November 5, 2010
Putting Strategic Planning into context
The First Fifty Years: Part VII — New Horizons: 1975-1979
Editor’s note: This article is the tenth in a series examining the Catholic Church in southwestern Indiana and its leadership and also the trends in the church and in the larger society. (Download this story as a PDF | See other articles in the series)
From The First Fifty Years By Msgr. Clinton Hirsch
As the middle seventies began, the parishes of Washington were launching an all-out community campaign for the support of their Catholic schools. Their efforts were successful and rewarding. Meanwhile, St. Bernard Church in Rockport observed its 125th anniversary. Centennials were celebrated at St. Martin, Whitfield; at St. Joseph in Martin County, and at the Monastery of St. Clare in Evansville. The renovated parish churches of St. Ferdinand, St. John in Loogootee, and St. Peter in Montgomery, were dedicated.
In observance of the Holy Year (1975), the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Roberts Stadium in Evansville was staged. Bishop James Malone of Youngstown, Ohio, was the principal speaker. The official tally shows that 8,000 came by bus, car and on foot from every segment and parish of the diocese to participate in this display of unity and dedication to the cause of Christ, for peace and reconciliation. In the same year, a Family Life Director was appointed, to be followed in the ensuing months by the appointment of the Director of Pro-Life; likewise Directors of Ecumenism, Project Human Equality, and Youth. The new building at St. Vincent Day Care Center was nearing completion.
Parishes and institutions of the diocese participated in the statewide project of the Indiana Catholic Conference, “Speak Up — I’m Listening.” This was an endeavor to give Catholics throughout the state an opportunity to voice their opinions and indicate priorities for the Church in Indiana. Likewise, the diocese was a participant in the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia, and in the U.S. Bishops’ Conference on “Liberty and Justice for All,” held in Detroit. The Bi-Centennial Anniversary of American Independence (1776-1976) was celebrated at the Old Cathedral in Vincennes. John Cardinal Deardon of Detroit was the principal speaker.
After six years of struggling existence, the Diocesan Council's operation was suspended, chiefly because of its cumbersome structure and process.
At St. Joseph Church, Jasper, the Parish Center was dedicated, as was the new church of Holy Rosary and the renovated church of Christ the King, both in Evansville.
Toward the end of this period a number of historical observances were held: The Sisters of St. Francis marked 100 years of teaching at St. Wendel, as did the Benedictine Sisters at St. Bernard parish in Rockport; while in Jasper, the Little Company of Mary observed its centenary. And the parishes of St. Benedict and Sacred Heart, both in Evansville, were 50 years old.
The building that formerly housed Magister Noster Latin School was converted into a consolidated diocesan office complex called The Catholic Center. This renovated complex, dedicated in the spring of 1977, was geared to provide facilities for diocesan meetings, and educational programs and projects, along with space for the Book Shop, the diocesan owned religious goods outlet. The adjoining Sarto Retreat House continues to function as a part of this complex.
In 1977, a Department of Justice and Peace was formed in the diocese, and as planned, it served also as the channel of communication with the Indiana Catholic Conference. In the same year, the Program of Stewardship was inaugurated and was scored a success, and the first Permanent Deacons were ordained.
The year 1978 witnessed the establishment of Kordes Enrichment Center at Ferdinand. In November, Bishop Francis R. Shea made his ad limina visit to Rome, reporting on the condition of the Evansville Diocese.
In February 1979, a Bi-Centennial Mass was celebrated at the Old Cathedral, as Vincennes (Fort Sackville) observed the liberation victory of George Rogers Clark. Also to further commemorate this victory (the Conquest of the Northwest Territory in the Revolutionary War, and the 200th Birthday of Bishop Simon Bruté ), John Cardinal Cody of Chicago was the main celebrant at an out-of-doors Mass, in June, at the Old Cathedral French and Indian Cemetery grounds.
In the waning months of 1979, completion was near at hand on the new Church of Holy Family, Jasper.
