Rockford Diocese Holy Doors Elgin, Galena

(Observer file photos)

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 www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/files/Pilgrimage-Passport.pdf
Each of the deaneries of the diocese has a holy door. Here are the Elgin and Freeport deanery parishes. (See the Dec. 4 Seasoned Observer for the Rockford Deanery and Jan. 8 for the Aurora and DeKalb deaneries.)
Elgin — St. Thomas More: On March 23, 1959, Bishop Loras T. Lane created the new parish of St. Thomas More by dividing St. Laurence Parish and giving the new parish 15 acres to build a church. The founding pastor, Father Walter C. Roberts (1959-1970) arrived at St. Thomas More on Friday, April 10, 1959, and celebrated the first Sunday Masses two days later at the Highland Avenue School gym. Father Richard Rosinski, pastor, opened the holy door Dec. 13. The holy door is accessible 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, during Mass times on the weekend, or by appointment.
Info: Address — St. Thomas More, 215 Thomas More Dr. Phone — 847/888-1682  Website —  www.stthomasmorechurch.org
Galena — St. Michael: Galena, in the Freeport Deanery, is the home of St. Michael Parish, the oldest parish in the Diocese of Rockford. Bishop Joseph Rosati of St. Louis appointed a pastor here in 1832, five years before the first parish was established in Chicago. On Aug. 22, 1832, Father John McMahon (1832-1833) was appointed as the first resident pastor in what is now the Diocese of Rockford. It was also served by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, an early missionary in the Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin tri-state area. In 1993, St. John Paul II declared Father Mazzuchelli venerable, the first step toward sainthood. Father David Reese, parochial administrator, opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address — St. Michael, 227 S. Bench St. Phone — 815/777-2053 Website — www.catholicgalena.org
(Grand) Kid friendly: All the churches in the pilgrimage welcome children.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org