Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Diocese of Evansville
Former ICC executive director dies at age 77
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Martin Desmond “Des” Ryan, age 77 of Rensselaer, Ind., passed away July 22, in Sarasota, Fla.
Ryan was the executive director of the Indiana Catholic Conference from 1980 until his retirement in 2004.
The Indiana Catholic Conference is the statewide coordinating body for the five Roman Catholic Dioceses in Indiana. It is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Indiana in regard to state and and national matters.
The ICC is a source for public inquiry about the position of the Catholic Church on matters affecting the common good, with a website at www.indianacc.org.
Glenn Tebbe is the executive director of the ICC, succeeding Ryan in that position in 2004.
Among the many accomplishments of Ryan was assisting the Message and other Catholic newspapers in Indiana, by arranging for coverage of the state legislature, a tradition continued by Tebbe.
Ryan was born in Lake Forest, Ill. on Jan. 26, 1933, the son of the late Thomas and Frances (Cuffe) Ryan. He was raised in Wadsworth, Ill. and attended grade school in Waukegan, Ill. and Campion Jesuit High School in Wisconsin.
He graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer and held a doctoral degree in sociology from Purdue University.
From 1953 to 1955 he served in the U.S. Army.
He began his career as a professor of sociology at St. Joseph’s College. In 1975, he was hired by the Indiana Catholic Conference as Director of Research. In 1976, he became the Assistant Director and later Executive Director from 1980 til his retirement in 2004.
Ryan received a number of awards and recognitions over the years. Among them, he was recognized by St. Joseph’s College with an honorary doctorate and later as Alumnus of the Year. He was also recognized by the State of Indiana as Sagamore of the Wabash.
His wife of almost 55 years, Leone Marie Devitt, preceded him in death, Oct. 25, 2009. One son also preceded him in death.
His survivors include one son and three daughters, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer is in charge of arrangements; the funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Joseph College Chapel on Saturday, July 31, at 11:30 a.m.
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Evansville, log on to the website of The Message at www.themessageonline.org)
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Diocesan youth learn to ‘be Christ,’ ‘see Christ’ at bcX retreat
NOTRE DAME — Youth from across the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend recently participated in a bcX retreat held at Holy Cross College in South Bend. BcX refers to the notion to “be Christ” and “see Christ” in community. “X” is an ancient Hebrew symbol for Christ. Service opportunities along with prayer, participation in the sacraments, discussions and social time were the hallmark of this week-long gathering in mid-July.
One participant from Fort Wayne, Eddie Black, shared her insights on the retreat.
“The bcX-Servant Leadership retreat, which teaches how to be Christ to others and therefore see Christ in others, was offered to the youth of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend both this summer and last. After much prompting from my friends, I went on the week-long service retreat. Joining over 60 teens for the week were numerous young adults who led our small groups each day, and the Franciscan Brothers Minor, who quickly became our favorites!” she said.
The retreat offered teens much in the way of spiritual growth opportunities. Black said, “Each day was a balance of sacraments, prayer, service, social time and time within our small groups. In the mornings until the afternoon we worked at various service sites around South Bend, and then in the evening we had sessions with speakers, like Father Dan Scheidt and Sister Marie Morgan, with small group time and other activities. The sessions were built around the luminous mysteries of the rosary.”
She along with the other youth there felt open to the spirit of service. She said, “By balancing the work we were doing for the needy with our own Lord’s teachings, we were truly able to have our eyes and hearts opened to how we are called to a sense of community with everyone, regardless of their situation.”
Photo caption: During the final day of the retreat, the teens showed their gratitude to the Franciscan Brothers Minor by washing their feet. Travis Rauwerdink, left, and Samantha Baus are shown washing Bother Solanus’ feet. Brothers in the photo are from left, Father David Engo, superior, Brother Juniper, Bother Felix, Brother Lawrence and Brother Leo Maria.
Documentary released about beloved Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
FORT WAYNE — Archbishop Fulton John Sheen has been called one of the greatest communicators of the 20th century. Archbishop Fulton Sheen was a universally popular evangelist, Emmy Award-winning radio/TV personality, writer and missionary. A new film produced by the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation in Peoria, Ill., tells the story of Sheen, who reached 30 million viewers weekly with his television series, “Life is Worth Living.”
Now, more than 50 years later, Archbishop Sheen is seen again in this new, hour-long documentary, “Servant of All.” The film tells the story of a farm boy, born and raised in Central Illinois, and his rise to fame as one of the most widely recognized Catholic leaders. Video clips, photographs and personal testimony display Bishop Sheen in a new light, portraying the triumphs and struggles of this American icon.
“Servant of All” was shown on Monday, July 19, at the Allen County Public Library and again on Tuesday, July 27, at St. Matthew Cathedral Parish in South Bend.
