The following is taken from WIFR.com. To view the actual film clip go to: http://www.wifr.com/home/misc/Belvidere_Church_Protests_the_Removal_of_Their_Priest_130095323.html and click on the TV icon.
The TV commentator states that WIFR has “talked to Father Ospina but that he did not wish to make a comment”.
The following letter was read aloud during the homily/sermon at all Masses this weekend. The letter printed in English and Spanish was an insert in the weekly bulletin.
Pray for St. James Parish.
The copy is not clear. Here is the letter retyped.
September 17, 2011
Dear Parishioners of St. James Church:
I write you of a sad and disturbing matter that has touched St. James Parish and its community and of which you may have already heard.
Last weekend, Father Diego Ospina made statements from the pulpit against the Mata family and in particular against Karina Mata and Father Ospina’s statements have harmed this family, and caused division among parishioners.
What Father Ospina said against Karina and her family was false, and what Father Ospina said was wrong. The pulpit is not a place to solve parish problems. It is a part of the altar, a sacred place, a place to proclaim and teach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Diocese is extremely disheartened by the actions of Father Ospina. This is not how our priests and our people should conduct themselves during Mass, or as a faith community. We apologize on behalf of Father Ospina to the Mata family. And we apologize that the parish became involved in what should have been a private issue resolved outside of the church.
People make errors in judgment. We all know that perfection belongs to Christ alone. Priests make mistakes. What happened last weekend was a mistake. And now it is time to open your hearts and apologize if you have participated in any way in the dissemination of the untrue statements. And it is time to open your hearts and forgive, if you have been harmed by words that are un-Christian. We would like the parish community to pray for harmony and unity among groups, following the will of Jesus that we remain as one.
These are difficult times we live in, and we ask for your prayers for Karina Mata and the Mata family, and we ask that you pray with us for unity and healing of your parish, and for your pastor, Father Geary, in his efforts to make people on in Christ; and for the peace and continued mutual understanding of each other.
Yours in Christ,
Reverend Monsignor Arquimedes Vallejo, JCD
Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry
Very Reverend Brian D. Grady
Episcopal Vicar for Clergy
The following biography of Father Ospina is taken from the St. James Parish website: http://www.stjamesbelvidere.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=110
St. James Parish Staff
Rev. Diego Ospina, Parochial Vicar
Ordained to the priesthood May 21, 2005
Home Parish: St. Patrick, Rochelle, IL
My first call to the priesthood came when I was a small boy growing up in Ibague, Colombia. When I went to Mass with my Mother, I would think that in the future I would celebrate Mass like a priest. There were many things that influenced my decision to enter the seminary. My parents, my four brothers and sister were all supportive of my calling. I like to read about the missionaries in Africa and I admired Pope Paul II. I decided that God wanted me to bring Jesus' message to help people and heal souls.
I worked in fast-food restaurants for about four years. I liked all kinds of food, American, Chinese, Thai, Italian and, of course, Colombian. My favorite pastime activities are drawing, painting, reading and watching good movies.
While at the seminary, I found out that the United States needed Hispanic priests to serve the Hispanic population coming from Latin America. I decided to come to the Rockford Diocese in 2002.
My favorite devotion is to Our Lady of Fatima. I became devoted to her when I was a young boy and I pray to her always.
I hope to serve Our Lord by celebrating the Eucharist, giving the sacraments and teaching about Jesus. I want to work with the young people in the schools, visit homes and bring Christ to everybody.
Karina Mata is one of the three Youth Ministry leaders, see the recognition list from this week’s published bulletin shown below.
This summer, the office of Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford sent a glossy summary of “successes” to a select 850 state residents — a majority of whom happen to be major campaign donors to the Pontiac Republican.
Rutherford, who party insiders say is strongly mulling a bid for governor, says it is “merely a coincidence” that nearly two-thirds of the recipients of the slick mailer are also donors to his political campaign.
Advertisement
Rutherford sent out the 11-page full-color booklet titled “No More Debt” on June 1. “Paid for by the state of Illinois. 850 copies,” it reads in small print on the back.
The mailing did not solicit donations, but highlighted what it portrayed as successes of the treasurer's first six months in office, citing newspaper editorials warning other constitutional officers to heed Rutherford's calls to freeze state spending and end borrowing.
Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110918/news/709189881/#ixzz1YPFBM3t7
County budget shows recession still strong
By JEFF ENGELHARDT -
The budget being presented to the DeKalb County Board this week is roughly $11 million less than last year’s as officials try to navigate through a continuing recession.
