Around The Diocese For Dec. 26

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Father Eugene Schmitt writes in the parish bulletin at St. Raphael Parish in Dubois and St. Peter Celestine Parish in Celestine:

“The past few weeks I, along with other priests, heard the Confessions of students in grades five to 12. I am impressed how the youth have become comfortable with knowing how to make a good confession.

“They have started by saying, ‘Bless me Father for I have sinned,’ then stating how long it has been since the last time they received the sacrament. For the most part, you can also see that they have really taken time to examine their conscience well.

“The Sacrament of Reconciliation is such a gift to us Catholics and is a new beginning and fresh start because we now have a clean slate from all our sins. It is like beginning a new school year or beginning a new basketball season or some other sport. The past is forgotten and there is a chance to start all over again.

“If you have been away from the gift of God’s mercy, please consider coming back to receive God’s grace, love and mercy.”

Happy Birthday!

Deacon Kenneth Johanning, Sacred Heart Parish, Schnellville, and St. Anthony Parish, St. Anthony, celebrates his birthday Dec. 31.

Deacon David McDaniel, Holy Family Parish, Jasper, celebrates his birthday Dec. 31.

Father Jean Vogler, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Jan. 1.

Deacon Robert Hayden Jr. celebrates his birthday Jan. 12.

Father Kenneth Herr, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, celebrates his birthday Jan. 13.

Welcome

“Please join me in welcoming Ruth Bandas to the communications staff,” writes Tim Lilley, The Message editor in an email to Catholic Center staff.

“She will join us as editorial and administrative assistant. In this role, Ruth will assist in proofing The Message and managing our subscriber list. She also will contribute as a writer and photographer.

“Ruth spent more than four years on the administrative staff at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Daylight, where her duties included responsibility for the weekly bulletin. She also has worked for the marketing firm of Daniel Burton Dean, and for the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.”

Mother daughter ministry

“Judy Blackwell continues in the footsteps of her mother as she fills the holy water bottles for our parishioners to take home,” writes Father Kenneth Walker, pastor at St. John Parish in Loogootee.

“This truly is an important ministry for which we are thankful and we also appreciate CVS drug store for donating the bottles.”

Food drive results

Congratulations to our fifth graders,” writes Dan Gilbert, principal at St. Joseph School in Princeton.

“They collected the most items during our Salvation Army food drive.  Now, they get to have lunch with the principal.  I’m looking forward to it. We collected over 1100 items!”

Happy Birthday!

Donna Bradley, parish catechetical leader at St. Peter Parish in Montgomery and All Saints Parish in Cannelburg, celebrates her birthday Dec. 31.

Pam Freyberger, parish catechetical leader at St. Joseph Parish, Jasper, celebrates her birthday Jan. 3.

Connie Baehl, parish catechetical leader at St. James Parish, Haubstadt, celebrates her birthday Jan. 6.

Alice Boyd, parish catechetical leader at St. Mary Parish, Shoals, celebrates her birthday Jan. 13.