Brute Society Nominees To Be Honored For Their Stewardship

A quiet visit years ago to the cathedral in the city of New Orleans has had a rippling effect that has continued to this day in the Diocese of Evansville.

Justin Clements was the diocesan director of development back in the late 1980s when he attended a conference in New Orleans. During a free moment, he went to the cathedral there. While he was visiting, he learned that the cathedral recognized people who were good stewards of their time, talent and treasure.

“When I came back to Evansville, I said, ‘We have to have something like that here.’ I presented the idea to Bishop (Gerald A.) Gettelfinger. It was right after the diocesan synod, which had a goal of becoming a total stewardship diocese.”

Bishop Gettelfinger agreed to the establishment of the program, which was named after Bishop Simon Bruté, the first bishop in this area. “That first year, 25 to 30 parishes participated,” Clements said, with candidates chosen by their parish staff members and fellow parishioners.

Over the years, the Bruté Society has been embraced by parishes throughout the diocese, he said, because of its primary focus on parishioners who give of their time and talent. “We found that if people give of their time and talent, if they are generous with their time and talent, then the treasure follows.”

Bruté recipients tend to be “salt of the earth people,” he said.

Often obituaries will include the information that they are “Bruté” recipients. “Almost every month, I see someone in the obituary section,” he said, noting the medals are usually on display at the funeral home.

He said that members often attend the annual Bruté celebration wearing their medals, years after their own induction into the society.

Bishop Charles C. Thompson said the Bruté Society has been a wonderful way for the diocese to honor parishioners for being “outstanding models of Christian stewardship.”

 “These parishioners are known throughout their parishes for their generosity in giving of their time, talent and treasure.”

"Such witness of outreach and service is beyond full measure in this life. Suffice-it-to-say that their parishes, communities and families bear the fruit of their labors in the name of Jesus Christ."

This year the Brute induction will be held during Mass, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville. Bishop Thompson will be the main celebrant at the Mass. He will also hand out the medals to the 136 nominees.

 The 2013 nominees include

• Gilbert and Rosie Adler, St. Wendel, St. Wendel;

• Sarah Alcorn, Sacred Heart, Evansville;

• Shirley and Della Anderson, St. Boniface, Evansville;

• Wayne and Carrol Anslinger, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight;

• Wilfred and Cathy Begle, St. Mary, Huntingburg;

• Linda Blome, Sacred Heart, Vincennes;

• Mike and Marilyn Broshears, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Paul Burch, St. John, Loogootee;

• Bob and Ina Cardinal, St. Philip Neri, Bicknell;

• Jeffrey and Sandra Cardinal, St. John the Baptist, Vincennes;

• Morris and Jane Carie, Sacred Heart, Vincennes;

• Joanie Cassell, St. Nicholas, Santa Claus;

• Fred and Patricia Crews, St. Joseph, Dale;

• George and Kristy Davidson, Holy Spirit, Evansville;

• Alejandro and Sandra Diaz, Nativity, (Spanish Community), Evansville;

• Jack and Pam Diehl, St. Theresa, Evansville;

• Bob and Sharon Dilger, Holy Family, Jasper;

• Jose Dubon, St. Mary, Huntingburg;

• Ken and Ruth Dupps, Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City;

• Michael Eckert, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• James and Brenda Edwards, Precious Blood, Jasper;

• Ron and Myrtle Englert, St. Agnes, Evansville;

• Phyllis Fischer, St. Raphael, Dubois;

• Maurice and Margaret Fleming, St. Clement, Boonville;

• Larry and Mona Gaesser, St. Martin, Chrisney;

• Theodore and Tammy Glaser, Corpus Christi, Evansville;

• Charles and JoAnn Goldbach, St. Joseph, Princeton;

• Jack and Shirley Hajek, Nativity, Evansville;

• Lawrence and Shyla Halter, St. Thomas, Vincennes;

• John and Donna Halverson, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Dan and Rosie Hauser, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Schnellville;

• Raymond and Yvonne Hausmann, Corpus Christi, Evansville;

• Allan and Jeanette Heidorn, Good Shepherd, Evansville;

• Pat and Loretta Hoehn, St. Matthew, Mount Vernon;

• Gene and Barb Hopf, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Marguerite Hubers, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand;

• Jon and Julia Hurst, St. Anthony, St. Anthony;

• Teresa Illyes, St. John the Baptist,Vincennes;

• Doug and Nancy Jenkins, St. Mary, Sullivan;

• Robert and Jackie Kirchoff, St. Joseph, Princeton;

• Virgil and Frances Knies, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine;

• Marvis Lane, St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes;

• Dick Lange, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand;

• Timmie Lingo, Good Shepherd, Evansville;

• Tom and Carolyn Long, St. Peter, Linton;

• Bob and Anne Martin, St. Philip, Posey County;

• Ryan and Laura McAninch, St. Henry, St. Henry;

• Lawrence and Dolores Miller, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Mary Morse, St. Joan of Arc, Jasonville;

• Donna Potter, St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand;

• Richard and Sheila Probert, Holy Redeemer, Evansville;

• Charles and Carole Reising, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Gene and Marianne Ritter, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County;

• Earl and Grace Robertson, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight;

• Jim and Sylvia Rose, Holy Cross, Fort Branch;

• Jim Scarafia, Holy Angels, New Harmony;

• Rosalee Scheller, St Francis Xavier, Poseyville;

• Joseph and Lois Schnarr, Our Lady of Hope, Washington;

• Kathleen Schneider, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• Andrew and Trista Schroeder, St. John Chrysostom, New Boston;

• Jacky Schwartz, St. Mary, Evansville;

• Mary Seibert, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine;

• Russ and Kathy Seibert, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt;

• Gary and Charlene Sermersheim, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Joseph Smith, Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg;

• Gene and Brenda Spindler, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt;

• Mitchell Strange, Our Lady of Hope, Washington;

• Tom and Carolyn Thorpe, St. Bernard, Rockport;

• Stan and Diane Verkamp, Holy Family, Jasper;

• Ron and Judy Vieke, St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes;

• David and Sandra Wagner, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Ann Ward, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• Carl and Marge Weber, St. Bernard, Snake Run;

• Greg and Julie Weinzapfel, St. Philip, Posey County;

• Mark and Linda Welch, Holy Name, Bloomfield;

• Arthur and Connie Welp, Precious Blood, Jasper;

• Kenneth and Luanna Wessel, Mary, Help of Christians, Mariah Hill;

• Jeff and Laurie Wilmes, Holy Redeemer, Evansville;

• William Wittgen, Christ the King, Evansville;

• John and Mary Wolk, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Kenneth and Julie Zuber, St. Joseph, Evansville.

Indicates the award is being given posthumously.