September 18, 2009
News briefs from the Catholic Church in Indiana
‘We are one body’: Special Religious Development participants enjoy annual retreat
By MARY ANN WYAND
The Criterion
BEECH GROVE — As they carefully mixed and kneaded the bread dough, the Special Religious Development participants and catechists shared stories and laughter on Aug. 29 during the seventh annual archdiocesan SPRED retreat at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Con-ference Center.
Their joy in being together and creating the small loaves of wheat bread was magnified during prayer time on Aug. 30 when they saw their freshly baked bread in a basket next to flowers and a candle on a table in the center of their circle of chairs.
“SPRED is very sensory oriented,” explained Roni Wyld, coordinator of the parish-based religious education program for developmentally disabled adults and children, which is under the direction of the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Edu-cation.
“In our SPRED sessions at the parishes and during our retreat, we always have things that appeal to all of our senses — smell and taste and hearing and sight as well as touch — so making bread is a favorite activity,” Wyld said. “Our friends get really excited because it tastes good, and they’re not sure what to expect after mixing all the ingredients.”
The SPRED program was started by Father James Mc-Carthy in 1960 in the Archdio-cese of Chicago to help Catho-lic adults and children with special needs participate more fully in the sacraments and par-ish life.
The Archdiocese of Indian-apolis began offering the SPRED ministry at parishes in 1998. Participants, who are called friends, receive sacramental pre-paration and enjoy faith-sharing activities.
“SPRED is based on faith-sharing groups,” Wyld said. “In SPRED sessions, catechists read a verse from the Bible to the friends several times then condense it down to a one-line sentence for reflection. What is God trying to tell us? What are we to learn from this reading?”
Indiana Catholic Men’s Conference to feature Scott Hahn
By SEAN GALLAGHER
The Criterion
The fourth annual Indiana Catholic Men’s Conference on Oct. 17 at the Indiana Conven-tion Center in Indianapolis will feature speakers that are known around the world for their dynamic presentations of the faith.
Ken Ogorek, the archdiocesan director of catechesis who spoke at last year’s conference, will be the master of ceremonies this year.
“I have had conversations with dozens of Catholic men who have said this was a powerfully good experience for them,” Ogorek said. “It’s one thing for me to say, ‘Oh, I think people would benefit from this.’
“But when I hear man after man after man saying to me, ‘I went to that conference and it had an impact on me. It caused me to take my faith more seriously . . . ’ that’s a pretty ringing endorsement, a pretty powerful testimony.”
Catholic author, speaker and scholar Scott Hahn will give two presentations to the expected 1,000 men who will attend the conference.
He teaches various Scripture and theology courses at Francis-can University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, and at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa. Hahn is also the founder and president of the Steubenville-based St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.
Franciscan Father Stan Fortu-na will incorporate music into his two talks.
Before becoming an original member of the New York-based Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in 1987, Father Stan, 52, was an accomplished jazz and hip hop guitarist. Since being ordained in 1990, he has continued to use his artistry to proclaim the Gospel in concerts around the world and through several recordings.
Super Bowl champion Chris Godfrey will also speak at the men’s conference. Founder of the South Bend, Ind.-based Life Athletes, Godfrey promotes chastity and the pro-life cause in his many speaking engagements across the country.
For these stories and more news from the Archdiocese of Indianap-olis, log on to the website of The Criterion at www.CriterionOnline.com.