New Director of Catholic Education Is Selected Pope Names New Bishop
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Inside Visit Vancouver Read about it in our annual Vacation/Travel Supplement, Criterion pages 1B-12B. Serving the Church in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com May 21, 2010 Vol. L, No. 32 75¢ Pope names via Reuters new bishop for 'Osservatore Romano Diocese of CNS photo/L Lafayette By Kevin Cullen The Catholic Moment LAFAYETTE—Bishop-designate Timothy L. Doherty said “yes” to God and the Church in 1976 when he was ordained a priest for his home diocese, the Diocese of Rockford, Ill. He has said “yes” again by accepting the call of Pope Benedict XVI to serve as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Ind. The appointment was announced in Washington on May 12 by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop-designate Bishop-designate Doherty’s episcopal Timothy L. Doherty ordination and installation will be celebrated on July 15. “I am humbled by Pope Benedict XVI prays in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima during a candlelight vigil at the Marian shrine of Fatima in central Portugal on May 12. the call of our Holy Father Benedict XVI. This part of my In Portugal, pope calls for new style of evangelization priesthood was not PORTO, Portugal (CNS)— his Gospel in every sector of society. is no longer geographical, however. Those anticipated,” he said On a four-day visit to Portugal, “We need to overcome the temptation awaiting the Gospel message are “not only at a news conference Pope Benedict XVI turned the Church’s to limit ourselves to what we already non-Christian populations and distant held on May 12 at attention to Fatima, and offered a new have, or think we have, that is safely our lands,” but entire social and cultural areas the Cathedral of perspective on the continuing relevance of own—that would be a slow death for the that cut across national or continental St. Mary of the Mary’s appearances and messages there. Church as a presence in the world,” he boundaries. Bishop Immaculate But the larger purpose of his May 11-14 said. His words seemed to prepare the way for William L. Higi Conception in trip, a point enunciated at each of his Pope Benedict has sometimes been an announcement, which is expected in Lafayette. three stops, was to prod Catholics to adopt a presumed to accept the idea of a smaller coming weeks, of the creation of a The retirement of Bishop William more forceful and direct way of but more militant Church, supposedly to “Pontifical Council for New L. Higi was announced at the same time. A evangelizing in a largely secularized society. strengthen the Church’s identity. But he Evangelization” aimed precisely at prayer service and reception followed. In talk after talk, the pope spoke about made it clear in Portugal that “pruning promoting broader missionary outreach in “I am privileged to be with you,” how to be a missionary in the modern back” is not his strategic goal. traditionally Christian countries. Bishop-designate Doherty told the world, challenging Portugal’s Catholic In Porto, the pope said that to reach out The 83-year-old pope made it clear from 100 people who gathered for the liturgy, majority—and its bishops—to stop more effectively, the Church’s traditional the moment he stepped off his airplane that “and besides acknowledging the common acquiescing in a kind of silent surrender as idea of evangelizing must change. In his idea of “new evangelization” did not faith that draws us all here … the the faith is marginalized and even ridiculed. today’s increasingly multicultural mean trying to reinstall Catholicism as the discipleship of Christ, I am simply pledging In the northern city of Porto on May 14, societies, he said, the Church needs to be state religion. Arriving in Lisbon on myself to you and I’m asking for your in the final big event of the trip, the pope able to mix dialogue with proclamation May 11, he told civil authorities that the prayers and your help. told 200,000 people at a Mass that their and witness of the faith. Church was happy to live in a pluralistic “It’s just such a transition—for which duty as followers of Christ was to announce He said the Church’s missionary map See PORTUGAL, page 10A I’m appreciative, but it’s all new,” said the See LAFAYETTE, page 2A New director of Catholic education is selected By John Shaughnessy honored and excited to be coming back.” professional, but most importantly he’s a He will succeed Annette “Mickey” Catholic man who lives the Catholic faith The father of eight children and Lentz, who has served as the executive in his daily and personal life,” says “a Catholic gentleman,” Harry Plummer is director of the Office of Catholic