Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Diocese of Evansville
Brothers Keepers: Prison after-care program to open in July
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Robert Collins spent 20 years teaching survival skills to Air Force pilots and their crew members. He spent eight of those years “in the Arctic, in Alaska, dealing with men in stressful situations.”
“I think that prepared me for what I’m doing now.”
He’s the director of Brothers Keepers, a prison after-care program that plans to open its doors in early July. It will be housed in a former funeral home, located almost in the shadows of the Lloyd Expressway near downtown Evansville. Part of the building dates back to 1898, with a later addition in 1938.
When it opens, it will provide housing to 15 men who are newly released from the prison systems in Carlisle or Branchville.
Most of the men will be on parole, they will be former Vanderburgh County residents, and they will not be sex offenders or violent crime offenders.
“Our goal is to meet their needs,” Collins said. That means offering the men a place to sleep at night, one cooked meal a day, some counseling, help in finding jobs, and the opportunity to connect with organizations which are already established, groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Collins said that “92 percent of the people in prison are there as a result of drugs which forced them into the streets” and into crimes such as theft and robbery. Sixty-seven percent of those released from prison “will return to prison,” he said, and the optimum time to break this recidivism rate is “when they come out.”
He added that the “most success comes from the person who has been incarcerated 10 years or more. They say, ‘No more!’ Then we can work with them.
“Others will cycle through prison, and offend and re-offend.”
He said the men’s relationships with their families are often very bad when they are released from prison. “We are not in a hurry to put them back with their families, because often the families are so dysfunctional — and because often they’ve burned all their bridges behind them.”
The plan is to offer housing for six months up to two years for residents to “correct their hearts, minds and souls to be ready to face the world — in a new way that does not lead to destruction.”
The Cornerstone going out of business
The Cornerstone Catholic Books and Gifts, serving the Evansville and Owensboro Catholic communities since 1983, will go out of business later this summer, according to a news release from the store owner. All merchandise and fixtures will be liquidated in a “going out of business sale” beginning immediately.
“Economic conditions and other factors have made it very difficult to operate profitably the past few years,” said Anne Simms, owner. “It’s with a heavy heart we have made this decision. The store has been our ministry since we purchased it in 1993. We have made many friends over the years and helped many people on their spiritual journey.”
Parishes were to be notified of the decision. Annual publications normally ordered through the Cornerstone will need to be placed directly through publishers or others.
Merchandise in the store has been marked down 30 to 50 percent.
Everything will be sold by the end of August. No special items will be ordered.
Kimberly Marsh, store manager, said, “The Internet and big box stores have offered books at prices not sustainable for a small retailer. Although gifts and some books are unique to our niche customer, sales volume has not kept up with the costs of doing business.”
Simms said, “Employees of the Cornerstone over the years have done a wonderful job serving our customers, in the store, at book tables, and many other ways, and we are very grateful for their dedication.”
She added, “It has been their ministry too in many ways. We thank God for them and our many loyal customers. We pray he will continue to bless them.”
The Cornerstone Catholic Books and Gifts is located at 4671 Bayard Park Drive in Evansville.
(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
Dwenger Saints crowned softball state champs
By Michelle Castleman
FORT WAYNE — In his early duties as the new principal at Bishop Dwenger High School, Jason Schiffli prepared powerful, celebratory remarks to sendoff the Lady Saints before a first-ever bus ride south to Indianapolis for the Class 3-A IHSAA state championship softball game on Saturday afternoon in the school’s parking lot.
Joined at the podium by three priests representing St. Jude, St. Vincent and St. Charles parishes, where many of the players are members, Father Tony Steinacker, parochial vicar at St. Charles, felt Schiffli’s comments were “hard to follow” and felt “ditto” was all he could add.
The principal reminded the girls that great moments are born from great opportunities and told them that winning becomes a habit when you make a habit of doing things right. He felt the girls had been “doing things right” this season and it showed on the field all season long.
Head Coach Dave Moyer was brief, simply turning the microphone over to senior Maureen Denihan who took on the job of inspiring the team the whole year long. The first baseman told fans how much her group thrived on their unity and charged down the lineup giving high fives.
