November 20, 2009
Gratitude and hope: A report from the Guadalupe Center
By SISTER KAREN DURLIAT (Director, Guadalupe Center)
During my Benedictine renewal program in Rome, I was in St. Peter’s Square on June 19 when “The Year for Priests” was officially opened. Surrounded by priests from seemingly all over the world, I paused a moment to remember with gratitude the lives of priests who have touched my life, and in a particular way, one who has touched not only my life, but the lives of Hispanics living in southern Indiana.
Father Gene Heerdink is a pioneer of Hispanic Ministry in the Evansville Diocese. He spent 10 years in South America, in Peru, Ecuador and Columbia working in parishes. When he came back to the States, he asked to be able to use his experience and his newly acquired language in a parish with Spanish-speakers. He became pastor of St. Joseph, Dale, where the Hispanic community helped him to continue to learn language and culture, this time with mostly Spanish-speakers of Mexican descent. In 1999, along with Benedictine Sister Mary Victor Kercher, he began ministering in the new Office of Spanish-Speaking Ministry, el Centro Hispano. The center changed its name to the Guadalupe Center in 2001.
Father Gene is known for his gentle presence and mischievous smile. He continues to serve today as sacramental minister to Hispanics. He presides each Sunday at Masses in Dale, Washington and Jasper. When speaking of him, many Hispanics refer to him as their “Angel” or their “Father.”
Padre Gene is like an “Angel” who always guides us; I know that God sent him to look after us. He has made the effort to help all Hispanics in this region. Padre Gene is a blessing for us; he opened the way for us to pray to our God in our language. Although Father Gene was sick, he always made the effort to be among us. He was a founder of Centro Hispano, a place where we feel at home.
— Mirna Dubón, HuntingburgWhen we came to Dale, Padre Gene came to our house and the first thing he did was take a bag full of food to us. He was the person who helped us enroll our children in school and also he found other people to help us. . . . My family could never pay for what Father Gene did and does for us. I see him like my Father in USA.
— Amelia Marmolejo, Dale
In the past year with your help, we at the Guadalupe Center have accompanied Hispanic immigrants in many ways.
- We continue to offer Liturgies and sacramental preparation in Spanish.
- We are close to breaking our record of 78 baptisms set in 2005; thus far in 2009 we’ve had 72 baptisms of children with parents who were born in El Salvador, Guatemala, Hon-duras, Mexico or the United States.
- Benedictine Sister Joan Scheller has joined our staff to expand our faith formation and immigration services.
- This year we formed a new Advisory Board with representatives from the five parishes where there are currently Spanish Masses in the diocese to help us to meet the needs of Hispan-ics throughout the Evansville diocese.
- This year we partnered with Youth First to offer their Strengthening Families program to families with children from ages 10-14. Sixteen families have graduated from the program.
- We joined with the Salem United Church of Christ to offer a “Spirit of Fitness” program that encouraged healthy eating, exercise and spiritual practices.
- We partnered with Memorial Hospital’s Parish Nurse Pro-gram to offer “A Heart Healthy Way to Joyous Living.”
- Through the Greater Evansville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Memorial Hos-pital, we are able to offer vouchers for mammograms and have cancer education activities.
- Like many of their English-speaking counterparts, Spanish-speaking adults are participating in the “Why Catholic?” program to learn more about their faith. In Washington, we offer cultural integration activities.
- English-speakers and Spanish-speakers are gathering together to teach their language and learn a new one, and sometimes to cook and share a meal. To-gether they have learned new languages, cultures, foods, and they have made new friends.
- We continue to offer other services such as English classes, life skill classes, translation, transportation, and health services.
With your partnership in our ministry, for 10 years we have been a place of welcome where Our Lady of Guadalupe’s love and compassion are shared and immigrants can find a home. Under her patronage, we pray that her wishes will be realized and that we may create a church where all are welcome.
¡Muchas gracias y qué Dios les bendiga! Many thanks and may God bless you and your family.