December 24, 2010

Strategic planning and episcopal expectations top local news

Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger extends a hand to a well-wisher as Father Ken Betz looks on, during a surprise luncheon at the Catholic Center Oct. 20. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang) Click for a larger version.

By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)

The year 2010 was a time of planning and waiting in the Diocese of Evansville.

Strategic planning, initiated by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger two years ago, moved into a new phase in 2010, as two committees were formed to propose the benchmarks by which parishes and schools would evaluate themselves.

The waiting began on Oct. 20, the seventy-fifth birthday of Bishop Gettelfinger. In compliance with Church law, Bishop Gettelfinger sent his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. It is unknown when the pope will appoint a successor.

Strategic Planning

During September of 2010, two committees began meeting in the diocese: one was the Parish Viability Committee and the other was the School Viability Committee.

Each committee was given three objectives:

Determine criteria and methodology that will be used to evaluate the status of individual parishes and schools.
Evaluate responses.
Develop recommendations.

Their timeline extends to late 2011 or early 2012.

Here are some of the things committee members were discussing:

What measurements are necessary to consider the status of a parish or school? Numbers to consider may include membership, mileage and money – not necessarily in that order.
Should a parish be judged by its membership of some hundreds of parishioners or by the percentage of the families within so many miles of a smalltown church who are served by the parish? Or by how many new people join the Church at Easter? By the amount of the Sunday collection? By the number of ministries?
Should a school be judged by numbers of children in classrooms? Ratio of teachers to students? Graduation rates? ISTEP results? Graduates who contribute to their parishes?

Members of the Parish Viability Committee include

Cynthia Bernardin, St. Mary Church, Evansville;
Sue Ellspermann, St. Ferdinand Church, Ferdinand;
J.P. Engelbrecht, Holy Spirit Church, Evansville;
Father Dave Fleck, pastor at St. John and St. Vincent de Paul churches, both in Vincennes;
Patricia Fuhs, St. Peter Church, Montgomery;
Ruth Goepfrich, St. Joseph Church, Jasper;
Alan Hoffman, St. Joseph Church, Jasper;
Lynda Provence, St. John the Baptist Church, Newburgh;
Deacon David Rice, St. John Church, Daylight;
Kristel Riffert, Holy Rosary Church, Evansville;
Paul Weaver, St. Joseph Church, Princeton;
Sam Woehler, St. Philip Church, Posey County.
Diocesan staff member serving on the committee is Tim McGuire, chief operating officer.
Members of the School Viability Committee include
Ron Beckman, Our Lady of Hope Church, Washington;
Timothy “Tad” Dickel, St. Anthony Church, Evansville, and executive director at Mater Dei High School, Evansville;
Tara Eckman, Holy Family Church, Jasper;
Father Bernie Etienne, pastor at Holy Rosary Church, Evansville;
Donna Buehler, Precious Blood Church, Jasper;
David Niehaus, St. Francis Xavier Church, Vincennes;
Joe Ream, St. John the Baptist Church, Newburgh;
Mike Reffett, St. Joseph Church, Vanderburgh County;
Kent Scheller, Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Haubstadt;
Karen Schenk, St. Philip Church, Posey County;
Benedictine Sister Karlene Sensmeier, principal at St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;
Deacon Dave Seibert, St. Theresa Church, Evansville.

Diocesan staff members serving on the committee are Daryl Hagan, superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Tim McGuire, chief operating officer.

Clergy assignments

During the year 2010, Bishop Gettelfinger announced the following assignments for priests in the diocese:

