The citizens' group Save Piety Hill invites the public to gather at 8 a.m. Monday, June 3, in front of the historic chancery to begin a vigil of continual or intermittent prayer, quiet reflection and other peaceful demonstrations of sorrow until the Rockford Catholic Diocese completes its demolition of the 90-year-old architectural icon.

Save Piety Hill, which formed to protect the chancery through designation as a local landmark, will assemble for 45 minutes to an hour and call on the public to help keep the vigil active until the last chunk of the chancery's limestone facade falls

A bulldozer took down part of the chancery's rear wing Saturday morning after Winnebago County Judge Donna Honzel lifted a temporary restraining order Friday and dismissed a lawsuit in which the group contended Rockford aldermen ignored their own ordinances and showed preference for a religious organization when they failed to award landmark status in May.

Demolition stopped Saturday afternoon but is presumed to resume today, Monday morning. The group will assemble near the intersection of Church and Reynolds streets on Rockford's northwest side.

Save Piety Hill is organizing the vigil to mourn the loss of the unofficial landmark despite a months-long effort to persuade the diocese to allow for adaptive reuse of the chancery through a private developer. 

For more information:
Mark Bonne
815-289-4752