50¢ February 26, 2006 Volume 80, No. 9 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Friends say, ‘Eternal rest, good Entering the friend’ to Msgr. Edward Hession season of Lent Msgr. Edward Hession remembered Some love it, others hate it. What makes Lent so special? BY TIM JOHNSON, KAY COZAD, DON CLEMMER Pages 11-15 FORT WAYNE — In the homily of the Mass of Christian Burial, Bishop John M. D’Arcy called Msgr. Edward I. Hession “one of my heroes.” Msgr. Hession, who died Feb. 14 at the age of 90, Priest celebrates was a man who embraced the priesthood. The embrace of those who knew him and loved him was celebrated 100th birthday Friday, Feb. 17, at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Fort Wayne, the parish that he founded in 1957 and 70th anniversary to the named after his father, Charles Hession. priesthood also celebrated In recent years, Msgr. Hession was known as the “Pastor of the Airwaves” and served as the master of Page 4 ceremonies of the TV Mass broadcast live on Channel 33-WKJG-TV (now WISE-TV) on Sunday mornings. His trademark, “Good morning, good friends,” filled the Fort Wayne airwaves with a kind, familiar tone. Sean McBride, director of the TV Mass, recalled, Disciples in Mission “He had a way with the folks at home, offering com- Faith sharing Lenten fort and reassuredness. “They grew old together,” McBride said. “He was series begins this week a dear, dear man. He always had a smile for the kids, a joke to tell and a quarter to pull out from behind an Page 9 ear.” Christine Bonnahoom-Nix, former director of com- munications for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, remembered Msgr. Hession as always being enthusiastic and willing to participate in the media. Semi state dream “Whenever I asked him to do anything, he’d say, ‘I’d Saint Joseph’s and Luers’ girls love to!’ He spoke on the radio, and when he spoke, it PROVIDED BY MAUREEN SCHOTT was from the heart. He was a gentle, humble priest Msgr. Edward I. Hession, “Pastor of the Airwaves,” is shown in this 1996 photo of the TV compete for semi state title who always tried to teach and live the faith ... a gen- Mass. Msgr. Hession died Feb. 14 at St. Anne Home in Fort Wayne. The founder of St. Page 17 Charles Borromeo Church and mentor to many priests in the diocese has a tribute in this TRIBUTE, PAGE 5 week’s issue of Today’s Catholic. CROSS-CULTURE Fast and abstinence Sesquicentennial CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION Ligonier and New Haven during Lent parishes take the spotlight Page 24 Ash Wednesday is March 1 atholics in the United States are obliged The law of fasting, which obliges on Ash Cto abstain from the eating of meat on Wednesday and Good Friday and is recom- Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays during mended on other weekdays of Lent, allows the season of Lent. They are also obliged to only one full meal a day, but does not for- fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. bid taking some food at the other two meal- Self-imposed observance of fasting on all times. — “Apostolic Constitution of weekdays of Lent is strongly recommended Poenitemini” 111, 1 and 2. (National Conference of Bishop John M. D’Arcy has urged that, Catholic Bishops’ pastoral according to a long-standing tradition, peo- statement of Nov. 18, Special Section ple try to attend daily Mass during Lent. 1966). on Spiritual Other traditional practices, such as Stations Persons between the Growth offers of the Cross, personal prayer and visits to ages of 18 and 58 are bound insight to this the Blessed Sacrament, are highly encour- DON CLEMMER by the law of fasting on Ash special season aged. Concrete sacrifices, however small, Students at Bishop Dwenger High School Wednesday and Good for those in need are strongly encouraged. Friday; persons 59 years of PAGES 11-15 All are asked to pray for those among us participate in a video conference on the age and older are not bound who are preparing for baptism or reception topic of Islam and the U.S., sharing their to the law of fasting on into the church at Easter time. All are also these days. All persons 14 years of age and asked to pray for more young men and opinions and perspectives with students older are bound to observe the law of absti- women to respond to the call of the priest- from across the country. See story on page 8. nence during the Fridays of Lent. hood and religious life. 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 26, 2006 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Msgr. Edward Hession’s life Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 offers inspiration to priesthood PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy tion to the holy Eucharist and his devotion rectory. More recently, under Msgr. John EDITOR: Tim Johnson to Our Lady that influenced so many. He Suelzer, a large parish center was built, ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer offered daily and Sunday Mass at St. which they called the “Monsignor Hession Charles through his retirement. He loved to Center.” He felt honored, but felt unworthy STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad preach. He read that there was a poll taken of being remembered in such a way, so he NEWS and the results showed that many people said it was named after his grandfather. Editorial Department did not believe in the real presence of PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan &NOTES Christ in the Eucharist. This troubled him FREELANCE WRITERS: Ann Carey, greatly, so he wrote a beautiful essay show- The final days Michelle Castleman, Elmer J. Danch, BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY ing his faith in the Eucharist, which I asked I visited Msgr. Hession in October at the Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie Elberson, him to place in this newspaper. He wrote a request of Msgr. Suelzer and some parish- poem to Our Lady, who he believed accom- Denise Fedorow, Sr. Margie Lavonis, ioners. He had indicated that he would panied him through his life. CSC,Theresa Thomas never leave his small condominium and go A moment to cherish to St. Anne’s Home unless the bishop told him to. It was the first time I had been there Business Department I am sure that when all is over and I am sitting on a back porch thanking God for The ordination of a priest in many years, so when I saw the little BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice being pastor here these many years, certain In the ordination of a priest, there is a place and his comfort, I could not press him AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber days will stand out. There was such a day call for sacrifice. The prostration before the on this issue. He thanked me later, and even BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol last week. The Eucharist was celebrated as altar in the Cathedral of the Immaculate sent his contribution to the Annual Bishop’s part of the Rite of Christian Burial for Conception, which John Paul II called Appeal. After Christmas, the calls from Msgr. Edward Hession, a priest of this dio- “evocative,” brought out this point: the total parishioners became more urgent. So I went Advertising Sales cese for over 65 years. giving of oneself to Christ and his work. to him — just the priest and his bishop. It The words of the bishop, “Understand what had nothing to do with John D’Arcy, but Carol Eifert (Fort Wayne area) What can one say about the intense love between Msgr. Hession and the people of you are doing, imitate what you are han- this awareness of his bishop was another (260) 456-2824 St. Charles Parish? He served in only two dling and model your life on the Lord’s instance of his very strong and deep sense Judy Kearns (South Bend area) parishes: St. Patrick and St. Charles cross.” Also in the instruction: “Seek the of his vocation to the priesthood. He (574) 234-0687 Borromeo, where he was the founding pas- concerns of Christ and not your own.” Yet, remembered the promise he made years Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY tor. I recall from my early years here a 50 and 60 years later, all you could see in ago, placing his hands in that of Archbishop physician urgently urging in a letter to me Msgr. Edward Hession was joy. Joy, St. Noll, “Do you promise respect and obedi- Published weekly except the last that Msgr. Hession not remain too much Paul tells us, is one of the fruits of the Holy ence to me and my successors?” He said it Sunday in June, second and fourth longer, as his sight was declining, and there Spirit. His life was like a Magnificat: the in Latin, promitto, I promise. So he spent weeks in July, second week in August was much worry among the people about Song of Mary, which he read each day in the last two weeks at St. Anne’s, where he and last week in December by the his health and especially his declining Evening Prayer. What is the source of all received excellent care. Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, vision and concern about his ability to con- this? He had been given an extraordinary 1103 S. Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort gift from God. He had a profound under- Wayne, IN 46801. Second-class tinue.