December 31, 2018 // Diocese

A look back at 2018 in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

Jodi Marlin

Author

Catholics in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend were witnesses to moments of grace and awe during the past year, reminding us of the Lord’s great power and of His powerful love for us. In turn, we were also shocked and saddened by the reckonings of sin. It was ultimately a year in which we reflected ever more deeply on the reason for our joy — sometimes reacting with praise, other times in sorrow or with questions whose answers He may lay on our hearts in 2019.        

January

Sacred Heart Parish at Notre Dame ends a year of celebration of its 175^th anniversary on Epiphany Sunday, Jan. 7. In 1842, it was founded by Father Edward Sorin and the Holy Cross brothers, who the same year began a ministry of education that would become the University of Notre Dame.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades and more than 1,000 high school and college students from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend travel to Washington, D.C. to show their support for life by participating in the National March for Life.

February

The 96th World Day of the Sick is observed on Feb. 11; Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades visits Memorial Hospital in South Bend, celebrates Mass and visits patients in the intensive care unit and Mother/Baby Unit.

The Light Is On for You diocesanwide opportunity for confession takes place Feb. 28. All parishes in the diocese open their doors to hear confessions between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Many avail themselves of the sacrament after years of being away.

March

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reiterates its longstanding position on gun control, saying “reasonable” gun control is necessary after 17 people are killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Pope Francis adds a new feast day to the calendar of the Catholic Church. The feast of Mary, Mother of God will be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost every year.

The pope also celebrates the fifth anniversary of his pontificate. The hallmark of former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s leadership quickly becomes outreach to the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, the immigrant, the weak in faith – those on the “peripheries” of society.

April

On the feast day of St. Joseph, activities on the west end of the diocese acknowledge the example of protection and care demonstrated by the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. Bishop Rhoades leads a vespers service for Our Lady of Hungary Knights of Columbus, and Holy Cross College Director of Campus Ministry Andrew Polaniecki speaks about St. Joseph and St. André Bessette at St. Joseph Parish.

A large contingent of Tolton Society of St. Augustine Parish, South Bend, make a pilgrimage to the saint’s Quincy, Illinois, birthplace.

May

Harvard Law School professor Mary Ann Glendon is honored with the 2018 Evangelium Vitae Award, given by the University of Notre Dame in honor of outstanding work on behalf of the culture of life.

The mayor of South Bend vetoes a rezoning request made by the Women’s Care Center in South Bend, which would have allowed it to relocate near a potential new abortion facility.

Pope Francis meets with three survivors of sexual abuse by clergy in Chile.

Seminarians José Arroyo and Daniel Niezer are ordained to the diaconate at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, May 19.

Vicar General Msgr. Robert Schulte, is appointed pastor of St. Jude Parish, Fort Wayne; Father Mark Gurtner is appointed vicar general of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Father Jacob Runyon is appointed judicial vicar and rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

June

Hispanic representatives of the diocese gather at the University of Notre Dame for the Region 7 Encuentro, which includes dioceses from three Midwestern states. They worship and discuss issues relevant to Hispanic Catholics, and prepare recommendations for a national document that would be formulated after a national gathering in September.

Catholic Leaders across the nation increase their objection to the separation of children from their immigrant parents at the U.S. southern border.

The Felician sisters at St. Adalbert and St. Casimir parishes, South Bend, prepare to retire to their motherhouse in Michigan, thereby ending the order’s more than 100-year presence in the diocese.

July

The first group of Hispanic men to be formed in Spanish and ordained to the diaconate in the diocese profess their vows June 23 at St. Matthew Cathedral.

The Congregation of Holy Cross elects Father William Lies as its new provincial superior.

Following a two-year investigation, a grand jury in Pennsylvania prepares to release a report that spans seven decades of allegations of child sexual abuse in six dioceses of the state.

August

Pope Francis accepts the resignation from the College of Cardinals of Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick after accusations come to light that he sexually abused minors in New York.

The death penalty is “inadmissible,” says Pope Francis, who orders a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s paragraph on capital punishment.

Highway 24 in Huntington is renamed Archbishop Noll Memorial Parkway.

Bishop Rhoades holds a news conference to announce that he plans to release the names of all priests and deacons of the diocese who have been credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a minor over the years.

September

Blessed Sacrament Parish, Albion, completes a new church building. A Mass of dedication takes place Aug. 25.

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Donaldson, observe 150 years of their order’s home in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend with a Mass of celebration at Ancilla Domini Chapel, and other activities throughout the year.

The diocese publishes a list of 18 priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor and who served in the diocese.

In light of the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the revelations regarding Archbishop McCarrick, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades declares that Oct. 5 will be a Diocesan Day of Prayer and Penance.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame end their ministry at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Huntington.

On Sept. 27 in Rome, Spenser St. Louis is ordained to the diaconate for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

October

Following a contentious examination and a close vote by the Senate, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a Catholic, is confirmed to the Supreme Court.

The pope canonizes several new saints, including Pope Paul VI; Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero; and Mother Katharina Kasper, foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, on Oct. 14.

Pope Francis convenes the monthlong Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment on Oct. 3.

Bishop Rhoades blesses the newly constructed St. Francis Chapel at the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne.

Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne, lays to rest the cremated remains of Catholics not previously interred during a free committal service.

November

Cathedral Books and Gifts, the diocesan bookstore, changes its name to Good Shepherd Books and Gifts.

The most recent hearing in an ongoing licensing dispute between Whole Woman’s Health Alliance and the Indiana State Department of Health takes place Wednesday, Nov. 28. A three-member panel presided at the hearing and decided in favor of the ISDH, ruling that its denial of a license to operate an abortion clinic in South Bend was just.

December

The nation mourns the death of 41^st President George H.W. Bush.

Sister Rose Caritas professes perpetual vows of consecration. She will live as a cloistered nun in “unlimited consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary” for the rest of her life.