August 9, 2010
Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Begin reading, or choose a diocese: Fort Wayne-South Bend | Gary | Indianapolis | Lafayette
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
No briefs available this week
(For news from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, log on to the website of Today’s Catholic at www.todayscatholicnews.org)
Diocese of Gary
CYX 2010: 'Bloom where you're planted'
Story by Steve Euvino
VALPARAISO—Teens learned when their bishop first thought about becoming a priest, about his love for skiing, and that he once dreamed of working with wild animals. In turn, the bishop learned of young people’s love for the community aspect of religion. During Catholic Youth Xperience July 24-25 at Valparaiso University, incoming high school seniors participated in an open forum with Bishop Dale J. Melczek and two other clergy, Father Thomas Tibbs and Deacon Ted Mauch. Teens had prepared questions for the three men, after which Bishop Melczek posed some questions to the 33 teens gathered at VU’s Harre Union building.
The bishop also provided the teens with some advice.
“Bloom where you’re planted,” the bishop said. “Wherever you’re at, make the most of it. You’re all called to something. Enjoy it. God intends for us to enjoy this journey. Enjoy what you’re called to do, because God wants you to.”
The bishop noted that his priestly vocation was nurtured in the seventh grade, when he entered a Catholic school.
He cited the influence of the parish priests and nun-teachers. Father Tibbs, who went to different churches but whose life was rooted in Catholicism, said his vocation started around eighth grade. Deacon Mauch, who attended Catholic school through primary grades and whose mother is a Catholic educator, said he “always talked about it since first grade.” Did the three men have any doubts about their vocation decision? “I never had any,” the bishop responded. Father Tibbs added that his only doubts came during his early years in the priesthood.
When asked what they would be if not a priest, all three mentioned three distinctly different vocations. Bishop Melczek said that, as a lover of wild animals in his youth, the bishop considered a life in a zoo or circus, later moving to doctor. Father Tibbs, who minored in science in college, thought about becoming a surgeon. Deacon Mauch, skilled in computers, said he could have been a computer technician or engineer.
As to what sustains him in his priesthood, Bishop Melczek cited the “pillars” of daily prayer, the various ministries within the diocese, and friendships. Father Tibbs also pointed to prayer, including praying with other people. These include people who come before Mass to pray — a “humbling, supportive feeling,” he said. Deacon Mauch also noted daily prayer, along with visiting the sick and aged.
The bishop noted, “In God’s plan, we need each other. … We become like those with whom we associate.”
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Gary, log on to the website of the Northwest Indiana Catholic at www.nwicatholic.com)
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Hard lessons learned during the Depression aid priest in ministry for the past 70 years
By Sean Gallagher
HAUBSTADT—Father Hilary Meny entered Saint Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad just weeks before the stock market crash of 1929.
During the Great Depression that followed, he learned many hard lessons about faithfulness, perseverance, stewardship and flexibility.
These and many other qualities define the life and ministry of Father Meny, only the second priest in the history of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to mark 70 years as a priest.
Ordained in 1940, Father Meny, now 95, has lived for the last two decades around the block from the home in which he was born in 1915 and where he learned those lessons so long ago.
He moved there after he retired from active ministry in 1990. For some four decades before that, he had served as the pastor of the former St. Patrick Parish in Madison.
Faithfulness. Perseverance.
But during those years in ministry along the Ohio River, Father Meny was more than simply a pastor.
He personally rewired the parish church and rectory—a skill he had seen his father use when houses were first being wired for electricity in his hometown.
He repainted the parish church on his own, sometimes climbing up a 60-foot extension ladder to do so.
And Father Meny led the effort to establish Father Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School and Pope John XXIII School, both in Madison, and he continues to support them today.
Stewardship. Flexibility.
Saint John’s Bible prints are on display during August
By Mary Ann Wyand
BEECH GROVE—Seventeen magnificent contemporary prints of ornately illustrated manuscript pages from The Saint John’s Bible are on display from Aug. 6-29 at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center.
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery, who operate the retreat ministry at 1402 Southern Ave., invite the public to view this free, one-of-a-kind Scripture exhibit as well as participate in related workshops, lectures and other events that require various fees during August.
This exhibit of framed prints features copies of some of the manuscript pages from the hand-written and hand-illuminated Bible created by Donald Jackson, an internationally renowned Welsh artist, illuminator, calligrapher and longtime scribe to Queen Elizabeth’s crown office in England.
Jackson was commissioned by the Benedictine monks of Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn., in 1998 to create The Saint John’s Bible, which is believed to be the first hand-written and hand-illuminated Bible created since the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440.
Working with his artistic team, Jackson used techniques introduced centuries ago by iconographers to create this modern manuscript from hand-ground inks—colors sometimes made from egg yolks or highlighted by gold, silver and platinum—for the illuminations and calligraphy drawn with goose quills on calf-skin vellum.
Prints made of the original and extremely valuable Bible manuscript pages have been framed for display and published in books that are available for sale at the exhibit.
The Saint John’s Bible exhibit is open during August on Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. as well as on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Benedict Inn.
Jackson’s work has been described in publicity materials as “a monumental achievement and historic undertaking” of “a major artistic, cultural and spiritual endeavor,” and “a once-in-a-millennium project.”
“It means a lot to [the sisters] to host this exhibit because it is inherent in our tradition,” said Benedictine Sister Carol Falkner, administrator of the Benedict Inn. “We came from the tradition of the scribes, and the Benedictine monks would have been the ones that kept alive many of the manuscripts in the ancient times.
(For these stories and more news from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, log on to the website of The Criterion at www.CriterionOnline.com)
Diocese of Lafayette
'Prayers were answered' by volunteer effort
By Julie Young
INDIANAPOLIS — Maria Dominguez wept during Mass in her small Indianapolis home on July 21, surrounded by volunteers from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Carmel, and others who helped to rehab her residence and make it safer for her and her seven children.
“It’s been such a blessing,” she said, wiping her eyes as she reflected after Communion.
Her story is an exercise in faith. She was unexpectedly left caring for the family when her husband was deported for physical and mental abuse.
Dominguez has been working at a Mexican restaurant to support herself and her children, who range in age from 2 to 12. She attends Holy Spirit Catholic Church on the east side of Indianapolis.
After Dominguez fell behind on mortgage payments on a dilapidated house, a case worker at Harrison Hill Elementary School passed the family’s name on to someone who wanted to help during the holiday season.
Eventually others learned of Dominguez’s plight and offered to help. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parishioners began doing small handyman jobs, but when they realized that extensive work was needed, they “adopted” the family and began their own version of “Extreme Home Makeover.”
For three days in July, Dominguez and her children moved in with her aunt while the crew got to work.
“We could have focused on the aesthetics of the house, but it was more important to focus on the structural issues,” parishioner Jayne Slaton said. There were cracks in the foundation, plus plumbing and electrical problems.
In addition, broken windows were boarded up. The back porch was gone, so the back door was screwed shut to keep the children from falling 8 feet onto concrete and rubble. There also was plenty of painting to be done.
“We completely tore out the bathroom and replaced it,” volunteer Jerry Newkirk said.
About $20,000 was raised in materials and more than 100 volunteers — including 60 from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish — helped. Twenty students from the parish gave up part of their summer vacation to assist the Dominguez family.
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org)