A Touch of Compassion

Inside Life lessons Seminarians learn about Bishop Simon Bruté during recent pilgrimages, page 9. Serving the ChurchCriterion in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com February 4, 2011 Vol. LI, No. 17 75¢ Church leaders A touch of compassion follow Egyptian unrest with Family influences help to shape Submitted photo interest, concern VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Church leaders student’s life- were watching the unfolding political drama in Egypt with a mixture of hope for reform and defining moment concern over potential violence, said the head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. during mission Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa told Vatican Radio on Jan. 30 that the trip to Africa widespread unrest that has weakened the 30- year rule of President Hosni Mubarak came as a surprise to Catholics (Editor’s note: “Stewards Abroad” is an in the region. occasional series that reports on the efforts “We all sense that of Catholics from the Archdiocese of these are epochal Indianapolis throughout the world.) changes. None of us would have imagined these kinds of By John Shaughnessy developments a few months ago,” he said. Most families have a set of standards “This means that and beliefs by which they live—a code, there are currents, both spoken and unspoken, that become Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa especially in the Arab part of the essence of world, that now have each person in the found visible expression. This is certainly a family. positive sign, but it’s also worrying because Often, that distinct we don’t know how all this will end—we approach to life also hope with the least possible amount of flows through the violence and bloodshed,” he said. Stewards generations of a family. Father Pierbattista said he hoped that That reality is “respect for religious minorities will be Abroad apparent in the story of preserved” in Egypt. His concern appeared to Claire Schaffner, a reflect the fact that Mubarak’s opponents college student from include both radical and moderate Muslim Indianapolis who groups, and it was unclear who might assume traveled to a village in Africa and suddenly power if the president resigns. found herself in a life-defining moment Father Pierbattista spoke on a Church- with a dying man. sponsored day of prayer for peace in the The moment occurred last summer Holy Land. when Schaffner lived for six weeks in At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI marked Kyarusozi, Uganda, where she worked at a the day with a prayer to “lead minds and medical clinic run by the Sisters of Claire Schaffner, a member of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis, holds a child named Angel during hearts toward concrete projects of peace.” He Holy Cross. her time as a volunteer at a medical clinic in Uganda during the summer of 2010. did not specifically mention the unrest in The community surrounding the clinic Egypt. was rural and extremely poor, with most really connected with the neighborhood Bishop Chatard High School in The pope, joined by two Italian youths, families living in one-room houses that had kids who lived in a row of houses right Indianapolis and saw a documentary called then released two doves from his apartment no electricity. Still, for Schaffner—now a next to us. We played with them every Invisible Children. The documentary window as a sign of peace. 21-year-old senior majoring in nursing at night. They’d be waiting for us. We really centered on the civil war in northern In his comments to Vatican Radio, Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, got close to them. That’s what I was really Uganda, and focused on how children are Father Pierbattista said the search for peace Ind.—it was the place she had hoped to be looking for when I came to Uganda. We kidnapped by the rebel army and forced to and freedom involves “not allowing oneself to because of the children there. were looking to make an impact on the become soldiers. The film moved be dominated by passions. “We got to treat a lot of children at the kids. And they made an impact on us.” Schaffner so much that she decided to “We all see how in the Middle East, in the clinic,” recalls Schaffner, a member of Schaffner’s interest in the children of become a nurse so she could help children Holy Land and in Jerusalem, passions can St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis. “We Uganda began when she was a student at See FAMILY, page 8 blind people. Instead, to have real freedom, we See EGYPT, page 2 Women entering religious life are well-educated and active in parish ministries, national survey says WASHINGTON (CNS)—Women Wearing their entering religious orders today are highly distinctive blue and educated and active in parish ministries, Submitted photo white sari habits, according to a new national survey. four members of the The results of “The Profession Class of Missionaries of 