Rockford Diocese Holy Doors - Aurora, DeKalb

Aurora - Our Lady of Good Counsel

DeKalb - St. Mary

Destination: Eight churches in the Rockford Diocese have been selected to be part of a Jubilee of Mercy pilgrimage.
Why to go: As Bishop David Malloy has explained (see his column, Dec. 4), visiting these selected churches during the Year of Mercy — Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 22, 2016 — will entitle the pilgrims to an indulgence.The diocese has designed a pilgrimage “passport” to record your journey. Download a copy at http://www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/files/Pilgrimage-Passport.pdf
Each of the deaneries of the diocese has a holy door. Here are the Aurora and DeKalb deanery parishes. (See the Dec. 4 Seasoned Observer for the Rockford Deanery.)
Aurora — Our Lady of Good Counsel: In 1908, Peter Hilgen and Conrad Reuland, sought permission from Father Charles Schnueckel, pastor of St. Nicholas, to start a new parish in the southeastern section of Aurora. Before he could give permission, Father Schnueckel died suddenly on Oct. 14, 1908, shortly after Aurora had become part of the newly created Diocese of Rockford, with Auxiliary Bishop Peter J. Muldoon of Chicago as its first bishop.
Father Timothy Mulcahey opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address: Our Lady of Good Counsel, 620 S. Fifth St. Phone: 630/851-1100  Website:  www.ourladyofgoodcounsel.net
DeKalb — St. Mary: From 1850, the parish of St. Mary in DeKalb was attended from the cathedral in Chicago. At that time Mass was said in the homes of Catholic pioneers and in the town hall. When the weather was pleasant, outdoor Mass was celebrated in a nearby grove of trees.
Father Dean Russell opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address: St. Mary, 329 Pine St. Phone: 815/758-5432 Website: www.stmarydekalb.org
(Grand) Kid friendly: All the churches in the pilgrimage welcome children.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org