Witnessing An Essential Truth At The Ford Center

On May 14 at Evansville’s Ford Center, some 4,000 Catholics from across our 12 counties witnessed – and gave witness to – the essential truth of a saying many have heard since they were children: “The family that prays together stays together.”

Rejoice! – the Diocese of Evansville’s first-ever signature event – truly was a Catholic Community Celebration. In many ways, it also resembled a family reunion.

Hours before the doors opened, volunteers worked busily inside the Ford Center. Some literally built the Individual Reconciliation stations. Others transformed the stage on the main floor of the arena, making it an altar worthy of a Mass celebrating the Vigil of Pentecost Sunday. Others – the singers and musicians – rehearsed Mass music and completed sound checks.

Fast-forward to 2 p.m. Central Time, when the doors opened for the event. Most of the young singers in the choirs that would perform at 3 p.m. had already arrived with their families. Tables spread across the main lobby of the Ford Center offered bulletins from our parishes. More volunteers greeted attendees and offered information – standing next to Knights of Columbus who handed out finger Rosaries and prayer cards for use during the community Rosary before Mass.

As I moved through that area several times before Mass, I heard a similar greeting many times as folks entered the Ford Center and saw someone they recognized: “My goodness, it’s so good to see you. How have you been?” Catholic Community Celebration? Check. Family reunion? Check.

The line for personal Reconciliation formed immediately after the doors opened, and it remained until the end of the allotted time. One of the most personally moving moments of the day, for me, occurred when I stuck my head in to see how the morning’s construction effort had turned out – and spied one of our priests hearing the Confession of another of our priests at the far end of the room. Yes … we all have need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. 

The other really moving moment for me occurred just before the final blessing, when Bishop Thompson recognized married couples celebrating 50-or-more year of marriage; priests and religious celebrating 50-or-more years of service; and permanent deacons celebrating 30-or-more years of service. He also went slightly off script: “We also want to recognize anyone celebrating 25 or more years as a bishop.”

Those thousands spread out across the Ford Center responded with a joyous ovation for Bishop-Emeritus Gettelfinger – just like the joyous ovations they offered for the married couples, priests, religious and permanent deacons.

The final moving moment for me occurred after Mass, when people lingered in the stands and on the main floor to visit – many of them making a point to greet Bishop Thompson. I can’t ever remember being in a venue like the Ford Center when people weren’t rushing to get out after an event, trying to beat the traffic and get on with their lives.

Of course, Rejoice! was unlike any event I have ever been a part of in a venue like the Ford Center. A truly diverse community spanning a dozen counties in Southwest Indiana prayed together. They … we … will stay together because our unity is founded in our faith.