Pope Benedict XVI Names ... Bishop of Rockford, IL

[manualman]

observer.rockforddiocese.org/article?id=46

This one is close to home - my own diocese! We’ve been blessed with solid, no nonsense leadership for quite some time and it shows in the diocese, IMO.

Msgr. Malloy is a bit of an unknown quantity as he appears to only have spent less than a year of his priesthood as a parish pastor with most of the rest on the international Vatican diplomatic scene.

I confess that I’m a little worried about where he got his initial seminary formation and who ordained him. I lived in the Milwaukee archdiocese under Archbishop Weakland and, well, I hope our new leader shares none of his sentiments about liturgy, eccesiology, church architecture and worship!

Please pray for us and our new bishop.

 

[SaintPatrick333]

I think he’ll do alright. Bishop Doran was wanting to step down for such a long time now but the Vatican was silent (as they were waiting to elect his successor). I pray Monsignor Malloy is up to the task, but the Vatican obviously thinks so and I’m happy with that. Besides the Rockford Diocese is an awesome Diocese. We’ll have the Bishops back

 

[Creo]

Change is always dificult. We should keep Bishop Doran, and our new Bishop in our prayers.

 

[Gods_Peace]

 

[gmarie21]

I am excited but wondering what his view is of the permanent diaconate (since hubby is a candidate). But I’m sure he’ll keep it in place. I do agree, our diocese has been blessed beyond belief with our priests! Heck in the past few years two of our monsignors have been ordained bishops in the US (and we are a very small diocese to have those great numbers).

 

[Dale_M]

**New bishop eager to get to know northern Illinois’ Catholics **

Though he was reluctant to reveal any grand plans before getting to know the diocese more closely, Malloy said some of the issues he found most challenging and important were education and vocation.

“We need to continue to work on vocation to the priesthood and to religious life, and the catechesis of our young people, and formation and adult education,” he said. “Adults are using the word ‘hungry.’ We’re hungry to know about our faith and opportunities for that.”

Malloy said the Rockford Diocese has a reputation among American Catholics.

“Rockford is widely reputed to be a very dynamic, very vibrant diocese,” he said. “Every local church has its own personality and culture within the parameter of the Catholic Church. I’m looking forward to seeing how in northern Illinois the church really becomes incarnate.”

beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/11469181-418/new-bishop-eager-to-get-to-know-northern-illinois-catholics.html

 

[Dale_M]

Bishop-elect Malloy, only six weeks ago, had been installed as pastor of St. Francis de Sale parish in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. So his appointment as bishop took everyone by surprise.

However, the principal of the St. Francis school had nothing but praise for him:

“He was awesome with the school kids. I can’t say enough about that. He’s been in the school more, been to more extra curricular events than some of the parents,” he said, noting Bishop-elect Malloy was a fixture at the school’s sporting events. “The kids loved to see him there, and it wasn’t just at the home games; he would even travel to some away games.”

Wieters attributed his presence to Bishop-elect Malloy’s strong belief in Catholic education.

“He was such a strong believer in the values it brings, and showed that not just by words, but by his actions. He felt as pastor of the parish, it was important that he be a leader and be visible,” said Wieters, adding he also regularly interacted with the school children on the playground or visiting with them at lunch.

chnonline.org/news/local/11100-pope-names-msgr-malloy-rockford-bishop.html

 

[Brendan]

I confess that I’m a little worried about where he got his initial seminary formation and who ordained him. .

five years at the Gregorian University in Rome where he received advanced degrees in theology.

If he was ordained out of the Gregorian, I would have no worries at all

He would not have made it through the Gregorian if his theology was the least suspect.

Especially in light of his subsequent education

he received a degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, (Angelicum) and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University

 

[manualman]

Dale, That’s an awesome tidbit. It’s great to hear that he if focused on reinvigorating catholic education. My kids attend a catholic school in the diocese that four years ago was the first brand new school in the Rockford diocese in several decades. Today, they’re stuffed to the gills and wondering how to accept more interested families. The secret? Actual catholicism: daily mass, monthly confession, Eucharistic Adoration, regular devotions, fully catholic-integrated curriculum and school culture.

I’m looking forward to meeting him.

 

[Dale_M]

Thanks Manualman, I hoped that it might be helpful in getting a sense of Bishop-elect Malloy. I think you all are fortunate to be getting him. But it also sounds as if he has a lot of respect for the Diocese of Rockford and its reputation for orthodox, solid Catholicism.

 

[gmarie21]

Dale, That’s an awesome tidbit. It’s great to hear that he if focused on reinvigorating catholic education. My kids attend a catholic school in the diocese that four years ago was the first brand new school in the Rockford diocese in several decades. Today, they’re stuffed to the gills and wondering how to accept more interested families. The secret? Actual catholicism: daily mass, monthly confession, Eucharistic Adoration, regular devotions, fully catholic-integrated curriculum and school culture.

I’m looking forward to meeting him.

By chance are you out of Holy Cross? It’s the only one I know of that has a HUGE waiting list. I love that parish, it is extremely blessed. Then again all the parishes I have visited in the diocese are rock solid! The priest for the Spanish mass at St. Mary’s in DeKalb catechizes at every mass, his homilies are about 25 minutes. Then there is the parish Christ the Teacher at NIU that has priests who are solid and every homily hits you like it should. I can keep going on about the diocese, we have been to mass at at least 10 parishes in the diocese, all of them solid! Andbased on what my husband’s classmates say about their own parishes, it is that way throughout the diocese. Monsignor Nelson who is the head of the deaf community has been great for reaching out to many, we went (by accident) to his deaf mass for their Christmas celebration, it was quite full! They are hungry, and he is feeding them beautifully! As you can tell, I can go on and on about our diocese!

 

[wondrousgnat]

Ah yes, the Irish mafia continues in Rockford. Every bishop was Irish.

I lived in Aurora for 35 years and thus was a member of the Diocese of Rockford. I thought Bishop Doran did a great job and am sorry to see him leave. His teaching was orthodox in its Catholicism. The church needs more like him.
Though I no longer live in the Diocese I continue to subscribe to the paper because it is so well done. And I wish Bishop Malloy well.

 

[manualman]

By chance are you out of Holy Cross? It’s the only one I know of that has a HUGE waiting list.

Bingo. I suspect that it is also the only catholic school in the diocese to have the kids go to mass every day. Coincidence?

 

[Nix89]

I too lived in the diocese of Rockford before moving to SE Okla and remember Bishop O’Neill (a favorite) before Bishop Doran (not a favorite so much) and I still subscribe to the diocesan paper. I was hoping it wouldn’t take long to replace Bishop Doran so this is a great blessing. I was also very pleased at (now) Bishop Kagan’s appointment. What a workhorse for the bishop he was! Thank you, Dale, for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I’m praying for all involved in the transistion.