October 2, 2009
Around the Diocese
Helping homeless children
Catholic youth groups on Evansville’s Westside have put together a plan to help homeless children in Evansville. According to the parish bulletin at St. Agnes, St. Boniface and Sacred Heart churches, “on any given night in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, at least 400 people are homeless and temporarily residing in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs. One-third of the homeless are children.”
“Increasing concern for the lack of services available for homeless children ages 0-5 has led to the development of PlaySpaces in seven local shelters. PlaySpaces allows homeless children to have a safe place to play, use their imagination, and just be who they are — kids.”
The youth groups will be doing several fundraisers to purchase items for the PlaySpaces. On Sunday, Oct. 4, members will be at the three Westside parishes after all Masses to collect items. They will also accept monetary donations.
Their wish list of items includes coloring books and crayons, Playdough, paperback books, board games, dolls and wooden blocks.
Happy Birthday!
Deacon James Woebkenberg, pastoral life coordinator of Mary, Help of Christians Church, Mariah Hill, celebrates his birthday Oct. 7.
Father William Dietsch, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Oct. 9. He resides at 2562 E. County Road 850 S, Fort Branch, IN 47648.
Father Bernard Lutz, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Oct. 9. He is director of the ministry to priests. His address is 5044 E 750 S, Fort Branch, IN 47648.
Benedictine Father Gregory Chamberlin, pastor of St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville, and administrator at Holy Trinity Church, Evansville, celebrates his birthday Oct. 12.
Father James Endress celebrates his birthday Oct. 12. He resides at 600 Cullen Avenue, Apt. 510, Evansville, IN 47715.
Father John Schipp, pastor of Old Cathedral, Vincennes, and sacramental minister and moderator at St. Thomas Church, Vincennes, celebrates his birthday Oct. 12.
Benedictine Father Harold Hammerstein, special assistant at St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville, celebrates his birthday Oct. 13.
Student of the Week
Julia Horton, a parishioner at St. Philip Neri Church, Bicknell, has been named Student of the Week at North Knox East Elementary/Junior High School. She is the daughter of Rob and Tiffany Horton and the granddaughter of Joe and Lea Salter.
Youth Orchestra
Ellen Backer, a student at Holy Family School, Jasper, has been accepted into the Evansville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
Intervention program
Precious Blood principal Joe Brake has informed the Parish Council that $29,000 has been obtained for the school through the Dubois County Community Foundation for an intervention program to identify special needs students in the Jasper school.
Council members
Deacon Ed Wilkerson, pastoral life coordinator, Father Attila Fröhlich, sacramental ministry, Bill Blanke, David Blankenship, Mark Conroy, Mark Davis, Connie Folz, Michelle Fulton, Cathy Kapp, Tim McGuire, Tonya Puckett, Karen Robertson, Ken Smith, Judy VanHoosier, principal, and Melanie Walsh are members of the Parish Council at Good Shepherd Church in Evansville.
Social Outreach
Joe Bolatto is chairperson of the Social Outreach Commission at Holy Rosary Church, Evansville.
Commission members include Mary Ann Nichols, Paula Payne, Joe Payne, Dave Henning, Bran-di Schrader and Angie Fleck.
Happy Birthday!
Theresa Berendes, principal at St. Theresa School, Evansville, celebrates her birthday Oct. 13.
Martin County anniversaries
Congratulations to couples in Martin County parishes who are celebrating October wedding anniversaries.
- St. Mary Church, Shoals: Charles and Freda Stringer, 58 years;
- St. Martin Church, Whit-field: Jim and Phyllis Lannan, 42 years;
- St. John Church, Loogootee: Randle and Mary E. Lankford, 44 years; Jim and Lenora Lar-kin, 56 years; Gary and Carolyn Norris, 45 years; Alonzo and Margaret Bridgewater, 62 years; Michael F. and Frances Jones, 41 years; Jim and Mary Johnson, 51 years;
- St. Joseph Church, Bramble: Jack and Fannie Trout, 62 years; Jerry and Betty Huels-man, 44 years; Mike and Rose Ann Morris, 44 years.
New display board
Ann Gerteisen has spent “countless hours gathering photographs for all the classes of the last 50 years,” according to Judy VanHoosier, principal at Good Shepherd School, Evansville.
All the graduation and First Communion photos from the last 50 years are on the display in the school office foyer area.
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.