Inside
St. Bridget Parish Welcomes Several into Catholic Church
Callum Watts readies his mask before entering St. Bridget Church for a parish RCIA ceremony.
page 5
(Observer photo/Amanda Hudson)
Poor Clares Celebrate Feast of Patroness
Bishop David Malloy recounts the life of St.Clare of Assisi during a Mass onher feast day for the Poor Clare Colettines (behind grille, left) and a few of their friends at Corpus Christi Monastery on Aug. 11. See page 3
Official Appointments
The Rev. Kyle A. Manno - to be Vicar Forane of the DeKalb Dean- ery, effective Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
Given at the Chancery, Aug. 6, 2020
BY PENNY WIEGERT Editor
ELGIN-The new school opening in Elgin could be called a bridge. Because, for the first time in the Diocese of Rock- ford, Catholic elementary and Catholic high school education programs are being formally and directly connected through the creation of the St. Edward Catholic Preparatory Academy. The new school is located in the for- mer St. Joseph School on the campus of St. Joseph Parish here. St. Edward was created through the closing of St. Joseph and St. Laurence Catholic schools which both faced fi- nancial diculties and dwindling en- rollment. The new school plan was created to strengthen Catholic education in the Elgin area by creating a natural link to the academic program at St. Edward Central Catholic High School. The creation of St. Edward Catholic Preparatory Academy is a great oppor- tunity to partner with one of our Catho- lic high schools in providing a strong low of Catholic education, mission and identity from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, said Michael Kagan, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. Despite the restrictions and interrup- tions of the COVID-19 pandemic cou- pled with severe thunderstorms in late July that knocked out power and com- munication systems, the school is still on track to welcome its first students for in-class instruction on Sept. 8. According to the new principal, Dr. Kathleen Miller, former principal at St. James School in Belvidere, Every nook and cranny of the school has been re- newed. That renewal has taken place in the form of a deep cleaning of the entire facility, new paint and air purifiers in every classroom and ice along with minor repairs to all areas of the building
Continued on page 7
(Observer file photo)
The old St. Joseph School in Elgin will be the home of the new St. Edward Catholic Prepa- ratory Academy. New signs for the building are among the many changes taking place at the school. Opening day is set for Sept. 8.
St. Edward Catholic Preparatory Academy Opens Sept. 8 in Elgin
Volume 85 No. 34 http://observer.rockforddiocese.org FRIDAY AUGUST 14, 2020
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Bishop Malloy ....................... 2 Headliners ............................... 3 Forever Family ...................... 4 Diocesan ................................. 5 Back to School ................ 6-15 Our Catholic View ....... 16-17 For the Record ............. 18-19 Media/Arts ............................ 19 Nation/Wold ........................ 20
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