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December 22, 2017 issue

Front page

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Local stories:

  • A Christmas message from Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
    • Mensaje de Navidad del Arzobispo Charles C. Thompson
  • Father Robert Mazzola ministered in parishes, served in tribunal
  • Father Mark Gottemoeller served in parish ministry for 40 years
  • Archdiocese to lead pilgrimage to Ireland for 2018 World Meeting of Families
  • Appointment of Archbishop Thompson tops local news stories
  • Readers share their favorite Christmas memories
    • Unexpected challenge leads daughter to follow mother’s example of unconditional love
    • Daughter’s birth in December was young mother’s best Christmas gift
    • Rabbits, possums and Sears helped family celebrate Christmas during the Depression
    • God’s message of love is at the heart of annual celebration of Christmas
    • Search for tree a reminder that beautiful signs of nature are blessings from God
    • ‘Silent, Holy Night’ brings back memories of mom’s association with Mary
    • Like birth of our Savior, grandmother’s cookie recipe lives on through generations
    • Fireplace, stockings become Christmas tradition throughout family’s journey
    • Family’s Springerles cookies became gifts to others during annual season of giving
    • Father’s act of kindness leads to annual ‘Merry Christmas’ for would-be thief
    • ‘Is this a sign, Lord?’ After year of loss, Christmas bells plant seeds of faith
  • Archbishop, local Church share in love for Our Lady of Guadalupe
  • The Criterion and Catholic Center are closed from Dec. 22 to Jan. 1 for Christmas holiday

Regular local features:

  • Christ the Cornerstone: Rejoice! God is with us. Come, let us adore him!
    • Cristo, la piedra angular: ¡Alégrense! Dios está con nosotros. Vengan, ¡vamos a adorarlo!
  • Editorial: The Church in southwestern Indiana welcomes its new bishop
  • From the Editor Emeritus: A visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
  • Emmaus Walk: Ever wonder what wrapping presents has to do with God’s gifts to us?
  • Faith and Family: Simplicity at Christmas can help families focus more on Christ
  • Public Schedule of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
  • Letters to the Editor
    • No letters were printed this week
  • Events Calendar
    • St. Luke the Evangelist Church to present radio and television host Dr. Ray Guarendi
    • Training workshop offered for lay ministers leading funeral vigil services
    • Christmas crèches on display at Saint Meinrad Archabbey Library through Jan. 7
    • Catholics Returning Home to be offered at St. Malachy Church starting in January
    • St. John Paul II Parish to host Mass, mini-retreat and dinner on Jan. 13
  • Obituaries
    • General listing
    • Providence Sister Kathryn Koressel served in Catholic schools for 39 years
    • Providence Sister Agnes Mary Raetz served at her community’s motherhouse
  • My Journey to God: Open Our Hearts

Catholic News Service:

  • Bishop Siegel installed to lead Evansville, seeks to listen, learn
  • Oral arguments heard in suits on religious exemption to mandate
  • Column: Teenagers’ acts of kindness in 2017 leave us ‘united in hope’
  • The Sunday Readings: Fourth Sunday of Advent
  • Question Corner: The Church allows grandparents to serve as godparents to their grandchildren

FaithAlive!

  • Church carries on mission of Prince of Peace born in Bethlehem
  • Birth of the Savior brings into the world a light that overcomes darkness

Available Right Now

A Christmas message from Archbishop Charles C. Thompson

Employees at the Christmas StoreI wish everyone throughout central and southern Indiana a blessed Christmas and grace-filled New Year. Amid the exchange of gifts that is so customary at this time of year, let us not overlook our most precious gifts that remain with us throughout the year—namely, the gifts of faith, family and friends—more valuable than any sum of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Please allow me to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for all those who have welcomed, supported and held me in prayer during the course of these first months of my ministry as your shepherd. While the schedule and expectations can seem rather daunting at times, I take great consolation in the great witness of faith so readily apparent throughout our local Church, in central and southern Indiana. (Page 1)
Read the Christmas message | En espaƱol
 

Appointment of Archbishop Thompson tops local news stories

Archbishop Thompson at installation MassThe appointment of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson as the seventh archbishop of Indianapolis was voted the top local news story of 2017, followed by the archdiocese’s hosting of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) and the efforts of the local Church to aid immigrants and refugees. Other stories of note included the spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) held in Indianapolis in June, the ordination of 21 men as permanent deacons and the first graduating class of Marian University’s new medical school. Following the tradition of other news agencies, The Criterion editorial staff votes each year for the top 10 local stories that were published in our newspaper. (Page 7)
Read our news story
 

Readers share their favorite Christmas memories

Jesus and Mary and JosephThe Criterion invited readers to submit a brief story about a special holiday memory for inclusion in our annual Christmas issue. Several of your favorite Christmas stories, written about a humorous or serious topic related to your faith, family or friends, were printed. (Pages 8-9)
Read our news story
 

The Criterion and Catholic Center are closed from Dec. 22 to Jan. 1 for Christmas holiday

This week’s issue of The Criterion, which is our annual Christmas publication, is the last issue of 2017. The Criterion will be published again on Jan. 12, 2018, and resume its weekly schedule. The Archbishop O’Meara Catholic Center will be closed from Dec. 22 through Jan. 1 in observance of the holidays. Archdiocesan agencies will reopen at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018.
Read our news story

 

Web-only features

Advent Resources

Advent Candles During the season of Advent, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will have a special Web page at www.archindy.org/advent. The page contains various Advent resources, including links to the daily readings, Christmas reflections from two of our former archbishops, penance service schedules, images of past Criterion Christmas Supplement covers and links of interest to other Advent Web sites.
Go to website | Advent penance service listings

 

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