Catholic Life Network dinner raises funds for pro-life ministries

Father Jonathan Meyer preaches during a 40 Hours Devotion on Feb. 20, 2008, at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Indianapolis. He is the keynote speaker for the Catholic Life Network awards dinner on March 7 at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. (File photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

For five years, the Catholic Life Network awards dinner has raised funds to support the life-saving work of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry and the Gabriel Project of Indiana, which help women experiencing crisis pregnancies and their babies.

The March 7 dinner begins with social time at 6 p.m. and continues with dinner at 7 p.m. and the program at 8 p.m. at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, 31 W. Ohio St., in Indianapolis. (Related: Four pro-life volunteers to receive service awards)

The keynote speaker is Father Jonathan Meyer, director of youth ministry for the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education and administrator of St. Anne and St. Joseph parishes in Jennings County.

He plans to discuss the difference between tolerance and indifference relating to pro-life issues.

“We are called to be people who are willing to act,” he said, “and be motivated by the Gospel message for the sake of the pro-life cause. … I always tell young people that social justice issues should be very different for Catholics. … In a very anti-life culture right now, how do we all the more cling to Christ, cling to the cross, and not be indifferent?”

In January, Father Meyer went on a 12-day silent retreat and sabbatical to Ars, France, where pilgrims from all over the world come to venerate the incorrupt body of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars and patron saint of parish priests, at the shrine named for him.

He also plans to reflect on the saint’s healing ministry of reconciliation.

“This year is the 150th anniversary of his death on Aug. 4, 1859, which is his feast day,” Father Meyer said. “I had the opportunity to celebrate Mass every day in the basilica church where his body is enshrined in the side altar.

“In his time, abortion was not an issue, but sin was and mercy was,” Father Meyer said. “Also very interesting is the fact that when he moved to Ars he realized that there were a lot of children born out of wedlock, a lot of children who were born because of sinful and lustful relationships. What he did as one of his first ministries was to open a school to care for the children. … He was doing exactly what priests do today … with our Catholic education in faith and morality.”

St. John Vianney lived from 1786 to 1859, and spent 17 hours a day in a confessional administering the sacrament of reconciliation. He was known for his powerful sermons, personal example of holiness, ability to perform miracles and efforts to convert people through God’s grace.

Father Meyer encourages people to read about this saint’s life and return to the sacrament of reconciliation more often.

Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry, said the dinner provides much-needed financial support for several pro-life ministries in central and southern Indiana.

The event’s sponsors work together to promote the cause of life, she said, and the evangelization of a new generation of Catholics.

“Through our respective ministries, many lives are saved,” Sister Diane said, “thousands of poor women and their babies are helped, and Catholics and non-Catholics are educated about the values of the Gospel of Life and the richness of our faith.”

She said the fifth annual Catholic Life Network dinner marks the last combined fundraising event for the sponsors, but the groups will continue to collaborate on pro-life efforts and raise funds separately to meet specific needs.

“What is certain is that the Office for Pro-Life Ministry will continue to promote the Gospel of Life in its fullness through its Birthline outreach to poor women and their babies and to abortion-minded women who contact us on the hotline,” Sister Diane said. “Our post-abortion ministry will continue to offer healing and reconciliation to women and men scarred by abortion, and the variety of initiatives will intensify to educate, evangelize and form pro-life youth and adults in the parishes and schools.”

(Tickets are $50 a person or $450 for a table of 10. For more information or reservations, call the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry at 317-236-1569 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1569, or by e-mail in care of plguest@archindy.org by Feb. 17.) †