March 6, 2009 Vol
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Inside ‘He was a father’ Local priests have close connections to Archbishop Dolan, Criterion page 20. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com March 6, 2009 Vol. XLIX, No. 21 75¢ Photo courtesy of www.marysrosaries.com Photos by John Shaughnessy Photos by Teresa Hildebrand’s compassion for people in need guides her as the director of the Good Samaritan Program at St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute. The parish has one of the most remarkable outreach programs in the archdiocese, helping people with payments for rent, utilities and prescriptions. At right is a relief sculpture of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37). Story of a lonely child sparks efforts to help people in need (Editor’s note: “Spreading Hope In affects her and her work at one of the most about their three children as they ask for Hildebrand would say later after Neighborhoods Everywhere” (SHINE) is a remarkable parish outreach programs in the her help in paying their utility bills. helping the young mother. “It was one social ministry renewal that will be archdiocese. Look at the battered face of the woman of the most touching stories I’ve heard launched on Oct. 1, 2009, by the Yet right now Hildebrand is busy whose jaw has been wired shut—a victim recently.” Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The reacting to the steady ringing of the of domestic abuse who seeks Hildebrand’s She hears a lot of those stories as the following is part of a series that doorbell at the St. Joseph University Parish help to get a room in a women’s shelter. director of the parish’s Good Samaritan highlights how the ministry of charity is Center in this western See the heartbroken Program, a program that offers an taking place in parishes, schools, Indiana community. young mother who sits in unusual yet basic approach to helping agencies and other institutions throughout Every time the front of Hildebrand, people in need. the archdiocese. Catholic Charities is doorbell rings on a holding her 13-month-old leading the planning. To learn more about Monday or Wednesday child, who has just been The story of an adopted child SHINE and how you and your parish can afternoon at the parish diagnosed as mentally Two collections are always taken at become involved, log on to center, it usually signals handicapped—the result the three weekend Masses at St. Joseph www.SpreadingHopeEverywhere.com.) the arrival of a destitute or of unknowingly being Church. The first is for the parish. The struggling person, couple exposed to four times the second is for the Good Samaritan or family who is seeking even the smallest acceptable level of lead poisoning in the Program, a collection that usually totals By John Shaughnessy glimmer of hope in an economy and a run-down rental property where the young between $4,500 and $5,000 a month to world that has turned against them. woman scraped by to live. The devastated help people in need pay for utilities, TERRE HAUTE—Teresa Hildebrand Notice the disabled couple walking mother hopes Hildebrand can help with a rent and prescriptions. will soon share the story of the adopted down the hall toward Hildebrand’s office. deposit to move to another place. “We do it because of the need—and child and how that lonely, little girl still The husband and wife will soon tell her “That was heartbreaking to me,” See SAMARITAN,See CHINA, page page 2 2 May 3 Mass at Lucas Oil Stadium will culminate 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis By Sean Gallagher Indianapolis to culminate a yearlong celebration of the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the On May 6, 1834, Pope Gregory XVI established Diocese of Vincennes, which later became the the Diocese of Vincennes. At the time, it comprised Archdiocese of Indianapolis. the entire state of Indiana and the eastern third of “This huge gathering of Catholics from around Illinois, including Chicago, which was then a small the archdiocese will be an exciting demonstration village. of how the Church in central and southern The pope appointed then-Father Simon Bruté as Indiana has grown in the past 175 years,” said the first bishop of Vincennes. He, along with Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general. “We will three priests, shepherded some 25,000 Catholics give God thanks for his marvelous gifts to us all across more than 50,000 square miles. these years.” At 3 p.m. on May 3, approximately During the Mass, approximately 2,500 teenagers 35,000 to 40,000 Catholics from across central and and 300 adults will receive the sacrament of southern Indiana will worship together with confirmation. 20 to 30 bishops and more than 100 priests and Among those being honored at the Mass will be deacons during a Mass at Lucas Oil Stadium in See ANNIVERSARY, page 10 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, March 6, 2009 I’m doing what I’m doing because of the SAMARITAN people who were there for me.” continued from page 1 ‘I’m doing what I can’ the generosity of our parishioners,” says At 81, Glen Ambs came to Hildebrand John Shaughnessy by Photo Conventual Franciscan Father Richard and the Good Samaritan Program for help Kaley, who has been the parish’s pastor when he was struggling with money since 2001. “Because of its downtown problems and grieving over the loss of so location, the parish has always attracted the many of his family members. poor. The parishioners have chosen this “She’s fabulous,” Ambs says. “I came in way to give to the poor.” to get some help and she helped me And Hildebrand has chosen to lead immediately. I had lost so many of my the Good Samaritan Program ever since family and I asked her if a grief class Father Kaley asked for help with it would help. She got me in one the next eight years ago. day. This is a lady who truly has empathy. “I’ve always been a volunteer,” says She gets right to the point with a person Hildebrand, 62, and the mother of and tells them there is hope.” two grown children. “I was a court- Hildebrand’s assistant marvels at the appointed special advocate for neglected time and care she gives to the 20 or more and abused children before this. That was people who come to the office every time it the best preparation I could have for this. I is open. see people from the same socioeconomic “She understands people, feels for them Teresa Hildebrand, left, talks with Barbara Buti about some of the people who have sought help from situation. My whole life has prepared me to and tries her utmost to help them,” the Good Samaritan Program at St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute. The two women are part do this.” Barbara Buti says. “She doesn’t like to say of the parish’s longstanding commitment to serve the poor and other people in need. She then tells the story of an adopted no to anyone.” child and how that lonely, little girl is Still, Hildebrand insists she is not a sometimes seedy places that many people to them. There’s a spiritual aspect to what always at the heart of her efforts. pushover. avoid in daily life. we do. It has deepened my faith. I pray “I was born to a single mother in “Everything is according to the need “All the people who are in the alleys with people. I ask, ‘Lord, help me here.’ ” Ireland,” she recalls. “I was adopted and of the person,” she says. “These people picking up cans or riding bicycles because The help has been needed more and brought over from Ireland when I was 6. I haven’t missed one paycheck. They’ve they can’t afford a car, I know them all and more as the economy has faltered. The was adopted by a family who lived outside missed multiple paychecks. And almost love them all,” she says. funds for the Good Samaritan Program of Chicago. It was hard for me. I have a everyone I see has some form of bad Hildebrand’s work with the poor and the were exhausted in October and November great understanding of people who are health. Then a car needs to be fixed, a needy has also taken her to a place that before each of those months ended. In rejected, who are alone, who feel they child gets sick or the water heater stops even she steered away from for long December, about 200 people showed up at don’t belong anywhere. That stayed with working. stretches of her life—the importance of the parish center seeking help. me until I got married and had my own “But this isn’t one-step, instant gratifi- faith in her life. Sometimes people come back to say family.” cation here. I want to empower them. I “Catholics of my generation aren’t often thanks. One recipient gave Hildebrand a Hildebrand pauses before adding, have a formula. They pay a third, they find so comfortable talking about their faith,” ceramic angel. Another offered a set of “Because of everything I went through, I a third and I help them with a third. I tell she says. “I remember the first time a framed pictures of butterflies. A huge made it hard for my mother who adopted them to visit the trustee office for help. I woman came in here and asked me to pray framed drawing of the Good Samaritan is me.