September 20, 2016 // Uncategorized

Around the Diocese: September 25, 2016

Todays Catholic

Presidential Listening Tour: A Foundation for the Future announced 

NOTRE DAME — Saint Mary’s College President Jan Cervelli launched a Presidential Listening Tour: A Foundation for the Future, to gather feedback to inform the college’s strategic plan for the years ahead.

President Cervelli, whose term began on June 1, will hold a series of meetings and attend events throughout the academic year with students, faculty and staff, as well as alumnae, parents, trustees and friends.

Surveys will also be conducted. President Cervelli will develop a summary report next summer, in collaboration with the College’s Office of Institutional Research, based on the data collected and personal input from stakeholders.

“Among the strengths of Saint Mary’s College are the institutional memory and the innovative spirit of people striving to sustain and enhance what has been built here,” President Cervelli said. “I want to hear your ideas for the future, your vision for the Saint Mary’s we can build together.”

For  information on Presidential Listening Tour events, and to participate in the survey, visit listening.saintmarys.edu.

Ten 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 10 recipients for the 2016 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 in the United States and abroad. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau to make God known, loved and served through education, parish and mission settings.

Fr. Moreau said, “We do not imagine that those who commit themselves in other ways to the following of Jesus are thereby hindered in their service of neighbor. On the contrary, we find in them willing and complementary partners in shared mission. We want our vows, faithfully lived, to be witness and call to them as their commitments, faithfully lived, are witness and call to us.” (Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, 5:44)

The recipients include:

Wayne and Diane Murdy, donors of the new organ in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart;

Jim Kavanagh, Corby Hall administrator, University of Notre Dame;

Diane Welihan, administrator at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame

Enedina Cruz, housekeeping supervisor for all of Holy Cross local houses, Notre Dame;

Suzanne Wiwi, retiring principal of St. Joseph Grade School, South Bend.

Sister Romona Nowak marks 50-year jubilee

ADRIAN, MICH. — Adrian Dominican Sisters from throughout the United States came home to their motherhouse for a special week this summer to mark their jubilees, their years of service and dedication to the Church and the congregation. The 2016 Jubilee Class includes nine sisters serving 75 years, 22 celebrating 70 years, 41 celebrating 60 years, 16 celebrating 50 years and one celebrating 25 years.

Among the Adrian Dominican jubilarians with connections to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is Sister Romona Nowak, celebrating 50 years in religious life. She was formerly known as Sister Jane Lucian, and served for four years as hospital chaplain in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. She entered the Adrian Dominican Congregation in August 1965, professed first vows in August 1967 and professed her final (perpetual) vows in May, 1974.

Sister Romona’s earliest assignments took her to Illinois and California as teacher and parish religious education director. In 1987, she earned her clinical pastoral education at Mercy Hospital in Chicago and changed the focus of her service to pastoral ministry. After nine years in California and Michigan she came to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, serving as coordinator of pastoral care for the Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters in Huntington from 1996 to 1999 and as resident chaplain at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne. Since then, she has served as hospital chaplain and as parish pastoral associate in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Now ministering as chaplain at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, she recently earned her certification in palliative care and hospice through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.

Remembrance of the unborn planned

FORT WAYNE — An Hour of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will take place Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Allen County Right to Life parking lot, 2126 Inwood Dr.

Special guests will include Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Dr. Peter Scaer, Pastor Wendell Brane and Pastor Shawn Meyer.

Visit www.ichooselife.org for details.

Correction

In the Sept. 18 issue of Today’s Catholic, the article titled “MedCon keynote speaker to discuss reproductive and women’s health” contained an error. “Evangelium Vitae” is the encyclical written by St. Pope John Paul II that detailed the dignity of life from conception to natural death. We regret the error.