Inside Seeking the Face of the Lord Evangelization is at heart of pastoral letter to young Criterion people, page 5. Serving the Church in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com July 2, 2010 Vol. L, No. 38 75¢ Pope announces The family tree formation of pontifical council for new CNS file photo/Debbie Hill CNS file photo/Debbie evangelization VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Benedict XVI announced he is establishing a pontifical council for new evange- lization to find ways “to re-propose the perennial truth of the Gospel” in regions where secularism is smothering Church practice. Leading an evening prayer service on June 28 at Pope Benedict XVI Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Pope Benedict said there are areas of the globe that have been known as Christian for centuries, but where in the past few centuries “the process of secularization has produced a serious crisis” in people’s sense of what it means to be Christian and to belong to the Church. Students from a Catholic school pray during Mass at Annunciation Church in Beit Jala, West Bank, on Ash Wednesday this year. Catholic agencies “I have decided to create a new … help fund Catholic pastoral, educational and social projects throughout the Middle East. pontifical council, with the principal task of promoting a renewed evangelization in the countries where the first proclamation Catholics need to strengthen Middle East roots of faith has already resounded and where there are Churches of ancient foundation VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The under the auspices of the Congregation for and, despite numerous sacrifices, present, but which are living through a Catholic “family tree” has its roots in the Eastern Churches. remaining in the land where they progressive secularization of society and a Middle East, and the Vatican wants The agencies include the Catholic were born.” kind of ‘eclipse of the sense of God,’ ” Catholics everywhere to remember that. Near East Welfare Association which has Governments, too, have a responsibility he said. The special Synod of Bishops for the office in the United States and Canada, to work for peace, to respect the right of The challenge, he said, is to find ways to Middle East, which will convene at the the French Oeuvre d’Orient, Caritas Inter - each person to practice his or her faith and help people rediscover the value of faith. Vatican in October, obviously will be an nationalis, the international Equestrian to work to end discrimination, he said. The pope did not say what the opportunity for the region’s bishops to Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, The work of ROACO and its member formal name of the pontifical council share ideas on how to strengthen their and others from Germany, Switzerland, agencies, the pope said, helps Christians in would be, and he did not announce who communities and their witness. Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. the region continue to live in hope. would lead it, although in the weeks But the synod also will be a chance for The Eastern Churches congregation, “There is a strong link between ROACO leading to the announcement, Vatican Catholics around the world to get back to representatives of the agencies, Church and the synod because ROACO supports commentators suggested it would be Italian their roots as well. leaders from the Middle East and projects and activities that demonstrate Archbishop Rino Fisichella, currently One way Catholics keep in touch with officers of the synod met at the Vatican on God’s love incarnated in love for president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. their roots and help strengthen them is by June 21-25. They discussed the needs of one another,” said Maronite Archbishop Pope Benedict made the announcement supporting Catholic agencies that fund Christians in the Middle East, projects to Joseph Soueif of Cyprus, special secretary at the basilica built over what is believed to Catholic pastoral, educational and social assist them and hopes for the synod. of the synod. be the tomb of St. Paul, who dedicated “his projects throughout the Middle East. Meeting participants on June 25, Christians in the Middle East, like entire existence and his hard work for the Some of the funding is coordinated by a Pope Benedict XVI said the future of the everywhere in the world, are called to be a kingdom of God,” the pope said. special group of donor agencies, known by Church in the Middle East depends on the “quality, dynamic, creative presence” in The Pontifical Council for Health Care the Italian acronym ROACO, which meets region’s Christians “persevering in the faith See MIDDLE EAST, page 2 Ministry, established by Pope John Paul II See POPE, page 2 Prayers answered: Gift from anonymous donor allows St. Nicholas teacher to enter r eligious life By Sean Gallagher story appeared in The Criterion. On June 7, a woman called Prickel When an article about and told her she felt that she was Submitted photo Jennifer Prickel appeared in the supposed to pay off her debt. The May 28 issue of The Criterion, the woman wanted to know the exact 23-year-old member of St. Anthony amount needed to do that, and asked to Parish in Morris and teacher at meet Prickel later that day. St. Nicholas School in Ripley County When Prickel met the woman, who was still wondering when God might wishes to remain anonymous, she gave allow her to follow her call into the aspiring religious a cashier’s check religious life. for approximately $52,000. At the time, more than $50,000 in Prickel now expects to enter the student loan debt stood in the way of Sisters of Reparation as a postulant on Prickel fulfilling her desire to serve Aug. 5—and she couldn’t be happier. God and the Church as a member of “The overwhelming feeling has the Steubenville, Ohio-based Sisters just been joy and peace,” Prickel said. Jennifer Prickel prays in an adoration chapel at Holy Family Parish of Reparation to the Most Sacred “I’ve just been so joyful and just so in Syracuse, N.Y., in June while visiting her twin brother, Andrew, Heart of Jesus. excited about being able to finally who is a youth minister there. Jennifer recently received a gift of Little did Prickel know, however, fulfill this desire that I’ve had to live approximately $52,000 to pay off her student loan debt, which will that her prayers would be answered in in a religious community, and allow her to enter the Steubenville, Ohio-based Sisters of a dramatic way just 10 days after her See PRICKEL, page 2 Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in August. Page 2 The Criterion Friday, July 2, 2010 she was accepted by the order, she PRICKEL believes that the timing of the paying off continued from page 1 of her debts was directed by God. “If [the article] hadn’t been published dedicate my time to God in prayer. at the time that it was, who knows what “I just can’t stop smiling, especially would have happened,” she said. “The Sean Gallagher File photo by when I tell people.” timing was perfect. It was just the way There were also a lot of smiles on the that God wanted it. It shows how we’re faces of the sisters in the community that just not in control of anything. He is.” she will be joining when she shared the Prickel had been waiting for God to news with its superior, answer her prayers Mother M. Wendy over the past academic McMenamy. ‘If [the article] hadn’t year as she worked as a “There was great religion and English joy and prayers been published at the teacher at St. Nicholas of gratitude,” time that it was, who School in Ripley Mother Wendy said. “In County—the same the midst of a meeting, knows what would school that she I received the call and have happened. The attended from kinder- the excitement in timing was perfect. It garten through the Jennifer’s voice was eighth grade. enough to make us was just the way that Up until June 7, she equally excited. God wanted it. It expected to be teaching However, it was above shows how we’re just there again starting all a deep gratitude that in August. we felt as we saw not in control of “I was gearing God’s hand so clearly at anything. He is.’ myself up to teach for Jennifer Prickel teaches a seventh-grade religion class on March 10 at St. Nicholas School in work in providing for another year,” Prickel Ripley County. Jennifer’s needs.” said. “I would have That happiness was —Jennifer Prickel done whatever God had God and her students,” Luhring said. “It is The sudden and dramatic answering of shared by Prickel’s wanted me to do.” sad to see her leave but, deep in all our her prayers just confirmed for Prickel the mother, Amy. Judy Luhring, hearts, we are extremely happy for her. importance of having complete trust in God. “We were all very St. Nicholas’ principal, “When I spoke with Jennifer about “We always have to believe that our excited. We cried,” Amy said. “It was taught Prickel when she was in the entering the convent this fall, her eyes were prayers are going to produce results. something that she has been praying third grade at the Batesville Deanery glowing like a bride. How could I not be Otherwise, it would be useless to pray,” about for a very long time.