Archive for

2010

  • Congregation of Holy Cross to merge two provinces of priests and brothers

    NOTRE DAME –– At its general chapter meeting in Rome this past summer, the Congregation of Holy Cross approved the merger of its two existing U.S. provinces of priests and brothers. The newly-adopted legislation authorizes the superior general to effect the merger in order to enhance the congregation’s ministries of “parish, mission, education.” At a joint meeting of the Eastern Province and Indiana Province Councils on Dec. 4-5, it was agreed that the merger of the Eastern Province into the Indiana Province should be effected by the superior general on July 1, 2011, the feast of the Sacred Heart.

    The Indiana Province will proceed with the appropriate civil instruments to change its name to the United States Province of Priests and Brothers.

    The ministries of the new province will include four colleges and universities: University of Notre Dame (founded 1842), University of Portland (Portland, Ore., 1901), King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa, 1946), and Stonehill College (Easton, Mass., 1948). These and all other ministries will be integrated, including 17 parishes from Vermont to Oregon; André House, a ministry to the homeless and poor in Phoenix; the Downtown Chapel in Portland; Ave Maria Press in Notre Dame; and Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Mass. Holy Cross Family Ministries was founded by Servant of God Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton, and encompasses Family Theater Productions, Family Rosary and Father Peyton Family Institute. The United States Province will also be present in Mexico, Chile, Peru, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

    The congregation’s United States Province will comprise over 410 priests and brothers plus 80 seminarians currently in formation for a life of service in Holy Cross. The administrative offices of the province will be located in South Bend.

    Holy Cross presence in America began in 1841, when the French-founded order sent Holy Cross Father Edward Sorin, who later founded the University of Notre Dame. Holy Cross founder Blessed Holy Cross Father Basil Moreau was beatified in 2007, and the order celebrated the canonization of its first saint, St. André Bessette, on Oct. 17.

    This reorganization has been under discussion by both provinces for some time, with a vision “to enhance the effectiveness of the Holy Cross mission in the United States,” stated Holy Cross Father David T. Tyson, provincial superior for the Indiana Province.

    Holy Cross Father Thomas P. Looney, provincial superior of the Eastern Province, stated, “In merging we celebrate and manifest God’s gift of our brotherhood in Christ for the service of God’s people.”

    Posted on December 21, 2010, to:

  • Bishop Rhoades commissions Al Gutierrez as SJRMC’s president and CEO

    Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades officiated the commissioning ceremony of Al Gutierrez as president and CEO of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center on Dec. 13 at the hospital’s Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, which included representation from The 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus. From left are Richard D. Wasoski, Stephen Elek, Jr., Al Gutierrez, Margaret Gutierrez, Bishop Rhoades, David D. Towner and Michael J. Linsdell.

    MISHAWAKA — “Today, each of us in our unique capacity accepts a new challenge — to lead Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) into the future.”

    While these words from Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades were for all in attendance to emulate, they were the beginning of the opening prayer at a Mass for the commissioning of Al Gutierrez as the president and CEO of the hospital. The ceremony was held on Monday, Dec. 13, in SJRMC’s Our Lady of Fatima Chapel and it included representation from member of The 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus.

    Bishop Rhoades continued: “We do not take this challenge lightly or without careful consideration. As we commission Mr. Albert Gutierrez as president and chief executive officer, we trust that he will meet the challenge with the vision and confidence of the strong leader he has proven himself to be in the past and promises to be in the future. I further trust that in every endeavor thrust upon him, he will find in himself … and in each of us … the strength to meet each challenge ahead with compassion, excellence, respect and stewardship.”

    SJRMC announced the appointment of Gutierrez as the hospital’s president and CEO on Oct. 5. His first day at SJRMC was Nov. 15. Clearly the Dec. 13 commissioning was an event he’ll hold close to his heart for the remainder of his career.

    “It has been an absolute delight to get started here in partnering with our associates, leadership and medical staff to serve our patients and their families in the Michiana communities,” Gutierrez said at a reception at SJRMC following the commissioning ceremony. “But to have been sworn in by Bishop Rhoades in front of members of the Church is a very moving and encouraging experience, and I will continue to turn to God in leading this hospital in the enhancement of health care to all that we serve. As we move forward in this regard, it will be an honor and a privilege to work with Bishop Rhoades and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.”

    “It is difficult to believe that it has already been one year and so much has already been accomplished here,” said Bishop Rhoades at the reception. “As we celebrate this historic occasion, it is only fitting that we welcome Al and his wife, Margaret, to our community. Their energy and enthusiasm parallels the fresh atmosphere here at this beautiful new hospital.”

