Daniel Elsener Takes the Reins to Make Marian a Great Catholic University
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Inside ‘We are one body’ See our annual Religious Education Supplement, Criterion pages 11-14. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com September 11, 2009 Vol. XLIX, No. 48 75¢ Bishops urge united Catholic voice on key Submitted photo elements of health care reform WASHINGTON (CNS)—Sounding many of the same themes, bishops around the country are urging Catholics to contact their members of Congress about the need for health care reform and the importance of keeping abortion out of any final plan. “If ever there was a need for the united Catholic voice to be heard clearly and strongly, now is the time,” said Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of Charleston, S.C., in an Aug. 26 letter that he asked priests to post in their parish bulletins. “Our represen- tatives and senators need to hear our voice, and we have a voice that is credible because it ... is a moral voice and one Bishop that has centuries of Robert E. Guglielmone experience in health care,” he added. Many of the bishops’ comments quoted Marian University President Daniel Elsener gets ready to take a horse ride on the Indianapolis campus this summer—part of his preparation to fulfill a extensively from earlier letters on health care promise he made to the university’s football players. Elsener told the team he would ride a horse and lead them onto the field when the university’s reform by Bishop William F. Murphy of new sports stadium officially opens on Sept. 19. Rockville Centre, N.Y., and Cardinal Justin F. Rigali of Philadelphia, who chair the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Daniel Elsener takes the reins to make committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development and on Pro-Life Activities, respectively. Marian a great Catholic university Those letters stressed the need for a health care system that is accessible and affordable By John Shaughnessy main speaker was a small, bespectacled man in Germany on Christmas Eve. He grew for all; that covers everyone from conception with a slight lisp—a college football up in Chicago. His dad was a bad person. to natural death; that does not erode current In a moment, you will read the story of coaching legend-in-the-making by the name He drank and caroused, and he died on the federal policy against funding abortions; that the “nutty” promise that Daniel Elsener of Lou Holtz. streets doing drugs. There were five kids preserves freedom of conscience for made involving a horse—a story that “That little squirt came in there and he in the family, and the mother worked day providers and institutions; and that controls provides an insightful glimpse into got my attention. He got everyone’s and night to raise them. She worked so costs and applies them equitably among Elsener, the president of Marian University attention,” Elsener recalls. “It was this hard she worked herself to death. She was payers. in Indianapolis. speech about leadership, and the thing I a saint. And now he’s in Germany, it’s Many bishops also urged Catholics in their Yet maybe the best place to start a story remember the most is when he said, ‘A Christmas Eve, and he’s looking at this dioceses to stay informed about the status of about the man who is determined to leader has to be committed, and everybody picture of his girlfriend. And he misses health care reform efforts by frequent visits to establish Marian as a “great Catholic has to know you’re committed, and it has to her bad. the USCCB Web site at university of the 21st century” is to return be without doubt and without fail.’ And then “So he puts his stuff on and starts www.usccb.org/healthcare. to the time when Elsener was a 29-year- he told this story, which isn’t real, to make walking out the gate of the base. He’s “The Catholic Church does not endorse old high school principal in Kansas who his point. going back to Chicago to see his any particular prescription for what a was attending a conference where the “He told the story of this soldier who is See MARIAN, page 8 revamped system should look like,” noted a See HEALTH, page 3 ‘Weekend to End Breast Cancer’ is Sept. 26-27 By John Shaughnessy fifth generation from experiencing breast cancer,” says Kaiser, a Catholic As soon as she learned about the event, from Carmel, Ind. “This is huge to us. Loree Kaiser knew that her family had to be Everyone on the team is related. It’s involved in the first-ever “The Weekend to mothers, daughters, daughters-in-law, End Breast Cancer.” nieces, cousins and sisters.” After all, her mother died of the disease. With the theme, “One Weekend So did one of her grandmothers. Can Change the World,” the event Then there are the family members who hopes to move breast cancer research have survived breast cancer—one of her one step closer to finding a cure for the Foundation’s Weekend to End Breast sisters and three of her nieces. disease. Cancer,” the archbishop said. “Nearly With four generations of her family “One in eight women in Indiana will be everyone has a family member or friend touched by the disease, Kaiser and diagnosed with breast cancer in their who has been diagnosed with breast 16 relatives have formed a team to join the lifetime,” says Nancy Frick, the director of cancer.” thousands of women and men who are advancement for the St. Vincent Foundation. The event is an unusual one on a few expected to participate in the two-day, “The disease touches so many people’s lives. levels. Participants will walk a total of fundraising event on Sept. 26-27 that is being We thought this event would raise significant 38 miles during the weekend, splitting the organized by the St. Vincent Foundation. funds to help breast cancer patients in our distance between the two days. Each In choosing the name for their team— community.” participant also has to raise $2,000. Another Five Generations—Kaiser’s group Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein is distinctive feature of “The Weekend to End remembered the heartbreak of the past and encouraging people to take part in the event. Breast Cancer” is that the money raised will focused on their hope for the future. “I hope that Catholics throughout central be used solely in central Indiana. “The reason we’re walking is to prevent the Indiana will take part in the St. Vincent See CANCER, page 2 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, September 11, 2009 ‘He’s still with us’ in spirit, says woman who lost husband on 9/11 WESTFIELD, N.J. (CNS)—The phone Others died when a third hijacked plane rang. Diane Starita held her breath and crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth sank to the floor at her home in Westfield. plane crash-landed in Shanksville, Pa. The voice on the other end of the line Passengers and crew members on that flight was her husband, Anthony. He told her led a revolt that brought down the aircraft, that he was trapped on the 106th floor of which U.S. officials said was likely headed Reuters Adair, CNS photo/Sean the north tower of the World Trade Center, to the U.S. Capitol. surrounded by smoke and flames, The anniversary of the attacks is desperately trying to find a way out. “a day for us to be together as a family,” The brief conversation took place on Diane Starita said during an emotional Sept. 11, 2001, following the deadly interview on Aug. 25 at Holy Trinity impact of American Airlines Flight 11 at Church in Westfield. 8:46 a.m. In the late 1990s, she and her husband— “Somehow he found a working phone,” along with their children, Kaila and Jason— she recalled in an interview with moved from Staten Island, N.Y., to The Catholic Advocate, newspaper of the Westfield and became members of Newark Archdiocese. “He said, ‘I’m still Holy Trinity Parish. here,’ meaning he was still in the building. “We’ve all gone on with our lives, but He told me he loved me.” it’s amazing how easily you’re brought back And then the line went dead. to the memories of that day,” Diane Starita Anthony M. Starita, 35, was one of said. “My children and I have a good life, 685 Cantor Fitzgerald Securities but there are times when it’s hard for me to employees—and 12 Westfield residents— be ‘in the moment.’ Anthony’s missing, but lost on that dreadful day. he’s still with us.” Two planes hijacked by terrorists “We’ve been blessed to share Diane’s brought down the trade center’s twin burden,” said Msgr. Joseph P. Masiello, towers and killed close to 3,000 people. Holy Trinity’s pastor. “She’s allowed us into The World Trade Center’s south tower bursts into flames after being struck by hijacked United Airlines her heart and her life. Anthony was a Flight 175 as the north tower burns in New York City in this Sept. 11, 2001, file photo. man who was dedicated to his family. Through our faith, we come Msgr. Masiello began to pray, reciting the to function, just trying to make it through to live with rather than fight against words of Jesus found in the Gospel of to the next minute. My brother once told the tragedies of life, and hopefully Matthew: “Come to me, all you who are me to ‘learn to make friends with the ever more peacefully.” weary and find life burdensome, and I will demons.’ I have no answers.