Around The Diocese For Jan. 15, 2016

Happy Birthday!

         Father John Boeglin, Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Jasper, and director of the diocesan Rural Life Office, celebrates his birthday Jan. 22.

         Benedictine Father Godfrey Mullen, rector at St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville, celebrates his birthday Jan. 22.

         Father Jeff Read, associate pastor at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper and St. Mary Parish in Ireland, celebrates his birthday Jan. 22.

         Father Eugene Heerdink, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Jan. 23.

         Father Joseph Kane, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Jan. 23.

From the Pastor’s Desk

         “Thank you for your help, encouragement and faithful witness of these past years and for the shared opportunity to build up the Kingdom of God by ministry and the worship of the All Holy One! After decades of daily management and administration, Providence has arranged for me to enjoy God’s Church as a full time priest and theologian on a ‘Retirement’ schedule after January 13,” writes Father Michael Madden, retired pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Schnellville, and St. Anthony Parish, St. Anthony. “I am very happy to welcome as our new parish priest, Father Christopher Droste, whom I have been blessed to know with his family since 1984.”

Washington Catholic Elementary News

From Mrs. Heltzel . . .

         As we start our second semester, we are committed to providing our students good nutrition here at school. Please remember to send in healthy snacks for classroom celebrations and birthdays. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

         As many of you know, Father Mann has been assigned to a new parish in Evansville. We want to thank him for his many years at Washington Catholic. He will be missed and I ask you continue to keep him in your prayers.

         We welcome our new priest, Father Paul Ferguson, to Washington Catholic. I will keep you alerted if Father chooses to change our Mass days and times.

News from Montgomery

         “Over the Christmas holiday we had many visitors and former members of St. Peter (Montgomery) celebrate our Masses with us,” writes Father Jim Koressel in the parish newsletter. “I heard so many wonderful compliments about the celebrations that I feel we are certainly on the right track. Any time we can improve our worship at St. Peter, I’m all for it. Our weekend gatherings are the most important things we do. If parishioners do not feel they are being satisfied with the liturgies, I really need to know about that.”

They’ve Been Caught . . .

         According to the St. Benedict Cathedral School Parent Newsletter, the following students have been caught . . . doing something GOOD: Alan Agree, KA; Hank Speakes, KB; Nick Swan, 1A; Ethan Schaefer, 1B; Cate Barron 2A; Hayden Rhoades, 2B; Harper Alvey, 3A; Andrew Chandler, 3B; Braiden Rhoades, 4A; Sara Beckwith, 4B; Maggie Willming, 5A; Gavin McMinn, 5B; Julianna Korba, 6A; Sam Ziemer, 7A; Savannah Warren, 7B; Nick Collins, 8A.

Celebrate!

         Liz Hirsch, parish catechetical leader at Holy Cross Parish, celebrates her birthday Jan. 26.

Winners!!

         The winners of the Christian Conduct Award for December at St. Joseph School, Vanderburgh County are Addy Waller and Jordan Elpers.  Thank you Addy and Jordan for being fine examples of Christ-like behavior!

Thanks!

         Father Dave Fleck writes, “Thank you for the many Christmas greeting cards and gifts. Your kindness is appreciated.”

         “I am most appreciative to all of you for the good wishes, cards, candy, cakes and other gifts. It is truly an honor for me to be here as your pastor and I am most thankful for your prayers and ongoing support,” says Fr. Kenneth Walker.

         “With very joyful tidings of appreciation I extend most gracious thanks to everyone who sent me Christmas cards and gifts, phone messages of joy, cookies and candy, food certificates and cash gifts during this beautiful season of His Birth! To parishioners of St. Peter (Linton) and Holy Name (Bloomfield) I continually remember each and every one in prayer,” writes Father Joseph Erbacher.

Historical Tour Continues

         Four years ago, Evansville resident Jim Schroeder and his family decided to make a historical tour of every Catholic church in our diocese. He writes with an update:

         “We just finished our fourth year (48 visits), and are entering our final full year with expectations to finish all the active churches in the summer of 2017.  We continue to be joined by a number of families and friends throughout our visits. In 2015, we visited the following churches in this order (one each month): Sacred Heart, Evansville; St. Francis Xavier, Poseyville; St. Anthony, Evansville; All Saints, Cannelburg; St. Mary's, Ireland; St. Agnes, Evansville; St. Raphael, Dubois; St. Peter, Linton; St. Joan of Arc, Jasonville; St. Joseph, Evansville; Sacred Heart, Vincennes; St. Philip Neri, Bicknell.

         “In 2016, we are planning to visit (in this order): St. Joseph, Dale; Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City; St. John the Apostle, Evansville; Christ the King, Evansville; St. Theresa, Evansville; Holy Cross, Fort Branch; Holy Family, Jasper; Holy Rosary, Evansville; Holy Spirit, Evansville; Holy Redeemer, Evansville; Resurrection, Evansville; Precious Blood, Jasper.

         “We continue to welcome anyone that would like to be part of the historical tour at any point. They simply need to email me atjimandamyschroeder@gmail.com and I will add them to the notification list, which goes out once a month with a notice about the upcoming visit and a reflection from the past one.”