'Rejoice!' Planning Continues

Planning continues for “Rejoice! A Catholic Community Celebration.” This first-ever signature event for the Diocese of Evansville is set for May 14 at the Ford Center in downtown Evansville. 

Doors open at 2 p.m. CDT; a full schedule appears below. 

Details are in place regarding parking and shuttle arrangements, collection of parish envelopes and distributions of parish bulletins from across our 12 counties.

They include: 

• Parking – Free parking will be available in the large lot on the east side of the Evansville Civic Center complex, along Walnut Street and just east of Southeast 9^th Street. Please note that Locust Street between Southeast 9^th Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. (i.e. the portion of Locust that runs between Old National Events Plaza and the Evansville Civic Center) will be closed to vehicular traffic. The Knights of Columbus will provide free shuttle service, using golf carts, from the Civic Center parking lot to the Ford Center before and after “Rejoice!”
• Ford Center Drop-off – Drivers will be able to drop off passengers at the Ford Center entrance along Martin Luther King Drive. They can then park in the Civic Center lot and take the shuttle to the facility.
• Collections ­– Because there will be no other Saturday Vigil Masses celebrated anywhere in the diocese, well-marked containers will be available immediately inside the main entrance of the Ford Center for weekly parish envelopes. Diocesan staff will sort the envelopes following the event and deliver envelopes to appropriate parishes. In addition, there will be a free-will offering, with all proceeds going to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Evansville.
• Bulletins – Parish staffs have been asked to bring copies of their bulletins for the May 14-15 weekend, and these will be available for pickup at tables inside the main entry of the Ford Center. Look for signs directing you to the appropriate table for your parish, or the parish you are interested in.
• Accessible seating – Accessible seating will be available on the main floor of the Ford Center, and direct access to the main floor will be available; it will be possible to access the main floor without having to take stairs or an elevator. Signs and greeters will help direct those who need accessible seating to the appropriate areas. 

Schedule

The afternoon includes opportunities for Individual Reconciliation, a concert by student choirs from parishes and schools, praying of the Rosary, and Mass concelebrated by Bishop Charles Thompson and priests of the Diocese of Evansville. Here is the full schedule:

• 2 p.m. CDT – Doors open
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. CDT – Individual Reconciliation
• 3-3:30 p.m. CDT – Concert by student choirs from parishes and schools
• 3:30 p.m. CDT – Community Rosary
• 4 p.m. CDT – Mass concelebrated by Bishop Thompson and priests of the Diocese of Evansville

During Mass, recognition of significant anniversaries (wedding jubilees, priests, deacons and religious) will occur.