September 25, 2009
Catechists recognized for service, completion of programs
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Last Sunday was a day to recognize catechists throughout the Diocese of Evansville. There was a special ceremony at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville to celebrate those who have given 25, 30 and 40 years of service to the diocese, and to acknowledge those who have completed ecclesial lay ministry programs and catechetical formation programs.
When Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger addressed the group, he asked them to “look at what brought you here today,” adding, “you answered the call.” In their ministries, “there will be moments of frustration,” he said, “but you are called to persevere and be a sign of hope.”
The following were recognized for years of service in pastoral ministry or catechetical ministry:
40 years of service
- Benedictine Sister Jolinda Naas, Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand
30 years of service
- Cindy Schaefer, Holy Rosary Church, Evansville
- Sarah Zoglman, Holy Family Church, Jasper
25 years of service
- Denise Miller, Holy Family Church, Jasper
- Jim Scheller, St. Joseph Church, Vanderburgh County
The following were recognized for completion of Ecclesial lay ministry programs or catechetical formation programs:
Certificate for completion of Indiana Catechetical Leadership Institute Catholic Spirituality for Lay Ministry Earthen Vessels Wealth Untold
- Iona Boone, Adult Faith Formation Leader, St. Mary Church, Sullivan;
- Kathryn Curtis, DRE, Corpus Christi Church, Evansville;
- Vickie Davis, RCIA Team, St. Bernard Church, Rockport;
- Becky EppersonSiewers, youth minister, St. John Bosco, Jasper;
- Daughter of Charity Sister Sharon Haskins, pastoral associate, Nativity Church, Evansville;
- Ellen Hedges, RCIA Team, Nativity Church, Evansville;
- Bernadette Heeke, DRE, RCIA coordinator, Precious Blood Church, Jasper
- Teresa Hopf, retired, former DRE, St. Raphael Church, Dubois;
- Sheila Hurst, DRE, St. Ferdinand Church, Ferdinand;
- Janie Kempf, coordinator religious education, St. Anthony Church, St. Anthony;
- Saundra Morris, theology teacher, Memorial High School, Evansville;
- Beth Reed, St. Mary Church, Sullivan;
- Dottie Schnapf, Nativity Church, Evansville;
- Connie Schnapf, DRE, St. John the Baptist Church, Newburgh;
- Velmarie Sitzman, Nativity Church, Evansville;
- Jack Tuinier, Holy Family Church, Jasper;
- Susan Williams, DRE, St. Joseph Church, Princeton, and Blessed Sacrament Church, Oakland City;
- Benedictine Sister Leta Zeller, DRE, pastoral associate, St. Francis Xavier Church, Poseyville, and St. Wendel Church, St. Wendel.
Completion of Spiritual Direction Internship
- Steve Barron, prison ministry at Wabash Correctional Facility;
- Little Company of Mary Sister Renee Cunningham, hospice nurse, Memorial Hospital, Jasper
- Sister of Providence Carole Ann Fedders, minister of care Providence Health Care, St. Mary-of-the-Woods;
- Jo Ann Hurst, graduate student in Pastoral Ministry, University of Dallas, Prince of Peace Church, Taylor, S.C.
- Mary Ann Hughes, staff writer for the Message, Catholic Diocese of Evansville;
- Michelle Kerstiens, St. Joseph Church, Jasper;
- Sister of Providence Gloria Memering, music ministry, Precious Blood Church, Jasper;
- Benedictine Sister Jenny Miller, chaplain, Visiting Nurses Association Hospice;
- Benedictine Sister Rose Wildeman, director of postulants and novices, Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand;
- Marie Williams, Director of Education, Diocese of Lafayette, Ind.
Completion of Master Degree in Church Ministry in the Institute of Pastoral Ministry, at St. Mary’s, University of Minnesota
- Carol Ann Gaddis, DRE, Holy Rosary Church, Evansville
Completion of Bachelors Degree in Humanities with emphasis in Theology/Spiritual Direction from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College
- Bernadette Heeke, DRE, RCIA coordinator, Precious Blood Church, Jasper
Certificate for Completion of Interdiocesan Core Curriculum Foundational
- David Brenner, Boy Scouts Buffalo Trace training chairman, St. James Church, Haubstadt;
- Richard Coleman, RCIA Team, St. Joseph Church, Princeton;
- Roxann Coleman, RCIA Team, St. Joseph Church, Princeton.