50¢ October 7, 2007 Volume 81, No. 36 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC It’s a miracle Witness to the faith And that is what we believe Fort Wayne faithful celebrate regional confirmation Pages 10-12 BY KAY COZAD FORT WAYNE — The excitement was palpable as ‘Lions Breathing Fire’ close to 1,200 confirmandi plus sponsors filed into the Men learn to live arena of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 30 behind the 37 beautifully decorated banners the Catholic faith each displaying its own parish name represented there. In all, 7,379 people filled the coliseum at the regional Page 4 confirmation — an event of the diocesan Sesquicentennial Jubilee. As the choir and band, which included brass instru- ments as well as bongo drums offered processional hymns, the Knights of Columbus lined the aisles for Understanding the priests dressed in white and golden vestments who Revelation led Bishop John M. D’Arcy to the altar for a once-in- a-life-time Mass celebration. Father Pfister to present Bishop D’Arcy brought the congregation to task by asking them to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit for workshop in Fort Wayne the young people present there, and referred to the col- Page 8 iseum, where Komet Hockey and concerts take place, as being transformed into a church, a holy place. Following the Liturgy of the Word, Father Bob Schulte, vicar general of the diocese and rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Living today Wayne, named each of the parishes represented and asked that the bishop accept the well-prepared confir- Young adults encouraged mandi for conferral of the sacrament of confirmation. During his homily, the bishop spoke of how special to live in the present this 2007 confirmation class was who had come Page 9 together in unity and would have their own pastors anointing them. He went on to discuss signs that youth wear to say “notice me.” After listing examples such as a football jersey or earring, he went on to speak of the sign of the cross that would be placed in oil on the fore- ‘Bella’ head of each confirmation student. “It’s the cross of Jesus Christ. In confirmation, an How to bring this pro-life indelible mark is put on your soul. It means you are consecrated to God,” said Bishop D’Arcy. film to your city Asking for volunteers, the bishop challenged the KATHY DENICE Page 18 attentive students with questions of faith. The Bishop John M. D’Arcy anoints a confirmand at the regional confirmation held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 30. Thirty seven parishes were represented in the CONFIRM, PAGE 20 unified event. CELEBRATING 140 YEARS Flooded with refugees Catholic Charities and community react to large numbers of Burmese refugees coming to Fort Wayne Burmese refugees in Fort Wayne in 2006, BY ANN CAREY according to Debbie Schmidt, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese FORT WAYNE — The country of Myanmar of Fort Wayne-South Bend. The agency was — formerly called Burma — is attracting told to expect another 200 in 2007, and until international attention as the repressive mili- June of this year had received 35. tary government there has used violent After June, however, the numbers means to disperse peaceful pro-democracy increased quickly and dramatically, with an demonstrators. additional 524 refugees arriving by the end of Burmese people are in the news in Fort September. Another 130 more are expected TIM JOHNSON Wayne, too, where about 3,000 Burmese before the end of the year, bringing the pro- refugees now live. The local Burmese popu- jected 2007 total to nearly 700. That number Bishop John M. D’Arcy celebrated Mass at lation has attracted attention because of a is close to the total of 768 Burmese refugees St. Joseph Church, Roanoke, as they Sept. 17 meeting of the board of the Fort settled here by Catholic Charities in the 15 Wayne-Allen County Department of Health, years between 1991 and 2006. Another 600 marked 140 years on Sept. 29. In the where Allen County Health Commissioner to 800 Burmese are expected in 2008. photo, Father John Pfister, pastor of St. Dr. Deborah McMahan reported that her The large number of people arriving in department will have to start charging for such a short time also has strained Catholic Mary Church, Huntington, looks over a previously free services because the depart- Charities, which must provide staff support, historical photo with Sister Colleen Bauer, ment must treat an unusually large number of obtain financial assistance, locate housing Burmese refugees this year. SSND, who grew up in St. Joseph Parish. Catholic Charities settled about 200 REFUGEE, PAGE 3 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC OCTOBER 7, 2007 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Regional confirmation is a Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 wonderful thing to behold PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy true science with parameters and guidelines “We must begin by purifying ourselves before puri- EDITOR: Tim Johnson like any science, and I asked the question as fying others; we must be instructed to be able to ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer to how any college or university can be a instruct, become light to illuminate, draw close to STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad true place of learning when God and what God to bring him close to others, be sanctified to God has revealed is not studied. sanctify, lead by the hand and counsel prudently. I Editorial Department NEWS We also discussed the request of “Ex know whose minister we are, where we find our- Corde Ecclesiae” that a majority of the fac- PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan selves and to where we strive. I know God’s great- &NOTES ulty be Catholic and the theory behind this. ness and man’s weakness, but also his potential. FREELANCE WRITERS: Ann Carey, We talked also about academic freedom (Who then is the priest? He is) the defender of Michelle Castleman, Elmer J. Danch, BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY and about how this is defined in “Ex Corde truth, who stands with angels, gives glory with Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie Elberson, Ecclesiae” and how Pope John Paul II was archangels, causes sacrifices to rise to the altar on Denise Fedorow, Sister Margie clear as to the true definition of academic high, shares Christ’s priesthood, refashions creation, Lavonis, CSC, Jennifer Ochstein, The jubilee continues freedom in a Catholic university. Freedom restores it in God’s image, recreates it for the world Theresa Thomas This past Sunday it was a privilege and in the Catholic philosophical and theologi- on high and, even greater is divinized and joy to unite with our priests to confer the cal tradition is never license or the freedom divinizes.” Business Department sacrament of confirmation to about 1,200 to do anything or to simply to do this rather — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1589 BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice young people at the Allen County War than that. That is a very superficial under- AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. This is standing of the beautiful gift of God which Reaching out to the professions BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol the second year we have done this. The is human freedom. Pope John Paul II, as a [email protected] other time was in the year of the Great good teacher, defined this freedom clearly: The church must touch the men and Jubilee 2000. What a wonderful thing to women in professional life, so this Sunday I Advertising Sales behold and probably the last such event, at “Freedom in research and teaching is recognized will preach at the Red Mass in Fort Wayne Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) least for a good while. and respected according to the principals and and then there will be a talk by Judge (260) 456-2824 What a great joy to see well over 7,000 methods of each individual discipline, so long as Kenneth Ripple. Judge Ripple is a good the rights of the individual and of the community friend of mine, a federal judge, a professor Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) people on a beautiful sun-splashed September day. Thanks to the hard work of are preserved within the confines of the truth in of the Notre Dame Law School and a (574) 234-0687 our Office of Worship, it was carried out the common good.” strong Catholic. He is often at noontime Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY with great reverence. The music Mass in our downtown South Bend chapel where I meet him Published weekly except the last was prayerful and especially the Sunday in June, second and fourth song after Communion taken when I celebrate the Mass there, weeks in July, second week in August from the Magnificat of Mary, It is an ongoing responsibility of the bishop to have as I do from time to time. and last week in December by the which everyone sang. I am Also, soon we will have an Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, always especially delighted when close communion with the leaders of the Catholic extensive visit from Father Tad 1103 S. Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort the whole congregation is Pacholczyk. He will speak on Wayne, IN 46801. Periodicals postage singing since that is beautiful to the moral issues related to death paid at Fort Wayne, IN, and additional colleges and universities within his diocese, and I find and dying for medical people on mailing office.