Around The Diocese For March 1

Pastor emeritus
Benedictine Father Gregory Chamberlin, pastor at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, writes, "I would like to share with you an announcement I made last weekend.
"People have been seeking about the status of my health at this time. I do really appreciate your interest and especially your prayers.
"I have some good news and some not as good but tolerable.
"First the good news: It seems that the cancer on the pancreas has disappeared and that is great news. As part of the follow-up treatment I am receiving chemotherapy three times a month, then off a week, and then three weeks again until the end of May. I am tolerating it pretty well except for the two days following the treatment I have very little energy. But then I pop back some and move on to the next treatment.
"That is the good and pretty good news. The news I don’t like to tell is that because of the health problems I will retire as pastor of St. Ben’s effective June 12. The Bishop and the Personnel Board of the diocese and the archabbot of St. Meinrad have started a search for my successor and that will be announced probably in the next two or three weeks. I will remain as pastor until June 12 and then, if all goes well, I will continue living in St. Ben's rectory as pastor emeritus of St. Benedict’s and will continue to help out with the celebration of the Masses and Sacraments and in whatever way I can be of help.
"I thank you all for your prayers and good wishes and am looking forward to continuing as St. Benedict’s pastor emeritus."

A larger body
Deacon Dave Seibert, pastoral life coordinator at St. Theresa Church in Evansville, writes in a recent bulletin, “Parishes are only parts of the larger body of the Church.
As a Church we care for the poor, for immigrants, for the sick and other particular needs. Some parishes do this better than others because they are more suitably placed to do so.
“As plans for the diocese continue to develop in the Strategic Plan, we have to keep in mind that both individuals and parishes are part of this larger body. We can’t think of ourselves as isolated, self-contained little churches.
“The Church of the first century evolved to meet the needs of the people she served. Today’s Church must continue to put the needs of the people first and adapt to models that can best serve those people.
“How it will look, no one knows yet. What we do know is that all the parts of the body must work together to be successful.”
 
Happy Birthday!
Deacon Dick Grannan celebrates his birthday March 8.
Deacon Michael Burns celebrates his birthday March 10.
Deacon David Cook of St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville, celebrates his birthday March 11.
Father David Martin, associate pastor of St. Philip Neri Church, Bicknell, and Sacred Heart Church, Vincennes, celebrates his birthday March 12.
 
Anniversary of ordination
Father Joseph Kane, sacramental minister at St. Philip Church, Posey County, was ordained to the priesthood March 11, 1967.
 
Wedding anniversaries
Congratulations to couples at St. Joseph Church in Jasper celebrating March wedding anniversaries: Teddy and Linda Foster, 40 years; Harold and Karen Murray, 40 years.
 
Happy Birthday!
Lora J. Burris, parish catechetical leader at Holy Name Church, Bloomfield, celebrates her birthday March 12.
 
Maintenance
Stan May, Harvey Hirsch, George Robinson, Joe Bathon and Jim Oing are members of the Maintenance Committee at Holy Cross Church in Fort Branch.
 
Cemetery Committee
Alan Wade, Gary Goedde, Terry Goedde, Rick Schmitt, Von Wolfe, Jim Helfrich, Fred Tenbarge, Mel Ziliak and Ryan Scherer are members of the Cemetery Committee at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haubstadt.

Geography Bee
Becky Dosher, secretary at St. Joseph School in Vanderburgh County, writes, "We finally have our winner of the geography bee!" The winner is  Drew Pfaffmann, and the runner-up is Isaiah Nisley.