March 9, 2016 // Uncategorized

Around the Diocese: March 13, 2016

Todays Catholic

Catholic School students explore 1970s American culture

FORT WAYNE — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School fifth through eighth graders went back in time to the 1970s with Era Day on March 2. Era Day is an annual school event when the students explore and learn about American life during a certain decade. The students moved about to different classrooms during Era Day as they explored 1970s American culture.

The students made their own Lava Lamps. They played board games that were introduced in the 1970s, including Boggle, Connect 4, Battleship and Twister. The students tried their hand at the first video game called “Pong.” They played a Trivia game where they learned about 1970s history.

The students watched a performance art video by Andy Warhol and then made their own performance art video. The students learned the dance steps to the 1970s songs the Hustle and the YMCA song. They tasted the orange drink Tang and ate Happy Face cookies.

The teachers and students were dressed in 1970s outfits for Era Day. which ended with a disco dance for the students in the gym. Era Day was organized by the fifth- through eighth-grade teachers, led by Jodi Jump.

Retreat offerings at Victory Noll Center

HUNTINGTON — Victory Noll Center is offering a number of retreats over the next four months, with opportunities to delve deeper into personal faith and for strengthening relationships with God and the world.

All the retreats will be held on the beautiful Victory Noll campus, located at 1900 W. Park Dr. in Huntington. The campus of Victory Noll offers sacred spaces outside to walk with God including nature trails and Stations of the Cross.

There will be an Easter retreat, “Becoming Fire!” running from Thursday, March 31, to Sunday, April 3.  A directed retreat at Easter offers a special time to savor participation in the Resurrection of Christ and preparing for the great feast of Pentecost.

This retreat will offer time for listening, and drawing close to Christ with “our hearts burning within us.” Retreatants usually spend three to five prayer periods per day. Prayer journaling and dialogue prayer will be included in the spiritual practices of this retreat.

Retreat leaders for this event are Dominican Sister Nancy Brousseau, Sue Wilhelm and Ken Greble. Cost is $295 single occupancy with meals included. Early registration is encouraged, and full payment is required seven days before the beginning of the retreat.

Terry Hershey returns in April for a retreat that will open hearts to the sanctuary of God’s compassionate love and mercy. Hershey will present “Sanctuary: The Presence of Mercy and Compassion” from Friday, April 15, to Saturday, April 16. He will tell stories of grace and inspiration as well as sharing his gift of seeing the world with new eyes.

The cost is $75 and includes accommodations and retreat. For commuters not staying overnight at Victory Noll, the cost is $50. Terry Hershey’s website is www.terryhershey.com. A continental breakfast and Saturday noon meal are included for all. Register by April 7.

“Visio Divina Retreat: Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart” will take place from Friday, April 29, to Saturday, April 30. Visio Divina is actually the practice of Lectio Divina — sacred reading — but instead of using text, it uses icons, or images (such as art) or God’s own beautiful gifts in nature. All of these help one to open the heart to Christ’s presence and revelation. This retreat will allow participants to experience the four movements of this prayer. Sue Wilhelm, director of Victory Noll Center, facilitates the retreat. Cost is $75 and includes accommodations. The cost is $50 for commuters. Continental breakfast and Saturday noon meal are included for all. Register by April 22.

The final event is a directed retreat, “Walk With God,” which will be a weeklong event beginning Monday, June 6, and running through Friday, June 10. A directed retreat is a time to refresh one’s spirit walking with God and responding to that relationship through solitude, silence and prayer. Each day retreatants are invited to spend several prayer periods of about one hour each. In addition, each retreatant meets daily with a retreat director in order to reflect more deeply on the experience of the day.

Retreat leaders are Sue Wilhelm and Sister Wanda Wetli, a Sister of St. Joseph. The cost is $350 single occupancy with meals included. Early registration is encouraged, and full payment is required seven days before the beginning of the retreat.

For more information or to register for the programs, call 260-356-0628, ext. 174, or contact the center by e-mail [email protected]. More information is also available on the center’s website at www.olvm.org/vncenter. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay. Payment plans, scholarships and Pay It Forward opportunities are available.

MoonTree Studios and the Center at Donaldson to present Empty Bowls Soup Supper

DONALDSON — An Empty Bowls benefit for The Food Bank of Northern Indiana will take place Saturday, March 19, eve of the feast of St. Joseph, from 5-7 p.m. in Cana Hall within the Ancilla Domini Motherhouse at The Center at Donaldson. For a donation of $15 per person, everyone is invited to enjoy a meal of soup, homemade by the Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, and bread by Earthworks.

MoonTree Studios, a ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, joined the international Empty Bowls effort three years ago, to raise awareness about hunger issues and food insecurity right here in the local neighborhoods. Following the established Empty Bowls model, the events at MoonTree Studios and The Center at Donaldson strive to bring the local community together to help neighbors in need who are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families. The money raised at The Center at Donaldson will be donated to The Food Bank of Northern Indiana, specifically for Marshall and Starke Counties.

The premise of the worldwide Empty Bowls efforts is simple: Local clay artists mindfully create handcrafted bowls to be sold during a supper event. Later, the public and the bowl-makers are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. For a cash donation, guests enjoy a simple meal and keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world, and the profound impact that a single effort can make to end food insecurity across the globe.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana works to feed the hungry, increase awareness of the effects of hunger, and lead programs designed to alleviate hunger. Per the Food Bank’s statistics, $1 can provide up to eight meals for those in need, and 94 cents of every dollar donated goes back into the communities served. Previous suppers have raised over $4,200 — over 34,000 meals.

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. The organization reports that the nation’s food banks face overwhelming demand — one out of eight Americans struggle with food insecurity every day. The Empty Bowls Project and Soup Supper at The Center at Donaldson is one way to help, here in the community. In addition, individuals, businesses and organizations such as MoonTree Studios and The Center at Donaldson can conduct drives for food and funds.

Tickets can be reserved by calling or emailing MoonTree Studios, or stopping by the reception desk at The Center at Donaldson. Purchase tickets in advance to ensure soup quanity.

For more information call 574- 935-1712 or visit www.moontreestudios.org.

Tickets available for Tajci presentation

FORT WAYNE — “Awaken and Answer the Call,” a transformational concert and speaking event featuring Tajci, will take place Sunday, May 22, at 6 p.m. at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 1500 W. State Blvd. Also featured that evening will be Mary Hilger, a parishioner of Queen of Angels who will offer a live spiritual drawing beginning at 6 p.m.

Tajci is an award-winning singer, TV show host, published author and creator of the acclaimed musical adaption of “Let it Be — Mary’s Story.” Tajci, through her music and motivational speaking, is uplifting. A meet-and-greet with Tajci will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Childcare will be provided.

Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $20 per family and VIP seating for the Tajci Meet and Greet is $25. Proceeds will benefit Queen of Angels Parish. Deister Company, Sweetwater Sound and Parrot Press sponsor this event.

For ticket information, please visit www.queenofangelsfw.org.

Community of Sant’Egidio Prayer for Martyrs to be held at St. Matthew Cathedral 

SOUTH BEND — The Community of Sant’Egidio will hold “Prayer in Memory of Those Who Gave Their Lives For the Gospel” on Palm Sunday, March 20, at 7:15 p.m. at St. Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami St., with Msgr. Michael Heintz as presider.

This memorial prayer remembers the faithful of all Christian traditions of the 20^th and 21^st centuries who have been given the grace to offer their lives for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The prayer event is co-sponsored by the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations and Catholic Peace Fellowship.

For information contact Richard LaSalvia at [email protected] or Shawn Storer at [email protected].