Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Diocese of Evansville
Senator Lugar: DREAM Act ‘critical to our economy’
By Paul R. Leingang (Message editor)
The first thing people need to know about the DREAM Act is that it is not yet an act, said Susan Brouillette, a member of Senator Richard Lugar’s staff. “It is still a bill.”
Brouillette was one of several speakers at a forum presented by Senator Lugar’s office at the Juan Diego Center, located at Nativity Church in Evansville. About 140 people attended the forum, which was presented in English and in Spanish.
The bill was introduced by Senator Lugar, R-Ind., and Senator Richard Durban, D-Ill, on March 26. The bill must be enacted by congress and signed by the president before immigration benefits will be available to qualified young people.
The second thing Brouillette said people should know is what the DREAM Act is not. “It is not comprehensive immigration reform,” she said.
DREAM stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. It is intended to benefit young people, “those who did not come to the United States of their own choice,” Brouillette said.
If the DREAM Act becomes law, an eligible person would have to have entered the United States before turning 16 years of age, and would have to be physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least five years.
Under current law, a person who has entered the United States without documentation cannot become legal. An undocumented person who stays for a year or more must leave the United States for 10 years before application for legal status can be made.
Photo caption: Abraham Brown, Celina Weataherwax and Pilar Tirado welcome participants to a forum at the Juan Diego Center at Nativity Church in Evansville July 22. Brown is the parish director of youth ministry. Weatherwax is on the staff of Senator Richard Lugar. Tirado assists in parish ministry to the Spanish speaking. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang)
Catholic home schooling parents, children gather monthly
By Mary Ann Hughes (Message staff writer)
This week, dedicated maintenance workers are finishing their summer-long projects in Catholic schools all around southern Indiana. Teachers are hanging students’ names on bulletin boards, and principals are finalizing plans for the first day of school.
There’s another group that’s gearing up for the 2009-2010 school year. It’s the Fruit of the Spirit Co-op, a group of 13 families — all Catholic — who home school their children with a large focus on their faith.
Janice Martin is a parishioner at St. Wendel Church in St. Wendel. She sent her oldest children to school there, but five years ago she made the decision to home school her youngest daughter Alena.
Barbara O’Nan lives in Henderson, Ky., and is a parishioner at Holy Spirit Church in Evansville. She holds a master’s degree in theological studies from St. Meinrad and she currently home schools her three sons, Ethan, Aaron and Brandon.
The two women met about five years ago at a meeting at St. Rupert Church in Red Brush for home schooling families. They stayed in touch, and last year they invited other Catholic home schooling families to meet on a monthly basis at the public library in downtown Evansville.
Last year at the monthly meetings, the children learned about world geography, then attended noon Mass at nearby Holy Trinity Church, and enjoyed lunch together. During the year, they also went swimming and bowling together, had an All Saints party, and provided entertainment for the residents at the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Evansville.
Barbara says the gatherings are important, both for the parents and the students. “It’s important to us for our kids to be around other Catholic kids, and I knew I would need the support of other Catholic home schoolers. We can brain storm, and we can ask for help.”
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Evansville, log on to the website of The Message at www.themessageonline.org)
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Burmese receive support through skills program
By Lauren Caggiano
FORT WAYNE — A special program through Catholic Charities has more Burmese people learning to assimilate to American culture.
Professional skills are key to landing and maintaining a good job — something that refugees often lack. Since April, the job readiness classes at the former St. Henry School have catered to this large group of Burmese refugees. The six-week sessions taught in Burmese instruct these people on a variety of topics, such as how to apply for a job and appropriately answer the phone. Catholic Charities staff even conduct mock interviews to help them prepare. Books are provided to help them follow along.
Burmese-born Nyein Chan, Catholic Charities’ resettlement services director, has been instrumental in the success of the program. Chan worked with Employment Services Supervisor Kela Johnson-Guy to establish the curriculum. As Guy explained, the students are placed in one of two classes, depending on ability. This way those who need more advanced or individual attention can be helped if needed.
There are many skills, however, that cannot be learned in the classroom. Differences in language and cultural norms “may be small to us, but to them the cultural difference might be drastic,” Guy said. The hope is that the Burmese will transition smoothly into the American workplace.
But they cannot do this without the support of the community.
“Welcome and community assistance in collaboration is foremost important for the refugee population when they reestablish individual and family lives in new community,” Chan said.
Photo caption: Students are shown at the job readiness classes at the former St. Henry School. The classes instruct the Burmese refugees on a variety of topics, such as how to apply for a job and appropriately answer the phone. Catholic Charities staff even conduct mock interviews to help them prepare. (Photo by Lauren Caggiano)
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, log on to the website of Today’s Catholic at www.diocesefwsb.org/today)
Diocese of Lafayette
Helping the homeless, family by family
By Caroline B. Mooney
CARMEL — The new face of homelessness is families with husbands, wives and children, says Sharon Glenn, executive director of the Interfaith Hospitality Network.
“In the past, it was single moms and kids, but we are seeing hardworking fathers and husbands having to move into shelters,” she says.
Through IHN, faith communities work to help homeless families get back on their feet. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church hosted three families July 5-12.
“We found ourselves without a home, and IHN has been a tremendous blessing,” Larry Collins said.
Collins, his wife, Mary, son Levi, 6, and daughter Cheyenne, 3, were on a waiting list for IHN for six weeks. They were in their fourth week in the program while at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Homelessness in Indianapolis has risen by 78 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention. Forty-one percent of the homeless are members of homeless families.
IHN, founded in 1986, is active in 39 states. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton joined in 1994. Twenty churches in Greater Indianapolis take turns hosting homeless families for one to two weeks at a time.
Volunteers at each church donate food for meals. They cook, set up beds, and serve as activity hosts, overnight hosts and van drivers. Guest families stay overnight at each church and are driven to the IHN day center every morning.
About 80 volunteers are involved at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, said coordinator Todd Vanderohe.
Photo caption: Volunteers and guests share a meal at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Carmel. The parish recently hosted three families in the Interfaith Hospitality Network program. (Photo by Caroline B. Mooney)
"That's evangelization. And who doesn't like gelato?"
By Katy Harrison Troxell
WESTFIELD — One local parish has found a way to honor its patroness, reach out and share with the community, and enjoy food, fun and family the Italian way.
St. Maria Goretti held its first Italian festival in July 1997, while the faith community was still a mission of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Carmel.
Organizers hoped for 400 attendees and were shocked when more than 900 showed up.
After 12 years, St. Maria Goretti’s Italian festival — staged July 11 this year — is a fine-tuned machine.
Planning begins a year in advance — basically when the last breadstick is served.
Greg and Kim Stanley served as this year’s chairs and estimated that she spent at least 300 hours planning and executing the event.
“People show up and do what they need to do with no complaining,” Kim Stanley said.
Organizers expected between 2,000 and 2,500 hungry attendees. They canvassed Westfield by hanging signs, stuffing mailboxes and by word-of-mouth. Clarke said that everyone was welcome. “It’s fellowship of the community,” she said.
The Italian festival is not a fund-raiser; the event is purely for fellowship and evangelization. With donations, food vendors, and the sale of tickets and T-shirts, the event pays for itself.
“Certain ministries have certain booths that they cover year after year,” Angie Weas, event volunteer coordinator, explained. For example, the activity booth for the Altar Rosary Society allows kids to make a “Good Deed Rosary.”
Photo caption: Andy BeNardo and Carla Erickson work at the spaghetti and meatballs station. Organizers expected between 2,000 and 2,500 hungry festival-goers this year. (Photo by Katy Harrison Troxell)
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org) †