Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Diocese of Evansville
The Cornerstone: Catholic bookstore a ministry for its owners
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Less than a week after the Cornerstone Catholic Books and Gifts announced its closing, Melanie Seibert, president of Artex Corporation in Evansville, announced that her company had arranged to keep it open.
The Cornerstone, “serving Evansville, Indiana and Owensboro, Kentucky Catholic communities since 1983, will be acquired by Artex Corp. in a proposed agreement between the two businesses,” Seibert said.
“We are so excited to be able to continue the fine tradition of the Cornerstone as a premier book and gift store serving the local Catholic and Christian community,” she added. “The Cornerstone is a community treasure, and we are both thrilled and humbled to be called to continue the ministry that the Simms have nurtured for so many years.”
“Ministry” has always been the word owners and operators have chosen.
The Cornerstone was opened in 1982 after Marita Dieter and her two friends, Kathy Flynn and Sandy Lutz, heard that a bookstore at the Catholic Center in Evansville was being closed by Bishop Francis R. Shea.
“We were allowed to start a Catholic bookstore” in the former church building at Holy Rosary. “It was 1982, and we knew nothing about how to run a bookstore. We started researching. Father Deering was very supportive, and Father [David] Nunning was there too, and he was very helpful.”
“The first thing we sold was a family bible. We couldn’t believe we had made a sale.”
Although they were running a business, they resolved that their “sole purpose” was “to be a ministry, to serve the diocese.”
Store manager Kimberly Marsh has been with The Cornerstone for sixteen years and will continue in her role in the new combined enterprise, according to the announcement from Artex.
Parishes that were notified of the decision to close the store are now being notified that there does not need to be a disruption of service to them for their annual orders of liturgical books and candles or the many other products they need throughout the year.
The sale is expected to be completed by the end of July. The store location will be moved in August to the Artex location at 1424 North Royal Avenue in Evansville. Until then parishes and patrons can continue to shop at the current location, 4671 Bayard Park Drive in Evansville.
Photo caption: Kimberly Marsh and Mary Winnecke look at merchandise at the Cornerstone, a Catholic bookstore in Evansville. Kimberly is the store manager, and Mary is a sales associate. (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes)
Father Clemens Hut, area native, honored by Arizona for volunteer work
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Father Clemens Hut, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville who also served many years in Arizona — where he went for health reasons — has been honored as the Aging Services of Arizona 2010 Volunteer of the Year.
Father Hut, 99, lives at Friendship Village in Tempe, and was honored at the association awards luncheon June 4 in Scottsdale.
“It is highly unusual for any of us to receive a state award for volunteering, but to do it at age 99 is unbelievable,” said Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger. “To do it with such joy and candor is remarkable.”
Bishop Gettelfinger was among the well-wishers who attended the luncheon at a resort hotel.
Bishop Gettelfinger described the awards ceremony and Father Hut’s acceptance speech. Father Hut noted briefly that he was a Roman Catholic priest, that he was a priest for 74 years, and that he had reached the age of 99. He recalled that a bishop once joked with him, “You are older than God.” Father Hut then said, “I think I have said enough, so I’ll just shut up.”
Father Hut was nominated for the state award because of his volunteer service to others at Friendship Village. Donald Reem, a resident of Friendship Village, submitted a letter of nomination for Father Hut’s award.
“I have witnessed the volunteer work of Father Hut for the past six years (three years when my wife was a patient at the Health Center and over three years as a friend), so I have observed many projects that the Father has,” Reem said.
“Although he is 99 years old and confined to a hand driven wheelchair he hasn’t slowed in his routine of helping others. In the morning he is out greeting people with a smile and a ‘good morning’ or ‘hello.’ At meal times he eats with various residents, changing tables in order to meet with more people.”
Photo caption: Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger stands behind Father Clemens Hut on the day he received the Aging Services of America Volunteer of the Year award. A copy of this photo has been framed and now hangs on the wall in Father Hut’s room.
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Evansville, log on to the website of The Message at www.themessageonline.org)
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Father Andrew Budzinski ordained
By Tim Johnson
FORT WAYNE — It was a day of joy for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Father Andrew Budzinski became the first diocesan priest to be ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades on Saturday, June 26, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne.
Bishop Rhoades began Mass and said: “Today is a day of joy for me, Bishop D’Arcy, our priests and indeed for the whole Church in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. It is a day of thanksgiving for the gift of the priesthood, which the Lord bestows upon Andrew Budzinski in this ordination liturgy.”
The Rite of Ordination began with the formal presentation of the candidate, Deacon Andrew Budzinski, by Msgr. Bernard Galic, Deacon Andrew’s pastor at Holy Family Church in South Bend and the director of the Office of Vocations in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Msgr. Galic affirmed the readiness of the candidate.
Bishop Rhoades opened the homily with a quote from Pope Benedict XVI about the motivation of one who has responded with joy to the call of Jesus: “There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with him.”
Bishop Rhoades spoke of how Deacon Andrew was prepared to offer his whole life in the priestly service of Christ and His Church, and he said, “Why else, my brothers and sisters, would a man be willing to leave all things, to promise lifelong celibacy, to embrace a life of obedience and voluntary poverty, to devote his entire life to the service of the Church? It is because he has heard the call of the Lord like Simon and Andrew and James and John in the Gospel we just heard. Like those four Apostles, Deacon Andrew has encountered Christ, has been ‘won over by Jesus’ gaze, his voice, his warm and strong invitation’ (Benedict XVI). Andrew has been called like those fishermen to share in Christ’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel of God, to be a fisher of men.”