Father John Breidenbach, sacramental minister at St. Theresa Church, Evansville;
Father Zach Etienne, pastor at Good Shepherd Church, Evansville;
Father Chris Forler, associate pastor at Christ the King Church, Evansville;
Father Attila Fröhlich, pastor at St. Peter Celestine Church, Celestine, and St. Raphael Church, Dubois;
Father Thomas Kessler, pastor at St. Matthew Church, Mount Vernon, and Holy Angels Church, New Harmony, continue as pastor at St. Philip Church, Posey County;
Father James Koressel, named temporary administrator at Our Lady of Hope Church in Washington, continue as pastor at St. Peter Church, Montgomery, All Saints Church, Cannelburg, and Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Petersburg;
Father Ron Kreilein, pastor at St. Mary Church, Ireland;
Father David Martin, pastor at St. John Church, Daylight;
Father Ryan Hilderbrand returned in September to Mundelein Seminary to complete his Licentiate in Sacred Theology. In late December, he was named associate pastor of St. John the Baptist and St. Vincent de Paul churches in Vincennes, effective Jan. 5.
Father William Traylor was appointed associate pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh. The announcement was made Dec. 18 and 19, and is effective Jan. 5.
Father Alex Zenthoefer, diocesan director of Vocations, continue as associate pastor at Holy Rosary Church and chaplain at Memorial High School, both in Evansville.
Father Gordon Mann was placed on health leave.
Father Kenneth Steckler was placed on health leave.
Father John Silva was given a leave of absence at his own request for up to three years. He resigned as pastor at St. John Church in Daylight on Aug. 27.

Deacon assignments included the following:

Deacon Joe Stofleth, Holy Angels Church, New Harmony, St. Matthew Church, Mount Vernon, St. Philip Church, Posey County;
Deacon Thomas Evans, continue at St. Matthew Church in Mount Vernon and Holy Angels in New Harmony, and St. Philip Church, Posey County, assistant director of the Permanent Diaconate;
Deacon David Rice, St. John Church, Daylight.

A new church in Boonville

A new church was dedicated for St. Clement Parish in Boonville on Nov. 21.

Statues, Stations of the Cross, stained glass windows, the crucifix and the high altar from the former church building were all used in the new facility.

A church fire in Bramble

A Jan. 28 fire in the 150yearold church at Bramble caused interior and exterior damage, including soot and smoke damage. The fire started in the southeast corner of the building at St. Joseph Church, according to Father Joseph Erbacher, pastor. It was classified as an electrical fire.

The statues, stations of the cross, candle holders and tabernacle were removed from the church as soon as the fire was under control.

Diocesan offices

• Gayle Uebelhor of Evansville was named interim director of Catholic Charities in April. James F. Collins retired as longtime director in May.

Uebelhor was given dual responsibilities, according to Tim McGuire, chief operating officer of the diocese, “to manage the daytoday operations and evaluate the strategic direction of Catholic Charities.”

• Early in the spring, a restructuring plan was announced for the diocesan Catholic Schools Office. It included a diocesan school superintendent, two assistant superintendents and an administrative assistant.

The plan included eliminating the current position of Coordinator of Safety and Security.

Daryl Hagan was appointed Superintendent of Schools on May 6 by Bishop Gettelfinger. Donna Halverson, acting diocesan director of schools, and Michelle Priar, principal at St. James School in Haubstadt, were named assistant superintendents.

• Bishop Gettelfinger appointed Donna Gish as acting director of the Office of Adult Formation. She had served as associate director of the office since September of 1997.

A committee was formed to search for a replacement to lead the office, following the death of the former director Benedictine Sister Geraldine Hedinger.

• George Fleming was named facilities and activities manager for the Catholic Center, Sarto Retreat House, Villa Maria, Rabenwood and the bishop’s house, all in Evansville.

Life issues

• Parishioners from all across the diocese traveled to Washington, D.C., in January to participate in the annual March for Life. Clare Scheller, a student at Mater Dei High School in Evansville, said, “It was a lifechanging experience for me,” noting that she came away from the trip “more firm in my belief that abortion is wrong.”

• Bishop Emeritus John M. D’Arcy of Fort WayneSouth Bend delivered a message on Catholic teaching about life — based on Sacred Scripture, natural law, philosophy, theology and papal teaching — in particular, Evangelium Vitae written by Pope John Paul II during a visit to Evansville on Nov. 4.

Following Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral he spoke to about 120 persons, asking two questions: Why is the Catholic Church prolife? Why is not everyone prolife?

The law of God is written in our hearts, he said, citing the Epistle of Paul to the Romans as the source of this teaching on natural law.

He said the Church has to do more for women who have had an abortion, citing “the long loneliness” and the remorse described by Dorothy Day after she had an abortion.

