Longtime catechetical leaders honored for their dedication to parishes

At top: Gladys Tarter of Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis receives the Archbishop Daniel Buechlein Excellence in Catechesis award from Ute Eble, archdiocesan director of catechesis. At bottom: Stephanie Whitley of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis receives the Archbishop Daniel Buechlein Excellence in Catechesis award from Ute Eble, archdiocesan director of catechesis. (Submitted photos)

Criterion staff report

Two parish catechetical leaders in the archdiocese were recently honored for their longtime commitment to ministry.

Stephanie Whitley of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis and Gladys Tarter of Holy Spirit Parish, also in Indianapolis, received the Archbishop Daniel Buechlein Excellence in Catechesis award. The honor recognizes catechists who have formed parishioners and helped them grow as disciples of Jesus in their lives of faith. Honorees have been recognized by the archdiocesan Office of Catechesis since 1996.

Whitley served as coordinator of religious education at Holy Angels Parish for 24 years, where she led religious education programs for children, youths and adults, recruited, trained and supervised catechists, and oversaw sacramental preparation programs for baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist and confirmation.

She served as a liaison to parents, catechists and pastoral leadership, effectively communicating in a pastoral manner, and developed and implemented faith formation activities and programs for the parish community. Whitley also worked with the parish’s youth ministry program.

A native of Lima, Peru, Tarter moved to the United States with her family several years ago, settling in Minnesota then later relocating to Indiana.

She took part in an archdiocesan Intercultural Ministry initiative and began serving Holy Spirit Parish as an assistant to Benedictine Sister Joann Hunt in its religious education office.

When Sister Joann retired, Tarter became the parish’s religious education coordinator. She worked for 16 years at the parish, teaching Sunday school and preparing youths for the sacraments. She also worked with the parish’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults program.

“The Excellence in Catechesis award is given to parish catechetical leaders who do a great job in finding creative ways to authentically proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and teach the doctrines of our faith, reaching and nurturing parishioners, and leading their catechists,” said Ute Eble, archdiocesan director of catechesis.

“Both Gladys and Stephanie have excelled at these things, and they have done it an authentic, caring and faithful way that has produced much fruit in their parishes and has set an example for other parish catechetical leaders.”

The archdiocesan Office of Catechesis is again seeking parish catechetical leader (PCL) nominees for its Excellence in Catechesis award. Pastors and catechists may nominate their PCL, and current parish catechetical leaders may nominate each other.

Nominations must include the name and parish of the PCL and briefly state why this individual deserves this prestigious award. Nominations must be emailed to catechesis@archindy.org by June 30. †