October 6, 2021 // Bishop

Around the Diocese: October 10, 2021

Todays Catholic

White Mass to be celebrated Oct. 18

FORT WAYNE — All Catholic medical workers are invited to celebrate a White Mass that will be said by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. 

Following the Mass, the Dr. Jerome Lejeune Catholic Medical Guild of Northeast Indiana will host a banquet at nearby St. Mary, Mother of God Parish. Jason Shanks, president of OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation, will be the special guest speaker. Shanks will share his story of recovery from a nearly fatal case of COVID-19. 

The dinner will begin at 8 p.m. Cost to attend is $15. Reservations are requested. Visit fortwayne.cathmed.org or call 260-222-6978. 

USF receives grant to address violence against women

FORT WAYNE – The Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women awarded a $300,000 grant to the University of Saint Francis to initiate a new program to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

With the grant, USF will create Cougars H.O.P.E. (Healing, Outreach, Prevention and Education). The grant will be awarded over the course of three years.

“I encouraged our Student Affairs division to investigate this grant opportunity because the health and safety of USF students is a top priority,” said USF president Father Eric A. Zimmer. “We are extremely grateful for this grant. Cougars H.O.P.E. will help USF continue to maintain a safe environment, further educate our community on how to prevent these crimes and ensure compassionate assistance for victims if a crime occurs.”

Grant funds will be utilized to build a response infrastructure composed of campus and community resources, coordinated by a dedicated program director. The overarching goal of Cougars H.O.P.E. is to provide prevention/education, bystander intervention training and trauma-informed, comprehensive victim services for the campus community.

The Department of Justice’s letter announcing the awarding of the grant stated the following: Through this initial award, the collaborative partnership will: 1) create a coordinated community response team to oversee all planning and implementation activities; 2) provide prevention programming, including bystander intervention to all students on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking; 3) provide ongoing training to all law enforcement on how to effectively respond to these crimes; 4) provide access to 24-hour confidential victim services and advocacy; and 5) conduct ongoing training to all personnel in the campus disciplinary process. The timing for performance of the award is 36 months.

Joshua Schipper
Walkers participate in the fifth annual Friends of the Poor Walk, which began at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne the afternoon of Oct. 3. The event raised awareness and funding for programs of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne.

Joshua Schipper Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades waves to students before saying a prayer at the annual meeting of the two Fort Wayne Catholic high schools at Shields Field, Bishop Dwenger High School, Oct. 1. During this year’s game Bishop Luers broke a five-year “Battle of the Bishops” losing streak and defeated the Saints 41-38.

(Photo by Bob List)    The World Apostolate of Fatima, Fort Wayne – South Bend division, held its annual holy Mass and breakfast in Fort Wayne Oct. 2. For the first time, WAF sponsored a bus to bring pilgrims from the South Bend area of the diocese to the events. At the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, Deacon Brian Isenbarger led the pilgrims in meditating on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades was the celebrant of the Mass, and following a procession to the Grand Wayne Center Father Wade Menezes, CPM, above, gave a talk on the importance of attaining holiness.