We Are at the Beginning of a New Springtime for the Church
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50¢ April 15, 2007 Volume 81, No. 15 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Celebration We are at the beginning of a new of the priesthood Bishop D’Arcy celebrates springtime for the church 50 years of ordination Bishop John M. D’Arcy offers to the priesthood reflections in celebration of Page 10-12, his golden jubilee special tab section BY BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY Easter at the Vatican FORT WAYNE — I have been asked by the editors to prepare some reflections for this special edition of Pope talks of peace to the Today’s Catholic, marking the 50th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It was suggested that I people of the world might reflect on my early days as a priest. Such a Page 3 course is attractive, but I have decided to take a differ- ent path. We have been through a serious purification, which has brought pain on the church and on those who have given their lives to be shepherds after the heart of Eucharistic Christ. Still, I believe that we are at the beginning of a new springtime for the priesthood. procession What is the evidence for such hope for a new springtime after such a severe winter? I expect it A tradition takes hold because of the seriousness and the spirit of sacrifice at Notre Dame which I see in my own priests here in the diocese, which I am privileged to serve. Page 9 When we consulted our priests’ council about Mercy Day and making available the sacrament of penance, our priests responded. Rather than have the priests available in their rectories, they told the com- mittee that they would prefer to be available in the con- End the genocide fessional; not for one hour, but for seven. I also noticed the joy with which the various pastors told me about Speaker encourages world TESS STEFFEN the results. One priest told me that of the eight hours to respond to Darfur Bishop John M. D’Arcy celebrated the TV Mass at the University of Saint Francis Chapel on made available, confessions were heard for seven of Easter Sunday morning and then also celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate those hours. For part of that time, there were two Page 15 Conception. Bishop D’Arcy was a strong proponent of bringing the televised Mass to both priests hearing confessions. I noticed the energy with Fort Wayne and South Bend. Coordinated by the diocesan communications office, the which our priests prepared for this day. There was a Sunday morning TV Mass is aired on WISE-TV in Fort Wayne and WNDU-TV in South Bend. The TV Mass celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006. REFLECT, PAGE 3 Triduum in the diocese Photos highlight ND program explores vocations PRIESTS GATHER FOR FORT the holiest days WAYNE CHRISM MASS Page 20 ‘Priesthood is about being; not about doing ‘ “Vocations and the Universal Call to BY ANN CAREY Holiness.” Archbishop Dolan spoke on the priest- NOTRE DAME — “There used to be an hood, while Scott Hahn, who teaches theolo- implicit understanding that if you wanted to gy at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Penn., take holiness seriously, you became a priest, and Franciscan University of Steubenville, sister or brother,” Archbishop Timothy Dolan talked about marriage. Sister Sara Butler, a of Milwaukee told University of Notre Dame member of the Missionary Servants of the students here on March 26. Most Blessed Trinity and a theologian at St. However, the archbishop continued, Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers, “That is an incorrect interpretation,” and the N.Y., spoke on the consecrated life. Aurelie “providential alarm clock” of Vatican II Hagstrom, a theologian at Providence called us back to the reality of the universal College, spoke on the lay vocation. call to holiness, the “inescapable call to sanc- Notre Dame Theology Department DON CLEMMER tity — wherever, whenever, however you are Chairman John Cavadini introduced the living — for every baptized person.” three-night program by talking about baptism Priests stand together outside of the That universal call to holiness and the liv- as the basis of the universal call to holiness. Cathedral Center in downtown Fort Wayne ing out of that call in various walks of life That call, he said is one of the “fundamental” were the subject of a program that brought teachings of the Second Vatican Council. as they wait to process in for the annual Archbishop Dolan and other prominent the- ologians to Notre Dame to address under- chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the graduates at the March 23-25 event, entitled VOCATIONS, PAGE 5 Immaculate Conception on April 3. 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC APRIL 15, 2007 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Faith is a gift that will grow Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 significantly during the Easter PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy EDITOR: Tim Johnson ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer season if we pray STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad the two great obstacles of peace — sin and Easter. The outreach to Catholics who had Editorial Department death — have been overcome. If we accept slipped away from the church’s sacramental this and accept the one who made it possi- life, has brought encouraging results. I hope PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan ble, peace will grow. we can have a fuller report later, but we do FREELANCE WRITERS: Ann Carey, know the following. Michelle Castleman, Elmer J. Danch, NEWS Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie Elberson, Forgiveness of sins Denise Fedorow, Sister Margie &NOTES In the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Mercy Day Lavonis, CSC, Jennifer Ochstein, Easter, now by a decree of Pope John Paul In every parish, there was some Theresa Thomas, Kristi Ward BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY II referred to as Mercy Sunday, we hear of response. In some parishes, the response the great gift given to the church, “Whose was extraordinary, with priests hearing con- Business Department sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven. fessions for the full seven hours or more. Whose sins you shall retain, they are This continued everywhere during Holy BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice The meaning of Easter retained.” Week. AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber Those who attend daily Mass during Then we also have the appearance of BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol Easter Week receive a special joy. The Jesus as recounted in John’s Gospel at the [email protected] readings, all from the New Testament, pres- Sea of Tiberias. After preparing breakfast Wells of Hope ent the various Resurrection accounts. So, for them, Jesus put the three questions to This original and innovative effort put Advertising Sales those who attend are filled with the joy that Peter about love. “Simon, son of John, do together by our Office of Spiritual Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) comes from the truth. They reflect that sen- you love me more than these do?” This has Development in close communion with (260) 456-2824 tence in the Gospel of John, which states, always been seen as a response to the three Linda Furge, coordinator of our Jubilee Judy Kearns (South Bend area) “The apostles were filled with joy when times Peter is recorded as denying Jesus. Year, is ongoing. Parishioners were asked (574) 234-0687 they saw the Lord.” — Jn 20:20. St. Augustine says, “Jesus asked about to give names of Catholics whom they his love and then gave him a work to do. Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Ultimately, this is the source of joy for all thought would welcome an invitation to of us — to see the Lord. Here, of course, Feed my sheep.” return to the church. After some training, Published weekly except the last we see him in faith. But that is what the Catholics going out two-by-two, as the Sunday in June, second and fourth Resurrection is all about — faith. Scripture said, visited those people. The weeks in July, second week in August In the Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul The ministry of education and term Wells of Hope was taken from the and last week in December by the makes it clear that Jesus appeared many encouragement event in the Gospel of John describing the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, times, but not to everyone, and he shows The beautiful event on the way to conversation of Christ with the Woman at 1103 S. Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort that he is handing us what he received. the Well. (Jn 4: 4 -41). Wayne, IN 46801. Periodicals postage Emmaus says so much about prayer in the paid at Fort Wayne, IN, and additional Easter season, and prayer always, since we “That he died for our sins in accordance with the always live in the Easter season. The Lord mailing office. Scriptures. That he was buried: that he was raised The media on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures: asks them questions about their discourage- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ment, listens and then explains the place of As you know, there were a number of that he appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the television spots in which I personally invit- Today’s Catholic, P.O. Box 11169, Fort Twelve. After that he appeared to more than 500 suffering and the cross. Wayne, IN 46856-1169 or e-mail: brothers at once, most of whom are still living, but ed people to return to the practice of their [email protected]. some have fallen asleep.