September 3, 2010
St. John the Apostle to host annual Unity Mass
The seventeenth annual Unity Mass will be hosted by St. John the Apostle Church on behalf of the Diocese of Evansville on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.
The theme of the celebration, open to the entire Evansville community, is “We Are One.”
It promises to be an opportunity to celebrate our unity and to celebrate our diversity as one of God’s precious gifts to humanity, according to Blessed Sacrament Sister Jane Nesmith, parish life coordinator at St. John,
In addition to representation from the African American community, the Latino, German and Irish communities in Evansville will be participating.
Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger will be the main celebrant. A reception will follow the Mass. Guests are invited to wear ethnic attire, and to bring a covered dish for the reception if they wish.
Father John Judie, a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville and an internationally prominent preacher, will be the homilist. Father Judie was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 1, 1987, and is currently pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and Christ the King Church in Louisville.
Father Judie has been studying scripture and preaching since 1979, at various types of worship services in churches of different denominations in the United States, Mexico, Europe and East Africa.
Father Judie is also an accomplished musician and a consultant in the development of “Lead Me, Guide Me,” the first African American Catholic Hymnal ever produced. Since September 1998, he has been featured regularly on Radio Icengelo, the Catholic Evangelization Radio Station in Ndola Diocese, Zambia.
The book, “Priests are People, Too,” from Thomas More Publications, features a lengthy profile of Father John Judie.