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Joyful Witness No matter the situation, there’s a saint for that, writes columnist Kim Pohovey, page 12. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com January 17, 2020 Vol. LX, No. 14 75¢ Pope sets A promise made special day in high school ‘I just felt their love’ to honor, is kept, helping study, share a friend through the Bible a tough time VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The newly By John Shaughnessy established “Sunday of the Word of God” is an invitation to Catholics across the world The promises we make to our to deepen their appreciation, love and best friends in high school are well faithful witness to God and his word, intentioned and straight from the heart. Pope Francis said. Forged by the good times, the tough By papal decree, times and the crazy times we share, we the third Sunday in vow, “You can count on me. I’ll always Ordinary Time—on be there for you. Whenever you need Jan. 26 this year—is to something, anything, just let me know.” be observed as a special That’s the way it was for Norah day devoted to “the Kinderman, Patty Belden and Kelly celebration, study and Duggins—close friends from the class dissemination of the of 1999 at Our Lady of Providence High word of God.” School in Clarksville. A day dedicated to Then the different directions of life Pope Francis the Bible will help the separated Norah from Patty and Kelly for Church “experience years, and their friendship became tucked anew how the risen Lord opens up for us away like a high school yearbook on a the treasury of his word and enables us to shelf. proclaim its unfathomable riches before Yet on a November day in 2019—as the world,” the pope said in the document Norah struggled through a time that establishing the special Sunday observance. threatened her life and tested her faith— Dioceses and parishes have been invited the promises that were made 20 years to respond with creative initiatives, helpful earlier were lived out in an unforgettable resources and renewed efforts for helping way. Catholics engage more deeply with the Bible at church and in their lives. ‘I just felt their love’ Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of In April of 2019, Norah was a mother the Pontifical Council for Promoting New of two young sons who was finally Evangelization, said added emphasis on the pursuing her dream—becoming a nurse During a difficult period in her family’s life, Norah Kinderman, center, and her family have been importance of the word of God is needed who would care for and touch the lives blessed by the caring efforts of her former high school classmates, including Patty Belden, left, because “the overwhelming majority” of people dealing with medical setbacks. and Kelly Duggins. (Submitted photo) of Catholics are not familiar with sacred That’s when Norah was diagnosed Scripture. For many, the only time they with an aggressive breast cancer that school, but as we got older, we kind of them. I just felt their love, and I needed it hear the word of God is when they required a double mastectomy and drifted apart,” Norah recalled. “Then at that point.” attend Mass, he told Vatican News on follow-up treatments that continue our kids ended up going to the same Sept. 30, 2019,when the papal document, today. Then in October, her husband school—Our Lady of Perpetual Help [in ‘I will always be grateful’ titled “Aperuit Illis,” was published. Scott suffered a heart attack that led to New Albany.] We’d get together and talk The benefit was held at the school—a “The Bible is the most widely distributed quadruple bypass surgery. and reminisce. When they called and “family barbecue” featuring games, book, but it’s also perhaps the one most Recalling those harsh realities, Norah said they wanted to do a benefit, it was music, a bounce house, face painting covered in dust because it is not held in our said, “My faith has been tested.” amazing. Scott and I were both out of and meals that included barbecued pork hands,” the archbishop said. At that point, Patty and Kelly work, and our medical bills were piling sandwiches and hot dogs. With this apostolic letter, the pope intervened. After having reconnected up.” Families from the school came. “invites us to hold the word of God in our with Norah a few years ago, they Norah paused as the emotion of that So did Norah’s family, classmates hands every day as much as possible so that took their friendship to a new level by moment overwhelmed her again. from Providence’s class of 1999, and it becomes our prayer” and a greater part of organizing a benefit for Norah’s family. “I can’t even describe the feeling I classmates from her grade school one’s lived experience, he