The $79 million budget for next year comes at a cost to many county departments, but as proposed, residents should see no increase in property tax bills for county expenses.
The county has proposed using $900,000 in reserves, which would lower the balance of the reserve fund to $9.1 million by the end of fiscal year 2012. The reserve balance would be at 34 percent of expenses, which is just above the county’s outside auditor’s recommendation of 25-30 percent. Because of that, County Administrator Ray Bockman said the county would be able to use the reserves at a similar level in 2013 if needed, but would then have to make a decision.
The assessed value for the county is expected to decline by 5.7 percent and the value of an average $200,000 home is projected to plummet to $186,000…..
The MAP – sheriff’s officers union – has an arbitrated settlement that offers a 6.1 percent salary increase. The Sycamore Campus and Highway Department AFSCME Union will get 2 percent increases in January and July while the Health Department AFSCME Union will get a 3 percent increase in January and 2 percent increase in July. Non-union employees will get a 1.5 percent increase in January.
Click on the following for more details on this DeKalb Chronicle story:
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2011/09/18/county-budget-shows-recession-still-strong/as47xp5/
It appears that the Zoning Department at the City of Huntley does not allow the same parking spaces to be counted both for a parish center and a church. Opponents to St. James’ “cathedral style church” were unable to convince Belvidere officials that such is the proper approach to the issue.
Huntley church plans big expansion
By Jeanie Mayer For The Courier-News September 16, 2011 12:18PM
HUNTLEY — The village board heard details of a proposed major addition to St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road.
Staff outlined the parish’s plan to build a 32,567-square-foot addition alongside the church to house classrooms for religious education, offices and meeting space. The proposal includes a covered carport, up to 17 meeting rooms and a professional kitchen.
The board indicated it was pleased overall with the proposed addition, but balked at the parish’s request to reduce the number of additional parking spaces the new building would require under village ordinance. The ordinance calls for an additional 260 parking spaces under the proposed plans. St. Mary’s is asking that it only be required to put in 97 more parking spaces.
“We do not at all envision a dual use where the parish hall is being used when the sanctuary is full,” a parish representative said.
Trustee Harry Leopold said he liked the plan, but was concerned with the possible shortage of parking spaces if the board allowed the parish relief of that many spaces.
“It is a real nice addition to build, and needed. I am concerned about the relief (of parking spaces). I would like to see examples of additional parking,” he said.
The above is taken from: http://couriernews.suntimes.com/7693022-417/huntley-church-plans-big-expansion.html
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The pictures and graphs shown below are from St. Mary’s Parish website: http://www.stmaryhuntley.org/
Below is a statement from the Pastor in this week’s bulletin (9-18-2011). Over $1.5 million of the $5 million drive has been pledged.
Despite what the Republicans loudly proclaim, Americans do not buy into economic theories that were disproved 25 years ago. What the new poll and others show is that most do not see the deficit and “big government” as the main problem, and they do not buy the endless calls for slashing spending and reckless deregulation.
A solid majority said creating jobs should be the highest priority for the government now and that payroll taxes should be cut to help with that. A whopping 8 in 10 think building bridges, roads and schools is important, which means — gasp — spending money.
Read the rest by clicking on the following: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/opinion/sunday/leadership-crisis.html?_r=1&hp
Under new legislation proposed by state Rep. Jack Franks [Dem.Crystal Lake], taxes could not go up at 
“Home values have plummeted in recent years, but the tax burden on those properties continues to rise,” said Mr. Franks, a McHenry County Democrat. “It is unconscionable that property taxes have increased as more and more homeowners are under water with their mortgages.”
Under current law, taxes can go up by the rate of consumer inflation or 5%, whichever is lower.
Mr. Franks has several co-sponsors, most of them Republicans.
Full text available at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=3793&GAID=11&LegID=61913&SpecSess=&Session=
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3793
Introduced , by Rep. Jack D. Franks - William Cunningham, Ed Sullivan, Jr., Kent Gaffney, Lisa M. Dugan, et al.
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
35 ILCS 200/18-185
35 ILCS 200/18-205
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the current levy year (excluding new property, recovered tax increment value, and property that is annexed to or disconnected from the taxing district in the current levy year) is less than the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the previous levy year, then the extension limitation is (a) 0% or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters (instead of the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters). Effective immediately.
LRB097 12395 HLH 56861 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
