January 13, 2016 // Uncategorized

Around the Diocese January 17, 2016

Todays Catholic

Ave Maria students serve poor in India

HUNTINGTON — Twelve students of Ave Maria University traveled on a mission trip with Ave Maria’s president, Jim Towey, to Kolkata, India, to serve along side the Missionaries of Charity (MC) Sisters from March 18-28, 2015. The students had the opportunity to serve the sick and dying as well as children with special needs.

The students began each day with Mass at the Mother House, where they were able to pray at Mother Teresa’s tomb. Following Mass the students volunteered at one of several missions served by the sisters, including Nirmal Hriday, also known as Kalighat, the home for the dying and Prem Dan, a home for the sick. They also served at the homes for children, Shishu Bhavan and Daya Dan.

Ave Maria University student Corinne Zay has been selected to join a group of 14 students as the only freshman to travel to Kolkata and serve this May. She said, “I am blessed to have the opportunity to travel to India this spring with some of my fellow students. In preparing for this trip I have come to love the life and work of Mother Teresa and am excited to experience her work first hand in less than five months.” Zay is a parishioner of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Huntington. — Kay Cozad

Group Study of Pope Francis’ encyclical, ‘On Care for Our Common Home’

PIERCETON — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Pierceton is sponsoring a six-week group study of Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home.” Sessions will meet on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. beginning Jan. 18. If interested in participating, contact Father Chuck Herman at St. Francis Xavier at 574-594-5750.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend 

FORT WAYNE — A Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together will be Jan. 22-24, in Fort Wayne. Visit www.wwme-ni.org or contact Dave and Jen Krueckeberg for assistance, or email [email protected].

St. Michael pastor discusses immigration

PLYMOUTH — Holy Cross Father John Korcsmar, pastor of St. Michael Church in Plymouth, held an information session with parishioners on immigration on Sunday, Jan. 3.

Thirty parishioners gathered in the school cafeteria to listen, learn and discuss immigration in the United States from the Church’s perspective. Using the information from the U.S. Bishops’ website www.justiceforimmigrants.org, the teachings and principles were drawn from the pastoral letter Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey to Hope.

The pastoral letter also presents the bishops’ recommendations for immigration reform.

The plan was to share Church teaching on a relevant issue and discuss its applications.

March for Life planned for Jan. 22

SOUTH BEND — A St. Joseph County Right to Life March for Life will take place Friday, Jan. 22, to commemorate the unborn and stand for life.

A Rally for Life precedes the march at 11:30 a.m. at the hall at 553 Washington St. The rally will feature Silent No More speaker Terry Wedel, who will speak from experience about why abortion is harmful for women.

Following the rally, participants will march a few blocks through downtown to the Federal Courthouse at 204 S. Main St. and  demonstrate peacefully from 12:15-1 p.m. Signs are provided.

For more information, visit www.prolifemichiana.org.

Life walk to be offered by Knights

SOUTH BEND — The Knights of Columbus “Walk the Talk for Life” will mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision with a combination of prayer, information and networking, Sunday, Jan. 24, from 2-4 p.m. The focus is “Supporting Family Life for a Culture of Life,” and begins with an ecumenical prayer service at St. Joseph Church, 226 N. Hill St. Father David Ruppert, chaplain of K of C Council 553, will be co-presider with Pastor Kevin Mitschelen of Riverside Church.

At 3 p.m. at the Knights’ hall at the corner of Hill and Washington streets a panel discussion on the family unit as a centerpiece of the culture of life will feature Father Glenn Kohrman of Holy Family Parish and Josh and Stacey Noem who all attended the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Questions and discussion, along with light refreshments, will follow and conclude by 4 p.m. For information contact Bill Schmitt at 574-232-6777.

42nd annual March for Life planned for Jan. 16

FORT WAYNE — The March for Life will be Saturday, Jan. 16. The march will begin at noon with a rally at the University of Saint Francis Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center, at 431 W. Berry St.

The rally’s keynote speaker is Dr. Christina Francis, a board-certified OB/GYN currently working in Fort Wayne. Francis is a board member of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) and a speaker with Life Training Institute. She will offer her medical expertise, knowledge of bioethics and pro-life reasoning developed both here in the United States and around the globe.

Following the rally, attendees will march through downtown, ending at the E. Ross Adair Federal Building.

USF to participate in MLK Day activities

FORT WAYNE  — The University of Saint Francis, in partnership with the YWCA, will pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King through “A Day On, Not a Day Off” and a panel discussion later in the week will provide opportunities for all to learn more about this great man’s life and times, and to serve at campus activities and local agencies in the community. The community is invited to join the university for the following events:

Monday, Jan. 18

• 10:30-11:30 a.m.  — “Connecting With the Dream: Call to Service and Mass” (North Campus Auditorium)

• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Lunch at North Campus building

• 1-4 p.m. — Service projects on and off campus (registration required) includes the following: Linus Blanket Making (USF North Campus Gym); Warm Fuzzies — learning to crochet or knit warm outerwear for children in need (USF North Campus Gym); Bread for the World letter writing — writing letters to political leaders to gain support for federal food programs; and local volunteer opportunities at the Mustard Seed Furniture Bank, Associated Churches Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, Science Central, The Community Center, Friends of the Poor or The Franciscan Center.

Wednesday, Jan. 20

• 7-8:30 p.m. — Panel presentation “Why We Can’t Wait: Our Beloved Community Seeks Nonviolence” (North Campus Auditorium)

This panel of local leaders will address the challenge of violence in the community and how the community can collaborate more effectively to bring about positive change. The panel will be moderated by Heather Jeffries, assistant professor and director of Criminal Justice and Criminology at USF. Panelists will include the following: Dr. Bill McGill, senior pastor of Imani Baptist Temple; Zena Moore-Hollins, mother of a local homicide victim; Tornell Moore, Allen County Court case manager; David Gladieux, Allen County sheriff; and Steve Reed, Fort Wayne Police Department assistant chief.

More information can be found at sf.edu/mlkday.

Office of Worship posts liturgical trainings 

FORT WAYNE — The Office of Worship has organized diocesan liturgical trainings on upcoming Saturdays for lectors and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. There is no charge to attend a training, but advance registration is required by mail or email.

Lector trainings will be on Feb. 6 at St. Jude Church in Fort Wayne, and on Feb. 13 at St. Joseph Church in South Bend. Extraordinary minister trainings will be on Jan. 30 at St. Charles Church in Fort Wayne, and on Feb. 6 at St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend. All trainings are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and end by or before 1 p.m. More specific information, as well as the full registration form, can be found online at www.diocesefwsb.org/Trainings-And-Retreats.

Memorial Mass planned

FORT WAYNE — A Memorial Mass for Father Pat McNulty, who died Dec. 17, 2015, in Ontario, Canada, will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne.