Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Diocese of Evansville
St. Mary Choir from Evansville sings in Rome
By STEVE HALBIG (Message staff)
One of the first things that caught the attention of the St. Mary choir and their families from Evansville when they arrived in Rome on July 30 was a poster near their Hotel Michelangelo.
In big letters and in Italian, it said the St. Mary Choir from Evansville, Indiana was performing at a 9 p.m. formal public concert Saturday, July 31 at the Basilica of St. Ignatius. The poster was a pleasant surprise and uplifting.
Saturday morning the 20-member choir and their 25 non-choir friends and families celebrated Mass with their pastor, Father Stephen Lintzenich, at the Tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica. That same morning the group toured the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and the basilica.
Then came time to get ready for the concert that night. Paul Schutz, the choir’s director, was told by tour group company Peter’s Way Tours to expect a crowd of about 400.
The choir started rehearsing at 7 p.m. At 8:30 the church doors opened to the public, and the people came pouring in. The surprise, Schutz said, was that the crowd was “500 plus.” Afterward, many milled about talking to Schutz and members of the choir. They wanted to know more about the music and the choir from Evansville. Schutz composed two of the 17 songs the choir performed, including “For He is Coming” and “Veni, Sancte Spiritus.” As an encore that evening, the choir did “ The Lord’s Prayer.”
As emotionally rewarding as the concert was, the next evening may have been even better. That’s when the choir sang at the 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass at the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. Father Steve concelebrated, his first time ever at the main altar. A group of nuns in white habits started the applause for the choir at the end of Mass. Again, some milled about to talk to Schutz about his music. Schutz said the St. Peter’s experience was “maybe for me my favorite part” of the trip.
Jack Martin, a member of the choir, said the pilgrimage was “a life changing experience for me.” Martin elaborated.
“There are times in your life when you feel that you have been touched in a special way by the hand of God. Our choir pilgrimage to Rome was such an experience. The beauty and majesty of Rome’s basilicas were overwhelming to the emotions.
Photo caption: The choir from St. Mary Church, Evansville is shown at the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. In front row, from left, are Steve McCallister, Mark Valenzuela, Dennis Russell, Jack Martin, director Paul Schutz, Betsy Gorman, Sister Darlene Boyd, Mary Anne Mathews, Ashley Halbig, Kathy Greenwell; back row, Jamie Morris, Craig Schutz, John Stephenson, Rich D’Amour, Marge Schellhase, Mary Lynn Isaacs, Maria Morris, Marce Halbig, Tink Martin and Holly D’Amour.
(For this story 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
Seminarian numbers make an upward leap
By Tim Johnson
FORT WAYNE — One of the greatest fruits for the Year for Priests just may be the increase in the number of young men interested in discerning the priesthood. The numbers have increased by eight this year, bringing the total to 23 men studying for the priesthood, and more are interested.
“This is the largest entering class in 25 years,” says Msgr. Bernard Galic, diocesan director of the Office of Vocations. Msgr. Galic credits the increase to the Year for Priests.
“The Year for Priests awakened an awareness of the people to pray for vocations,” Msgr. Galic says.
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades tells Today’s Catholic, “I think the increasing number of seminarians is due to the prayers of so many of our people who are asking the Lord to send ‘more laborers into His harvest.’ I also attribute the increase to the example of our priests, the strong catechetical and youth ministry programs in our diocese, including our Catholic schools. And, of course, the ’seedbed’ of vocations — the faith and devotion of parents and families.”
Inquiries from young men came throughout the Year for Priests and interest has not waned since the close of the Year for Priests in June. Msgr. Galic says he expects several more men will enter seminary in the fall of 2011 as the interview and interest continues.
Associate Director of Vocations Father Jacob Runyon notes, “While it is true that we have a large number of seminarians entering this year, we have actually had pretty good numbers the last few years.”
He adds, “But I do think we could attribute the spike this year to the fact that it was the Year for Priests. There has been much discussion and prayer about and for the priesthood, I think that could be part of it.”
Father Runyon reports that the Andrew Dinners and the discernment retreats have been well attended, “thanks to the support of our priests.”
This year, 10 diocesan seminarians will begin their studies at Mouth Saint Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., the seminary where Bishop Rhoades once served as rector. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will be one of the largest delegations at Mount Saint Mary’s, Msgr. Galic says.
Photo caption: Diocesan seminarians gathered for this photo last week during their retreat at Noll Hall on Lake Wawasee. Eight men — bringing the total to 23 seminarians — will begin seminarian studies this month.
Catholic high schools working to attract Latino students
By Tim Johnson
FORT WAYNE — All four diocesan high schools have recognized the importance of welcoming Hispanic students in their communities. Bishop Luers High School, on Fort Wayne’s south side, already boasts diversity as a school strength. Of the 546 students at the school, about 25 to 30 are Hispanic, according to Principal Mary Keefer.