Bishop D’Arcy said the idea of “freedom to choose” is misused. He quoted Pope John Paul II, speaking in North Carolina: “America, how can you speak of the ‘right to choose’ without speaking of the right to choose wisely?”

How can it be, Bishop D’Arcy asked, that “something once considered a crime in all 50 states is now a right?”

Bishop D’Arcy also spoke about the death penalty, acknowledging that Church teaching allows the state to impose capital punishment, but concluding with Pope John Paul II that the necessity for the death penalty is “very rare, if practically nonexistent.”

• A vigil service for All Nascent Human Life was held Nov. 28 at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville. Bishop Gettelfinger presided at the service.

In the homily he talked about parents awaiting the birth of their child, noting that for every vigil there are ups and downs.

“As we begin this Church year, the Holy Father has asked us to respect life — all life from conception to natural death. On this eve of another Church year, we find the need to respect all life.”

Education

EVANSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BOARDS

Bishop Gettelfinger appointed members of two newly formed school boards in January, completing the first step in a transition to a new governance model calling for individual boards of trustees at Mater Dei and Memorial high schools in Evansville.

As the new boards were being formed for the beginning of the 201011 school year, a new Evansville Catholic High School Coordinating Council was also formed to continue the interparochial relationship of the two schools.

Board members for Memorial include Susan Bell, J.P. Engelbrecht, Sylvia Groves, Joseph Helfrich, Dennis Lamey, Michael Lloyd, Robert Mehringer, Scott Stratman and Christopher Wolking.

Board members for Mater Dei include Judy Blankenberger, Theo Boots, Terrence Clements, Tony Fehrenbacher, Matthew Folz, Daniel Hoefling, Marcia Jochem, Dr. James Macke, Daniel Niemeier and Phillip Stolz.

The boards now have the responsibility of selecting executive directors, principals and business managers for their high schools.

GRADUATION

Threehundred seventyfive seniors received their high school diplomas this year in the four Catholic high schools operated by parishes in the Diocese of Evansville.

ADMINISTRATORS

Timothy “Tad” Dickel, principal at Mater Dei High School, Evansville, since 2007, was named the school’s executive director. Ken Schultheis was named the executive director at Memorial High School in Evansville.

New principals included

Theresa Berendes, Resurrection School, Evansville;
Angie Johnson, St. James School, Haubstadt;
David Memmer, Holy Spirit School, Evansville;
Nancy Mills, St. Theresa School, Evansville;
Sally Sternberg, Holy Family School, Jasper;
Christopher Tanner, Mater Dei High School, Evansville.

Gerry Adams and Jeanne Heltzel were named interim principals at the three Washington Catholic schools for the 20102011 school year.

ENROLLMENT

At the beginning of the 20102011 school year, the enrollment in the 28 Catholic schools was 7,209. This included over 1,160 students in preschool and prekindergarten programs.

Daryl Hagan, superintendent of schools, said, “While the overall school enrollments continue to remain stable, we are experiencing growth in our early childhood programs.”

ACCREDITATION

John Paul the Great High School in Jasper received state accreditation Dec. 1. Graduating students will receive diplomas recognized by Indiana.

In December, the school had 14 students, including five freshmen, seven sophomores and two juniors.

AWARDS

Benedictine Sister Karlene Sensmeier was nominated for the National Catholic Education Association’s distinguished principal award. She is the principal at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville.
The Memorial High School Academic Decathlon team won its fourth straight state championship in February.

Youth and Young Adult

• Nearly 600 young adults and their chaperones attended the 2010 Source and Summit weekend.

The weekend included Sunday Mass with Bishop Gettelfinger, rosaries, Eucharistic adoration, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, talks, music, time for Confession, a Eucharistic prayer service — and games for the young adults.

Eucharistic Adoration has traditionally been a major part of the Source and Summit weekends, This year, the participants were reminded that “we have Adoration to thank God for Mass,” said Gail Shelter, director of the weekend.

There was also ample time for confession, and the response was “overwhelming,” Gail said. A Franciscan friar told her that he had “never seen a response like this one.”

• Sixtyfive young adults from parishes throughout the diocese received the Maria Goretti Youth distinction during ceremonies March 14 at the cathedral. The purpose of the youth distinction is to recognize adolescents for their outstanding contribution to the life, mission and ministry provided to their family, parish, school and community.

