September 28, 2017 // Diocese

Around the Diocese: October 1, 2017

Todays Catholic

Registration open: Rejoice! Women’s Retreat

PLYMOUTH — Women of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend are invited to attend the Rejoice! Women’s Retreat Dec. 1-3 at Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center.

At this year’s retreat, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades will lead a guided meditation during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Speaker Sister Ann Shields, SGL, will communicate God’s desire that faith become living and fruitful for God’s glory and for the salvation of many.

Sister Shields is an internationally noted conference and retreat speaker, and the author of numerous books on Catholic spirituality, including “Deeper Conversion,” “To Be Like Jesus,” and “More of the Holy Spirit.” She currently hosts the popular daily radio program “Food for the Journey.” She is part of Renewal Ministries’ leadership team and a member of The Servants of God’s Love, a charismatic religious community established in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan.

Brochures may be available in church narthexes, or go to www.diocesfwsb.org/rejoice.  Registration is open through Oct. 16. After that, space permitting, women from outside the diocese may register. For more information call 574-707-3381, email [email protected] or contact Cecilia Aguilar-Tussey in the Office of Evangelization, 260-399-1447 or [email protected].

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School receives
counseling award 

FORT WAYNE — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School’s Counseling Program Portfolio, developed through the Redesigning School Counseling process, was recently approved by Indiana Department of Education. With this authorization, the school was awarded the Indiana Gold Star School Counseling Award.

In order to qualify for this honor, a team consisting of school staff and parents developed a comprehensive school counseling program that addressed all of the Indiana State Standards for guidance. This committee was tasked with the challenge of creating a plan that would incorporate these standards into the school curriculum. It devised a strategy that will allow for focus on the academic, social and emotional well-being of all St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School students. 

Gold Star candidates normally have one year to complete and fulfill the requirements needed to obtain this status, however, the team completed the program in only six months. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Gold Star group was spearheaded by school counselor Tara Walulik, Principal Lois Widner, kindergarten teacher Karen Tippmann and school parents Sarah Steffan and Lisa Vance. The team also worked closely with an advisory committee of 15 people comprised of community members, parents, students, teachers and mental health providers.

Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession

FORT WAYNE — On Sunday, Oct. 8, the University of Saint Francis Campus Ministry and Project Rachel Post-Abortion Ministry will host a prayer service that acknowledges abortion’s universal impact on parents, grandparents, siblings, family members, friends, medical personnel, clergy and others.

During “An Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession,” those present will pray for all who have been wounded by an abortion decision and consider how they can spread God’s message of love and mercy.

Created by Theresa Bonapartis and the Sisters of Life, an Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession is, as the name suggests, a prayer service for the entire local community, created in the spirit of the New Evangelization. Acknowledging abortion’s universal impact through reflections and testimonies offered as part of the day, the service offers the opportunity to come together in an extended period of prayer, contemplation and intercession in the context of the church’s sacraments and to seek forgiveness and healing for the entire nation.

The Fort Wayne event begins at noon with testimonies and intercessory prayer, followed by eucharistic adoration at 1 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation and pastoral support will be available during this second hour. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades will celebrate Mass at 2 p.m. and the event will conclude with a light reception. All are welcome to attend any part of the event.  For more information contact Father David Meinzen at 260-399-7700 ext. 6701 or [email protected]; or Allison Sturm, Project Rachel coordinator, at 260-399-1452 or [email protected].

Eight given Spirit of Holy Cross Award

NOTRE DAME — To mark the Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15, the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, named eight recipients for the 2017 Spirit of Holy Cross Award. In conjunction with the feast of the special patroness of the congregation, the award is given annually to lay collaborators who faithfully serve the Province.  The 2017 recipients are:

• Nancy Conroy, who began service at Holy Cross House as a nursing assistant in 1991. In 2005, she assumed the duties of coordinating doctors’ appointments, seeing to transportation needs and advocating for the residents with great compassion and understanding until her retirement in August.

• Brian Doyle, whose connection with the Congregation of Holy Cross spanned over 40 years, until his passing in the spring. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1978, and after positions with U.S. Catholic and Boston College magazine Doyle accepted a position on the Bluff as editor of Portland magazine.

