Catholic Education Office - Diocese of Rockford

02/01/2026

Today is the feast of St. Brigid of Ireland (ca. 450-523), patroness of dairy workers! Brigid was a consecrated virgin and founded the first convent in Ireland. Her parents were baptized by Patrick, and she was buried in Downpatrick in the very same grave as Sts. Patrick and Columba. The quote, "What is mine is theirs," refers to her willingness to give what she had to the poor.

St. Bridget Catholic Church in Loves Park, IL, takes "St. Bridget of Ireland" as their patron. Because of the parish's Swedish and the Irish roots, the church honors the Irish saint, but spells her name like St. Bridget of Sweden. The parochial St. Bridget Catholic School includes preschool and kindergarten through 8th grade education! Learn more at www.saint-bridget.org.

01/05/2026

"Untilled ground, however rich, will bring forth thistles and thorns; so also the mind of man." ~ St. Teresa of Avila

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! And happy Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God! As one of the high Marian feasts, today is a 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, since it celebrates one of the Marian dogmas professed by the Catholic faith. On this day, we especially honor Mary as 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙠𝙤𝙨, "God-bearer," Mother of God!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

12/28/2025

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Our families are called to try to be miniature holy families, where Jesus dwells within each of us and within our homes.

Holy Family Catholic Church, a parish in Rockford that has been part of the community for a long time, takes the Holy Family as its namesake. The church's school, Holy Family School - Rockford, offers an excellent STEM program that includes coding as well as building and operating mini vehicles, often made with Legos! Check them out at school.holyfamilyrockford.org.

12/25/2025

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘱,
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.
(𝘖 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥,
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵,
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳.
(𝘖 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴,
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦.)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵,
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦.
(𝘖 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥,
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥’𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦.)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦,
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯,
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘮,
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.

~ GK Chesterton

12/19/2025

"I would rather have learning joined with virtue than all the treasures of kings." ~ St. Thomas More

12/18/2025

12/18/2025

Knights of Columbus Father McCormick Council 3880 invites you to start your Sunday with a winning breakfast, served up by STS Athletics!

Sunday, December 21st serving breakfast from 7:30am-12:00pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church - Oak Street Community Room
451 W. Terra Cotta Road
Crystal Lake, IL

12/18/2025

The Catholic Education Office of the Diocese of Rockford really knows how to celebrate Advent and Christmas!

12/18/2025

NEW BLOG: https://nceatalk.org/2025/12/catholic-schools-week-2026-your-essential-guide-to-celebrating-faith-community-and-mission/

Catholic Schools Week is far more than a week of dress-up days and assemblies. is a time to shine, celebrate, and share the unique gift of Catholic education with your local and national community.

12/18/2025

12/16/2025

Diocesan priest Fr. Timothy Draper of St. Anne Catholic Church in Dixon contributed the latest blog in an Advent reflection series for eCatholic! Learn about the messaging of "fall, promise, and redemption" in ads and how more possessions don't lead to personal fulfillment. Read the reflection here: https://ecatholic.com/blog/the-gift-cant-buy-but-truly-need