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades attended the Fort Wayne screening and released the following statement: “I enjoyed the film on Archbishop Sheen very much. It was wonderful to see his popularity as a preacher and teacher of the faith. Even more edifying to me was his faith in the latter years of his life when he experienced the purifying power of the Holy Spirit through suffering. His dedication to the missions was also an inspiration.”
The film has not yet been released to the general public, and is only available through private screenings in dioceses across the United States in a grassroots effort to share the life of Archbishop Sheen. Attendees will be able to purchase copies of the film as well as sign up to host their own private screenings.
Archbishop Sheen is currently being considered for canonization to sainthood. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., opened the cause for his canonization in 2002. Should Archbishop Sheen be named a saint, he would be the first American-born bishop and television personality to be canonized.
Photo caption: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades holds a prayer card of Archbishop Fulton Sheen at the screening of the documentary, “Servant of All,” held July 19 at the Allen County Public Library.
(For these stories and more news from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, log on to the website of Today’s Catholic at www.todayscatholicnews.org)
Diocese of Gary
It’s back to class – for technology
VALPARAISO—Imagine typing your name on a computer. Now highlight the name, make it bold, italicize it, underline it, and make it a different size or font. For school children who’ve grown up with technology, that assignment is no problem. But what if you’ve never used a computer or you’ve always had someone else to do that work — how would you handle your first computer?
That’s the challenge facing students in the summer adult computer classes at St. Paul. In this case, the “students” are mainly senior citizens — grandmothers, lawyers, doctors, and even a priest — people for whom technology has at best been the typewriter.
When St. Paul School developed its computer lab, the school had students in there regularly, but, as teacher Peg McGuckin explained, the parish did not want to waste this resource, so the lab was opened to the community, with classes in the spring and fall and a two-week summer session.
“Most of the people are 50 and older. Those in their 30s and 40s know their way around computers or their kids taught them,” said McGuckin, who has been putting on these classes for three years. Two enrollees this summer are in their 70s. “Everybody in here is retired or not working,” said McGuckin. “We originally thought we’d get parents, but it’s primarily been older people in the community
Some of the students have advanced college degrees, yet, as senior priest Father Joseph Murphy confessed, “I’ve been computer illiterate. Now that I’m retired I can work on my illiteracy.”
Recently retired from Holy Spirit Parish in Winfield, Father Murphy received a computer as a gift. Now comes the fun part: learning how to use it. “It’s tough,” Father Murphy said of getting started. “At first you feel you can’t do it. It’s going to take some time.” The two weeks of classes are divided by subjects. The first week offered computers for the true beginner, intro to the Internet, and intro to email. The second week, a little more advanced, deals with Microsoft Word 2003 and Excel 2003. There is a fee for each class, and students may — and often do — enroll in more than one class. The class for the true beginner begins with an explanation of computer hardware and software. Students then learn about the desktop and move on to play solitaire on the monitor. It’s not about playing cards, McGuckin said, but rather learning how to use the mouse— a challenge for many seniors.
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Gary, log on to the website of the Northwest Indiana Catholic at www.nwicatholic.com)
Diocese of Lafayette
Young adults meet in faith, fellowship
By Caroline B. Mooney
NOBLESVILLE — A change in locations brought a spike in attendance — more than 140 young adults — to the 14th annual Frassati Society Conference, held July 10-11 at St. Theodore Guerin High School.
The conference was previously held in Lafayette over the course of three days. Aimed at young Catholics, aged 18 to 35, the weekend offers talks by nationally known speakers, Masses, reconciliation, a Eucharistic procession and time to socialize.
“A lot of our community that is active is in this area, so holding the conference at Guerin makes it easier to reach out,” said Elaine Pitcock, 26, Frassati Society conference director, who was attending her seventh conference. She is a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Carmel.
“We wanted to get the word out that the diocese does offer this for people and just have them come and be a part of it,” she said. “I hope everyone is open to the Holy Spirit and what he has to tell them. I think we can grow in faith and fellowship with each other. We have to develop the faith personally.”
The conference theme, “I Thirst,” was different originally, “but someone had mentioned that Mother Teresa has a meditation about ‘I thirst’ and it came up again in a Frassati women’s book study,” Pitcock said. “It seemed like that was what we were supposed to use.”
“I’m excited about the theme — I think that ‘I thirst’ is something that gets ignored,” said Father Eric Underwood, conference emcee and associate pastor at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and St. Lawrence Parish, Lafayette. He has been involved in Frassati for 11 years.
“We tend to miss the reality that Jesus is thirsty,” he said in the opening talk. “He is thirsting for us.”
The Frassati Society has a new director, Alle Owens, and a board of trustees made up of young priests.
“In recent years, as people got older and moved out of Frassati, new members have not been coming in,” Father Underwood said. “We revised things and in just a couple months, we have seen incredible growth. ...
“We are seeing that there really is a hunger for the faith,” he said. “It is nice that we are able to provide something that is timely, that fits in with young adults’ schedules.”
(For this story and more news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org)