January 8, 2010
People of Faith
Timothy A. “Tad” Dickel
People of Faith is a new feature in a familiar frame. Steve Halbig, writing for the Message, will ask a series of questions of people of the diocese — some who have reached the “age of wisdom” and some who are younger. All will share stories of their faith.
Name: Timothy A. “Tad” Dickel
Parish: St. Anthony Church, Evansville
Number of children, grandchildren: 0
Have you lived in southern Indiana all your life? No. I have mostly been in Evansville since 1998 when I began attending the University of Evansville. I left Evansville in 2002 and taught in Kokomo, Ind., for two years. I have been at Mater Dei High School since 2004.
Tell us a few things about yourself: [Tad Dickel is principal of Mater Dei High School, Evansville.] I was born and raised in Omaha, Neb. Both of my parents are teachers. My mother is a K-8 Catholic school art teacher, and my father is a professor in the education department at Creighton University. I married Andrea Lodato this summer, who is the principal at St. Philip School in Posey County
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I have always had lots of interests. However, I have wanted to be involved with music since about middle school.
Who influenced you growing up? My parents had an extremely positive influence on me while growing up. They instilled good values in me. My father has worked at Creighton University for over 30 years, so I spent time with the Jesuits as a child.
Who do you consider to be the best role models today? I think we have incredible role models in our Catholic schools.
Describe how your faith helped you through a difficult time in your life? My faith has always helped me in difficult times during my life.
Do you have any hobbies? How do you stay active? My main interests revolve around music. I enjoy singing, playing guitar, trumpet and the bagpipes. I direct the choir at Germania Maennerchor and help with the music at St. Anthony’s Praise Mass.
What is your first memory of church? When I was growing up, my parents belonged to a group that had home Masses on Saturday nights. We would gather for Mass and then eat together. There was a true sense of community among those people.
What do you like most about being Catholic? I really appreciate the rich heritage of our faith over the last 2,000 years. The sacraments are very meaningful to me.
Of those things that are possible to change in the Catholic Church, what would you change? I would like to see Catholics become better about welcoming people to our faith.
Do you have a favorite saint? A favorite religious item? My favorite saints are those who found God and turned away from a life of sin. One example is St. Paul who said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Any regrets in life? No.
What is your best wisdom on life? I really like Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem on success. He said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded.”