said. “They were my best friends in high had when I heard about the benefit from See PROMISE, page 8 See BIBLE, page 8 Texas Catholic leaders oppose governor’s plan to reject the resettlement of refugees WASHINGTON (CNS)—Texas Catholic leaders were quick to take a stand against a Jan. 10 announcement by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that the state would no longer resettle refugees. The governor’s decision, announced in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, makes Texas the first state to reject refugee resettlement after last year’s executive order by President Donald J. Trump requiring governors to publicly say if they would accept refugees after June 2020. To date, governors in 42 states, including Indiana, have said they will accept more refugees. Governors from five remaining states that accept refugees—Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina—have yet to respond to the Jan. 21 deadline. Displaced Syrian children who fled Turkish violence sit in a bus waiting to go to Dohuk, Iraq, See TEXAS, page 8 on Oct. 25, 2019. (CNS photo/Ari Jalal, Reuters) Page 2 The Criterion Friday, January 17, 2020 Public Schedule of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson __________ January 18 – 28, 2020 January 18 – 5 p.m. January 22 – 12:15 p.m. Mass and blessing of St. Theodora March for Life, Indianapolis Guèrin Shrine at American Martyrs Church, Scottsburg January 23 – 10 a.m. Leadership Team meeting at Archbishop January 19 – 9:30 a.m. Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center Morning Prayer and Mass at Bishop Simon Bruté Seminary, Indianapolis January 23 – 3 p.m. Archdiocesan Catholic Schools January 19 – 12:45 p.m. Commission meeting at Archbishop Ribbon-cutting and blessing of new Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center space at St. Jude Church, Indianapolis Pope Francis kisses a child as he baptizes one of 32 babies during a Mass on the feast of the January 25 – 4 p.m. Baptism of the Lord in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Jan. 12. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) January 19 – 6 p.m. Mass and annual benefit dinner at Christian Unity Prayer Service at Zion St. Catherine Academy in New Haven, Ky. Evangelical United Church of Christ, Indianapolis January 27 – 2 p.m. Baptism is first step on path Pastoral Planning Committee meeting January 21 – 10:30 a.m. at Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara of humility, Pope Francis says Priest Personnel Board meeting at Catholic Center Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara VATICAN CITY (CNS)—In asking “This is the message that I would like Catholic Center, Indianapolis January 28 – 1 p.m. to be baptized, Jesus exemplifies the to give you today. You have brought your Council of Priests meeting at Christian calling to follow along the path children here today so that they may have January 22 – 10:30 a.m. Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara of humility and meekness rather than the Holy Spirit within them. Take care that Respect Life Mass at St. John the Catholic Center strutting about and being a showoff, Pope they grow with the light, with the strength Evangelist Church, Indianapolis (Schedule subject to change.) Francis said. of the Holy Spirit, through catechesis, Addressing pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square through helping them, through teaching on Jan. 12, the feast of the Baptism of the them, through the examples that you will Lord, the pope said that Christ’s humble act give them at home,” he said. shows “the attitude of simplicity, respect, As the sounds of fussy children filled Bishops require mail balloting to moderation and concealment required of the the frescoed chapel, the pope repeated Lord’s disciples today.” his usual advice to mothers of infants, “How many—it’s sad to say—of the encouraging them to make their children OK assessment increase for 2021 Lord’s disciples show off about being comfortable, and to not worry if they start WASHINGTON (CNS)—The affairs for the U.S. Conference of disciples of the Lord. A person who shows to cry in the chapel. U.S. bishops, nearly two months Catholic Bishops (USCCB), confirmed off isn’t a good disciple. A good disciple “Don’t get upset; let the children cry after the issue was presented to them the results in a Jan. 10 e-mail to is humble, meek, one who does good and scream. But, if your child cries and at their fall general meeting in Catholic News Service, adding the without letting himself or herself be seen,” complains, perhaps it’s because they feel Baltimore, approved a 3 percent bishops have been notified of the Pope Francis said during his midday too hot,” he said.