Thanks For The Memories

Back in December of 1984 I was a 34-year-old wife and the mother of two young children when I spotted a notice in my parish bulletin. It said that there was a part-time job opening for a writer at The Message. As I sat in my church pew, I said to myself, “I can do that!”

The next day I dropped my son off at nursery school, and I drove out to the Catholic Center where I was able to talk to Father Joseph Ziliak about the job.

I am happy to say that he kindly hired me, and I have been so grateful that he did. This job has transformed me.

I was able to travel all over the Diocese of Evansville, interviewing extraordinary people who were doing extraordinary things for the Church. Salt of the earth people. Humble people. Treasures, really.

I was able to interview Bud Welch, and his lessons on forgiveness still resonate with me. His daughter, Julie, was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing; and years after her death, he went to visit Bill McVeigh, the father of Timothy McVeigh. Bud told me how he and Bill sat and talked quietly one afternoon. While they were together, Bud offered his forgiveness to the broken father.

I trembled as I interviewed Mr. Welch. And I trembled for a long time after that. His lessons about forgiveness led me to consider the people I needed to forgive. It was transformative.

In 2006, The Message Editor Paul Leingang decided to organize a pilgrimage to Vatican City for the canonization of Mother Theodore Guerin. He invited me to go along and write the story.

I was astounded by the opportunity. There were 50 pilgrims, led by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger, and we traveled all over Italy on a bus. We saw the dazzling Amalfi Coast and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, and we visited the medieval town of Assisi, made famous by everybody’s favorite saint. Nothing measures the pomp and ceremony offered at a canonization, and those moments are still etched in my brain.

I started my job as a cradle Catholic who didn’t know all that much about the Church. Working at The Message has been quite an education. There were some tough times for the Church during those years, and there were some tough times for me personally. I realized how much I loved the holy Catholic Church, especially the celebration of the Mass, and I learned how my faith could sustain me, especially in bad times.

I had the honor of serving under three holy men – Bishop Francis R. Shea, Bishop Gettelfinger and Bishop Charles C. Thompson, all wonderful spiritual leaders in our diocese.

I turn 65 years old at the end of this month. It’s amazing how quickly my 30 years at The Message have flown by.

Now it’s time to say good-bye and thank you.

It’s been a wonderful job. I am so thankful for the memories.