April 28, 2010 // Local

Honoring priest, sister jubilarians and future priests

Todays Catholic

Today’s Catholic Editorial

It was a day to give thanks to God at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, last Sunday. Our own Bishop-emeritus John M. D’Arcy, ordained two brothers to the transitional diaconate. In a year, these two brothers will be ordained to the priesthood, God willing.

Although the diocese has sets of brother priests, Deacons Matthew and Terrence, Jr., Coonan will be the first brothers ordained to the priesthood in contemporary times — the new springtime of the Church.

In just a matter of weeks, another deacon, Andrew Budzinski, will be ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
There are currently 17 seminarians. But more could be coming. Please continue your prayers for vocations.

This leads to another question. How many young people, and perhaps even adults, in the pews could be called to religious life? The religious life is a life of service, pouring out one’s life for the people of God.

Both Deacon Matthew and Deacon Terrence said in their talks at end of the ordination Mass that the day was not about them … it was about serving the people of the Church. That is the reason for the celebration. Bishop D’Arcy related, “This is the day the Lord has made,” in his homily. The day belonged to God.

People of St. Vincent Parish, where the Coonans grew up, filled the St. Turibius Chapel at Pontifical College Josephinum. They joined the seminarians at the college. Sisters from the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration also offered their support. It was a glorious day filled with the regality of the Pontifical College Josephinum choir.

Family was a major influence on the Coonan brothers’ vocational journey. But they also credited their parish and their education for helping them hear the call. They also mentioned their own “St. John Vianney” influences such as Msgr. John Kuzmich, Father Mark Gurtner, Father Gary Sigler and Father Jake Runyon, who was ordained to the priesthood just last fall. They all played a role in the investiture of the stole and dalmatic, the outer garment a deacon wears.

The gentle rolling thunder outside the chapel during the Ordination to the Order of Deacon added to the ambience of the joy of the day. God has blessed His people.

Let us offer thanks to our jubilarians
In this issue of Today’s Catholic, we honor diocesan priests who are celebrating 25th, 40th and 50th anniversaries this year. We thank them for their ministry to the Church.
Their paths from the priesthood are often similar to the paths we walk. They come from families who love and practice the faith. They have parents committed to raising their children in the Catholic faith. They are often influenced by their own “St. John Vianney” model priests.

As the Year for Priests draws to its final weeks, we can thank God for the Priesthood. Through the Priesthood we are brought closer to Jesus in the Eucharist. Christ’s beautiful gift of Himself to us should motivate us to become Christ’s hands and feet in the world.

Also, in this week’s issue, we begin to honor the sisters who minister in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. We also thank them for their ministry. Throughout the spring and summer issues, we will share with our readers the ministries of our jubilarian religious sisters, brothers and priests who serve in the diocese.

Graduation is just around the corner
At Today’s Catholic, we are preparing for our graduation issue. Last year, Today’s Catholic featured our Catholic high school valedictorian and salutatorians, but we also featured the Catholic students who acheived either valedictorian or salutatorian in the public schools.

Today’s Catholic has a form to be filled out and returned by May 10 from a Catholic valedictorian or salutatorian at any area high school. Please contact the editor at [email protected] to receive the form.

The graduates will be featured in the May 23 issue.