February 27, 2009
Around the Diocese
A spiritual stimulus package
“There has been much talk about an economic stimulus package from Washington, D.C.,” writes Father Jason Gries in the St. Philip Neri Church bulletin.
“As much as we may need an economic stimulus though, I think that we need a spiritual stimulus even more. Lucky for us that the Church is rolling out its spiritual stimulus package.” They’re calling it Lent.
“They’ve got provisions for prayer, fasting and alms giving. When the stimulus checks were sent last year, I’m sure that many of us planned out exactly what we were going to do with the money.
“Let us plan now for how we will spend our praying, fasting and giving charitably to others. Let’s not let this spiritual stimulus package get bogged down by the partisan spirit within us saying that we don’t need this, or that it won’t work. Let us truly take full advantage and stimulate something more important than our pocketbook — our soul.”
Happy Birthday!
Father August Busch of Evansville, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday March 4. He resides at 5221 New Harmony Rd., Evansville, IN 47720.
Deacon Dick Grannan, pastoral life coordinator at St. Jo-seph Church, Evansville, celebrates his birthday March 8.
Deacon Michael Burns of St. Matthew Church, Mount Vern-on, and Holy Angels Church, New Harmony, celebrates his birthday March 10.
Via e-mail
Rosie Reising, the parish secretary at St. Agnes, St. Boniface and Sacred Heart parishes, all in Evansville, has been sending the “Westside Catholic Churches” Sunday bulletin via e-mail since the beginning of the year.
“Each week, over 100 parishioners receive a copy of the bulletin in a .pdf format. It was a ‘blessing’ when the ice storm hit. I received many ‘thank yous’ because people were unable to make it to church but they still were able to receive their church news.”
Youth choir
Kathy Kluesner and Phil Schultheis are co-directors of the Youth Choir at St. Raphael Church, Dubois. The choir has 25 members and sings every Sunday.
Gold division
Brittany Craney, Eric Edwards, Hannah Emmons, Twyla Graber, Destiny Kidwell, Jacob O’Brian, Chelsea Smith and Natalie Walker each re-ceived a gold division rating for their piano solos at the Indiana State School Music Association solo and ensemble contest.
“All of these pianists have shared their musical talents by playing the organ during Mass at St. Peter Church,” according to the Montgomery parish bulletin. “They are the piano students of Angie Traylor.”
Please send information for AROUND THE DIOCESE to Mary Ann Hughes, The Message, P.O. Box 4169, Evansville, IN 47724. The e-mail address is mhughes@evansville-diocese.org.