Candidates, catechumens

There were 75 catechumens and 123 candidates who completed their initiation process into the Church on Holy Saturday.

Jubilee Celebration

Hundreds of couples — all married 50 years or longer —attended the annual Mass and reception Oct. 3 at Good Shepherd in Evansville. The celebration is sponsored by Catholic Charities.

“Golden Jubilee is a wonderful celebration to recognize the love and loyalty of those couples married 50 years and longer who have strived to remain united with each other in faith and matrimony,” said Emily Snipes, Family Life/Diocesan Respect Life Coordinator.

Bruté Society

The Bruté Society grew by 116 new members in 2010. An induction ceremony was held Oct. 31 at the cathedral.

Awards

• The annual Mother Teresa Christian Service awards were presented in May to parishioners who strive to imitate the example of Mother Teresa by doing small things with great love. The awards were presented at the annual Catholic Charities dinner.

• Father Clement Hut, a retired priest of the diocese, was given the 2010 Volunteer of the Year by the Aging Services of Arizona.

• Carol Ann Gaddis, the DRE at Holy Rosary Church in Evansville, received the St. Catherine of Siena award at the Indiana Conference of Catechetical Leaders.

Haiti

“The stunning news about the devastating earthquake in Haiti is beyond comprehension,” Bishop Gettelfinger said after the Jan. 12 earthquake. He encouraged pastors and PLCs to “offer your parishioners the opportunity to assist with their financial gifts in these hard times.”

Parishes and schools throughout the diocese responded to the crisis with fundraisers and financial gifts.

Marriage Convocation

Nearly 200 attended the “Convocation on Marriage and Family Life” in April. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, who chairs the U.S. bishops ad hoc committee on the defense of marriage, said support and defense of marriage is urgent, noting a 40 percent drop in the number of couples coming to the church for marriage from the mid 1980s to 2004.

Trip to Rome

The Diocesan Choir spent 10 days in Italy during September touring and giving concerts. Jeremy Korba, choir director, said he hoped the trip would “spark the faith” of choir members.

Transitions

NOVITIATE

The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand received Postulant Alexandra Larsen into the novitiate, and Sister Jeana Visel made her perpetual monastic profession.

DEATHS

• Father Firmus Dick, 82, died Jan. 14.

He was a native of Evansville who served as pastor of parishes in Bramble, Ferdinand, Vincennes, Cannelburg, Rockport and Schnellville. He retired in 1998.

He was ordained to the priesthood on April 4, 1954.

• Benedictine Sister Geraldine Hedinger, longtime diocesan director of Adult Formation, died Feb. 2. Bishop Gettelfinger said of her: “she had touched thousands of lives over her most generous and dedicated life of teaching and modeling the spiritual life.”

She worked tirelessly, he said. She was a “multitalented and giant leader in our diocese.”

• Archbishop William D. Borders, who retired in 1989 as the 13th archbishop of Baltimore, died April 19. He was a native of Washington who studied at St. Meinrad College and Seminary.

He is remembered as a man of “deep faith, great humility and great love to God, the church and this archdiocese,” said Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, the current archbishop of Baltimore.

• Father John W. Lefler, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, died July 17; he was 78.

After studies at St. Meinrad Seminary and in Innsbruck, Austria, he was ordained a priest on April 6, 1957. He served in parishes in Evansville, Cannelburg, Corning, Boonville, Petersburg and Chrisney, and is remembered as a priest who cared for his fellow man.

• Benedictine Father Bede Stocker, 94, a native of Evansville and former monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey, died July 13 at Marmion Abbey in Aurora, Ill.

• Benedictine Father Basil Dilger, 74, formerly of Mariah Hill, died Aug. 7 in Guatemala where he had been in missionary work for 44 years. He was a member of Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota.

• Father Sylvester N. “Sy” Loehrlein passed away Oct. 30 at Providence Home in Jasper. He would have observed his 82nd birthday Nov. 7.

He was ordained a priest on March 18, 1956. During his years of active ministry, Father Loehrlein served in parish and school positions in the Diocese of Evansville. He was involved in Cursillo and Charismatic Renewal programs.

