St. Mother Theodore Guérin Commemorated at Cathedral
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50¢ November 25, 2007 Volume 81, No. 43 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Book with historical St. Mother Theodore Guérin proportions A look at ‘Worthy of the commemorated at cathedral ceremony Gospel,’ diocesan history book Pages 9-11 BY BONNIE ELBERSON FORT WAYNE — The 2006 canonization of Indiana’s From preacher first saint, Mother Theodore Guérin, was celebrated Sunday by Bishop John M. D’Arcy at a commemora- to deacon tive Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Fort Wayne. Preacher, congregation find St. Mother Theodore Guérin is recognized as the foundress of the Sisters of Providence congregation of fullness of truth in Catholicism Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, near Terre Haute, in 1839, Page 4 shortly after she emigrated from her native France. Her century-and-three-quarter path to sainthood culminat- ed on Oct. 15, 2006, when she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Auburn reparation An air of expectation and joyful anticipation pre- vailed before Sunday’s Mass as several Sisters of Church rededicated Providence were in attendance along with throngs of after fire, desecration Saint Mary-of-the-Woods alumnae. Greetings were exchanged among the many sisters who had traveled Page 5 from the motherhouse near Terre Haute and alumnae women who had gathered from throughout northeast Indiana for the special event. Bishop John M. D’Arcy had only praise for St. MARK WEBER Mother Theodore Guérin, whom many writers have Join a book club A Mass in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception celebrating the first anniversary of described as a woman of joy and good spirit. She was Learn how to start the canonization of St. Mother Theodore Guérin on Sunday, Nov. 18, was attended by Sisters said to possess “heroic holiness,” he noted, but she described herself as “very ordinary.” She was called by of Providence, alumnae of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and alumnae of St. Augustine one in your parish Academy for Girls. Gift bearers were, from left, Sisters of Providence Adele Mann, Joan Mary Page 12 Schaefer, Lois Ann Stoiber and Mary Ann Fox. GUERIN, PAGE 5 All Catholic parishes to MASS FOR DECEASED Bishops meet in Baltimore participate in reconsecration Bishop D’Arcy comments of diocese to Mary on gathering Page 20 Eucharist and to the sacrifice of the Mass BY VINCE LABARBERA — treasures in the lives of our people. We see their love to pray in the presence of the FORT WAYNE — On Dec. 8, the feast of Blessed Sacrament. We see devotion to Our the Immaculate Conception and the Lady in the hundreds who flocked to the patronal feast of the Diocese of Fort grotto at Notre Dame. We observe their Wayne-South Bend — as well as of all of hunger for forgiveness in the sacrament of America — Bishop John M. D’Arcy has penance.” asked that every priest at every Mass cele- In a letter addressed to the priests of the brated for the feast, recite — together with diocese, Bishop D’Arcy said, “I thank all of the congregation — a Prayer of you for your wonderful help in seeing that Entrustment of the diocese to the Blessed our observance of the Sesquicentennial Virgin Mary. Jubilee Year was carried out with such Bishop D’Arcy also said it would be devotion and faith.” MARK WEBER most appropriate if every parish had a nine- Through the centuries, the Catholic About 20 priests joined Bishop John M. day novena in honor of Our Lady, consist- Church has become ever more aware that ing of short prayers said before or after Mary, “favored” by God (Lk 1:28), was D’Arcy at an annual memorial Mass for daily Mass, beginning on Thursday, Nov. redeemed from the moment of her concep- deceased bishops and priests at the 29, through Friday, Dec. 7. tion (Catechism of the Catholic Church, As the 150-year Jubilee Year of the dio- 491). Immaculate Conception is the title of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception cese draws to a close, Bishop D’Arcy said the Blessed Virgin Mary as being sinless on Nov. 16. In his remarks, Bishop D’Arcy the “blessed holy year” brought many from the first moment of her existence. Her graces upon the diocese. freedom from sin was an unmerited gift of remembered fondly those who died this “We have learned much, especially from God or special grace, and an exception to year; Deacons Art Bleau, Dean Tucker, Pat our people,” he said. “If we look at one the law, or privilege, which no other creat- event during the year, the Eucharistic ed person has ever received. The solemnly Walsh, Joseph Zickgraf, Msgr. Robert Congress (on Aug. 18 at the University of proclaimed dogma of the Immaculate Contant, Father Eugene Kazmierczak and Notre Dame), we see the following spiritu- al elements — devotion to the holy MARY, PAGE 3 Father Terry Place. 