Indianapolis parish to host annual Lenten speaker series
By Sean Gallagher
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, 520 Stevens St., in Indianapolis will host its eighth annual Lenten speaker series, titled “Spaghetti and Spirituality,” on Feb. 13, 20, and 27, and March 5 and 12.
Prior to dinner and each week’s presentation, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration following the conclusion of the traditional Latin Mass at noon. Another Mass, celebrated in English, will start at 5:45 p.m.
A light, meatless pasta dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. at Priori Hall. Each presentation will begin at approximately 7:15 p.m. and ordinarily conclude by 8:30 p.m. (Download a PDF flyer for this event)
This year’s speaker series will be the seventh one that Holy Rosary parishioner Bruce Konicek has coordinated.
He is pleased with the strong turnout for the annual event, noting that, on average, approximately 200 people fill Priori Hall for each of the sessions.
“I think it’s become a great staple for Lent,” Konicek said. “[People] are always trying to find something special to do during Lent. And I think this is a great chance to do that.”
As he plans each year’s series, he usually does not try to establish a common theme, but instead tries to allow each speaker to be true to his or her own specialty.
But after arranging this year’s slate of speakers, Konicek did notice a common thread that brings some unity to the five presenters.
“It’s basically that we live in the world, but we’re not of the world,” Konicek said. “A lot of times today people … think that by following religion, [life] gets easier. And, in fact, it poses additional challenges. Religion is often contrary to what society has to offer.”
Bishop Joseph N. Perry, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, will start the series on this theme on Feb. 13 with a presentation titled “The Role of Suffering in Christian Life.”
In addition to coming to the parish for his presentation, Bishop Perry will celebrate a sung traditional Latin Mass, often called a “high Mass,” at Holy Rosary Church at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12.
Feb. 20 will be the final day in a 40 hours devotion/parish mission for Holy Rosary Parish. Father Jonathan Meyer, associate pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis and archdiocesan director of youth ministry, will be preaching that evening on “The Seven Last Words of Christ upon the Cross.”
Robert Royal, president of the Washington-based Faith and Reason Institute, will speak on the topic “Being Catholic in a Secular Age” on Feb. 27.
Catholic author and speaker Moira Noonan will be at Holy Rosary on March 5 to give a presentation titled “Ransomed from Darkness: The New Age, Christian Faith and the Battle for Souls.”
This year’s “Spaghetti and Spirituality” series will conclude on March 12 when Colleen Hammond, author of Dressing with Dignity (TAN, 2005), will speak on “He Said/She Said: Communicating Charitably in an Uncharitable World.”
Those interested in attending any session of Holy Rosary Parish’s “Spaghetti and Spirituality” series should notify the parish staff no later than 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to a specific program.
While the dinners and the presentations are free, donations will be accepted.
(For more information or to make reservations, call Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish at 317-636-4478.) †