'Playing The Proud Papa' Becomes Me!
One of the neatest things I get to do these days is something I’ve come to call “playing the proud Papa.” And you – the diocesan family – are, collectively, the reason I get to do it. This kind of pride isn’t the sinful variety; at least, I don’t believe it is. Rather, it involves the desire to share, at every occasion, the many examples of God at work in our 12 counties that I’m blessed to encounter.
I thought about that recently as I drove home from seeing University of Evansville senior Kaitlin Emmert, who has contributed regularly to The Message as a 1 Timothy writer, perform as part of UE’s annual Gumberts Musical Awards competition. I never thought I’d say this about a classically trained violinist … but Katilin rocked!
She provided one of several amazing opportunities – in just one week! – to witness the incredible talent our diocesan family has produced. Remember the MEO Tri State Idol finals?
Truly versatile vocalist DeVonna Lawrence, Reitz Memorial High School graduate; Broadway, film and TV actress Jama Williamson, Memorial graduate; Nashville recording artist Meghan Nicole, Memorial graduate; 2014 Idol winner Alexandria Turpin, Mater Dei senior; Idol runners-up and recording artists “Likewise,” 2013 St. Maria Goretti Youth Distinction honorees from Holy Triniy Parish. Wow….
When I learned that Alexandria would sing the Star Spangled Banner May 1 at the Four Freedoms Monument to begin the Interfaith Observance of the 63rd National Day of Prayer, I couldn’t help but tell the crowd in attendance about her Idol victory. Mater Dei Director of Band and Choir Alex Smith brought her and several other students to perform during the event, and they all were wonderful.
What about our Catholic schools? Holy Family in Jasper is a National Blue Ribbon School. Eleven of our schools’ third-grade classes had 100-percent pass rates on this year’s IREAD-3 test, and our combined diocesan score was more than 10 points higher than the Indiana state average.
We have a ton of talented young athletes in the diocese, too. From here, none of them is more impressive than University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball player Anna Hackert, a Memorial graduate. She capped her junior season by being recognized as the Old National Bank/USI Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
Stats? She averaged 18 points and 9.7 rebounds a game this past season, becoming only the sixth player in school history to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds – with another season left!
All of that, however, is only part of the reason Anna is so impressive. If you go to Mass at our Cathedral, you likely know “the rest of the story.” Anna serves at St. Benedict; she sings there. During Holy Week, she did both – during the same Masses!
She arrived early to prepare the thurible (censer), which she carried for Bishop Thompson, Father Godfrey and the deacons. Then, during the portions of the Masses that she could, she moved over to the choir and praised God with her voice. Oh, and before I forget, she’s a math major at USI. Wow….
The Message also recently included a photo of football players Hugh Ehrensbeck and Sam Stratman from Memorial, and Nolan Goebel from Mater Dei High School, who were named Scholar-Athletes by the local chapter of the National Football Foundation.
All of these amazing young people represent the tip of the iceberg across our diocese. You already know that. You see examples in your own parish communities daily.
Let’s thank God daily for the gifts He pours out to the world through them all. And let’s recognize those gifts as the collective witness to His glory that they truly are.
Make no mistake – Katilin, Anna and all the others have worked hard and shown the kind of dedication and discipline it takes to excel at what they do. That work, dedication and discipline are, in their own ways, prayers of thanks to God for gifts they have received from Him.
We read in the Gospels that Jesus once said (paraphrasing), “He who has will be given more.” That comes to mind as I think about the people mentioned in this column and all the others like them in our diocese. God has given them much; and, it seems to me, He rewards the gratitude they return to Him through their work, dedication and discipline by giving them more.
Nothing pleases me more than sharing their stories with you and all of Southwestern Indiana – and beyond – through The Message.