But Keefer and the school’s marketing team are making it a goal to make “all families feel welcome from the moment they walk in our doors.”
Keefer and the school’s marketing people recently attended an Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) workshop called “To Nurture the Soul of a Nation: Latino Families, Catholic Schools, and Educational Opportunity.”
Keefer told Today’s Catholic, “Each family is looking for something different from a school. If families come to our door, we already know that ‘Catholic’ education is a priority. Quality academics, safety, care, nurture, socialization are all parental needs for their children. Bishop Luers High School must continue to learn to meet all families’ needs, regardless of their cultural background.”
Keefer feels the Hispanic students enhance the Luers’ community. “Education is always a two way street. The word catholic (small ‘c’) means all inclusive; all are welcome. Bishop Luers High School must be a small community that reflects the larger community.”
She adds, “Our world is not made up of people who look the same, act the same, celebrate the same. Our school must teach our young people to embrace all, to see God in all. When you have a locker beside someone who is different from you and they cry when they are sad, they rejoice when they earned an ‘A’ on a difficult exam, they fall in love, they pray, just like you do, the realization sets in that we are all God’s children. Prejudice is wiped away when friendships form. Our world must learn to embrace difference and we must learn to live together.”
Photo caption: Alicia Lopez of the Bishop Luers High School class of 2009 is shown with Mary Keefer. Lopez was the recipient of the Bail Scholarship.
Fort Wayne, Arcola parishioners have breakfast with a cardinal
By Mark Weber
FORT WAYNE — Because of Christ’s instruction “to go, teach and heal,” an Indian cardinal finds himself in the United States as part of the foothills to a mountainous project he is undertaking at home in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, has assumed the leadership role in establishing a new medical college and hospital in Ranchi to reach the marginalized sick people, with greater partnership within the Church network and with like-minded groups.
Planning for the Ranchi medical center and hospital began in 2008 with two rounds of talks in India involving experts from Georgetown University and a third meeting at Georgetown in Washington, D.C.
The cardinal’s present visit was for further planning with Loyola University in Chicago where rapport was established for further collaboration. Plans also call for participation from Johns Hopkins University and School of Medicine.
The outreach to these leading medical institutions and the Catholic Relief Services, CRS, and other professional planning groups is to establish a master plan for the Ranchi Medical Center.
Cardinal Toppo has included Fort Wayne in his American visit to Father Cyril Fernandes, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, and Father Alex Dodrai, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Arcola. Father Cyril’s uncle is the vicar general of the Ranchi Diocese and the rector of the major seminary.
Cardinal Toppo was the main celebrant at 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday at St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne, concelebrating with Father Fernandes, Father Dodrai and Father Peter Raposo, former secretary to the cardinal, who is in this country to get a masters degree in communications at DePaul University in Chicago.
In his homily, Cardinal Toppo described his experience as an papal elector when Cardinal Ratzinger became Benedict XVI on April 19, 2005.
At a reception following Mass, parishioners from St. John the Baptist and St. Patrick chatted with Cardinal Toppo, who graciously posed for many photos and expressed genuine interest in meeting strangers who have the common bond of the Catholic faith.
Photo caption: Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, Archbisop of Ranchi, India, holds Sophia Gallucci, whom he baptized two years ago on another visit to the United States. Sophia is the daughter of Frank and Tina Gallucci of St. Patrick Parish, Arcola.
(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.todayscatholicnews.org)
Diocese of Gary
Bishop Noll: Modeled after the best
HAMMOND — Bishop Noll Institute Principal Colleen McCoy-Cejka puts it this way: “We’ve got a lot going on.” From a revamped entrance to new scheduling, the 90-year-old school is getting a new look. Fortunately in these tough economic times, much of the physical work is being donated. Those physical changes include a revamp of the main entryway.
To give the area a more welcoming look, the outdoor overhang will receive a metal roof in blue with the school’s name in front. Leaky and rusty areas will be replaced with corrugated metal.
As part of a three-phase plumbing project over the next three years, the Noll swimming pool will be filled in with stone and cement and covered with a rubberized floor.
The now-closed poolroom will host retreats, meetings, and athletic events. Also, rusty pipes in the first-floor locker room area will be replaced.
In addition, student commons areas will be developed in the main lobby and sections of the cafeteria and library. These will include more computer stations.
This project, the principal said, required some “serious revamping” of existing space. Space has been allotted for computers and furniture. Going along with these department centers is the second aspect of Noll’s improvement plan — commitment to the school’s college preparatory mission. McCoy-Cejka said that while BNI traditionally boasts a high percentage (high 90s) of students going on to college, “there is room for improvement.”
To further prepare students for the next level, Noll is introducing a rotating modular schedule.
“We have built a schedule that is customized to fit the needs of our students and our school,” McCoy-Cejka said. “Based on our research, the best schools in the country are moving toward customized educational plans, and if we aim to be the best, we must model ourselves after the best.”
(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
No briefs available this week
(For news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org)