    Gutierrez has been with Shore Memorial Health System in Somers Point, N.J., since 1985, and served as its president and CEO since 2002.
    “I am personally delighted that Al sought this position and agreed to join us at SJRMC,” said Mike Hammes, chairman of SJRMC’s board of trustees who emceed the reception. “He has done a phenomenal job leading Shore Memorial and in him we have a leader who will be able to take our hospitals forward to a new level. He brings the kind of thoughtful and decisive leadership this position demands.”

    A Catholic, Gutierrez says Saint Joseph’s connection to a Catholic health-care system, Trinity Health, as well as its strong ties to the diocese, the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College and the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, were key elements in drawing him to the Midwest.

    “Absolutely, the faith-based agenda really starts to fill in the blanks when it comes to health care. I believe that it is a strong element of healing,” said Gutierrez. “Some of the things that have to do with healing are common to everyone and it does require a belief that there are things that are bigger than us in the universe.”

    Posted on December 21, 2010, to:

  • Bishop Rhoades makes pastoral visit to Christ the King School

    By Karen Clifford

    SOUTH BEND — In the midst of snow and cold temperatures, it was a bouquet that warmed the heart of a special shepherd.
    Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades was presented a spiritual bouquet of 1,294 rosaries prayed in his honor by students, families and the parish community at Christ the King School during the bishop’s first official visit on Dec. 15.

    Middle school social studies teacher Matthew Kirsch described the outpouring of excitement in preparing this bouquet for the bishop: “The students felt as though this was their gift to give, not just an idea imposed on them. When we prayed these rosaries as a class or school, the spirit of their voices filled the church and really reflected their desire to give a fitting gift.”

    Christ the King students Claire and Kathryn Kloska shared their enthusiasm of participating in the spiritual bouquet. “I think praying the rosary for the bishop is important because he is new and it’s a way to welcome him to our school,” said Claire.

    Kathryn added, “Our class prayed the rosary at school in addition to my family praying the rosary at home.”

    During Bishop Rhoades’ homily at the all-school Mass, he spoke of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, which looks for a King to come and save the Jewish people from captivity in Babylon. He also referred to the Gospel of Luke when John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to Jesus and asked “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

    Prophets in the Old Testament pointed to six signs or miracles that the Savior would bring to the Jewish people. When Bishop Rhoades asked seventh graders what these signs were, they responded with sight to the blind, the mute speaking and the deaf hearing, the lame walking, the poor being taught about the kingdom of God, the lepers being cleansed and the dead being raised. Jesus told John’s disciples to go back to John and tell him what they had seen and heard to show he was the Messiah.

    “The prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled. The just one from the earth, a Savior, has been born,” Bishop Rhoades remarked joyously.

    As Christians prepare for exchanging gifts at Christmas, Bishop Rhoades declared, “The greatest gift is the gift of the Savior!”

    Following the Eucharist, a yearlong school tradition of classrooms exchanging an olive chalice continued. Holy Cross Father Neil Wack, pastor of Christ the King Parish, explained that the chalice travels from class to class at the end of every all-school Mass to encourage students to pray for vocations.

    “It’s a great reminder for children to pray for their own vocations and it’s also a chance for parents and faculty to renew their own vocation,” he explained.

    In addition to the presentation of the spiritual bouquet, an icon of Christ the King and a sculpture of the Blessed Mother were given to Bishop Rhoades by the school and parish at the conclusion of the Mass.

    As Bishop Rhoades toured the school, he learned of their Advent project for Corpus Christi — Jalchatra, the school’s sister parish located in a remote village in Bangladesh. On Dec. 8, students from Christ the King School participated in a one-day change drive for Corpus Christi. Each class collected spare change to purchase items according to a cost-chart provided by their sister parish. The class then received ornaments to hang on a tree in the school lobby representing what was purchased.

    The entire school raised $1,287 in change; enough to purchase one year’s worth of tuition, books and food for three students, one year’s worth of personal hygiene items for 17 boarding students and one year’s worth of uniforms for 10 students.

    “The kids were willing to reach in their pockets and share,” said Father Wack. “There is a whole world out there that needs our help and God’s help. Even with small bits of change, we can make a big difference.”