Andy Johns, outgoing athletic director, chimed in what many fans and parents in the crowd were also feeling: “Back in March and early April, this team started playing well. I knew we had something special.”
Father Jason Freiburger, parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, added what impressed him most about this team was their teamwork. He concluded, “Make history today, girls!”
And make history Bishop Dwenger did. Rated No. 8, the Lady Saints posted not just their first-ever softball state championship win, but an unbelievable, come-from-behind 9-8 win against the top-ranked, 34-1, Lady Pioneers from Booneville.
Photo caption: Junior catcher Elaine Rorick puts finishing touches on the team bus windows before the Bishop Dwenger Lady Saints board the bus and head for their first-ever state softball appearance.
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, log on to the website of Today’s Catholic at www.todayscatholicnews.org)
Diocese of Gary
No briefs available this week
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Gary, log on to the website of the Northwest Indiana Catholic at www.nwicatholic.com)
Diocese of Lafayette
Installation to be shown live on TV and online
By Kevin Cullen
LAFAYETTE — Admission to the July 15 installation of Bishop-designate Timothy L. Doherty will be by ticket only, but the public will be able to watch it on live TV in a gymnasium at nearby Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School, or via live streaming on the Internet.
Immediately after the ceremony, all are invited to a reception for the new bishop. It also will be held at Central Catholic, 2410 S. Ninth St. Light refreshments will be served.
The installation will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 1207 Columbia St. All attendees should be seated by 1:30 p.m.
The installation and Mass will be televised live on WHMB Channel 40, Indianapolis, and shown on large screens in the junior high gym at Central Catholic.
Commentary will be provided by Father Daniel Mahan of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Communion will be available to Catholic viewers at the school.
Live webcasts of the installation will be available on the diocesan Web site, www.dol-in.org, and on the Web site for Lafayette-West Lafayette TV station WLFI, www.wlfi.com.
A video of the installation also will be posted on the diocesan Web site for later viewing. Commemorative DVDs will be available for purchase.
The cathedral, built in the 1860s as a parish church, seats 700 and is too small to accommodate all who might want to attend the installation.
Following tradition, invitations have been sent to approximately 440 active and retired U.S. bishops and cardinals. Seats also are being reserved for diocesan clergy and clergy from Bishop-designate Doherty’s home diocese, the Diocese of Rockford, Ill.
Other invitees include the Doherty family and friends, plus representatives of religious orders and Catholic educational and health care institutions.
Local Church welcomes four new priests
By Kevin Cullen
LAFAYETTE — Mark Walter was ordained a transitional deacon a year ago, but it took time to adjust.
“Someone would say ‘deacon’ and I’d keep on walking,” he said with a smile.
But less than an hour after he was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, he was at ease as scores of people knelt for his blessing and called him “Father.”
“It fits,” said Father Walter, 36. “It feels right.
“I feel very blessed,” he said. “This is a time of high emotion, high spirit. I have a lot of family here, and a lot of support, and that feels very good. I’m definitely looking forward to administering the sacraments, extending the ministry of Christ and playing a part.”
Approximately 600 people filled the pews at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception on a hot, humid Saturday to witness and celebrate the ordination of Father Walter and Father Andrew DeKeyser, Father David Huemmer and Father Adam Mauman. Approximately 60 priests plus deacons and seminarians, filled the sanctuary.
The candidates were the 47th, 48th, 49th and 50th priests ordained by retiring Bishop William L. Higi, who has led the diocese since 1984. It was his last ordination as bishop; he is serving as apostolic administrator until Bishop-designate Timothy L. Doherty is installed as sixth bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana on July 15.
In his homily, Bishop Higi reminded the candidates of their priestly, “awesome” duties.
“You are to convene the people of God,” he said. “… Your growth in holiness will be crucial in summoning your brothers and sisters to transform their lives in response to their call to holiness.
“Only if you have a passion for justice and an eye for the unfortunate or the faltering, will people respond to your summons with enthusiasm. Only if you unleash the truth fearlessly and look each brother and sister in the eye kindly, will they hear and hearken.
“Only if you rigorously forego pride and advantage, will they rally to you with their hearts. Only if you are a servant who accepts the cross, will they be stung by Jesus’ call to wash one another’s feet.”
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org)