2010: Survey of Women Religious Professing Charity pray on Perpetual Vows” were released in advance of Jan. 30 during the the World Day for archdiocese’s annual World Day for Consecrated Life World Day for Consecrated Life Mass on Feb. 2. Consecrated Life Mass celebrated, page 16. It was conducted at the Blessed by the Georgetown Sacrament Chapel of University-based Center for Applied SS. Peter and Paul Research in the Apostolate, and commis- Cathedral in sioned by the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Indianapolis. More Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. than 80 people, most The survey was sent to sisters represented of them women by the two conferences of religious women in religious of more than the United States—the Leadership 10 religious Conference of Women Religious and the communities in the Council of Major Superiors of Women archdiocese, also See RELIGIOUS, page 8 attended the Mass. Page 2 The Criterion Friday, February 4, 2011 Pilgrimage helps college students, young adults deepen their faith By Matt Faley St. James, in Spain. Special to The Criterion Besides the speakers and entertainment, Mass was celebrated by a Nearly 70 college students and young bishop each day. Participants also had the adults from across the archdiocese opportunity to pray in eucharistic Matt Faley Photos by packed two buses for the 2011 Indy adoration, and 20 priests heard Catholic Young Adult Pilgrimage on confessions. Jan. 21-24. “The conference made my faith a lot The pilgrimage to Baltimore and more real,” said Kevin Duffy, a Washington, D.C., gave participants the freshman at Indiana University- opportunity to deepen their faith and Purdue University Indianapolis. “The participate in the annual March for Life. speaker Saturday night [Chris Stefanick The pilgrims included young adults from the Archdiocese of Denver] spoke from various groups around Indianapolis, about how the most fundamental things and students from Butler University, in our faith should overwhelm us with DePauw University, Indiana University, awe. I was able to really let that sink in the University of Indianapolis, for me in adoration.” Ivy Tech Community College and Pilgrims had the opportunity to Indiana University-Purdue University put what they learned into action right Indianapolis. away as they traveled to nearby The group kicked off the weekend in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 24 for the Baltimore at the 2011 FOCUS— annual March for Life. Students and Fellowship of Catholic University young adults from the archdiocese joined Above, nearly Students—conference. They joined about 400,000 other participants in the 70 college students and 1,500 students and young adults from peaceful rally and protest of Roe v. Wade, young adults from the around the country in “answering God’s the 1973 Supreme Court decision that Archdiocese of call to become active participants in his legalized abortion in the United States. Indianapolis participate plan for the world”—the theme for the For some pilgrims, it was their in the annual March for gathering. first time attending the march. For Life on Jan. 24 in That call resonated deeply with many others, it was one of many times, but the Washington, D.C. participants in the pilgrimage. effect seemed to be the same for all. “I remember a couple months ago Indiana University-Purdue University Left, Richelle Alacantara, reading some of the testimonies from Indianapolis freshman Nick Lesch a student at FOCUS participants about the conference captured the mood of the march. Indiana University- they attended,” said Beth Conley, a “I can see peers of my generation Purdue University freshman at DePauw University in doing things actively in their faith. They Indianapolis and Greencastle. “Some were very bold, are making a difference,” he said. member of St. John the saying the experience was life changing “Lila Rose is a great example. She is not Evangelist Parish in and how it brought God back to their going to work and then serving the Lord. Indianapolis, shares the lives. After going through the weekend, I She is serving the Lord with her life.” story of her faith journey cannot agree with them more.” The event brought the Church in the during the FOCUS Speakers and entertainers from various United States together to stand against conference in Baltimore. ministries—including Lila Rose, Curtis the law that has allowed more than Martin, Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer and 55 million abortions since its inception Bottom, keynote Audrey Assad—inspired participants with in 1973. speaker Chris Stefanick their stories and talents throughout the “As a college student, sometimes it’s of the Archdiocese of weekend-long event. hard to fit God into my life. This Denver gestures during Actors Emilio Estevez and his father, pilgrimage helped revitalize my faith and the 2011 FOCUS Martin Sheen, were also in Baltimore.

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