Around The Diocese For April 28, 2017

Happy birthday!

Father Theodore Tempel, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday May 3.

Deacon James King, Christ the King Parish in Ferdinand, celebrates his birthday May 8.

Happy anniversary!

Deacon Richard Preske, retired deacon of the Diocese of Evansville, was ordained May 9, 1981.

Father Biju Thomas, associate pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt, St. James, Haubstadt and Holy Cross, Ft. Branch, was ordained to the priesthood May 3, 2000.

Father Ron Zgunda, retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, was ordained to the priesthood May 6, 1977.

Father Tony Ernst, director of newly ordained priests, diocesan coordinator of missionary priests, Dean of the West Deanery, and pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Haubstadt, St. James Parish, Haubstadt and Holy Cross Parish, Fort Branch, was ordained to the priesthood May 9, 1998.

Resurrection Students “Make a Difference”

Spencer Schiff, first grader at Resurrection Catholic School in Evansville, is a pretty typical student.  His favorite class is P.E., he likes to play basketball and baseball and he likes to help his mom bake cookies.  This hobby led to a very successful project helping Spencer earn $1,400 for the Boys and Girls Club as part of the first-grade program “Make a Difference.”

“Our teacher said ‘I’m going to give you five dollars to help the community,’ so I baked cookies and I sold them,” Schiff said. He bought ingredients to bake a variety of cookies and sold them to friends, family and the school community.  He made over 3,000 chocolate chip, monster and treasure cookies.

Schiff and his mom, Jamie, donated the funds to the Boys and Girls Club of Evansville during a board meeting earlier this year. When asked what he thinks the club will do with the money, Schiff replied, “I hope they help people with homework and play and have fun.”

As reported earlier in the year by The Message, first-grade students at Evansville’s Resurrection School donated thousands of dollars to 23 different charities as a result of their efforts to “Make a Difference.”

National Association of Lay Ministry to be held in Indianapolis on June 1-2

Indianapolis will host the 41st annual National Association of Lay Ministry (NALM) at the downtown Hyatt Regency from June 1-3, with a pre-conference available on May 30-31.

The NALM conference gathers professionals who minister in parish, diocesan, higher education, seminary, healthcare, prison and Catholic nonprofit ministries.

The theme of the conference is “Joy on the Journey: Serve. Collaborate. Dream.” Keynote speakers include Paulist Father Ricky Manalo, adjunct faculty member of Santa Clara University, who will speak o “Journeying Together in Christ: Two Models of Collaboration;” and Kerry Robinson, founding executive director of the National Leadership Roundtable, who will speak on “Choosing Joy.”

The conference also offers Mass, workshops, exhibitors and time for prayer.

A pre-conference targeting diocesan lay ministry formation directors, pastoral associates, parish life coordinators, parish business managers and all other lay ecclesial ministers will be held from may 30-31.  It features a gathering of professionals whose lives have been dedicated to the development and growth of lay ministry in the Catholic Church of the United States.  They will discuss the National Certification Standards and Competencies.

For more information on the conference and pre-conference schedule, speakers, hotel, airport and ground transportation and costs, visit nalm.org/events/conferences/2017-conference.

“Living with Alzheimer’s” series offers classes for caregivers

Join the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Ky/Southern Ind. Chapter in their upcoming series, “Living With Alzheimer’s.” Created for caregivers, this series of programs provide answers to the questions that arise in the early, middle and late stages of the disease. Participants can hear from those directly affected and learn what is needed to know to plan for each point along the way.

Sessions will be held on the following dates:

• May 2: Living with Alzheimer’s For Care Partners - Early Stage

• May 30: Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers - Middle Stage

• June 13: Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers - Late Stage

All sessions are held from 5-7:30 p.m. at  Alzheimer’s Association, 701 N. Weinbach Ave., Suite 51 in Evansville.  Registration is required for all programs.  Please call 1-800-272-3900 to register or visit communityresourcefinder.org.