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Ash Wednesday Office of Worship shares guidance on Lenten liturgies during pandemic, page 10. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com February 5, 2021 Vol. LXI, No. 17 75¢ Advocates for The fullness of knowing Indiana’s and loving someone poorest Young mother families seek experiences updated support By Victoria Arthur joy and love Life has changed dramatically since 1988, when the internet was still in in her journey development, the average rent was $420 per month and gas cost 96 cents a gallon. But one thing remains frozen in to a deeper time: the monthly payout that Hoosier families in deep poverty receive to help them temporarily relationship in the most dire circumstances. That with God amount was set at $288 then by state (Editor’s note: In this series, The Criterion law, and so it remains 33 years later. is featuring young adults who have found a Indiana lawmakers and advocates for the home in the Church and strive to live their poor—including the Catholic Church—are faith in their everyday life.) once again aiming to change this reality. Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) is By John Shaughnessy leading the charge to modernize the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Rebecca Kovert flashes a radiant smile (TANF) program, which is funded by a when she talks about her nearly 2-year-old block grant from the federal government. daughter Avila. Only a fraction of the poorest families in And her smile continues to beam when she Indiana currently receive even those modest discusses her relationship with Jesus. cash benefits from the federal program “Once I was introduced to Christ and because of outdated eligibility guidelines— came to know him, what else in life is there another issue that Senate Bill 233 is except that? And everything flows from that, designed to address. and through that, and in that, and for that.” The bill passed out of the Indiana Senate There’s also an undeniable joy in her by a 43-5 vote on Feb. 1, and now heads to voice as she talks about her efforts to help the House for consideration. other young adults deepen their faith for the Rebecca Kovert holds her nearly “This is money that families depend on See MOTHER, page 8 2-year-old daughter Avila. for survival,” said Ford, the primary author (Photos by Sean Gallagher) of the proposed legislation. “But right now only six in 100 families in poverty are being helped by this program.” The primary reason is that Indiana’s eligibility level for TANF is the fourth-lowest in the United States, behind Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. During a Jan. 25 hearing before the Senate Family and Children’s Services Committee, Ford pointed out that to be eligible for TANF, the maximum income of a Hoosier family must be less than 17 percent of the federal poverty level. “The poverty level for a family of three is around $20,000,” Ford said. “So what a family in the state of Indiana has to meet See ICC, page 8 March is small, but group’s ‘message of solidarity’ with unborn is as strong as ever WASHINGTON (CNS)—It was the coldest national March for Life in some years, it was the smallest, and it also may be remembered as the bravest. A little more than 200 people, tightly flanked by members of the Knights of Columbus, endured subfreezing temperatures and wind as they sang hymns and trudged a zigzag route See related stories, pages 3, 15. with Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, from the Museum of the Bible to the Supreme Court on Jan. 29. This year’s theme was “Together Strong: Life Unites.” Mancini acknowledged “that we’re all symbolically marching, and we’re all in solidarity with each other.” See MARCH, page 16 A March for Life participant demonstrates near Union Station in Washington on Jan. 29 amid the coronavirus pandemic. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn) Page 2 The Criterion Friday, February 5, 2021 Archbishop, priests to offer Public Schedule of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson Stations of the Cross reflection __________ podcasts during Lent this year February 7–16, 2021 February 7 – 2 p.m. February 13 – 11 a.m. CST By Natalie Hoefer reflections by our archdiocesan priests, Annual Scout Awards Ceremony at Virtual Association of Graduate in some small way people will feel SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis Programs in Ministry Retreat To help members of the archdiocese more connected spiritually with their still struggling with feeling isolated archdiocesan February 9 – 10:30 a.m. February 14 – 2 p.m. during the COVID-19 pandemic, the community.” Priest Personnel Board meeting at Rite of Election at SS. Peter and Paul archdiocese is offering a series of Stations Archbishop Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Cathedral