'Community Celebration' Honors

Maybe it was good fortune. More likely, it was a Divinely inspired moment that led the 2015 Diocese of Evansville Bruté Society induction ceremony and Mass to be scheduled for Nov. 1 – the Feast of All Saints.

“I read something recently that pointed out that saints don’t become saints after they die,” Bishop Charles C. Thompson told the honorees and their families. “They became saints in this life. We may declare them as saints after they die, but that didn't make them a saint. We declared what they have become.”

He explained that November is called the month of remembrance in the Church, and that it begins with two of the most important feast days of all – All Saints on Nov. 1 and All Souls on Nov. 2.

“By our baptism we are called to be saints,” he said. “We’re all called to holiness because we're created in the image of God. Something of God is in each and every one of us. Regardless of our place or status in life … there is holiness in each and every human being.

“Each of us has our foibles, as with all the saints before us and all the saints who will come after us. The only people born without sin are Jesus and Mary. We dare to embrace our holiness rather than the darkness. That’s what leads us on the path to sainthood. That’s what leads us to realize how blessed we are.”

He also discussed the day’s readings, which included the Gospel account of Jesus’ proclamation of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-12).

“We celebrate today as a community,” he said, with the saints – living and deceased – glorifying God and giving thanks for the blessing of the Beatitudes that show us how, in a Christ-like way, to give of ourselves for the glory of God; to reach out and touch others, leading them to that personal encounter with Christ, who we celebrate here in Word and in Sacrament.”

The ceremony began with the Litany of Saints as the Bruté Society honorees processed into St. Benedict Cathedral, followed by priests and deacons of the diocese, and Bishop Thompson. Formal induction took place immediately after the homily.

A reception for the more-than-120 honorees and the friends and families took place in the St. Benedict cafeteria immediately after Mass.

Here are the 2015 Brute Society members:

• Paula Alles, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• William and Rachel Ante, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Fred Ashby, Sts. Mary and John, Evansville;

• Jack and Diane Bailey, St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes;

• Mike ( ) and Mary Brothers, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Anna Mae Burger, Precious Blood, Jasper;        

• Tony and Kathy Burton, St. Mary, Ireland;        

• James and Justine Cameron, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Joe and Cathy Crowdus, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County;

• Carole Daniels, St. John the Baptist, Newburg;

• Marie Dasher, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight;

• William ( ) and Clara David, St. Matthew, Mount Vernon;

• Ricardo and Laisha Diaz, Nativity, Evansville;

• Gerald Erny, St. John the Baptist, Vincennes;

• Joseph and Sandra Fehribach, Sacred Heart, Schnellville;

• Sam and Elizabeth Fulton, Corpus Christi, Evansville;

• John and Betty Gehlhausen, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Eugene and Betty Gilles, All Saints, Evansville;

• Bob Goebel, St. Philip, Posey County;

• Scott and Mary Goedde, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Virgil ( )and Judy Gress, Holy Family, Jasper;

• Carol Hammond St. Mary, Sullivan;

• Steve and Karen Hanley, St. John the Baptist, Newburgh;

• Larry and Henrietta Happe, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County;

• Lily Harris, Holy Redeemer, Evansville;

• Bill Hauser, St. Anthony, St. Anthony;

• Imelda Heerdink, Holy Redeemer, Evansville;

• John and Ellen Hegeman, Annunciation, Evansville;

• Jim and Brenda Helfrich, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt;

• Margaret Herrel, Precious Blood, Jasper;

• Robert Hildenbrand, St. Clement, Boonville;

• Michael and Beverly Hirsch, Holy Cross, Fort Branch;

• Sara Hochgesang, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine;

• Rita Horty, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Pauline Hotz, St. John, Loogootee;

• Andy and Cindy Howard, Sts. Mary and John, Evansville;

• Nikee Hudson, St. Joan of Arc, Jasonville;

• Mary Ann Huls, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• Charles and Mary Lee Ingram, St. Joseph, Princeton;

• Jeff and Jeanie Jacobs, Sacred Heart, Vincennes;

• John and Katherine Keller, St. Thomas, Vincennes;

• Pauline Kempf, St. Philip, Posey County;

• Tom and Maggie Koetting, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Brian Lankford, Good Shepherd, Evansville;

• Leslie ( ) and Carol Lantaff, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight;

• JoAnn Laugel, St. Boniface, Evansville;

• Mary Helen Laval, Annunciation, Evansville;

• Mariah Litwiler, Our Lady of Hope, Washington;

• Teresa Lundergan, Our Lady of Hope, Washington;

• Bob and Ann Martin, St. Clement, Boonville;

• Joseph and Connie Maxey, St. Joseph, Princeton;

• Jim and Mary Alice McDonald, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt;

• Larry and Tammy Mehringer, St. Raphael, Dubois;

• Linus and Bernita Metz, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine;

• Judy Miller, St. Theresa, Evansville;

• Richard and Elaine Mohr, St. Francis of Assisi, Dale;

• Ann Moore, St. Francis of Assisi, Dale;

• Steve and Kelly Obert, St. Bernard, Snake Run;

• Shirley Olinger, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand;

• Gloria Petry, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand;

• Roger and Karen Pritchett, St. Wendel, St. Wendel;

• Rose Rasche, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• Jeff and Rose Reising, Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City;

• John and Diana Schiff, St. Boniface, Evansville;

• John Schuetz , Good Shepherd, Evansville;

• Dennis Seib, St. John the Baptist, Newburgh;

• Kevin and Marsha Shepherd, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Christopher and Marcie Spurgeon, St. John the Baptist, Vincennes;

• Darlene Steffe, All Saints, Evansville;

• Ray and Mary Striegel, St. Francis of Assisi, Dale;

• Bill and Beverly Symon, St. Bernard, Rockport;

• Ralph and Joanne Tretter, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand;

• Rita Tucker, Holy Family, Jasper;

• Paul Vonderwell, Sacred Heart, Vincennes;

• Yvonne Walker, Nativity, Evansville;

• Keith and Lisa Waninger, St. Martin, Chrisney;

• Irma Westfall, St. Philip Neri, Bicknell;

• Joe and Linda Wildeman, St. Francis Xavier, Poseyville         ;

• Sue Willis, Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg;

• Tom Woods, St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes;

• Tim and Tammy Zeller, Corpus Christi, Evansville.

The symbol by the name means the recipient is deceased.