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, log on to the website of Today’s Catholic at www.todayscatholicnews.org)
Diocese of Gary
Fifth Anniversary: 'We're like a family now'
CEDAR LAKE—St. Francis of Assisi is quoted as saying, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Feeding the poor of the world seems like an impossible task but members of the Secular Franciscan Order of Our Lady of Lourdes Fraternity saw a need and embarked on filling it one meal at a time. On June 14 the group celebrated the fifth anniversary of the founding of the St. Clare’s Kitchen in Cedar Lake.
Located in the lower hall of Holy Name Parish, the group serves dinner to more than 100 people Tuesdays between 5-6 p.m.
“Our original vision was to open a soup kitchen in south Lake County because none existed,” said Sharon Marmalejo, one of the two founding members of the ministry.
Marmalejo, along with partner Kathy Georgelas, both of Munster, approached then-pastor, the late Father Edward Kennedy about using the Cedar Lake parish as their location. With his approval and that of the parish pastoral council, St. Clare’s Kitchen was born.
When the soup kithen first opened, guests numbered 24. Today, that number has quadrupled. “The need has definitely grown, especially in light of the economy,” said Georgelas.
Their mission is to provide a warm meal to anyone in need, but perhaps equally as important, to offer a chance for social interaction, especially for the elderly who often are trapped in isolation.
Getting off the ground was a huge undertaking,” said Marmalejo. “However, we’ve been blessed with many generous donations over the years.” Those donations have allowed the group to purchase necessary supplies and equipment, along with food.
“The Holy Spirit helped us get started, and we continue to be blessed each week.” “We profess to live the Gospel life through our work at St. Clare’s Kitchen,” Marmalejo concluded. “This has been a wonderful experience, not only for our guests, but for all of us as well.”
Donations to support the continued work of St. Clare’s Kitchen may be sent to Holy Name Parish, 11000 W. 133rd Ave., Cedar Lake 46303.
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Gary, log on to the website of the Northwest Indiana Catholic at www.nwicatholic.com)
Diocese of Lafayette
A son of the diocese shapes its story
By Kevin Cullen
LAFAYETTE—In so many ways, the life of retiring Bishop William L. Higi and the history of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana are one … warp and woof, interwoven, of the same cloth.
He is a son of the diocese. He worked with three of the four bishops who preceded him, and he has carried the crosier himself since 1984.
“I really don’t recall ever imagining myself being anything other than a priest,” he said as he looked back over a long and eventful career.
Bishop Higi, 76, grew up in St. Mary Parish, Anderson. The Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, once part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne, was only 14 years old when he was ordained on May 30, 1959.
He served as an associate pastor, secretary to Bishop (later Cardinal) John J. Carberry, vice chancellor, chancellor, vicar general, parish administrator, diocesan administrator and bishop. He worked daily with Bishop Raymond J. Gallagher and Bishop George A. Fulcher.
Bishop Higi was installed on June 6, 1984, at age 50. He served nearly 26 years as bishop; no previous Lafayette bishop served more than 17. He will continue as apostolic administrator until 59-year-old Bishop-elect Timothy L. Doherty, of the Diocese of Rockford, Ill., is installed July 15.
Bishop Higi has confirmed more than 28,000 people, ordained 50 men to the priesthood and 11 to the permanent diaconate.
Since 1984, he has driven more than 500,000 miles crisscrossing a diocese that stretches from Illinois to Ohio and covers 24 counties. He has written more than 1,100 weekly columns for The Catholic Moment.
During his episcopacy, the Catholic population of the diocese has grown by more than 21,000, to 105,000 souls. Two new parishes and a new Catholic high school have opened.
He discussed all that in interviews with The Catholic Moment, at a recent press conference, and in an interview with Chad Grube, host of “Upon this Rock,” a weekly radio program sponsored by St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc parishes, Kokomo.
Photo caption: Bishop William Higi with predecessors Cardinal John Carberry (left) and Bishop Raymond Gallagher (right) in 1984.
New Matrix director sees 'little miracles' each day
By Kevin Cullen
LAFAYETTE — The Matrix Lifeline Pregnancy Center, housed in a modest white house at 1824 Maple St. in Lafayette’s North End, represents the pro-life movement at its grassroots best.
Since 1978, the Christian, not-for-profit organization has given thousands of expectant mothers the emotional, financial and practical support they needed to choose life over abortion.
Melissa McAtee started as the new executive director of Matrix on June 1. She knows, first hand, how important it is for women to have access to pregnancy counseling, baby clothes, education and adoption referral.
Four years ago, she was unmarried, pregnant and lonely; working in Indianapolis, far from her family.
“Every day was a struggle,” she said. “I didn’t have a place like Matrix. I didn’t have someone to say, ‘It’s OK. God loves you,’ or to give me a hug or help me figure out where to start out — what help I could get, what daycare I should use, those kinds of things.
“The only thing that saved me was God,” said McAtee, now 28. “I got down on my knees, and especially toward the end of my pregnancy, I prayed to God, and cried. I said, ‘Help me. I don’t know what to do.’ I was so hurt emotionally. My heart was broken.”
But “everything worked out the way it was supposed to,” she said. Ella was born. McAtee converted to Catholicism and married Ella’s father, Kyle. Their two sons, now aged 2 years and 5 months, followed.
McAtee gave up a seven-year banking career to lead Matrix. She formerly was a bank manager for Old National Bank.
“Every day I come here, I am so happy,” she said. “I get to see little miracles every day. How can you not love that?”
Photo caption: Melissa McAtee started as the new executive director of Matrix Lifeline Pregnancy Center in Lafayette on June 1. (Photo by Kevin Cullen)
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org)