Around The Diocese For January 25
Happy Birthday!
Deacon Thomas Kirsch of St. Philip Parish in Posey County celebrates his birthday on Jan. 31.
Deacon Michael Helfter of Holy Family Parish in Jasper celebrates his birthday on Feb. 3.
Saint Meinrad hosts Black History Lecture on Feb. 12
Special to The Message
Dr. Shannen Dee Williams, assistant professor of history at Villanova University, will deliver the annual Black History Lecture at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad.
Her lecture, “The Real Sister Act: Black Catholic Sisters in the United States,” will be held at 7 p.m. CST on Feb. 12 in St. Bede Theater.
She is currently revising the manuscript for her first book, “Subversive Habits: The Untold Stories of Black Catholic Sisters in the United States,” to be published by Duke University Press.
Her research has been supported by a host of awards and fellowships, including a Scholar-in-Residence Fellowship from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City; a Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship for Religion and Ethics from the Woodrow Wilson National Foundation; and the John Tracy Ellis Dissertation Award from the American Catholic Historical Association.
In 2016, Williams began a three-year term as a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians. In September 2018, she received the inaugural Sister Christine Schenk Award for Young Catholic Leadership from Future Church for using history to foster racial justice and reconciliation in religious congregations of women.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Parking is available at St. Bede Hall and in the Guest House and student parking lots. For more information, call Mary Jeanne Schumacher at 812-357-6501 during business hours.
Matt Wetzel new girls’track coach at Reitz Memorial
Matt Wetzel has been named the Head Varsity Girls’ Track Coach at Reitz Memorial High School, with Marlena Sauer continuing as Assistant Coach.
Wetzel joined the Memorial Faculty in 2017, and currently serves as a teacher in the Business Department. He is beginning his second year of coaching at Memorial, the former as Assistant Coach, with a total of nine years of experience coaching high school track and field.
“I am lucky to be teaching and coaching at Reitz Memorial High School and hope to add to the proud history of our school and to our successful track & field program. My primary goal for the program is to provide student-athletes a safe environment to grow in their faith, the structure to succeed in the classroom, and the tools for each child to reach their potential on and off the track,” says Wetzel. “I am blessed to have two talented and supportive track & field coaches in Marlena Sauer and Mark Schuler who gladly share their decades of experience with me. My hope is for the girls to follow the lead of Memorial alumna Coach Sauer, and return to the team willing to share their time and talent with future Tigers.”
Coach Wetzel’s background, history as Assistant Coach, and continued support of Coach Sauer will make for a smooth transition within the program. His positive communication and commitment to the overall success of the students, beyond athletics, reinforces the mission of Reitz Memorial High School.
