Serving the Church in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com December 21, 2007 Vol. XLVIII, No. 12 75¢ Page 2 The Criterion Friday, December 21, 2007 Immigration response tops local news stories for 2007 By Brandon A. Evans In a gesture symbolic of his promise of obedience, The Criterion The involvement of our local bishops in Deacon Rick Nagel places his immigration reform was voted the hands in the hands of top news story for the archdiocese this Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein year, but it was far from being the only of Indianapolis during a June 2 newsmaker. CNS photo/Sean Gallagher, ordination Mass at SS. Peter and Working in tandem with the custom Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. of other news agencies, including Deacons Thomas Kovatch and Catholic News Service (see story, page 3), Randall Summers were also The Criterion editorial staff votes each ordained during the liturgy. year for the top 10 local stories that appeared in our newspaper. Many of the stories selected this year were actually made up of several individ- ual articles, and you can read them all by logging on to www.CriterionOnline.com and checking out the list there. So, amid the more than 450 locally produced news stories this year, here is our top 10: 1. The bishops of Indiana release a pastoral letter on immigration As the country continues to debate the issue of immigration, the five bishops of Indiana released a joint document in but at the end of grief comes new life.” January titled “I Was a Stranger and small part because it marks the beginning Throughout the year, The Criterion You Welcomed Me: Meeting Christ in of a long journey for these men, and for all included coverage and photos of all the 5. Legacy for Our Mission campaign New Neighbors.” of us who will cross paths with them in the Masses as well as the details of a nears goal It was the first such document released years to come. seminarian pilgrimage to Saint Mary-of- The largest capital campaign in the by the bishops in recent times and was our This year, three men were ordained on the-Woods, the dedication of a portrait and history of the archdiocese continued to be lead story in the first issue of 2007. June 2 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral: a statue of the saint, other related a major focus of parishioners throughout The story read, in part: “Typically, Fathers Thomas Kovatch, Rick Nagel and celebrations and a hymn written by central and southern Indiana. statements from the bishops are done Randall Summers. two monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Reporter Sean Gallagher wrote that, through the Indiana Catholic Conference, “Today, you put yourself at Christ’s Links to all of those can be found in the “When it was launched in 2004, the the Church’s official public policy voice. disposal,” Archbishop Buechlein told the online companion to this story. Legacy for Our Mission: For Our Children However, the pastoral letter is a unique three men during the ordination. “You and the Future campaign had an ambitious move by the bishops, giving the statement offer yourselves to serve the people of our 4. Arson fire destroys St. Anne Church goal of raising $100 million. a distinctive teaching authority which local Church, to do that in the person of in New Castle “By accomplishing this goal, the carries more significance and weight—that Christ, the high priest and bridegroom of The timing couldn’t have been much archdiocese hopes its parishes, shared of shepherds addressing the faithful.” the Church. ” worse for a Catholic parish: Hours before ministries and home missions will be set Calling Catholics to welcome the Father Eric Johnson, archdiocesan the celebration of the holiest liturgy of the on firm ground for years to come.” stranger as Christ himself, the bishops vocations director, said that it was a happy year—the Easter vigil—a fire destroyed Each parish keeps part of the money called for balance between “the right of a day for the Church. St. Anne Church in New Castle on April 7. raised toward their goal, while part goes to sovereign state to control its borders,” and “We have three wonderful men that Senior reporter Mary Ann Wyand wrote help the archdiocese support not only “the right of human persons to migrate so have come forward and said not only ‘yes’ that the fire “gutted the interior of the struggling parish communities, but also to that they can realize their God-given to God’s call but, in doing that, are 83-year-old brick church, burned through fund shared ministries, such as the training rights.” themselves kind of an image of faith for the roof and melted stained-glass of new priests and the work of Catholic The pastoral said that “the state may the rest of us,” he said. windows.” Charities and Catholic education. impose reasonable limits on immigration, Each one of the men has their own story “Visibly shaken,” Wyand wrote, As of late October, nearly $90 million but the common good is not served when of how God led them to the priesthood. “Sister Shirley [Gerth, the parish life coor- had been pledged through the campaign. the basic human rights of the individual are You can log on to our Web site to read dinator] said the first Mass was celebrated These pledges came from more than violated.” them. in the church on Easter Sunday in 1924.” 25,000 participants from 115 archdiocesan The Criterion also covered an Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, archdiocesan parishes. immigration march in May and the 3. St. Theodora honored at Masses vicar general, said that he and Throughout the year, The Criterion progress of immigration legislation as it across the archdiocese Archbishop Buechlein were “very upset, featured stories about how parishes have was discussed throughout the United Last year’s top story spilled over into very distraught, over the loss of St. Anne been affected by the campaign, and what States. 2007 in the form of celebration. Church … but we’re thankful that nobody they are planning to do with the money The October 2006 canonization of was injured in the fire.” they have raised. For all these parish 2. Three men ordained to the priesthood St. Theodora Guérin—foundress of the Five weeks after the fire, Henry County updates, be sure to check our Web site. The ordination of priests always seems Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the- authorities arrested William L. Abbott, 33, to end up as one of our top stories, in no Woods and Indiana’s first saint—kicked off of New Castle on felony charges of arson, 6. Archbishop Buechlein celebrates a year of special Masses celebrated by burglary and theft. 20 years as a bishop Archbishop Buechlein in each of the arch- Support for the parish has continued While coverage was limited to a single diocese’s 11 deaneries. throughout the year, with parishes and news story and a photo essay, it was of no On the cover The first Mass was celebrated on individuals donating more than $144,000 small mention that Archbishop Buechlein Mary and the Christ Child are Dec. 8, 2006, at St. Joan of Arc Church in (including about $700 raised through celebrated his 15th anniversary as shepherd depicted in an icon from the chapel of Indianapolis and the last was held at The Criterion’s Web site), and people of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the All Saints Church in Lakeville, Minn. Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High continue to pray. 20th anniversary of his episcopal The Dec. 25 Christmas feast commemo- School in Clarksville on Oct. 3— Even on the day of the fire, Sister ordination in the same year. rates the birth of Christ. The Christmas St. Theodora’s new feast day. Shirley kept her spirits up: “We’re going to Editor Mike Krokos wrote that “To season begins with the Dec. 24 evening “Many of us, myself included, were celebrate new life tomorrow. We’re going celebrate his 20 years as a bishop, vigil and ends on the feast of the educated by the Sisters of Providence. … to sing our Alleluias tomorrow. It’s Archbishop Buechlein recently went on a Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 13. † Our heritage goes back to this saint,” the Easter Sunday. It’s the feast of the personal retreat to reflect on his time as a CNS photo/Crosiers archbishop said at the final Mass. Lord’s resurrection. … Surely we’ll grieve, See REVIEW page 8 The Criterion (ISSN 0574- 4350) is published weekly except the last week of December and the first 12/21//07 week of January. Phone Numbers: Staff: Moving? 1400 N. Meri dian St. Main office: ...........................317-236-1570 Editor: Mike Krokos P.O. Box 1717 Advertising ............................317-236-1572 Assistant Editor: John Shaughnessy We’ll be there waiting if you give us two weeks’ Indianapolis, IN 46206-1717 Toll free: ............1-800-382-9836, ext. 1570 Senior Reporter: Mary Ann Wyand Reporter: Sean Gallagher advance notice! 317-236-1570 Circulation: ............................317-236-1425 800-382-9836 ext. 1570 Toll free: ............1-800-382-9836, ext. 1425 Online Editor: Brandon A. 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