‘A big void’ Priests, laity saddened by absence of chrism Mass, page 11. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com April 17, 2020 Vol. LX, No. 27 75¢ Pope calls for As students at Father Thomas Scecina Memorial a ‘contagion’ High School in Indianapolis, of Easter hope, twins Eliza and A prayer amid Luke Leffler peace, care have found their the pain prayers and their conversations for the poor with God VATICAN CITY (CNS)—In an Easter increasing as celebration like no other, Pope Francis they and all other prayed that Christ, “who has already high school defeated death and seniors across opened for us the way the archdiocese to eternal salvation,” deal with the would “dispel the coronavirus darkness of our ending their suffering humanity and hopes for prom, lead us into the light of one last sports his glorious day, a day season and that knows no end.” other activities The pope’s traditional and traditions of Pope Francis Easter message before their senior year. his blessing “urbi (Submitted photo) et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) still mentioned countries yearning for peace, migrants and refugees in need of a welcoming home and the poor deserving of assistance. But his Easter prayers on April 12 were mostly in the context of the suffering and death caused by the coronavirus and the economic difficulties the pandemic already has triggered. The pope’s Easter morning Mass was unique; missing were dozens of cardinals High school seniors turn to God as concelebrating and tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world packing St. Peter’s Square. Instead one cardinal— pandemic ends their last spring together Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica—and a dozen faithful By John Shaughnessy wishes, including a conversation he’d enjoyed his last baseball season with his sat inside, one in each pew, before the Altar like to have with God. teammates, and that Eliza had the same of the Chair where the pope celebrated the The shock and devastation of losing The 17-year-old youth wishes that opportunity in softball. liturgy. the final months of his senior year in everything would have worked out for And maybe most of all, he just Also missing were the more than 50,000 high school have slowly started to lessen his family to take the first spring break wishes he had these final weeks to walk tulips, daffodils and flowering shrubs that for Luke Leffler. vacation they would have had together into school, down the halls, into the growers in the Netherlands donate each year And during this uncertain time of the in years—when he was looking forward classrooms and onto the field where he to turn into a garden the steps leading up to coronavirus crisis, he has been praying that to spending time with his older siblings could count on sharing a smile, a laugh, the basilica. this continuing tragedy doesn’t get worse, who no longer live at home. a conversation or even just a hello with Yet millions followed on television, adding extra prayers for his friends and He wishes that he and his twin all the friends and teachers he has come by radio and by livestream as the Easter family, especially his grandparents. sister Eliza could have shared the stage to count on during these past four years. “Alleluia” was repeated and the Gospel Still there are moments when his together with their friends after all the Then there’s the conversation he account of the disciples finding the empty sadness returns in response to the practices, all the rehearsals of singing wishes he could have with God. tomb was proclaimed both in Latin and in understandable decision by Indiana and dancing for the musical, Newsies— “There are definitely times when you Greek. Gov. Eric Holcomb to close schools for the spring theater production that was have a lot of questions for God, and In a clear sign of continuing prayers the rest of the academic year because planned at Father Thomas Scecina this is one of my times,” says Luke, a to God for the end of the pandemic, the of the virus’ threat. In those moments, Memorial High School in Indianapolis. member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish sanctuary around the altar again was Luke’s thoughts focus on a series of He wishes that he could have See SENIORS, page 10 dominated by symbols of Romans’ faith in See POPE, page 2 Follow the Risen Lord, transform the world (Following is Archbishop Charles The same would have been speculated among the Apostles C. Thompson’s homily for the Easter Sunday and other disciples on that first Easter morning. Locked in a liturgy celebrated on April 12 at SS. Peter secret room together, in fear and trepidation, disillusioned and and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.) demoralized, they had to be thinking and saying to one another, “It’s not supposed to be this way.” The long-awaited Messiah, It is not supposed to be this way. An the Christ, was not supposed to go out like this—condemned as empty cathedral, empty churches, “stay a criminal, mocked, humiliated, beaten, abandoned, crucified in place,” people being diagnosed with a and killed. A showdown with evil, yes, but not defeat. scary virus by the thousands, people dying Perhaps this is yet another opportunity to stop thinking by the hundreds here in 2020. This isn’t about how it is supposed to be on human terms, to be a bit Archbishop Charles how Easter is supposed to be for Christians. more focused on the will of God. After all, from glorious C. Thompson Empty tomb, yes, but not places of worship. See ARCHBISHOP, page 2 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, April 17, 2020 Public Schedule of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson __________ No public events scheduled at this time. Court to hear Little Sisters and Catholic school cases by teleconference WASHINGTON (CNS)—For the first The last time the justices met publicly time in its history, the Supreme Court was on March 9. They have issued announced on April 13 it will conduct opinions on the court’s website and met 10 oral arguments by teleconference in by teleconference calls. May. Among the arguments it will hear The court had initially been scheduled are cases involving the Little Sisters of the to hear arguments on April 29 in Poor and California Catholic schools. the case Little Sisters of the Poor v. The court also will hear arguments in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The a case on access to President Donald sisters were returning to the high court Pope Francis delivers his Easter message “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) after celebrating J. Trump’s financial records. because of state challenges to the Trump Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on April 12. The Mass was celebrated without the Specific dates have not been administration’s decision to allow presence of the public due to the coronavirus pandemic. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) announced for these cases, but the religious employers to opt out of the court said the arguments will take place Affordable Health Care’s contraceptive, between May 4-6 and May 11-13. abortifacient and sterilization mandate. especially the elderly and those who are In announcing the decision to proceed The sisters are represented by Becket, a POPE alone,” he said. “May he never withdraw with some of the arguments already nonprofit religious liberty law firm, which continued from page 1 his consolation and help from those who postponed due to the stay-at-home also is representing Catholic schools in a are especially vulnerable, such as persons guidelines in place with the coronavirus, case that was initially scheduled for April 1 divine intervention: the icon “Salus Populi who work in nursing homes or live in the court said in a news release that it was oral arguments before it was postponed. Romani” (“health of the Roman people”) barracks and prisons.” “keeping with public health guidance in The combined cases, Our Lady of and the “Miraculous Crucifix,” both Pope Francis also prayed for those response to COVID-19” and that “the justices Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and of which were carried through the city suffering from solitude because of the and counsel will all participate remotely.” St. James School v. Biel, center on two centuries ago in times of plague. pandemic, for those who have lost their “The court anticipates providing a live California Catholic schools that were sued by As is customary, Pope Francis did jobs, for doctors and nurses treating the audio feed of these arguments to news the teachers they had fired who claimed they not give a homily during the Mass, but sick and for members of law enforcement, media,” the release said. had been victims of job discrimination. † offered his reflections before the “urbi et who are helping keep people safe. orbi” blessing. “In these weeks, the lives of millions of Instead of standing on the central people have suddenly changed,” he said. that Jesus Christ had been risen from balcony of the basilica overlooking the Some people have found it an opportunity ARCHBISHOP the dead, commissioning him and square, he delivered the address from to slow down, reflect and spend time with continued from page 1 the other disciples to give personal the gates leading to the tomb of St. Peter their families. witness and preach the Good News to under the basilica’s main altar. But, he said, for many others “this is beginning to bitter end, and beyond, all people—the same commissioning, The Easter proclamation “Jesus also a time of worry about an uncertain Jesus remained keenly focused on the down to our own day.