November 13, 2009

Worth Mentioning

Donors needed

Catholic Charities Christmas Giving is an adopt-a-family program that helps families with children provide gifts for Christmas. Families in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties are carefully screened by local agencies to assure that the family has financial need and is not enrolled in another program.

This year is especially hard — not only for our adopted families, but for donors as well, according to Terri Lautner-Uebelhor, who heads the project at Catholic Charities.

“We currently have 19 families that still need to be adopted. All of these families are small, between two and five members. Please consider adopting a family this Christmas. You can adopt as a family project, or go in with another family, your church group, social group or friends at work.”

For details about how to adopt a family, call Catholic Charities at (812) 423-5456.

“Nothing expresses the joy of the Christmas Spirit like helping out a family in need!” Ue-belhor said.

Ferdinand monastery receives Benedictine oblates and candidates

During a ceremony at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand Oct. 18, the Sisters of St. Benedict received two persons as Oblates of St. Benedict and enrolled four others as Oblate candidates. Benedictine Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau, prioress, officiated.

Making their commitment as Benedictine Oblates after completing a year of candidacy were Carolyn and Gary Adler, members of St. Anthony Church in Evansville.

Enrolled as oblate candidates were Victor and Linda Begle from St. Henry Church, St. Henry, and Charles and Judy Luebbehusen from St. Ferdinand Church, Ferdinand.

Pauletta (Adler) Jeter from Friendswood, Texas, was also enrolled as a candidate in a private ceremony at the monastery Oct. 12.

During their year of preparation for becoming professed oblates, these candidates, supported by their sister companions, will study Scripture, the Rule of St. Benedict, and Benedictine spirituality and its relevance in today’s world. Personal prayer, spiritual reading, and participation in oblate meetings will also be a part of their preparation.

Oblates of St. Benedict are men and women from all walks of life who associate with a Benedictine community to enrich their own spiritual lives, using the Rule of Benedict as a guide.

Persons interested in learning more about the Benedictine Oblate program are invited to visit the Sisters of St. Benedict web site at www.thedome.org/oblates or call (812) 367-1411 to talk with one of the sisters on the Oblate Leadership Team: Sisters Kathy Bilskie, Wilma Davis, Mary Victor Kercher or Barbara Ann Offerman.

Ready for Lent?

Operation Rice Bowl Lenten materials are available, free, to assist in the Lenten traditions of prayer, fasting, learning and giving.

Materials include cardboard rice bowls, educator’s guides, posters, display units and a CD-ROM with multi-media resources.

Visit www.orb.crs.org.

50 ways census data are used

Information from the U.S. Census Bureau notes that “decision making at all levels of government,” “planning for public transportation services,” and “determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans” are among the 50 ways Census data are used.