Scores Attend Guadalupe Center

Bishop Charles C. Thompson blessed and dedicated the Diocese of Evansville’s new Guadalupe Center May 14 in Huntingburg, calling it “a place of welcome, of great assistance, great consolation, great unity and great catholicity.”

Scores of people from across Dubois County and the diocese attended the “housewarming,” including Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner and Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz; Benedictine sisters from the Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand; Benedictine Father Noel Mueller from St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad; and members of the parish family of St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg, which is again the home of the Guadalupe Center. The diocesan Latino ministry’s first headquarters was at the parish, but later moved a few blocks away.

“Jesus Christ has to be the center, the foundation (of our lives),” Bishop Thompson said before blessing and dedicating the new Guadalupe Center, “but we build up from that center. Among all the different supports that make this such a unified accomplishment of love and service are all those who have gone into this.” He recognized Sister Barbara Lynn Schmitz, prioress of the Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, and Father Noel Mueller of St. Meinrad Archabbey, who attended.

“We think of the Benedictines (sisters) and all the great work that have done in Hispanic ministry over the years and the Benedictines from St. Meinrad like Father Noel. There are so many ways that he and others have served.”

Bishop Thompson also recognized and thanked the community of St. Mary Parish and the staff of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry. “It takes all those different groups that we thank God for,” he said. “We are called not to be strangers or sojourners, but called to be members of the household of God … of belonging to something greater than ourselves.

“We pray for the grace this day that God may indeed be glorified by all that takes place here,” Bishop Thompson added, “and all that transpires in our diocese and in our lives – especially tonight in this sacred place for our Latino brothers and sisters – and for all of us to grow in faith, hope and charity.”