October 8, 2017 // Diocese

Around the Diocese: October 8, 2017

Distinguished Knight Award recipients

FORT WAYNE — Bishop Luers High School announced the recipients of the 2017 Distinguished Knight Awards, after the celebration of the Mass at the Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi on Sept. 22, the night of the school’s Homecoming festivities. Eileen Brodmerkel was named outstanding alumnus, and John Sorg received honorary alumnus.

Brodmerkel, who received the 2017 Distinguished Knight award, is a graduate of Bishop Luers Class of 1967. She recently retired after 25 years of teaching English at the school. She loves the Bishop Luers, sent her own children there, and continues to work as a substitute teacher at Bishop Luers on a weekly basis. 

This Distinguished Knight has a strong faith that keeps her volunteering at her home parish of St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne, participating in both the Arts and Enrichment and the Festival committees. She also volunteers at the parish where her brother, Father Bill Sullivan, serves: St. John the Baptist, New Haven.

Sorg came to Bishop Luers High School in 1963. At the time, he was only one of five lay people on staff.

He held many leadership positions at Bishop Luers, including athletic director: He is the published author of a textbook, and he has worked with every staff person from August 1963, through May 2017.

Blood donation is a value this honorary Distinguished Knight has adopted. He has been recognized by the Red Cross for his major blood donations over the past 25 years.

Seventh-grade students at St. Matthew Cathedral School, South Bend, traveled to Fort Wayne Sept. 28 for a tour of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades conducted the tour, calling attention to various aspects of its art, architecture and history. The students also toured the nearby Archbishop Noll Center. — Provided by Josh Bathon

Bishop Rhoades to speak at observance of 500th anniversary of Reformation

ELKHART — In an act that brought about the various modern-day Protestant denominations, a monk by the name of Martin Luther displayed — in a very public way — the reforms he believed were needed within the Catholic Church of 1517. The 500th anniversary of Luther’s nailing of his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenburg Castle Church in Germany on Oct. 31 of that year is being observed and reflected upon worldwide in 2017.

In the spirit of friendship and a better understanding of the beliefs and traditions that are still common to both the Lutheran and Catholic faiths, Trinity Lutheran Church, 30888 C.R. 6, Elkhart, will welcome Bishop Rhoades at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, to deliver a lecture titled “A Catholic Bishop’s Reflection on the Reformation.” His 45-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session and time for fellowship.

A counterpart lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at St. Pius X Church, Granger, presented by Lutheran pastor and theologian Rev. Rick Stuckwisch.

Trinity Lutheran and St. Pius X clergy and church members have begun participating in regular discussions, tours and worship services, with the aim of better understanding the commonalities between their faiths. For information, contact St. Pius X at 574-272-8462.

Victory Noll open house to feature variety of offerings

HUNTINGTON — Victory Noll will welcome the public to visit its buildings and grounds with a campus-wide open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.

Located at 1900 W. Park Drive in Huntington, the Victory Noll campus will showcase its changing landscape with four distinct entities that provide a wide range of opportunities and experiences. 

The new Saint Anne Communities at Victory Noll facility, which offers assisted-living care to the public, will be open for tours and there will be information on available services. Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters will have the historic OLV building open for the public to tour, including the refurbished Our Lady of Victory Chapel. Sisters and the order’s archivist will be on hand to talk about the history of the community and the campus.

Victory Noll Center, a sponsored ministry center focusing on ongoing spiritual and social justice formation, will be open to visitors. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the Center’s offerings.

Acres Land Trust, which recently purchased the natural areas of the campus for preservation, will have information and tours through the old-growth forest and native grasslands.

Students achieve National Merit Scholarships

DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE-SOUTH BEND — Several students who attend Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their talents.

Adam Veldman of Bishop Luers High School was named a commended student in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, will be presented to the scholastically talented senior.

 Marian High School had one National Merit semifinalist and three commended students in the Class of 2018. Connor Loesch was named a National Merit semifinalist and in the top 1 percent of the nation. Commended students are Crispin Becker, Brock (Alex) Berta, and Alyssa Grzesiowski, who are in the top 3 percent of the nation. Their awards are based on their scores on the PSAT/NMSQT taken as juniors.  These students are all graduates of St. Matthew Cathedral School and members of St. Matthew Cathedral Parish.  

Saint Joseph High School announced that four students were named semifinalists. They are Sean Casey, Caitlin Casey, Rose Kelly and Joshua Scott. They have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million next spring.

Afternoon of Remembrance

FORT WAYNE — The University of Saint Francis Campus Ministry and Project Rachel Post-Abortion Ministry will host “An Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession,” on Sunday, Oct. 8, at Trinity Hall. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades will celebrate Mass at 2 p.m., and the event will conclude with a light reception. For more information contact Father David Meinzen, Chaplain, at 260-399-7700 ext. 6701 or [email protected]All are welcome to attend any part of the event. or Allison Sturm, Project Rachel Coordinator at 260-399-1452 or [email protected].

John “J.J.” Adams, the son of William and M. Katherine Adams of St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend, was received by Abbot Cletus Meagher as a postulant at St. Bernard Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Cullman, Alabama, on Sunday, Sept. 17, during Solemn Vespers. The postulancy period of six months is a time for a man to seriously consider the call to the monastic life before beginning his year as a novice monk. Adams graduated from Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. Entering with him was Jonathan Gagnon, right, from Birmingham, Alabama.

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