    In the bishop’s visit with third graders, the question was asked why Good Friday is called “Good” Friday. Bishop Rhoades acknowledged it was a excellent question and responded, “Even though such a terrible thing happened and Jesus was made to suffer, it was something that was very good for us. Because of His death on the cross, we are saved.”

    Principal Stephen Hoffman described the enthusiasm of the students and staff during the bishop’s visit. “When it was announced that Bishop Rhoades was coming to Christ the King, it was huge for the students. During the bishop’s visit, you could just see and feel the energy and love that the bishop has for the students and that they feel for him.”

    Father Wack noted the school places equal importance on faith and education for students. “We try to emulate (the Congregation of Holy Cross) founder Blessed Father Basil Moreau by educating the hearts and minds of our children and to never educate the mind at the expense of the heart.”

    Posted on December 21, 2010, to:

  • Mishawaka Catholic schools help St. Vincent de Paul Society

    Assisting with the St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry is, from left, Tommy Cook, Jacob Burnham and Tony Marcotte.

    By Ann Carey

    MISHAWAKA — Seventh graders from the three Mishawaka Catholic grade schools that will become one school in 2011 showed their unity by working together to assist the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County at its busiest time of the year.

    Those seventh graders from St. Joseph, St. Monica and St. Bavo Parishes will become the first eighth-grade class for Mishawaka Catholic Academy when the new school opens in fall, 2011 in each of the existing grade school buildings. Pre-K through second-grade classes will be at St. Bavo, third through fifth grade at St. Joseph and sixth through eighth grade at St. Monica.

    St. Monica seventh-grade teacher Kelly Ramesh told Today’s Catholic that the three current seventh-grade teachers wanted to find something for the three seventh-grade classes to do together in preparation for coming together next fall. Many of the students already know each other, as the three schools already have combined sports teams, but the teachers were looking for something more.

    Ramesh contacted several agencies about the students volunteering together, but most agencies did not have enough work and/or space for a large number of students. Then Ramesh talked to Dale Seely, volunteer coordinator and pantry manager at the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County.

    Seely told Today’s Catholic that he was expecting the largest delivery of food donations that the pantry gets all year to arrive on Dec. 14, so he was eager to have the students come on Dec. 15 to sort and pack the food. And in keeping with the Mishawaka theme, it so happens that the pantry’s largest donation of food each year is from Mishawaka Marian High School, the school many of the seventh graders will attend after graduating from Mishawaka Catholic Academy in 2012.

    “Marian has been collecting for St. Vincent de Paul for many years, more than 17 years,” said Erin Pierce, a theology teacher at Marian. “We usually collect 20,000 to 25,000 food items, as well as a money collection, which is usually somewhere between $1,100 and $2,000.
    “The Marian students really show their generosity and compassion for others in this food drive,” Pierce said.

    Seely said that it took three trucks to carry all the donated food from Marian to the food pantry, which supplies parish food pantries all year long and accommodates walk-in clients two days a week.

    “Thank heaven the food drives were productive,” Seely said. “We’ve been able to keep up on demand, with a few exceptions — for the most part able to keep up with staples.”

    When the seventh graders arrived, three truckloads of food were waiting to be sorted, packed into boxes and carried to pallets. In all, 43 seventh graders worked for two hours on what Seely said was a productive assembly line that far exceeded his expectations.

    “They packed 285 boxes,” Seely said. “They got more done than I anticipated, and I think they had a good time.”

    Ramesh agreed, saying that the students worked very well together, enjoyed being together, and really “bonded.”

    The students also have a new project to think about working on together. Charles Thompson, executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County, greeted the students when they arrived and led them in a prayer before they began their work. Then he suggested to the students that they start a Young Vincentians chapter at the new Mishawaka Catholic Academy next year.

    With the enthusiasm of these seventh graders, that will probably be one of many fine accomplishments they will undertake together at their new school.

    Paul Dieringer of St. Monica School, right, works with Sam Gill of St. Joseph School, center, sorting and packing donated food at the St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry. Partly concealed on the left of Gill is Joe Ravotto, also of St. Joseph School.

    Posted on December 21, 2010, to:

  • Podcast: December 26, 2010

    This week’s issue provides a background on the diocesan evangelization project to offer the book “Rediscover Catholicism,” by author Matthew Kelly, at Christmas Masses throughout the diocese. We review the year 2010. Congregation of Holy Cross will merge two provinces. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades made a pastoral school visit to Christ the King in South Bend. The Mishawaka Catholic schools combined volunteer efforts to assist the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

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    Posted on December 20, 2010, to: