Around The Diocese For Dec. 9, 2016
Happy birthday!
Deacon Earl Ruppel celebrates his birthday Dec. 16.
Deacon David Seibert, pastoral life coordinator at St. Boniface Parish, Evansville, and director of the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate, celebrates his birthday Dec. 17.
Doug Rasler, parish catechetical leader at Holy Redeemer Parish, Evansville, celebrates his birthday Dec. 17.
Father Earl Rohleder, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Dec. 20.
Happy anniversary!
Father William Dietsch, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 18, 1971.
St. Philip parishioner receives Sagamore of the Wabash Award
Connie Weinzapfel, a member of St. Philip Parish in Posey County and director of the University of Southern Indiana’s Historic New Harmony, has received Indiana’s Sagamore of the Wabash award. State Sen. Jim Tomes and Rep. Wendy McNamara made the presentation during the November meeting of the Historic New Harmony Advisory Board. Given by Gov. Mike Pence, it is one of the highest honors bestowed by the state of Indiana.
“I am very surprised and honored by the Sagamore Award,” said Weinzapfel “I have known other great people who have contributed so much to the State of Indiana, so I am thrilled to be in their company.”
Over the last 70 years, governors in the state of Indiana have given Sagamores of the Wabash as a personal tribute to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the state or to the governor. Recipients include astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians and ordinary citizens who have contributed to Indiana heritage. Weinzapfel joins John Gregg, Ryan White, David Letterman, Jeff Gordon, Raju Chinthala, Donald Davidson, and many others as recipients of the award.
“New Harmony is the real star here though, as it shines brighter than just about any other place in Indiana,” said Weinzapfel.
In 1985, Weinzapfel, a 1978 graduate of USI, joined Historic New Harmony as director of theNew Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art before being appointed as director of Historic New Harmony in 1996. Over her 31 years of service, Weinzapfel, who will retire in December, has made a significant impact on art and historic preservation throughout the town of New Harmony.
In addition to her duties with Historic New Harmony, Weinzapfel has maintained many professional affiliations, including Indiana Arts Commission, National Historic Landmarks Stewards Association, International Council on Monuments and Sites, American Association for State & Local History, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Association of College & University Museums & Galleries, College Art Association, Community Foundation Alliance of Southwestern Indiana, Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana Board of Directors, USI Society for Arts & Humanities, Harmonie Associates, Rapp Granary/Owen Foundation and the AIDS Resource Group of Evansville.
A member of St. Philip Parish in Mount Vernon, Ind., she earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the University of Southern Indiana and a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
