July 26, 2017 // Diocese
Around the Diocese: July 30, 2017
Supporters of the diocesan Catholic Charities organization enjoyed a Fort Wayne Tincaps baseball game against the Kane County Cougars on Saturday evening, July 22, at Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne. Above, Father Tom Shoemaker, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, throws out one of the ceremonial first pitches before the game with Jake “the Diamond Dog” watching nearby. — Photo by Joe Romie
St. John the Evangelist participates in Latino institute
NOTRE DAME — St. John the Evangelist Parish, Goshen participated in Latino Enrollment Institute held at the University of Notre Dame July 9-12. The LEI is one of the many initiatives sponsored by the Alliance for Catholic Education at Notre Dame: It works with and forms school leaders who wish to learn how to strategically recruit Latino children and families to Catholic schools, and how to make their schools more culturally responsive.
For information about LEI contact Manny Fernandez, program manager, at 574-631-9434.
Bishop Luers accepting nominations for Distinguished Knight Awards
FORT WAYNE – Bishop Luers High School is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Knight Awards. Two honors are bestowed following the Mass celebrated at Homecoming on Friday, Sept. 22.
An Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Award honors a graduate who has contributed outstanding and distinguished service to his or her chosen profession and community. This individual lives out the mission of Bishop Luers High School in his or her everyday life and contributes outstanding dedication, support and service to Bishop Luers. The outstanding alumnus(a) also demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the Catholic Church and its principles. Alumni nominees must be at least five years from graduation from Bishop Luers. Staff alumni nominees must have served Bishop Luers for at least three years.
The Honorary Alumnus Award is open to friends, faculty, former faculty, staff and benefactors who have lived out the spirit and mission of Bishop Luers High School through leadership and action. This individual will have contributed outstanding dedication, support and service to Bishop Luers and to his or her community. He or she demonstrates commitment to the Catholic Church and its principles.
Nomination forms are online at bishopluers.org under “Alumni” or contact Melissa Hire at 260-456-1261, Ext. 3040, or email [email protected].
New leadership for Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. From left, Sister Joetta Huelsmann and Sister Margaret Anne Henss, councilors, Sister Judith Diltz, provincial, and Sister Michele Dvorak, councilor, were installed as the Poor Handmaids Provincial Leadership Team of the American Province on Sunday, July 9. They were elected at the conclusion of the congregation’s governance meeting, Provincial Chapter, in April at Donaldson. This Provincial Leadership Team will guide the congregation to accomplish the focus and calls set forth at the PHJC Chapter earlier this year and will govern and spiritually lead the American Province of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Congregation until 2021.
National Religious Retirement Office distributes $25 million to support elderly religious
WASHINGTON — In June, the National Religious Retirement Office distributed $25 million to 390 religious communities across the United States. The funding is provided by donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection. The annual, parish-based appeal is held in most U.S. Catholic parishes each December and benefits more than 32,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests. The most recent collection raised nearly $30.7 million, marking the second year in a row that contributions exceeded $30 million.
“We are overwhelmed by the generous support for senior religious and their communities,” said Presentation Sister Stephanie Still, NRRO executive director. “We are equally moved by our donors’ ongoing gratitude for the ministry of religious, past and present.”
The funding disbursed the week of June 19 is known as Direct Care Assistance and represents the majority of financial assistance distributed by the NRRO. Religious communities combine this assistance with their own income and savings to help meet such day-to-day expenses. Additional funding will be allocated through other NRRO programs in the coming months.
Catholic bishops of the U.S. launched the Retirement Fund for Religious in 1988 to address the significant lack of retirement funding among the nation’s religious communities. Traditionally, women and men religious served for small stipends that did not include retirement benefits. Today, many religious communities lack adequate retirement savings.
Despite ongoing generosity to the annual appeal, hundreds of religious communities struggle to provide for older members. U.S. bishops voted to renew the collection, which was previously set to end this year.
Retrovaille announced
INDIANAPOLIS — Retrouvaille is a global program that helps couples who experience frustration, anger or loneliness in their marriage. Some couples experience coldness, while others experience conflict and arguments in their relationship. Most don’t know how to change the situation. Tens of thousands of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels, including disillusionment and deep misery, have found help through Retrouvaille, which means to “rediscover” or find again. To learn about the program or to register for the Aug. 11 – 13 weekend in Indianapolis, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com or www.retrouvaille.org; email [email protected] or call 317-489-6811.
Correction
In the July 2 issue of Today’s Catholic, an incorrect last name for the parents of Capuchin friar Jerome Johnson appeared. His parents are Mariella and the late Raymond Johnson of Huntington. We regret the error.
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