Bishop Luers Students Encouraged To
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Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend February 7, 2016 TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Volume 90 No. 5 50¢ TODAYSCATHOLICNEWS.org A Lenten pilgrimage Journey through Lent Bishop Luers students encouraged Pages 8-9 to ‘see things as God sees things’ In Truth and Charity Catholic Schools in the midst of America’s changing religious landscape Page 2 Why is there an envelope in this issue? How you can help Page 3 Battling Goliath Rekindle the Fire, Diocesan Men’s Conference Feb. 20 Page 3 Pray for Nolan Holy Family School rallies around student Page 10 Kay Cozad Students, staff and visitors gather in the Bishop Luers gymnasium to attend a Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, concelebrated by Father Ben Muhlenkamp, chaplain at Bishop Luers, and Father Dan Durkin, pastor of St. Henry Church, on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of schools. The Mass began Bishop Rhoades’ pastoral visit on Jan. 28. See story on page 16. St. Jude gears up for Why Catholic? Lenten program BY KAY COZAD Mary Pohlman, pastoral associate at St. Jude, is excited about the program and said, “We’re gearing FORT WAYNE — Parishioners of St. Jude Parish in up for Phase 2. … Most of the groups are going to Fort Wayne will have an opportunity to join a small reconnect, so we’re off to a good start.” faith-sharing group this Lent as the Why Catholic? Father Jacob Runyon, pastor of St. Jude Parish, program returns. The second phase of the four-year led a small group during Phase 1 and said of the program will focus on prayer, a continuation of program, “We brought Why Catholic? to St. Jude Phase 1, which began last fall with 160 participants. because of the recommendation of the bishop. But, I Why Catholic?, developed by RENEW did find it good that the content was based upon the International, the Catholic ministry organization catechism. I think there is a great deal of hesitancy that recently presented ARISE Together in Christ, when it comes to reading the catechism because is a comprehensive adult formation program that people find it a bit overwhelming. A program like began in earnest across the Diocese of Fort Wayne- this one helps them to learn from the catechism in Living the Year of Mercy South Bend in fall of 2015. The four-year program an approachable way.” He added, “I think the ben- Bury the dead is based on the four pillars of Catholic faith as efits to individuals is a chance to learn, study and to presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, meet new people.” Page 6 offering insight into prayer, core beliefs, the sacra- ments and morality. WHY?, page 14 www.myyearofmercy.org 2 TODAY’ S C ATHOLIC February 7, 2016 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Catholic Schools in the midst Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 of changing religious landscape PUBLISHER: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades EDITOR: Tim Johnson IN TRUTH purchases a You Can Lend A NEWS EDITOR and STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad Hand coupon book from Deacon Jim Fitzpatrick of Quality AND Dining. Each year, the company Editorial Department sponsors the Light of Learning PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan CHARITY Awards, which honors Catholic FREELANCE WRITERS: Ann Carey, BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES School educators and two Michelle Castleman, Bonnie Elberson, administrators who express core Denise Fedorow, Joe Kozinski, Vince values of Catholic education and LaBarbera and Deb Wagner The following is a copy of the speech given incorporate those values into by Bishop Rhoades at the Light of Learning their curriculum. The luncheon Business Department luncheons in Fort Wayne and South Bend also marks the beginning of the during Catholic Schools Week: BUSINESS MANAGER: Stephanie A. Patka You Can Lend A Hand coupon Every year, I look forward to this Light of book campaign. Quality Dining AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber Learning luncheon during Catholic Schools BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Bethany Week. It’s an opportunity to come together to has raised more than $10 million for area Catholic schools since Belleville [email protected] celebrate our Catholic schools and to honor those who make our schools excellent, our 1982. Advertising Sales teachers, principals and benefactors. I wish to extend my deep thanks to all of you and Tim Johnson Tess Steffen my personal congratulations to all who are religious group among adults in the U.S. is like Europe, we need to be agents of the new [email protected] being honored today. evangelical Protestant, followed