Young adults praise archbishop and welcome auxiliary bishop

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein talks with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis senior Michael Conner, left, of St. Paul Parish in Tell City, who holds a sign praising Archbishop Buechlein after the Jan. 14 press conference at St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis. Father Rick Nagel, center, the director of the archdiocesan Office of Young Adult and College Campus Ministry, also talked with the archbishop and students after Bishop-designate Christopher J. Coyne’s official introduction. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

An enthusiastic group of young adult Catholics who are IUPUI students and St. John the Evangelist parishioners attended the press conference announcing the appointment of Father Christopher J. Coyne as the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. They also displayed a large sign that read “IUPUI [heart]s our shepherd” to surprise Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein.

“We need to add an ‘S’ to our sign,” said Breanna Holder, an IUPUI sophomore and St. John parishioner from Odon, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese, who is majoring in journalism, so the poster can also refer to Bishop-designate Coyne.

“It’s very exciting to see his excitement about his [ministry] here,” she said about the new auxiliary bishop. “… It’s exciting for both St. John’s, and those of us who attend IUPUI and [are members of] the Catholic Student Organization.”

Holder said she is glad that Bishop-designate Coyne writes a blog for St. Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood, Mass., www.blog.saintmmparish.org, and hosts Catholic videos posted online.

“As a young Catholic, it is very inspiring to see our [new auxiliary bishop] communicating via an online ministry,” she said. “It shows his devotion to connect to the Church at all levels. For the young and older generations alike, technology and the Internet are great teaching tools and ways to stay connected as a universal Church. I have read some of Bishop-elect Coyne’s blog, and have found it to be very inspirational.”

IUPUI freshman Patrick Burton also attended the press conference. He completed his primary education at St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis, and is majoring in computer science and applied math with a minor in Spanish.

“I think it’s very exciting,” Burton said. “He’s very excited to get started. He seems very energetic. … It’s good for us youth here to see someone excited to be serving God and serving the people. I pray that he does well, and that he continues to grow in his faith and help us grow in ours.”

St. Paul parishioner Michael Conner of Tell City, a senior at IUPUI, serves as the president of the Catholic Student Organization there and is discerning a possible call to the priesthood. He held the sign during and after the press conference.

“I had no idea that we were going to be getting an auxiliary bishop,” he said after the official announcement. “… I’m excited to have the opportunity to meet

Bishop-designate Coyne and to work with him a little bit.

“The archbishop has been really wonderful in terms of young adult ministry,” Conner said. “It’s been something that he’s been very, very supportive of. It’s something that he has a large heart for, and so we just want to show [him] that we really appreciate that. I really love our archbishop.”

Father Rick Nagel, the director of the archdiocesan Office of Young Adult and College Campus Ministry as well as the Catholic chaplain at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), was also appointed the new administrator of St. John the Evangelist Parish by Archbishop Buechlein, which is effective on Feb. 15 because Father Stephen Giannini, the current pastor, will accept additional administrative duties for the archdiocese.

“I’m ecstatic,” Father Nagel said after the press conference. “It’s such awesome news to see the growth of the archdiocese and the possibilities of bringing more souls to Christ through his Church right here in the archdiocese.”

Bishop-designate Coyne will reside at the St. John Parish rectory with Father Nagel and Father William Stumpf.

“I’m also excited to have that kind of a mentor close to me, someone with his experience, love for the Lord and his Church, and desire to be holy,” Father Nagel said. “I’m looking forward to hanging out with him and learning from him, and continuing to serve our shepherd, Archbishop Daniel, who has been such a great spiritual father for me. I’m very happy and am looking forward to becoming the administrator here.

“The archbishop has made young adult and college campus ministry one of his top three priorities for the remainder of his service to the archdiocese,” he said. “Our young people are a joy to be around, and they are responding so beautifully to the ministry. We’ll hopefully be able to introduce Father Coyne to them soon, and for them to be able to share their enthusiasm.

“There’s a big crowd [of young adults] here today,” Father Nagel said. “The word spread that there was something big being announced at their parish so they spread the word and came here. I think that’s a sign of their love for Christ’s Church and how they want to support whatever the shepherd here desires.”

(Reporter Sean Gallagher assisted with this story.) †

 

(Click here for more coverage and photos of the appointment of Bishop-designate Christopher J. Coyne)