• Paul Fujawa is a lifetime member of St. Casimir Parish in South Bend. He is a graduate of its grade school and the University of Notre Dame. Fujawa has demonstrated his support of the congregation by giving of his time, talent and treasure by serving for more than a decade on the finance council, the pastoral council and the school board of St. Casimir Parish. He has also participated in the RCIA program and in his spare time supervises maintenance of the parish plant.

• James Kramer is Associate Director of Development for the United States Province and the former Indiana Province since 2004. Kramer has assumed almost every role in the Development Office and is recognized for his gracious and generous spirit. Involved in almost every aspect of development, he prefers to remain in the background rather than taking recognition for the many contributions he makes. His collaborative spirit furthers the Mission of Holy Cross.

• Pedro Pablo Miranda, who has been the manager of St. George’s College since 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Chile as well as an MBA and master’s in education management from Alberto Hurtado University. He served as interim director of St. George’s in 2016. His family is active in the Archdiocese of Santiago.

• Mary Nucciarone is the director of financial aid at the University of Notre Dame. Nucciarone has shown concern to first-generation and undocumented students. She has also been of great assistance to Holy Cross seminarians, providing scholarship and loan deferment information when necessary. A nationally recognized expert in financial aid, she has become a mentor for the next generation of educational professionals.

• Benito Salazar, who has served for more than 40 years as director of the Celestial Choir at St. Adalbert Parish in South Bend. While a member of the former St. Stephen Parish in South Bend, he worked with Holy Cross Priests in founding and served as one of the first directors of La Casa de Amistad. For 28 years he has coordinated the United Way of St. Joseph County’s annual campaign, and in 2010 he received the Humanity Knows No Borders Award.

• Lucyann Skvarla, who is in her 40th year of service to King’s College, where she began in 1978 as assistant for the Humanities and Social Sciences faculty in Hafey-Marian Hall. In 1984 she began working for the dean of admissions, her work becoming vital for the very first long-range plan for the college.

The honorees will be recognized in their local communities by the Holy Cross ministry for which they work, during the month of January as part of the celebrations of Blessed Moreau’s life.

At that time they will receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Father Thomas J. O’Hara, CSC, provincial superior, on behalf of the U.S. Province.

‘Fatima: Then and Now’

FORT WAYNE — The faculty of the Department of Philosophy and Theology at the University of Saint Francis invites the public to the upcoming lecture in its 2017-18 fall lecture series.

Sister Jacinta Krecek, OSF, assistant professor of theology, will give the lecture, “The Message of Fatima: Then and Now,” on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. on the campus of the University of Saint Francis, Brookside Ballroom, 2701 Spring St. Admission is free

St. John Paul II said, “Fatima is more relevant now than ever.” With this year marking 100 years since Our Lady of Fatima delivered her message, Sister Krecek will examine what is so significant about it for Catholics to take to heart today.

For information or parking accommodations contact Angie Springer at 260-399-7700 x8100 or [email protected], or visit philosophy.sf.edu/lecture-series.

St. Joseph School in South Bend celebrated Grandparents Day on Friday, Sept. 8, in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Close to 115 grandparents attended. Pictured is Claire McBride with her grandparents.— Provided by St. Joseph School

St. Mary of the Assumption new principal Andy Adams, left, joined the school staff and students in kicking off the school’s annual Instruments of Peace Program at the beginning of the academic year. Those in attendance pledged to share God’s love with others while nurturing and strengthening their faith to grow in virtue and transform the world. — Provided by Brandy Scrogham

The Student Council at St. Joseph School in Garrett picked vegetables from the parish garden in mid-September to donate to a local charity, the St. Martin Soup Kitchen. — Provided by St. Joseph School

Father Solanus Casey Vocation Society President Darren Schortgen presents a check for $2,800 to Father Andrew Budzinski, director of the Office of Vocations, on behalf of the group. The recently donated funds will be applied to the education of seminarians of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. — Provided by the Father Solanus Casey Vocation Society