50¢ March 30, 2008 Volume 82, No. 13 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Luers basketball nets a win Batter up Spring sport season begins Pages 10-14 BY DON CLEMMER FORT WAYNE — Bishop Luers High School cele- brated its boys basketball team’s first state champi- onship victory with a pep assembly March 24. Easter at the The teams’s 69-67 win over Winchester on March 22 prompted Bishop John M. D’Arcy to say at the Vatican, diocese Monday afternoon assembly, “I never doubted we Celebrating the triduum would win.” Bishop D’Arcy noted that Luers trailed most of the game but never gave up. “That’s the his- Pages 3, 20 tory of this team all year long. They always thought they could win. That’s a credit to them and to their coach.” “This has been quite a journey,” Bishop Luers coach James Blackmon said at the assembly, thank- Deacon prepares ing the entire Luers community for their support. He said he felt relief that the season was over and that for priesthood the teams had accomplished their goal of winning the Christ the King Parish state title. Coach Blackmon said the team was able to celebrates achieve this goal by choosing to invest a lot of hard work from the beginning of the season. Holy Cross ordination “With everything we do in life, whatever choices Page 4 you make,” he said, “if you give it 100 percent, good things are going to happen. And that’s the credit to this ball club here.” Coach Blackmon thanked Bishop Luers Principal Mary Keefer, referring to her as the team’s number Tools of one fan, and said that the real credit for the season goes to the members of the boys basketball team for evangelization pulling together all of their unique talents and roles to become a unified and successful team. Education for Ministry to After Coach Blackmon’s remarks and the presen- begin classes tation of medals to the team, managers and assistant coaches, Bishop Luers Athletic Director Matt Page 9 Lindsay presented one of the medals to the team’s “holiest fan,” Bishop D’Arcy. DON CLEMMER The lone senior of the team, Steve Williamson, The Bishop Luers boys basketball team present the trophy for the IHSAA Class 2-A state spoke at the end of the presentation, thanking the stu- championship to Bishop Luers Principal Mary Keefer during a March 24 pep assembly at the dent body, parents and his teammates in an emotion- school. Bishop Luers defeated Winchester, 69-67, in the March 22 game in Indianapolis. ‘Circling My Mother’ al show of gratitude. Book captures a family’s love Page 18 GIFT FROM THOMAS DIGNAN Two south side Fort Wayne Inside the Cathedral of the schools to merge Immaculate Msgr. Julian Benoit Academy, St. John the Baptist, Conception in Fort Wayne, to combine schools 1860 this 36- BY TIM JOHNSON just felt that educationally the children would be better in a larger classroom that inch high marble AND VINCE LABARBERA was not too large. … Some of the classes crucifix, a gift were so small you might have two grades FORT WAYNE — Bishop John M. D’Arcy together with five or six children. from Thomas has announced Msgr. Julian Benoit Bishop D’Arcy added, “We kept it as Dignan, graced Academy and St. John the Baptist School in long as we could. We can place all of (the Fort Wayne will merge. Students enrolled at Benoit students) in St. John’s or other the main altar. Benoit Academy will relocate to the St. Catholic schools. And that’s our intention; Crafted by P.S. John the Baptist School location on to get everyone, Catholic and non-Catholic, Fairfield Avenue. (See Bishop D’Arcy’s into one of our Catholic schools.” Underhill’s Fort statement on page 3.) Catholic Schools Superintendent Holy Wayne Marble In making the decision, Bishop D’Arcy Cross Father Stephen Kempinger said, “The said, “As bishop you have to be concerned merging of Msgr. Julian Benoit Academy Works it is on about the education. Is the present situation and St. John the Baptist School will provide display in the the best educationally for our children?” an increase in ethnic and cultural diversity. Bishop D’Arcy said Benoit Academy is As a result of this, multicultural education Cathedral a great success story in its 14-year history. must continue to be incorporated in all cur- Museum in Fort “It’s helped many young people —Catholic ricula areas.” and non-Catholic — who had some individ- He added, “Every effort must be made to Wayne. ual instruction,” he said. MARK WEBER But class size was getting small. “We MERGE, PAGE 5 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC MARCH 30, 2008 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Easter faith: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 willingness to sacrifice PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy EDITOR: Tim Johnson ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer with Christ and for him STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad Sanhedrin called in the apostles and had them Tom labored for so many years. The award is Editorial Department whipped. They ordered them not to speak a grant of $1,000 to Sister Janet’s work in El again about the name of Jesus and afterward Paso, Texas. She could not be with us because PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan dismissed them.” of her illness, but I hope she will come again FREELANCE WRITERS: Lauren Caggiano, What was the reaction of the apostles? soon and visit Bishop Luers and St. Mary’s. Ann Carey, Michelle Castleman, Elmer Concerning these men who could not stay As Pope Benedict XVI said in his beautiful J. Danch, Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie NEWS with the Lord in his hour of darkness and encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est”: “The church Elberson, Denise Fedorow, Diane trouble, we read: “The apostles for their part can no more neglect the ministry of charity &NOTES left the Sanhedrin full of joy that they had than it can neglect the sacraments or the Freeby, Sister Margie Lavonis, CSC, been judged worthy of ill treatment for the word.” Jennifer Murray, Jennifer Ochstein BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY sake of the name.” I wonder if this is not the I hope that Sister Janet will be an inspira- and Deb Wagner fullness of Easter faith. The willingness to tion as Father Tom was to a new generation sacrifice with him and for him; the willing- devoted to the homeless and the hungry and Business Department Easter faith ness to be his disciple and to be known as those without healthcare. Think of the institu- BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice You have probably never heard of Ignace such. Some thoughts on a cold but lovely tions that came out of St. Mary’s: Matthew 25 Easter afternoon. and also Vincent House. This was a beautiful AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber de la Potterie, SJ. He is an exemplary scholar of the Gospel of St. John, and he has written a Monday luncheon at St. Mary’s before head- BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol beautiful book on the Passion and resurrection ing to South Bend for the chrism Mass. [email protected] of the Savior as recounted in John’s Gospel. A joyful memory In examining the sentence, we heard on Ordinarily it is not good to have many Advertising Sales Easter Sunday in reference to the beloved dis- appointments during Holy Week. But this one Day of prayer for vocations Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) ciple who arrived at the tomb before Peter but was exceptional. So many will remember Next week I hope to share with our readers (260) 456-2824 waited until Peter entered and then went in Father Tom O’Connor, an apostle to the poor. a reflection on the World Day of Prayer for Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) himself, Father de la Potterie comments on Every year on the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s Vocations. I will try to update you on our these words: “He saw and believed.” It is his (574) 234-0687 Day and also the day the Father Tom died, we present situation or ask Father Galic our judgment that while John believed, it was not give an award to a person who lived up to director of vocations to do it. There are signs Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY the fullness of Easter faith. He says that after Father O’Connor’s devotion to those in need. of hope, and there is always hope because we this, John and Peter went to their homes. This, It is the Father Tom O’Connor Award. This is rely on Christ to touch the hearts of our Published weekly except the last he believes, means they had not yet seen the the second time it has been awarded. The young people. Sunday in June, second and fourth Lord and did not fully believe. recipient was Sister Janet Gildea, SC. Sister weeks in July, second week in August He notes that most of the apostles and and last week in December by the Janet graduated from St. Henry’s School and those who heard about the Resurrection did Bishop Luers High School. As a young Our new state champions Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, not at first believe. We will soon hear about 1103 S. Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort women, she was very interested in St. Mary’s Congratulations to Bishop Luers boys’ bas- Thomas and the words to him from Christ: Wayne, IN 46801.