Around The Diocese

Happy birthday!

Father Benny Alikandayil Chacko, associate pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes and St. Philip Neri Parish, Bicknell, celebrates his birthday Feb. 11.

Lori Stoltz, parish catechetical leader at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Oakland City, celebrates her birthday Feb. 11.

Lisa Popham, assistant principal at Reitz Memorial High School, celebrates her birthday Feb. 12.

Father Raymond Brenner, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Jasper and Dean of the East Deanery, celebrates his birthday Feb. 12.

Father Ron Zgunda, retired priest from the diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Feb. 12.

Deacon William Brandle, St. Peter and Paul Parish, Haubstadt, celebrates his birthday Feb. 15.

Medicare Seminar set for Feb. 7

When individuals and their families are new to the Federal Medicare program, it can be confusing and frustrating at first glance. Evansville Senior Connection will hold a “Welcome to Medicare: seminar at 4 p.m. on Feb. 7 at 951 S. Hebron Ave., Suite C, adjacent to the Senior Connection Office.  This program will help seniors better understand the many different parts of medicare and the options available.

This is an informational program only.  No specific plans or companies will be discussed.  The seminar will be presented by Gina Downs, Vice President of Senior Connection.  It is free but registration is required.  Call Senior Connection at 812-473-7271 or toll-free at 800-258-7610 for reservations and directions.

College Goal Sunday 2017

Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at 40 sites in Indiana to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2 p.m. (CST), Feb.12 at Ivy Tech Community College.

The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA MUST be filed by March 10 to be eligible for Indiana financial aid. College Goal Sunday is so important since completing this required form correctly and by the deadline is sometimes perceived to be complicated and time-consuming. In less than one afternoon at a College Goal Sunday event, students and their families can get free help and file the form online.

Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s), and parents’ should bring completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2015 income and benefits information. Students who worked last year should bring their income information as well. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2015 income and benefits information. Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at fsaid.ed.gov before coming to the event.

Volunteers will walk through the online form line-by-line and answer families’ individual questions as needed. All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities and many have Spanish interpreters.

Students may also win one of ten $1000 scholarships. Students who attend any of the College Goal Sunday sites and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered into a drawing for a $1000 scholarship. The winners will be notified in April, and prizes will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.

Now in its 28th year, College Goal Sunday has helped more than 90,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time. College Goal Sunday is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association.

For more information about College Goal Sunday or to view a complete list of sites available visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.  

Nathan Seiler Speaker at Local Inauguration

Mater Dei High School Junior Nathan Seiler was invited to speak at the Vanderburgh County Inauguration ceremony at the old Court House by County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave. His topic for his speech was complaining and how to make it productive.  Musgrave invited Seiler after hearing him speak at the 4-H Gala, held this past fall.