of the Cross podcasts this Lent. Thompson shares her Catholic Center, Indianapolis Each of the 28 episodes—14 in English hope. February 16 – 9 a.m. (also made available in American Sign “The Stations of February 10 – 10:30 a.m. Visit at Roncalli High School, Language via separate videos) and 14 the Cross podcasts, in Virtual Wellbeing in Ministry summit Indianapolis in Spanish—will include a scriptural some way, are akin to reflection focusing on Jesus’ walk to the Franciscan spirit February 11 – 8:15 a.m. February 16 – 11:30 a.m. the cross, as well as an idea for fasting, that first brought the Virtual Judicatories meeting Visit at Bishop Chatard High School, almsgiving and works of mercy. Theresa Chamblee Stations of Cross to Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson those who could not February 11 – 10 a.m. and more than 20 priests throughout the make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Leadership Team meeting at archdiocese will host order to retrace the footsteps of Jesus’ Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara the approximately passion and death,” he said. Catholic Center 5-10-minute podcasts. “Since our ability to gather has been (See related article for greatly compromised by the limitations podcast schedule.) involving the pandemic, the podcasts are “The Stations of a creative means to bring the Stations of to anywhere through our smart devices or people will develop a deeper relationship the Cross, for many the Cross to those who cannot otherwise home computers,” Chamblee explained. with Christ by reflecting on his Passion.” Catholics, are one gather together. “People can listen to them on their of the most familiar “They are yet another example of the commute to work or at home. They can (The podcasts and ASL videos will be prayer practices of creativity and talent that exists in the listen to them during their prayer time or available at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Archbishop Charles Lent,” explained Laura archdiocese to provide ongoing pastoral while getting ready in the morning. Thursdays during Lent at www.archindy. C. Thompson Sheehan, project and spiritual outreach to the people of God “Our hope is that the podcasts will org/Lent2021. The podcasts will also be coordinator for the throughout central and southern Indiana.” provide a powerful Lenten prayer experience available on Soundcloud, Spotify and archdiocese’s Catholic Charities-Social Father Timothy DeCrane, associate for the listener, that through each podcast, Apple podcasts.) † Concerns office. She is one of four staff pastor of St. Monica Parish in members on the archdiocese’s COVID Indianapolis, will also host an episode. Pastoral Response Team that developed “I think last year with Lent, we had The archdiocese is offering podcasts this Lent reflecting on a Scripture-based and coordinated the podcast project. a very real opportunity to know what Stations of the Cross, as prayed by St. John Paul II on Good Friday 1991. “Many do not yet feel comfortable suffering really meant and focus on God The 28 podcasts—14 in English (with separate American Sign Language videos or are not able to return to the physical when things are out of our control,” he said. available) and 14 in Spanish, each about 5-10 minutes long—will be available by sacred spaces of our churches where “We’re still in the pandemic and will be 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at www.archindy.org/Lent2021 and on we normally have encountered the Lord in Lent. But it’s not new anymore, so there’s Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple podcasts. during Lent through such practices as the less of a desire to offer up the challenges They will be hosted by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson and more than 20 Stations of the Cross,” she said. of mask-wearing, social distancing and, for priests throughout central and southern Indiana. The stations will be based on those prayed some, continued isolation. Following is a schedule of the podcasts, as well as who will offer each episode by St. John Paul II on Good Friday in 1991. “The podcasts are a good way to look and in what language. “They’re Scripture-based, so slightly at the Stations of the Cross and realize different from the ones that are hanging Christ bore all those things patiently, and —Feb. 16, Station 1: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Father Eric Johnson in our churches,” said fellow team member reflect on how we continue to deal with (English), Father John McCaslin (Spanish). Theresa Chamblee, director of Catholic challenges in our lives.” —Feb. 18, Station 2: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested. Father Douglas Charities-Social Concerns. The advantage to using a podcast Hunter (English), Conventual Franciscan Father Mark Weaver (Spanish).