'Their Roots Go Deep'

Inside Garden of eating Immaculate Heart of Mary ministry provides food for Criterion the needy, page 7. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com October 17, 2008 Vol. XLIX, No. 3 75¢ U.S. cardinal ‘Their roots go deep’ emphasizes how to listen to and proclaim Gospel Photo by John Farless Photo by ROME (CNS)—How to listen well to the word of God and how to proclaim it well have emerged as the key questions for the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, said Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago. Both challenges call for improved individual preparation as well as a broader effort to shape culture in a way that Cardinal recovers biblical literacy, Francis E. George he said. Cardinal George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke in an interview on Oct. 13 with Catholic News Service in Rome, where he was attending the Oct. 5-26 synod. After the synod heard more than 150 speeches during its first week, Cardinal George said one clear concern was improved training for the “world of proclaimers”—particularly in the preparation Farmers work in a field in Spencer County. Saint Meinrad Archabbey’s Church of Our Lady of Einseideln is visible in the distance. Rural parishes like that priests and seminarians receive on how nearby St. Meinrad Parish in St. Meinrad and others throughout the Archdiocese of Indianapolis offer a unique connection of faith and family. to preach Scripture. The reason preaching is on synod members’ minds, he said, is that they are wondering why biblical renewal hasn’t Fabric of rural parishes includes fostered “more dynamic homilies that bring people into the word of God,” especially during liturgical celebrations. deep connection to faith and family The question touches on homiletics courses, but also on the way that Scripture is By John Shaughnessy facing the fact that I wasn’t brought up on a in the differences between rural parishes taught, and whether there is an adequate farm,” Father Adrian recalls with a smile. and urban parishes. Both may be part of emphasis on all the levels of meaning As soon as he received the invitation, “It was a Saturday after Thanksgiving, a the same archdiocese, and they contained in scriptural texts, Cardinal George Benedictine Father Adrian Burke knew cold day. They slaughtered nine hogs. And undoubtedly share the same Catholic said. he was in a they taught me every step of the way. I’m faith, but there are noticeable differences “There is a level of meaning that is purely world far standing around with this huge, extended in the way that their respective members human, if you like, in the mind of the removed from farm family—five to six families in all— live their life and their faith. inspired author, but nonetheless limited to his the suburban telling stories and sipping homemade wine. own context,” he said. Indianapolis area “I’m watching the women in the ‘Their roots go deep’ That is an important aspect of biblical where he grew kitchen mixing the sausage with their Rural parishes and their members are interpretation, but if homilies are reduced to up. secret recipes, and I’m watching the distinctive, whether it is St. Mary Parish this aspect, they are not going to be very The invitation men in the barn cutting up the hams, the in Lanesville, St. Isidore the Farmer inspiring, the cardinal said. to a “hog pork chops and the shoulder roasts. It was Parish in Perry County, Holy Guardian “Then there is the meaning that God slaughter” came incredible for me, growing up as a person Angels Parish in Cedar Grove, Our Lady intends in the whole history of salvation, from a southern in the suburbs who thought food comes of Providence Parish in Brownstown or which can read Scripture as a whole and not Indiana family from a grocery store. Instead, it comes any of the other “country” parishes in the just analyze parts of it,” he said. Fr. Adrian Burke, O.S.B. that belonged to from farms and families. It changes a archdiocese. Making that level of meaning accessible one of the rural parishes where person when you realize that fact. I have a “What I like about living in the requires familiarity with such things as Father Adrian served as an associate deeper appreciation for the land, the country is the rural mentality is a lot less Church commentary, doctrinal development, pastor at the time. farmers and the people I serve.” ‘Type A,’ ” says Father Adrian, who catechesis and the Church fathers’ “It was one of the great moments of It was one of Father Adrian’s first lessons See RURAL, page 2 See SYNOD, page 16 Therber named president of Scecina High School By John Shaughnessy pledges of $114 million for the Then came the moment that changed Legacy for Our Mission: For Our everything for Therber. Joseph Therber faced two appealing Children and the Future capital campaign. “We were talking in the waiting area choices recently when he considered his Or he could apply for the position of outside his office when I noticed a future and the future of one of the proud, president of Father Thomas Scecina wooden statue of St. Theodora [Guérin],” tradition-rich Memorial High School in Indianapolis—a Therber recalled. “One of us said I Catholic high school where he has taught, coached and should pray to her. We chuckled and I schools in served as the athletic director and a said, ‘That might take me into the Indianapolis. member of the board of directors during wilderness like she was.’ He could the past 22 years. “That was a pivotal part of the whole continue his As he struggled with the two choices thing for me. In faith and hope, she fulfilling efforts as that both pulled at his heart, Therber met stepped into a tremendous ministry. That the executive with Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein to cast everything into a broader light for director of talk about the different paths. When the me.” stewardship and meeting in the archbishop’s office neared It also led the 46-year-old Therber to development for the its end, the archbishop told Therber that he accept the position as Scecina’s archdiocese—efforts would support either choice and president, starting on Oct. 27. Joseph Therber that helped lead to encouraged him to pray about it. See THERBER, page 8 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, October 17, 2008 people in my parishes are farmers. RURAL They work with their hands, and they use those gifts to help the parish,” says continued from page 1 Submitted photos Father Williams, the administrator of serves as the administrator of three parishes St. Michael Parish in Brookville and in the Tell City Deanery: St. Meinrad in Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Cedar St. Meinrad, St. Martin of Tours in Siberia Grove, both in the Connersville Deanery. and St. Boniface in “In many of these smaller communities, Fulda. “It’s much the parish is the hub of social life as well as more relaxed. And the spiritual center. They recognize [that] people generally they need to come together to make it strong know each other. because if they don’t no one else will take That’s not my care of it. It’s done for the deep love of God experience in the and the Church.” suburbs.” Benedictine Father Guy Mansini has That difference noticed that same quality as the pastor can affect approaches of St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in to faith. Perry County. In his six years as the “In some pastoral spiritual leader of that Tell City Deanery Fr. Harold Ripperger minds, the idea is to parish, he has also learned another reality create community in the parish,” says about ministry in rural faith communities. Father Adrian, who grew up in St. Barnabas “If a pastor wanted to change things, he’d Parish in Indianapolis. “You see that have to move slowly,” Father Guy says. approach in the suburbs and urban parishes. “They’re small places, but they’re rooted and In any rural parish, that’s not the task. The change is gradual.” people already know each other well, and Parishioners and guests look at the quilts on display during the annual parish picnic at St. Boniface they pride themselves on being connected. Challenges and connections Parish in Fulda in August. “The parish festivals really make a difference. They help us get through the Many are blood relations. Their roots go There also are challenges that seem budget year,” said Father Adrian Burke, who serves as the administrator of three parishes in the deep. For them, the parish community is a inherent to rural parishes. As an example, Tell City Deanery: St. Meinrad in St. Meinrad, St. Martin of Tours in Siberia and St. Boniface in Fulda. faith expression of being connected to each Father Adrian mentions the Tell City other.” Deanery, where most of the parishes are means to practice your A self-proclaimed “farm boy,” rural and small in membership numbers. faith.” Father Harold Ripperger also appreciates “The challenge is to make ends meet, to So, like the Church faith communities in rural areas. keep the parish going, to pay the bills,” he itself, there are strengths, “My preference is for a rural or country says. “The parish populations and imperfections and type of existence where you have grandmom demographics have gotten so it’s hard to challenges that are part of and grandpop and their families living in the financially support the parishes.

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