Bishop Thompson: Faith Takes A Community To Build

Resurrection Parish eighth-grader Evan Bonnell created a colorful mosaic of Bishop Charles C. Thompson, which he presented to the bishop Jan. 16 during the vocations awareness luncheon sponsored by the Serra Club of Evansville.

Evan and his mother Kim explained that the paper pieces in the mosaic are like the people of the Diocese of Evansville, “who come together to make a family under the bishop.” He said it took three days of cutting paper and gluing to complete the project.

“It was cool to do,” Evan said, “and giving it to the bishop was like giving him an award.”

Every year, the Serra Club invites eighth graders in Evansville area parishes and Catholic schools to submit projects focusing on vocations. Students from each parish are then selected to attend the annual luncheon at the Catholic Center in Evansville. They are accompanied by their parents, principals and pastors.

Projects this year included posters, essays, power point presentations, videos, cookbooks and journals.

Daniel Dixon, who attends Annunciation Catholic School at the Holy Spirit Campus, mentioned Sister of the Blessed Sacrament Jane Nesmith in his essay. “She taught a lot and did good deeds,” he said. “She inspired me a lot.”

Sister Jane served from 1996-2013 as pastoral life coordinator, liturgical coordinator and director of religious education at the former St. John the Apostle Parish, which merged in 2014 with the former St. Mary Parish. Dixon and his family are Sts. Mary and John parishioners.

During the luncheon, Bishop Thompson congratulated the students, families and parishes on coming together to receive the awards. “Faith is not matured on our own,” he said. “It takes a community to build.”

“We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ,” the bishop added. “Pope Francis says, ‘We must embrace God’s Call.’”

Students in Evansville area parishes who were honored by the Evansville Serra Club include

• Annunciation at Christ the King, Evansville: Leila Stratman, Grace Martin;

• Annunciation at Holy Spirit, Evansville: Jessica Armstead, Daniel Dixon Jr.;

• Corpus Christi, Evansville: Emily Hermann, Olivia Effinger;

• Good Shepherd, Evansville: Nick Folz, Grace Murrell;

• Holy Redeemer, Evansville: Anna Bury, Andrew Heldman;

• Holy Rosary, Evansville: Anna Borowiecki, Margaret Krutchen, Thomas DiRienzo;

• Resurrection, Evansville: Evan Bonnell, Raelynn Grossman;

• St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville: Sarah Pritchett, Henry McCombs, Nathaniel Allen;

• St. Boniface, Evansville: Bailey Korschgen, Matthew Hayden;

• St. Theresa, Evansville: Grace Friona, Beth Jewell, Kennedy Williams;

• Holy Cross, Fort Branch: Brendan Murphy, Katie Ross;

• St. James, Haubstadt: Katie Ross, Alex Hoffman;

• Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt: Lindsey Field, Allison Kissel;

• St. John the Baptist, Newburgh: Riley Cox, Ellen Hayhurst;

• St. Philip, Posey County: Kailee McBride, Luke French;

• St. Bernard, Rockport: Andrew Smith, Skylar Niles, Kelsey Bowlds;

• St. Wendel, St. Wendel: Jenna Zirkelbach, Jenna Fehrenbacher;

•St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County: Macy Adler, Elyssa Happe.