St. Mary, Avilla, Dedicates New School Expansion and Renovation
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50¢ August 27, 2006 Volume 80, No. 30 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Learning Forever St. Mary, Avilla, dedicates new school FLI begins at a new location and more classes for seniors expansion and renovation Pages 10-11 BY KAY COZAD Katrina AVILLA — Excitement filled the air as both stu- dents and teachers from St. Mary of the Assumption One year later began a new school year this week. Excitement not Page 3 only for the new adventure each school year offers, but because they return to a newly remodeled and expanded school building. The $1 million construc- tion project, which began in fall of 2005, was com- pleted this August in time for the new school year. Youth Justice Bishop John M. D’Arcy and Catholic Schools Superintendent Father Steve Kempinger, CSC, Teaching teens forgiveness joined Father Dan Durkin, pastor of St. Mary who will be leaving for a new assignment in Fort Wayne, Page 5 in concelebration of the Mass on Sunday, Aug. 20. A dedication ceremony for the new school building fol- lowed. Bishop D’Arcy spoke to parishioners, both young High tech high and young at heart, in the near-full church of their “beautiful country church, founded in 1853,” with a Schools link to technology strong belief in the Eucharist and desire to pass that belief to all future generations. He went on to thank Page 9 the congregation for their diligent prayers for voca- tions. Following Mass a procession led by the three shepherds took the church family to the door of the new school addition. The bishop offered a prayer Sesquicentennial blessing the “center for faith and learning,” after Holy Family and Little Flower which Father Durkin cut the ribbon officially open- ing the school for tours. Adults and children alike Page 20 KAY COZAD gathered behind the bishop as he blessed each room, Bishop John M. D’Arcy uses holy water to bless each room of the expansion-renovation introduced by Father Durkin, with holy water. In addition to four new classrooms, a comprehensive project completed for the preschool through eighth grade student’s education at St. Mary media center-computer lab and resource room for of the Assumption, Avilla. The dedication, held Sunday, Aug. 20, followed a Mass concele- brated by the bishop, Catholic Schools Superintendent Father Steve Kempinger, CSC, and AVILLA, PAGE 4 Father Dan Durkin, outgoing pastor of St. Mary Parish. DINNER LAUNCHES APPEAL New Women’s Care Center dedicated in Fort Wayne the work of Anne Koehl, director of the BY DON CLEMMER Women’s Care Center in Fort Wayne. Between its two locations on Webster FORT WAYNE — Pro-life advocates from Street and Inwood Drive, the center has had the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and 17,940 visits from a total of 2,200 women. the Fort Wayne community gathered at the Bishop D’Arcy also told those in atten- new Women’s Care Center on Inwood dance to pray for people who perform abor- Drive on Aug. 15 for Bishop John M. tions. Noting that Christians are called to D’Arcy’s blessing and dedication of the love their neighbor, he said that the facility. Women’s Care Center takes this literally by Pastor Arnold Piering of Emmanuel opening their facilities next door or close Lutheran Church offered the opening by area abortion clinics, a move that has prayer for the event, underscoring the fact contributed much to their success. that working against abortion is an ecu- According to Koehl, 318 of their clients TIM JOHNSON menical concern. Tessa Baker read from have come in the wrong door, looking for Father William Hodde, retired, Ed Ort and Scripture. the abortion clinic. In addition to location, Dr. Andrew Landrigan, chairman of the another useful tool at Women’s Care Father Thaddeaus Uwakwe, both of St. board for the Allen County Women’s Care Centers has been the ultrasound machine. Joseph Parish, Garrett, look over Annual Center, spoke of the organization’s work in Of the 13 sites in northern Indiana, 10 have Fort Wayne, most notably that the number an ultrasound machine. And of the patients Bishop’s Appeal materials that were shared abortions performed at the Webster Street who agree to have an ultrasound, 93 per- abortion clinic in Fort Wayne has dropped cept opt to carry the child to term. at a Fort Wayne dinner on Aug. 16. A din- 23 percent in the past two years, since the “I’m very encouraged by how quickly ner is also scheduled Aug. 24 in South Women’s Care Center opened. In his remarks, Bishop D’Arcy praised Bend. WOMEN, PAGE 4 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC AUGUST 27, 2006 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Expansion