ANNIVERSARIES

During the year, the following priests and religious celebrated their anniversaries of ordination and profession of vows.

Diocesan priests with significant anniversaries in 2010 included

Father Adolph Egloff, ordained in 1940;
Msgr. Clinton Hirsch, ordained in 1945;
Father Robert Deig, ordained in 1950;
Father James Endress, ordained in 1960;
Father Kenneth Betz, Father Ralph Schipp and Father William Wargel, ordained in 1965;
Father Jean Vogler, ordained in 1970;
Father Thomas Kessler, Father Michael Madden and Father David Fleck, ordained in 1975;
Father Jack Durchholz, ordained in 1995;
Father Eugene Schmitt, ordained in 2000;
Father John Brosmer and Father Alex Zenthoefer, ordained in 2005.

Father Hilary Meny is a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis who resides in Haubstadt. In 2010, he celebrated his seventieth anniversary as a priest.

SISTERS OF ST. BENEDICT

Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand who celebrated anniversaries of monastic profession during 2010 included

Sister Wilma Davis, Sister Mary George Kissel, Sister Theresita Schenk, 70 years;
Sister Mary Leah Baehl, 60 years;
Sister Shirley Ann Schultheis, Sister Mary Francis Wiliams, Sister Mary Lee Hillenbrand, 50 years;
Sister Louise Laroche, Sister Susan Marie Hooks, 25 years.

SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE

The following Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods with ties to the diocese who celebrated special anniversaries in 2010 included

Sister Mildred Anne Dudine and Sister Mary Terence Haag, 75 years;
Sister Bernice Kuper, Sister Cecilia Ann Miller, Sister Annette Schipp, Sister Marie Agatha Vonderheide, 70 years;
Sister Edna Scheller, Sister Eileen Rose Bonner, Sister Theesa Clare Carr, Sister Jacquelyn Hoffman, Sister Elizabeth Meyer, Sister Joan Zlogar, 60 years;
Sister Rose Ann Eaton, Sister Pauline Brockelsby, Sister Kathleen Desautels, Sister Mary Grace Pesavento, Sister Nancy Reynolds, Sister Barbara Sheehan, 50 years;
Sister Jane Iannaccone, 25 years.

DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY

Eight members of the East Central Province Daughters of Charity celebrated special anniversaries in 2010 including

Sister Mary Lawrence Ryan, 70 years;
Sister Mary Josephine Benoit, Sister Therese Noble, 60 years;
Sister Sharon Hagen, Sister Teresita Heenan, Sister Sharon Richardt, Sister Mary Satala, Sister Louise Busby, 50 years.

FRANCISCAN SISTER

Sister Judith Ann Bell celebrated her golden jubilee as a Franciscan Sister of Mary on June 19.

DEACONS

Deacons in the diocese with special anniversaries included

Ordained in 1985: Deacon Stephen Hall Jr., Deacon Michael Morris, Deacon Ed Wilkerson;

Ordained in 1990: Deacon Thomas Holsworth, Deacon Cyril Will;

Ordained in 2005: Deacon Vincent Bernardin, Deacon William Brandle, Deacon Michael Burns, Deacon David Cook, Deacon Jim Flynn, Deacon Gerald Gagne, Deacon Thomas Goebel, Deacon William Heberling, Deacon Michael Helfter, Deacon Dennis Hilderbrand, Deacon Kenneth Johanning, Deacon Charles Koressel, Deacon Thomas Lehman, Deacon David Mayer, Deacon David Rice, Deacon Earl Ruppel, Deacon Levi Schnellenberger, Deacon David Seibert, Deacon Michael Seibert, Deacon Joe Stofleth, Deacon Michael Waninger, Deacon James Woebkenberg, Deacon Donald Yochum.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Margaret Boarman was named executive director of the Tuition Assistance Fund of Southwester Indiana, a scholarship granting organization.

NAME CHANGE

St. Vincent Day Care Center, now in its ninety-second year of service, received a new name and logo. It is now known as St. Vincent Center for Children and Families.

Daughter of Charity Sister Brenda Fritz, executive director, said the new name and logo reflects children and families as partners in early childhood education.

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