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC NOVEMBER 25, 2007 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Bishops encourage conscience Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 formation in faithful citizenship PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy school students. It was not a catechism, but education of children as Sisters of Providence. EDITOR: Tim Johnson rather a guideline for those who will write the We consider her a foundress of Catholic edu- ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer catechism. In our parishes, we have much to cation in our diocese, and it was a joy to have STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad do for our public high school students. the sisters with us for this celebration. NEWS Editorial Department A day with our own saint A night in Auburn PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan &NOTES Invited by the saintly and devoted Julian What happened in the Immaculate FREELANCE WRITERS: Lauren Caggiano, Benoit, Mother Theodore Guérin came to Fort Conception Church, Auburn, was most Ann Carey, Michelle Castleman, Elmer BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY Wayne to establish the first Catholic school in painful. Late on a Friday night, the church J. Danch, Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie the area. Msgr. Benoit had just returned from was desecrated — the tabernacle broken open. Elberson, Denise Fedorow, Sister what has been called “the trail of tears,” a The sacred oils were spread in the benches in Margie Lavonis, CSC, Jennifer Murray, Five days in Baltimore journey he had taken with the Native an attempt to light a fire. Carefully observing Jennifer Ochstein and Deb Wagner The first diocese in this country was Americans as they were sent away from their the proper ceremony, as laid out by the church Baltimore under the extraordinary Bishop heritage, from the land of their fathers. Many and put together with great reverence by our said they would not go if the black robe did Office of Worship under our fine new director Business Department John Carroll. Later, in 1808, four dioceses were taken from this original diocese; namely not come with them. When he returned, he Brian MacMichael, we gathered solemnly in BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice Boston, New York, Philadelphia and hastened to bring Mother Guérin and the the church. This was a ceremony of reparation AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber Bardstown (now Louisville). Later came the Sisters of Providence to Fort Wayne. Here is and sorrow. Interestingly, the proper docu- BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol Diocese of Portland in Oregon as the church what is discovered about this critical moment ment encourages parishioners to receive the [email protected] began to construct its life in this country. in our recently published history written by sacrament of penance. It is not that they had But the bishops were in this historic city Joseph M. White, Ph.D. done anything wrong, but as members of the Advertising Sales for a responsibility. To be honest, I have body of Christ, we shared in the responsibility Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) always found our meetings tiring. We start at “Sixty girls enrolled in the sisters’ St. Augustine to do penance for this sin. Academy including “Dark haired South German (260) 456-2824 9 a.m. each morning and finish at 5 p.m. with How wonderful that the church was almost Catholics, American Protestants, Canadian French, a break from 12:30 to 2:00 after reciting the full. The people told me how painful they Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) bearing the names of the early French fur Angelus. We offer morning and midday found this experience and how grateful they (574) 234-0687 traders...” Also among the students were Miami were to their pastor, Father Babasino Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY prayer together and the Eucharist as well. In Indian girls from the families that had held on to Washington, we would go once to the Basilica Fernandes, for his steadfastness through these their lands along the Wabash. ... “ days. Published weekly except the last of the Immaculate Conception for a beautiful — “Worthy of the Gospel of Christ: A History of the Mass. All our liturgical prayers this year were Once we found through research that there Sunday in June, second and fourth Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend,” pg. 49 should be no celebration of the Eucharist in weeks in July, second week in August held in the hotel. the place that was violated, everything was and last week in December by the Two documents were most significant. The Thus did she arrive at what is now moved to the nearby hall until a service of Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, first related to a presentation we make every Cathedral Square with three other members of reparation and dedication would take place.