Education Bill Kuntz Jr., the chairperson of the search coming home to and Faith Formation for 12 years. committee and a member of St. Jude Parish Indianapolis as the For the past year, Lentz has also had the in Indianapolis. “He is very much a new executive added responsibility of being the chancellor Catholic gentleman. He grew up on the director of the Office of the archdiocese. Starting on July 1, she east side of Indianapolis. It’s neat that the of Catholic Education will devote her attention full time to the beginning of his early life and this part of and Faith Formation chancellor’s position. his career has come full circle. To have for the archdiocese. “Harry is committed to Catholic Harry join the archdiocese made everyone The 51-year-old education,” Lentz says. “He has a deep on the search committee ecstatic.” Plummer will start spirituality which gives witness to his faith. Plummer has dedicated most of his his new position on He understands the concept of total adult life to Catholic education, serving as July 1, after serving Catholic education. He has had experience a teacher, principal, superintendent and Harry Plummer the past three years as both in schools and religious education. He diocesan director of religious education as the superintendent of sees his role as a shepherd of all of the part of a career path that has taken him and Catholic schools for the Diocese of ministries for which he will be his family to Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Great Falls-Billings in Montana. responsible.” Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota “I was born in Indianapolis and baptized Plummer’s selection is the result of and Montana. at Holy Spirit Church,” Plummer says. “I a national search that began in He views his strengths as the ability to was playing euchre before I could walk. December 2009. listen, offer guidance, and articulate and That’s a sign of a true Hoosier, right? I’m “He’s a highly accomplished See PLUMMER, page 2A Page 2A The Criterion Friday, May 21, 2010 Mission Church in Gilberts, Ill. LAFAYETTE Bishop Higi, a native of continued from page 1A Anderson, Ind. was ordained a priest for the Lafayette Diocese in The Catholic Moment former parish priest who was the 1959. He has served as an Rockford Diocese’s health care ethicist. associate pastor, parish “Yesterday, I like to say, I was in charge administrator, secretary to the Photo courtesy of leaks, lights, locks, loans and lawns. … bishop, vice chancellor, chancellor Today, it’s a different life.” and vicar general. He was elected Bishop Higi, 76, who has led the administrator of the diocese when Lafayette Diocese since 1984, will serve Bishop George Fulcher died in as its apostolic administrator until 1984, and was installed as bishop Bishop-designate Doherty, 59, is ordained later that year. and installed. Responding to a reporter’s In a prepared statement, question, Bishop-designate Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein of Doherty said he received the Indianapolis welcomed Bishop-designate life-changing call just after Doherty. completing the funeral for a “All the clergy and faithful of the 53-year-old fire department Archdiocese of Indianapolis welcome lieutenant. Bishop-designate Doherty to Indiana. He The man had died unexpectedly, has our prayers and support. I am looking leaving four children. More than forward to his ordination as bishop and 100 firefighters paid tribute. At the working with him for the good of the request of the family, he and others pastoral care of all people in Indiana,” wore green wristbands that read Archbishop Buechlein said. “We thank “Donate Life” to encourage Bishop Higi for his many years of organ donations. service to the people of God of the Shortly after he returned to the Bishop-designate Timothy L. Doherty addresses the media and others gathered for a May 12 news conference at Lafayette Diocese.” office, sad and tired from the the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Lafayette announcing his appointment as the new Father James Farrell, director of funeral, the phone rang. bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Ind. Seated is retiring Bishop William L. Higi of the Diocese of Lafayette. Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in With a smile, Bishop-designate Indianapolis, knew Bishop-designate Doherty said he didn’t know when he put his diocesan ethicist for health care issues in think it is very important for me to sort of Doherty when both men were in the wristband on that, in less than 30 minutes, he 1995, and served on the board of the disappear for a while so he can get his feet seminary together at the Pontifical would make a “whole body donation to the Illinois Catholic Health Association.