2013 Woodstock High School grad Ian Ordoñez is ordained to the priesthood By Tricia Carzoli news@thewoodstockindependent.com On Pentecost Sunday, St. Mary Catholic Church was completely dark with only the glow of candlelight to illuminate a sanctuary filled with longtime priests, newly ordained priests, and recently ordained deacons. “It was beautiful,” the Rev. Robert Jones, parochial […]
Woodstock’s Bill Kearley to be ordained a priest on May 30 By Susan W. Murray news@thewoodstockindependent.com As he reflects on his life as a Marine, husband, father, caregiver, widower, deacon, and grandfather, 66-year-old Bill Kearley sees God’s hand gently nudging him – much as he and his four siblings used to lie on the sidewalk […]
In a step toward full recovery from the Oct. 9 gas explosion that jolted and damaged the buildings at St. Mary Church and School, workers from Pro Studio in LaGrange reinstalled three of the church’s stained glass windows last week. St. Mary’s windows date from the church’s opening on Palm Sunday in 1910. Made by […]
On their wedding days, brides traditionally wear or carry “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” But bride Katie Littner had to borrow something a little larger than a handkerchief or a pair of earrings as a result of the natural gas explosion in Woodstock Oct. 9. The blast from a gas leak damaged […]
St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock named Linda Mokry and Margarita Jaramillo as its 2023 Women of Inspiration. Every year each Catholic parish in the McHenry County Deanery of the Diocese of Rockford selects a woman of inspiration. “Here at St. Mary we select through a special committee two women each year: one from our […]
The St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Mary Catholic Church needs to replenish funds it uses to provide temporary financial assistance to people in need in our community. “This is our first attempt at a walk/fundraiser to raise money,” society President Kathy Lewellyn said of an event next month. “It is titled Soles of […]
“I don’t believe in coincidence,” St. Mary Catholic Church building and grounds committee volunteer Jim Liebetrau explained. “God wanted this baptismal font to be here.” St. Mary parish unveiled a new-to-them marble baptismal font during an Aug. 13 Mass, much to the anticipatory joy of parishioners. “It is perfect for our church,” he said. “We […]
Mary Bjork and Anabel Ordonez have been named Women of Inspiration at St. Mary Catholic Church. The annual recognition takes place in all parishes in the Rockford Diocese to honor women who show their passion for service and ministry at their churches. Mary (Bartlett) Bjork and her husband, Joe, were married 41 years ago at […]
Thanks to the generosity of the St. Mary Men’s Club Ministry, the church’s bell tower now plays music. The chimes ring five minutes before weekend Masses, as well as for the Angelus at noon and 6 p.m. In Catholic tradition, the Angelus is a call to prayer. “We knew our church had bells many years […]
Many local outreach programs serve Woodstock neighbors in need, but several recent food donations were unusual. The Woodstock Food Pantry is now distributing frozen pork from a pig that was donated by American Community Bank. The bank bought the pig at the 4-H auction at the recent McHenry County Fair. Chris Dahm of Dahm Trucking […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
