50¢ April 13, 2008 Volume 82, No. 15 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Casting 300th first Friday rosary prayed nets A world at prayer for religious vocations BY DENISE FEDOROW Pages 10-13 A general intention for the sick, injured and homebound ELKHART — Every first Friday of the month for 25 Chicago cardinal years straight — a quarter of a century — a group of visits Notre Dame faithful at St. Vincent’s in Elkhart gather together to pray the rosary. The 300th consecutive rosary was cel- Encourages students to ebrated April 4 with a large crowd of approximately 200 people present to mark the event. connect between Father Phil DeVolder, St. Vincent pastor, began the the spiritual and active life celebration with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Parishioner and Knights of Columbus Page 5 member Bennie Wiercoich led the rosary contemplat- ing the sorrowful mysteries as he’s done for the last 25 years with the same intention, praying for the sick, injured, those in nursing homes and hospitals and those unable to attend church. NCEA highlights Father DeVolder said, “We celebrate a great mile- stone — 25 years in a row, 300 consecutive rosaries. Educators help youth Over that time we’ve prayed for literally thousands embrace the faith and thousands of people.” Bennie Wiercoich, and his wife, Virginia, were Pages 8, 9 founders of the first Friday rosaries. Wiercoich said, “I wouldn’t join the Knights (of Columbus) unless they let me do it. I said, ‘When you let me start saying the rosary, I’ll join.’ It took six months,” he said. The Wiercoiches were married 51 years ago by Sharing faith Bennie’s cousin, a priest in the Detroit area. T.J. Reipach of the Knights of Columbus said that Hope amid the Wiercoich is “thankful for all the good things we have, spiritual crossroads that’s why he always prays the rosary.” Wiercoich uses a special rosary — one that was Page 18 given to him by a non-Catholic woman who went to DENISE FEDOROW Medjugorje. The rosary has a cross carved into both A large group came out to St. Vincent Parish in Elkhart on April 4 to join in the commemo- sides of each rosary bead; some worn down by so ration of the 300th consecutive first Friday rosary. The rosary was led by Bennie Wiercoich (second from left) as it has been for 25 years. Shown with Wiercoich is, from left, fellow Bishop’s Retreat ROSARY, PAGE 3 Knights of Columbus members Dave Klosowski and Don Ciancio. Young adults encouraged to CUTOUT IMAGE OF POPE bring others closer to Christ ASK and you shall receive Page 20 GREETS VISITORS Community rallies to the health needs of Burmese refugees BY KAY COZAD Easily treatable latent TB is one disease the medical community is focusing on while working with the Burmese population, who FORT WAYNE — Area health and service need ongoing medications and follow up organizations have felt the strain in recent examinations. months of the increased influx of refugees She notes that language and transportation from troubled areas such as the southeast barriers are the primary concern for the Asian country of Burma. Though 89 percent Burmese population when seeking medical of the Burmese population practices care. So the foundation has granted Catholic Buddhism, local Catholic and Christian Charities (CC) $35,000 to help establish a organizations are reaching out to offer pro- pool of medical translators versed in the four grams to assist with the resettlement, employ- primary languages used by the Burmese; CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC ment and medical issues of this population. Karen, Mong, Chin and Burmese. A life-size cutout image of Pope Benedict Meg Distler, executive director of the St. With another $98,000 in grant money Joseph Community Health Foundation, spon- from the foundation, Catholic Charities (CC) XVI greets visitors near the entrance to the sored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, has established a refugee health program with reports that local medical screening of incom- a licensed nurse and an administrative assis- gift shop at the Basilica of the National ing refugees is critical, in the effort to stop tant, who now schedule medical appoint- Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in infectious or uncommon diseases from reach- ments and follow-up for the Burmese popula- ing the Fort Wayne community. tion along with arranging transportation to Washington April 6. Pope Benedict arrives “The people from Burma as compared to those appointments. in Washington April 15 for the start his other countries have a poorer health condi- Catholic Charities Director Debbie tion,” she says. “They have lived under more Schmidt applauds the efforts of the founda- pastoral visit to the nation’s capital and brutal conditions. Forty percent have medical New York. conditions.” ASK, PAGE 3 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC APRIL 13, 2008 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Bishop, diocese anticipate the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 visit of Pope Benedict XVI PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy Brown, a good friend and priest of the with a sympathy and understanding of the EDITOR: Tim Johnson Archdiocese of New York and a Notre struggle of modern man to believe. His ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer Dame graduate who worked with Cardinal writings show a clear understanding of the STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad Ratzinger for many years, I had some visits struggles of the believer. His recent book, with the cardinal during my “ad limina” “Jesus of Nazareth,” which he refers to as, Editorial Department NEWS visits to Rome. I found him to be a man of “my personal search for the face of Christ” great kindness and understanding, someone shows an extraordinary erudition. There is a PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan &NOTES who affirms others. He is a person of digni- great grasp of the Old Testament. He sets FREELANCE WRITERS: Lauren Caggiano, ty and sensitivity and a priestly gentleman up a dialog with a Rabbi Jacob Neusner, a Ann Carey, Michelle Castleman, Elmer BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY to the core. Jewish scholar, who struggled with the J. Danch, Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie teaching of Christ. He knows well Elberson, Denise Fedorow, Diane Protestant theology and the liberal critique Freeby, Sister Margie Lavonis, CSC, The coming of the Successor of Peter A man not afraid of the Gospels. He was surely one of the great figures among theologians who pre- Jennifer Murray, Jennifer Ochstein On Tuesday, I will fly to Washington to In midst of the terrible crisis, which came upon the church at the end of the last pared for the Second Vatican Council — and Deb Wagner welcome Pope Benedict XVI and join the such people as de Lubac, Rahner, Congar, other bishops of our country in a meeting at century and reached its peak in the years 2001 and 2002, Cardinal Ratzinger stepped Chenu and others. I do not think I will get Business Department the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. into the breach in order to see that every- to meet him personally in Washington, but I BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice This will take place on Wednesday, April will certainly pray for all of you in this spe- 16, and the next day I will concelebrate thing was handled in an orderly fashion, AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber that victims were helped and priests were cial meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. I will with the other bishops and priests in a Mass bring our diocese with me and join with BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol with 60,000 people at the new baseball sta- not punished without justice. This gentle, [email protected] sensitive and very holy man decided that all him and the bishops of this country in dium. The Holy Father will then go to New prayer. Here are a few books of his which York to speak to the United Nations. It cer- cases in which a priest might be dismissed Advertising Sales should pass through his office. I was told you might find enriching: “Introduction to tainly will be one of the most significant Christianity,” “Milestones,” “God is Near Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) addresses of his pontificate. There will be by his collaborators that he called it “our (260) 456-2824 Friday service.” Us,” “Salt of the Earth,” and “The other events in New York to be attended by Ratzinger Report.” Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) our seminarians and a number of young (574) 234-0687 people from our diocese. Two hundred and Justice Anne Burke Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY fifty will attend from our diocese in New York, and these tickets have been awarded You may recall the name of Justice Anne A splendid weekend by lottery. Sixteen young people will attend Burke; she was the chair of the committee For each of the past 22 years, I have par- Published weekly except the last ticipated in a retreat for young adults. Sunday in June, second and fourth with Cindy Black, our director of youth formed by the United States Conference of weeks in July, second week in August ministry. They were chosen from writing Catholic Bishops, which looked into this Indeed, for seven or eight years before that and last week in December by the essays on the papacy. Fifty from our dio- matter. Justice Burke told me that she had I was involved in such a retreat in Boston, a Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, cese will go to Washington D.C. — also sent messages to cardinals and archbishops great center for higher education.