50¢ January 21, 2007 Volume 81, No. 3 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Knights take Pro-life movement alive and well Examples of life pro-life cause to the streets abound in diocese March participants urged to pray Pages 9-15 for an end to abortion BY DIANE FREEBY Federal embryonic stem-cell research SOUTH BEND — A return to wintry conditions Jan. 14 did not keep the Knights of Columbus from funding returning to the streets of South Bend for their 33rd annual Right to Life March. Church speaks out Over 50 people joined them that cold Sunday Page 3 afternoon. Beginning at the Santa Maria Council #553 headquarters on Washington Street, the group made its way to a prayer service at St. Joseph Church on LaSalle. In his homily, Holy Cross Father Nathan Wills urged continued prayer to bring about Poverty in America an end to abortion. Father Wills urged the participants not to dwell Catholic Charities’ goal on the sadness of abortion, but to instead pray for the lost children, their parents and those involved with to cut it by half the abortion industry. Page 5 “It is good that we are here,” reminded Father Wills, who then referred to St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. “What can ever separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing! Let us pray for the courage to fight the good fight, to speak our hearts in compas- State sion and for an end to abortion.” DIANE FREEBY After the group returned to the council headquar- legislators return Knights from the Santa Maria Council #553 lead pro-life participants through the streets ters, one participant made it clear why he has of South Bend at the 33rd annual Right to Life March on Jan. 14. The annual march includ- marched every year since the 1970’s. Jerry Ball Indiana Catholic Conference ed a homily by Holy Cross Father Nathan Wills and talk by University of Notre Dame Law prepares for session School Professor Carter Snead. MARCH, PAGE 3 Page 8 All invited to last Mass at St. KNIGHTS PROMOTE LIFE Basketball Mary of the Assumption Parish midseason hoopla ICCL and CYO paces onward BY VINCE LABARBERA Page 21 SOUTH BEND — Bishop John M. D’Arcy will preside at the last Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in South Bend at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28. All cur- rent and past parishioners and clergy are welcome to attend, said Father John Delaney, pastor, who will concelebrate the closing Mass with Bishop D’Arcy. It was announced Dec. 3, 2006, that after extensive consultation, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, 3501 S. Locust Rd., is The sanctuary of St. Mary of the being merged with nearby St. Jude Parish. Assumption Church is shown above. In announcing the merger, Bishop D’Arcy shared with the congregation his gratitude to them for the many years of worship and the parish records of baptisms, marriages MARK WEBER service at the 125-year-old St. Mary of the and deaths. Assumption Parish. During the brief prayer service at St. Tom Miller, left, and Grand Knight Mike Immediately following the Mass, parish- Jude’s, parishioners of both parishes will be ioners will travel to St. Jude Parish, 19704 welcomed and blessed by Bishop D’Arcy. Blankman of the Hessen Cassel Knights of Johnson Rd., for a welcoming prayer serv- A dinner will follow immediately, but reser- Columbus arranged a pancake breakfast at ice and a dinner. Bishop D’Arcy will take vations are required, said Father Delaney, the Blessed Sacrament from St. Mary’s. He who since last July also has been serving as St. Joseph Hessen Cassel Parish, Fort and others then will process into St. Jude pastor of St. Jude. Anyone who is interested Wayne, which raised nearly $800 and was Church, led by a cross bearer. Also includ- is attending the dinner is asked to call the ed in the procession will be the Book of St. Jude Parish office at (574) 291-0570 by given to the Women’s Care Centers of Fort Gospels, the sacred oils, the altar stone and Wednesday, Jan. 24. Wayne. 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC JANUARY 21, 2007 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the When people pray with fervor, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 vocations flourish PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy called “The Institute,” which was a social most kind of Msgr. William Fay, the pastor of EDITOR: Tim Johnson center for young people. It was a thriving St. Columbkille’s to invite me to celebrate a ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer place. For some reason, we often went to con- Mass there, near my family home. It was a STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad fession there. At the other end of Brighton great joy. Although we arranged it only in the was St. Gabriel Parish. It included a retreat last several weeks, it was well attended with Editorial Department NEWS center, and my dad often made retreats there. family members and priest friends. I saw rela- PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan &NOTES St. Gabriel’s was staffed by priests of the tives and neighbors I have not seen in years. I FREELANCE WRITERS: Ann Carey, Passionists Order. We had these three parish- spoke about what it was like growing up in Michelle Castleman, Elmer J. Danch, BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY es, and now St. Columbkille’s is the only one Brighton, so many physical signs of church. Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie Elberson, left as the other two are closed. So, it was Pope Benedict said it was the parish church Denise Fedorow, Sister Margie and the activity there in his hometown in Lavonis, CSC, Jennifer Ochstein, Bavaria, which prompted him to “fall in love Theresa Thomas, Kristi Ward I hope you say the prayer. with the Catholic Church.” In Brighton you Through the hard work of our small, but had these three impressive churches. There Business Department hardworking staff of Today’s Catholic, every Let us do was also St. John’s Seminary, where I lived BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice Catholic home received a copy of the first many years as a student and later as a faculty member. Nearby was Boston College and also AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber Jubilee Year edition of our newspaper. everything we St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, along with St. BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol Included as well was a decal with our logo, [email protected] the beautiful image of Christ and Mary adapt- Joseph’s Academy for Girls. Everywhere you ed from St. Patrick Church, Fort Wayne. Also can to influence ran into these physical signs of the church. Advertising Sales contained was a prayer card presenting on So many of them are now gone. I tried to Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) one side a Prayer for Vocations and on the a culture of life tell the people that Jesus Christ is not gone — (260) 456-2824 other side Psalm 117, a prayer for this Jubilee that he is present in the Eucharist and the Judy Kearns (South Bend area) Year. This prayer card was put together by Gospel and in the priests taking care of St. t is hard to imagine that seven men led (574) 234-0687 Linda Furge, our director of this Jubilee Year Columbkille’s. So many friends of my parents our beloved country to a situation observance and Father Bernie Galic, director were there. Isn’t it always special when some- Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY where the taking of a human life on of the Vocation Office and pastor of Holy I one says, “I knew your father. I knew your demand is legal. Prior to this decision, all Published weekly except the last Family Parish, South Bend. mother.” Growing up in that town, there were 50 states had laws preventing, or seriously Sunday in June, second and fourth Please say these prayers. We sent them out three special places — your home, your weeks in July, second week in August limiting, the taking of a human life in the so that everyone would have them. You can parish church and the local park or play- and last week in December by the womb. put it in your prayer book or your wallet and ground for sports. We had another place; Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Seven men changed it in a decision say it when you make a visit to the Blessed namely, my father’s store where I began to 1103 S. Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort which the late Justice White, who was one Wayne, IN 46801. Second-class Sacrament or when you say your morning or work at the age of nine. Like so many Irish of the dissenting votes, called “Raw postage paid at Fort Wayne, IN, and night prayers at home, or after you pray the immigrants, my father had worked for a gro- Judicial Power.” Even some who agree additional mailing office. rosary. cery chain. There were small grocery stores with the result consider the decision In last week’s edition of Today’s Catholic, every 10 blocks or so. When it closed in POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: flawed. How do we respond? There are there was a quote from Pope Benedict, which 1941, he and my mother courageously opened Today’s Catholic, P.O. Box 11169, Fort several ways to respond. Wayne, IN 46856-1169 or e-mail: was taken from his message from the 2006 D’Arcy’s Market in the next block, and I First, there is the response of prayer.