at St. Mary of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 Assumption School in Avilla PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy Growth of schools the two centers and 6,648 diapers were dis- EDITOR: Tim Johnson tributed. This is an ecumenical effort. A At a time when Catholic schools around ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer Lutheran pastor prayed with me. Members the country are being closed and merged, STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad of the Lutheran Church, who also run a we are expanding. There is this extraordi- similar effort, A Hope Center, were present. NEWS nary story in Avilla. I have been asked to I did my best afterward not to eat too many Editorial Department dedicate the addition to a school at Queen cookies. PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan &NOTES of Peace, Mishawaka. The parish of St. Everyone tells me that the younger gen- FREELANCE WRITERS: Ann Carey, Pius X, Granger, north of South Bend, BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY eration is more and more pro-life. These Michelle Castleman, Elmer J. Danch, expects to break ground soon for a new efforts across our diocese and beyond are a Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie Elberson, school. Recently, I helped to break ground great blessing. In Fort Wayne, the center is Denise Fedorow, Sr. Margie Lavonis, for the expansion of the school at St. closely associated with the Christ Child CSC, Jennifer Ochstein,Theresa Elizabeth Ann Seton in Fort Wayne. It will A remarkable day at Avilla Society. Members of the Christ Child Thomas, Kristi Ward have students from both St. Elizabeth Ann On a picture-perfect Sunday morning, I Society provide clothing for the children. Seton and St. Joseph, Fort Wayne. drove north to the parish of St. Mary of the These centers are busy every night. It Business Department I noticed the recent reports from the Assumption, Avilla. In the normal line of begins with pregnancy testing and counsel- BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice Indiana State Office of Education on our things, I go to a parish for the installation ing; but it does not end there. Baby clothing schools with so many of them receiving the AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber of a new pastor. I was at Avilla a few days and other needs are provided. Most of all, category of “exemplary” or “commend- BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol before Father Daniel Durkin was to leave a the staff led by Anne Koehl, the wonderful able.” I thank our laity and our priests, parish to which he had given dedication director, have created a place of hospitality, mindful also of the fundraising through the and leadership for 12 years. The parish has warmth and love. It was a privilege to take Legacy of Faith and the Annual Bishop’s Advertising Sales just completed a new addition to the school, part in this blessing. Carol Eifert (Fort Wayne area) and we blessed it after Mass. More on that Appeal, which have given us the financial structure for sustaining and expanding our (260) 456-2824 later. schools. Like those who went before us, we Judy Kearns (South Bend area) At the end of Mass, Father Dan gave a Help from the diocese are planning for the future. (574) 234-0687 shortened version of the homily, which he In the 20 years of the appeal, we have Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY had given at the other Masses. It was mov- given $200,000 to this cause. Over and ing to see how overcome he was. There Women’s Care Center above that, we are completing a pledge of Published weekly except the last were tears of love as the people rose as one $50,000 to the centers in Fort Wayne. I tip Sunday in June, second and fourth On the beautiful feast of the Assumption to give him a standing ovation. my hat to Ann Murphy Mannion. Ann is a weeks in July, second week in August of Our Lady, I was privileged to bless the St. Mary, Avilla, is a special parish and CPA, the mother of five children, who and last week in December by the new addition to the Women’s Care Center Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the priests who have been there recall it picked up this effort when Dr. Smith left in Fort Wayne. I believe this is the 13th site 1103 S. Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort with affection. The parish is over 160 years Notre Dame and serves as executive direc- for this remarkable effort. It was started by Wayne, IN 46801. Second-class old, and the school has been there well over tor. postage paid at Fort Wayne, IN, and 100 years. There are two sisters there, my good friend, Dr.