50¢ September 21, 2008 Volume 82, No. 34 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend ’ St. Robert TTODAYODAY’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Bellarmine celebrates anniversary Pope tells Lourdes pilgrims 50 years of ministry hailed Mary leads to Christ Page 10 Wrath of Ike BY JOHN THAVIS Texas and Louisiana begin LOURDES, France (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI cel- recovery ebrated Mass for 150,000 international pilgrims at the Marian sanctuaries of Lourdes and told them that hum- Page 4 ble prayer to Mary was a true path to Christ. The pope said Mary had appeared at Lourdes to invite everyone who suffers, physically or spiritually, to “raise their eyes toward the cross of Jesus” and rec- ognize a love that is stronger than death or sin. Sharing Faith “The power of love is stronger than the evil that threatens us,” he said Sept. 14. Backwards and forwards The pope traveled to Lourdes, a town in the French Page 9 Pyrenees, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mary’s appearances to St. Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl. After days of rain and cool weather, sunshine broke through the clouds over the pilgrims who filled a The church and grassy field near the sanctuaries. They applauded as the pontiff processed to an altar covered with a sail- disabilities shaped canopy. In his sermon, the pope placed himself among the Room for everyone pilgrim population, saying he, too, had come to pray at Pages 11-13 the feet of Mary, “eager to learn from her alongside lit- tle Bernadette.” Then he made a point he has consistently empha- sized when speaking of Marian devotion: that Mary turns one’s gaze to Christ. ‘Fireproof” He noted that Mary’s first gesture to St. Bernadette was to make the sign of the cross — an initiation into Movie about rekindling the mysteries of faith in Christ, he said. marriage get thumbs up “Mary comes to remind us that prayer which is humble and intense, trusting and persevering, must Page 20 have a central place in our Christian lives,” the pope said. CNS PHOTO/PHILIPPE NOISET TE, CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO “Prayer is indispensable if we are to receive Christ’s Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Grotto of the Apparitions at the Marian sanctuaries of power,” he said. Lourdes, France, Sept. 13. The pope traveled to Lourdes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mary’s appearances to St. Bernadette Soubirous. LOURDES, PAGE 3 Catechetical Sunday GENEVA MEMENTO Think Green celebrated September 21 Recycle this paper stand and be recognized at a designated Mass New staffers promote or several Masses and then offer a special the catechetical ministry blessing. Each year has a special theme, and the theme this year is “The word of God in the life and mission of the church.” BY TIM JOHNSON “And they do this on a voluntary basis,” Sister Jane adds. “It is a very special thing to FORT WAYNE — This weekend, parishes share your faith with others.” across the United States celebrate Over the years, workers in the diocesan Catechetical Sunday, a day in which directors Office of Catechesis have contributed to the of religious education and religious education growth of the faith throughout the Diocese of teachers are recognized for their work within Fort Wayne-South Bend. They have strength- their parishes. ened the religious education programs for MARK WEBER both children, youths and adults. Joining the “Catechetical Sunday is a special Sunday Before the final blessing at a 125th for all those involved in teaching the faith,” Office of Catechesis recently are three new says diocesan director of catechesis Sister staffers who work from the South Bend and Anniversary Mass at St. Mary of the Fort Wayne offices. Jane Carew. “It is the recognition of the min- Presentation, Geneva, parishioner Tom istry of the catechist. There are so many in the Meggan Young works at the South Bend diocese who give so generously of their time catechetical office. She has moved to the area Wiseman presented Bishop John M. from Iowa, where she had worked at a large and teach the faith to children.” D’Arcy with a throw illustrating the Irish On Catechetical Sunday, many parishes will ask their religious education teachers to settlement church. SUNDAY, PAGE 4 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Bishop celebrates 125th Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 anniversary of St. Mary of the PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy EDITOR: Tim Johnson ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer Presentation Parish in Geneva STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad A seminarian from Geneva ment of confirmation. So we have that beautiful sacrament, and the anniversary, Editorial Department From this little parish has come, I think PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan and also the feast of the Exaltation of the for the first time in its history, a candidate Holy Cross. FREELANCE WRITERS: Lauren Caggiano, for the priesthood for the Diocese of Fort Ann Carey, Michelle Castleman, Elmer NEWS Wayne-South Bend. That would be Ben J. Danch, Michelle Donaghey, Bonnie Muhlenkamp, who spent this past summer A visit to the cemetery Elberson, Denise Fedorow, Diane working at St. Charles Parish, Fort Wayne. &NOTES Ben gives much credit to this little country During Mass, I thought of the cemetery Freeby, May Lee Johnson, Sister parish for nourishing his vocation, along near the church. So afterwards, helped by Margie Lavonis, CSC, Jennifer Murray BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY with St. Vincent’s, Fort Wayne, and their our excellent diocesan Master of and Deb Wagner youth program; and the example of Msgr. Ceremonies Jim Fitzpatrick, I went to the Ed Hession, the late beloved pastor of St. cemetery with some of the people to pray Business Department St. Mary of the Presentation, Geneva Charles, Fort Wayne. for those who had gone before. I saw the This parish has always been close to my Ben recently drove me back and forth to large headstone of Tom Moran; his great BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice granddaughter explained to me that he AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber heart. I went there many times in my early South Bend for the Annual Bishop’s Appeal years as bishop for one thing or another. It dinner; telling me along the way about the came in 1865, from County Galway. Moran BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol is my mother’s name, Margaret Moran, who [email protected] has not been easy to provide a priest for various kinds of corn and soybeans that this parish. They are 26 miles from the were growing in the area. He spent several left Glenamoy in County Mayo in 1922. In Ireland, the accent is on the first syllable. Advertising Sales nearest parish to the north; namely, St. days this summer repairing the farm equip- Mary’s, Decatur. Currently, they have 80 ment for his parents, who are dairy farmers Tom Moran’s great granddaughter said she Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) families registered. It is a small church, but in Geneva. knew that, and she had visited his home in (260) 456-2824 beautiful, as you approach it after turning Tuam, County Galway. I believe they still Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) left at the flashing light in Geneva — and have the land, which he first claimed so (574) 234-0687 finding yourself in the midst of beautiful A special link long ago. Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY rolling farmland. My beloved parish church in Brighton, Most of all, it has a history. I was there Mass., sitting atop of what one priest who Published weekly except the fourth this past Sunday to celebrate the 125th served there called “that green Irish hill,” is Pope John Paul and the small parish Sunday in June, first and third weeks anniversary of this church, which is in an also dedicated to Our Lady of Presentation. Pope John Paul, as you know, was a dis- in July, first week in August and last area called Irish Settlement. It was settled In both churches this refers not to the pres- tinguished poet, indeed, a romantic. He week in December by the Diocese of by Irish farmers, and so you see names like entation of the child, Jesus, but to the pres- once wrote a beautiful poem entitled, I Fort Wayne-South Bend, 1103 S. Moran, Kenney and Finerty on believe, “On Giving Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort Wayne, the headstones in the nearby Confirmation in a Mountain IN 46801. Periodicals postage paid at parish cemetery behind the Parish.” I don’t have his poetic Fort Wayne, IN, and additional mailing church. Later came farmers from ability, but this little piece is my office. The Basilica of the Holy Cross on the place Germany. The church was built tribute to all those who kept this POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: by the early settlers who first parish going, and to the spirit of Today’s Catholic, P.O. Box 11169, Fort came in 1860s. Thomas Moran, where Jesus was crucified, was rebuilt after being the many families in Geneva who Wayne, IN 46856-1169 or e-mail: whose great-granddaughter was make sure that the children learn [email protected]. with us, came in 1865 from attacked and burned on two occasions. the faith, that the sick and dying Galway. More on that later. are visited, and is also written to SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Domestic in We were celebrating the support their wonderful priest, advance, one year $20. Bundle rates 125th anniversary of the build- So also, the humble farmers in Irish Settlement had to Father Bosco-Perera, in making available on request.