Rockford, Ill., Catholic church to celebrate 100 years
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — A northern Illinois church is going to celebrate its 100th birthday with a special Mass. The (Rockford) Register Star reports that an estimated 250 families are expected to participate in the festivities at St. Patrick Church in Rockford. It was formerly the biggest parish in the Catholic Diocese of Rockford. Mary Giliberti plans to attend Saturday’s event. The 62-year-old says she’s attended the church for most of her life, including as a child when she and her siblings would walk or ride their bikes to services.
The church’s congregation has changed over the years, and most congregants are now Hispanic.
Two of the three Sunday masses are in Spanish.