curiosity and precision medicine that recognizes the gifts of blood and life are precious. We are passionate about improving the lives of patients and helping our healthcare partners thrive. Versiti is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization.

06/10/2025

Friends of St. Ambrose University, come meet fellow Bees in Sublette at a “Bee Happy Hour” June 12!
Graduates, former students, current students and friends of the Davenport, Iowa, school are invited for snacks and an open bar (for ages 21 and up), 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the restaurant La Fiesta, 107 W. Main St., Sublette.
Info: Don Dinges, 815-713-5675

06/06/2025

Calling Catholics in the southern part of our diocese:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish will host a blood drive June 10, 1-6 p.m., in the parish hall at 202 Locust St. The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be there for donations. Walk-ins are welcome.