October 21, 2011
Bishop Thompson will induct new Bruté members Oct. 30
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Bishop Charles C. Thompson will induct 121 Bruté Society members during Mass on Sunday, Oct. 30, at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville. The Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m., and a reception will follow.
The bishop will be main celebrant at the Mass.
Matt Miller, the diocesan director of Worship, explains that “the purpose of the Bruté Society is to acknowledge and give thanks for exemplary Christian stewardship demonstrated by individual members of the Diocese of Evansville. (Related story: Diaz family continues family traditions in southern Indiana)
“By doing this in a public and formal way, we hope to promote an ever-deepening commitment to stewardship as the way of life for all Catholics of southwestern Indiana. In addition, the witness of stewardship shown by the members of The Bruté Society may serve to inspire others to give of themselves in living out their baptismal call.”
Miller recalled the story of Bishop Simon Bruté who was named the first Bishop of Vincennes in 1834. “One snowy winter night, while Bishop Bruté was in Vincennes, he was called to visit a dying man several miles outside of town.
“As the snow fell and became deeper and deeper, Bishop Bruté’s guide asked to stop and go back because his feet were freezing. Bishop Bruté stopped the rosary he was praying as he walked and said to the guide, ‘Walk in my footsteps.’ The guide did as the bishop requested, and they both safely arrived at their destination.”
Miller said, “Those who have been nominated for the Bruté Society do what they do not out of a need for recognition or praise, but rather out of their own need and call to serve God by following the example of Christ and the footsteps of the holy men and women who have gone before us like the Servant of God Bishop Bruté.
“That is what makes this event so special – humble people doing what they are supposed to be doing. The diocese is made better by their presence and their service.”
The 2011 inductees
- Kenny and Debbie Allen, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt
- Steven and Diane Babcock, St. Boniface, Evansville
- Dr. Baer Baer, Holy Trinity, Evansville
- Mary Beckman, St. Joseph, Jasper
- John and Kathleen Brendel, Resurrection, Evansville
- Mark and Kathy Brinkman, St. Anthony, St. Anthony
- Kenneth and Mary Kay Brothers, St. Thomas, Vincennes
- Robert Brown, St. John, Newburgh
- Liseta Buechler, Precious Blood, Jasper
- Juanita Byers, St. Theresa, Evansville
- Chris and Carolyn Campbell, St. Francis Xavier, Poseyville
- Margaret Clauss, Our Lady of Hope, Washington
- Clementino and Oliva Diaz, Nativity, Evansville
- Herb and Sandy Dilger, St. Joseph, Dale
- Dot Doyle, Our Lady of Hope, Washington
- Scott Eckerle, St. Joseph, Jasper
- Bob and Kathy Eckert, St. Joseph, Princeton
- Bernie Ferguson, St. Agnes, Evansville
- Mary Fuzesi, St. Joan of Arc, Jasonville
- Brian and Tina Gehlhausen, St. Nicholas, Santa Claus
- Pam Grindstaff, St. Mary, Sullivan
- Ruth Ann Guthery, Holy Family, Jasper
- Evangeline Herr, St. John, Newburgh
- James and Mary Hirsch, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight
- Mark and Edith Hoehn, St. Matthew, Mount Vernon
- Alan and Dana Hoffman, St. Joseph, Jasper
- Virlee Huffman, St. John Chrysostom, New Boston
- Harold and Eileen Hupfer, Holy Redeemer, Evansville
- Mary Pat Ison, Holy Name of Jesus, Bloomfield
- Tony and Denea Jackson, St. John the Apostle, Evansville
- Ralph and Bobbi Jacqmain, St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes
- George and Rose Mary Kaiser, St. John the Baptists, Vincennes
- Dan and Linda Kalb, St. Raphael, Dubois
- Randy and Kay Kiesel, Holy Cross, Fort Branch
- Warren and Olivia Kissel, St. Philip, Posey County
- James Knust, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand
- Ralph (…) and Loretta Koester, St. Wendel, St. Wendel
- Becky Kramer, St. Martin, Chrisney
- Ray and Dorothy Lange, St. Henry, St. Henry
- Fran Lewis, Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg
- Kathleen Libbert, Good Shepherd, Evansville
- Dolores Lueken, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand
- Jeffrey and Donna Martin, Corpus Christi, Evansville
- Larry and Chris Matthews, St. Joseph, Princeton
- Val Mattingly, Holy Rosary, Evansville
- Rose McGuire, St. Philip Neri, Bicknell
- Lewis Mehringer, Precious Blood, Jasper
- Evelyn Merkel, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine
- Ruth Miller, Holy Rosary, Evansville
- Bart and Sally Mulzer, St. John the Baptist, Newburgh
- Paul and Ila Ohl, Holy Rosary, Evansville
- Leonard and Barbara O’Nan, Holy Spirit, Evansville
- Richard and Ann Perkins, Our Lady of Hope, Washington
- Margaret Rapp, Holy Angels, New Harmony
- Gary and Linda Rasche, St. Mary, Ireland
- Joseph Ream, St. John the Baptist, Newburgh
- Frank and Loretta Roales, Sacred Heart, Vincennes
- Bruce and Marilyn Satkamp, Mary, Help of Christians, Mariah Hill
- Arthur and Donna Scheller, Sacred Heart, Evansville, Evansville
- Jim and Jane Scheller, St. Joseph Church, Vanderburgh County
- Greg Schmitz, Resurrection, Evansville
- Teresa Schroeder, St. Bernard, Rockport
- Kevin Schuetz, Good Shepherd, Evansville
- Tony and Janet Sevier, St. Bernard, Snake Run
- Ralph and Pearl Spayd, Holy Family, Jasper
- Don and Elaine Tenbarge, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt
- Judy Thais, Sacred Heart, Vincennes
- Mary Pat Unfried, St. Joseph Church, Vanderburgh County
- Michael and Lisbeth Vogel, Christ the King, Evansville
- Charles and Nancy Wagner, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight
- Robert and Judy Wargel, St. Mary, Evansville
- Marcia Waters, St. Peter, Linton
- Robert Weikert, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville
- Eugene and Nancy Weinzapfel, Corpus Christi, Evansville
- Robert and Mary Ann Weinzapfel, St. Philip, Posey County
- Marvin and Faye Welp, Sacred Heart, Schnellville
- Sharon Wilson, Nativity, Evansville
- Jim and Phyllis Winkler, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand
- Joyce Worsdorfer, Holy Redeemer, Evansville
- Robert Yochum, St. John the Baptist, Vincennes
(+) indicates the Brute Award will be given posthumously.