by the reli- evangelization in our schools so our young (260) 456-2824 I have often said in my speeches and gious nones, followed by Catholics, followed people are formed as committed disciples of writings on Catholic education that we need by mainline Protestants, followed by non- the Lord and faithful members of His Body, Christian faiths. A couple other significant the Church. Web site: www.todayscatholicnews.org our Catholic schools today more than ever. I often say this for various reasons. I’ll often things to note are the following: Some might say we just need to continue mention the growing secularization of our 1. Racial and ethnic minorities make doing what we’re doing. I think we’re doing culture, moral relativism, and other cur- up 41% of U.S. Catholic adults, a a good job, don’t get me wrong, but we can Published weekly except second significantly larger percentage than never settle into the status quo. If we do, Sunday of January; and every other rents that are having a negative effect on our young people and their faith. Today, I’d that of both evangelical and mainline we won’t be excellent. We will settle into week from the third Sunday in Protestants (24% and 14% respectively). mediocrity. In the face of the changes in our June through the second Sunday like to again speak about why we need our of September; and last Sunday in Catholic schools today more than ever and 2. Nearly 32% of U.S. adults say they were culture, we must be creative, intentional, and December by the Diocese of Fort why I hope that we will increase the enroll- raised Catholic. Among that group, 41% attentive to outcomes concerning our mis- Wayne-South Bend, 1103 S. Calhoun ment in our Catholic schools. I’d like to do no longer identify as Catholics. 12.9% of sion. The #1 outcome we should be looking St., P.O. Box 390, Fort Wayne, IN 46801. so today in light of statistics, specifically American adults are former Catholics. for is our young people’s commitment to the Periodicals postage paid at Fort Wayne, the well-known results of the Pew Research At the same time, just 2% of U.S. adults faith. It’s related to what should be the #1 IN, and additional mailing office. Center survey that were released last year. have converted to Catholicism from outcome we all should be seeking: eternal life As you probably read, the Christian share other religious traditions. That being and salvation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: of the U.S. population is declining and the said, it is important also to note that 2/3 Our Catholic schools are communities that Today’s Catholic, P.O. Box 11169, Fort number of U.S. adults who do not identify of those raised Catholic are still Catholic. live and act with the fundamental conviction Wayne, IN 46856-1169 or email: with any organized religion is growing. We 3. While 22.8% of American adults say stated so beautifully by Pope Francis: The [email protected]. see this drop in Christian affiliation more pro- they belong to no religion, only 3.1% are joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of nounced among young adults. This decline atheists and 4% are agnostic. all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept MAIN OFFICE: 915 S. Clinton St., Fort has been going on for some time, but it is There has been a lot of discussion about his offer of salvation are set free from sin, Wayne, IN 46802. Telephone (260) particularly alarming that the pace of decline the results of the Pew survey and various sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness (The 456-2824. Fax: (260) 744-1473. is picking up. Between 2007 and 2014, in just interpretations of those results. I don’t have Joy of the Gospel #1). That is our aim: that BUREAU OFFICE: 1328 Dragoon Trail, seven years, the drop was 8%. The number of time to talk about the various viewpoints, our children and young people experience Mishawaka, IN 46544. Telephone (260) Christians in the United States fell from 78.4% suggested causes for the decline in numbers the joy of the Gospel by encountering Jesus 456-2824. Fax (260) 744-1473. to 70.6 %. Over those seven years, the number of Christians, etc. I only present these sta- in their minds and hearts. Various studies of those who identify themselves as religiously tistics in light of my assertion that Catholic have shown a general sense of disorientation News deadline is the Monday morning unaffiliated (the religious “nones”) increased schools are needed today more than ever. especially among youth and young adults before publication date. Advertising from 16.1% to 22.8%. Most of the decline in I don’t have statistics about how the num- today, a disorientation resulting from a rejec- deadline is nine days before publica- the Christian percentage is among mainline bers of U.S.