In early October of 1979 the Diocese of Evansville officially greeted and welcomed Pope John Paul II in Chicago. The diocese was well represented for that celebration by a caravan of 25 buses, carrying more than one thousand of the People of God from all sections of this diocese.
As the seventies drew to a close, the number of young people receiving Catholic instruction and training was 17,421, 7,632 attending Catholic schools, while 9,789 were enrolled in CCD classes. The Catechist Program was initiated in 1976, and more than 900 catechists are actively engaged in this work of instruction and formation.
Diocesan Pastoral Council offers ‘service, advice and support’
The diocesan council established by Bishop Paul F. Leibold was too cumbersome for Bishop Francis R. Shea who disbanded the council in 1976.
Following “Synod ’93” Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger established a new diocesan pastoral council, drawing initially on the same group of clergy, religious and lay members of the group that had coordinated the synod.
While there were some uncertainties about the authority of that earlier council, and some hard feelings about its disbanding, the current council has a purpose carefully spelled out.
“In accord with Canons 511 and 512, the Diocesan Pastoral Council exists as a key, consultative body to the Bishop in order to advise him on pastoral issues, especially in the development of pastoral policy and planning.”
The purpose of the DPC, along with information about its responsibilities, may be found on the diocesan website, www.evdio.org
Some important functions of the Diocesan Pastoral Council are:
- to recommend pastoral priorities
- to initiate discussions regarding pastoral questions pertinent to the diocese
- to make appropriate, practical recommendations for effectiveness of life of the Diocesan Church
- to bring diverse viewpoints to bear on questions or concerns for which the Bishop seeks counsel.
The DPC meets five times a year “in the context of prayer and with deep faith in the presence of God in its midst,” according to the description on the website. “This council gathers around the Bishop to offer him service, advice and support in his role as the Chief Shepherd and administrator of the Church of southwestern Indiana.”
The Diocesan Pastoral Council includes clergy, religious and lay members from the seven deaneries in the diocese, “whose diverse gifts represent the many levels of insight and experience of the Diocesan Church.”
The group is both stable and fresh, with about one-third of the members appointed new each year, two-thirds continuing.
Current members, with terms expiring in 2011, are Julie Ann Walker from the Evansville East Deanery, Robert Covington from the Evansville West Deanery, Jeff Sickman from the Newburgh Deanery, John “Tom” Woods Jr. from the Vincennes Deanery, Deacon David Cook and two religious community members, Sister Sheila Carney, a Daughter of Charity, and Sister Darlene Boyd, a member of the Sisters for Christian Community.
DPC members whose terms expire in 2012 include Tony Fehrenbacher from the Evansville East Deanery, Bob Martin from the Evansville West Deanery, Jeff Mehling from the Jasper Deanery, Therese Meisling from the Newburgh Deanery, Mary May from the Princeton Deanery, Elaine Pepmeier from the Vincennes Deanery and John Helfen from the Washington Deanery.
DPC members whose terms expire in 2013 include Charlotte Wilz from the Washington Deanery, Elaine Schitter from the Jasper Deanery, and Beth An Selby from the Princeton Deanery. Sister Patricia Ann McGuire, a Ferdinand Benedictine, serves as a representative of vowed religious. Father Zach Etienne, pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Evansville, is a representative of the clergy.
Magister Noster (Christ the Teacher)
A statue of Magister Noster, Christ the Teacher, is displayed in the Councils Room at the Catholic Center, Evansville.
The statue formerly stood in the entry area of the building when it served as Magister Noster Latin School from 1963 to 1972. The school was for high school boys considering further seminary studies toward priesthood.
Cast in bronze in Austria, in a small village near Innsbruck, the statue was given as a gift by the priests of the Diocese of Evansville, many of whom prepared for priesthood at the Canisium in Innsbruck.
Father Donald Dilger was the rector of the Latin School. Father Dilger, now retired, continues to write a column in the Message on the weekend Scripture readings.