Catholic Schools Week See our Catholic Schools Week Supplement, pages 1B-16B. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com January 24, 2014 Vol. LIV, No. 15 75¢ Vatican Building bridges confirms Obama will Photo by Sean Gallagher Photo by visit pope in March VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the Vatican on March 27, the White House announced and the Vatican confirmed. The spring meeting would be Obama’s second visit to the Vatican as president, but his first with Pope Francis, who Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013. The White House said the Vatican visit would be part of a presidential trip to Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin exchanges a sign of peace with Bishop Catherine Waynick, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, during the Netherlands, a Jan. 19 ecumenical prayer service at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. Co-sponsored by the Belgium and Italy. Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, the prayer service kicked off the observance of the Week of Prayer for “The president Christian Unity in the city, which runs through Jan. 25. looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis Archbishop Tobin leads prayer service for their shared President Barack Obama commitment to Christian unity at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral fighting poverty and growing inequality,” said the Jan. 21 By Sean Gallagher hospitality he has received from many Archbishop Tobin said. White House statement. people, including leaders of various He went on to note that the pontiff During the same trip, Obama will Leaders of Christian communities Christian communities in the state, during sees “doing good” as a “principle that participate in a summit in the Netherlands across Indiana gathered on Jan. 19 with his first year of service in central and unites all of humanity, beyond the on nuclear security, visit the presidents of Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin in the southern Indiana. He also praised the way diversity of ideologies and religions, and the European Council and the European Blessed Sacrament Chapel of SS. Peter in which archdiocesan Catholics and other creates the ‘culture of encounter’ that is Commission in Brussels, and hold talks and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis to pray Christians have worked together to help the foundation of peace.” in Rome with Italian President Giorgio together at the start of the Week of Prayer people in need. Archbishop Tobin said that the pope’s Napolitano and Prime Minister Enrico Letta. for Christian Unity. Finally, Archbishop Tobin reflected at message has relevance for the Christian After U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry The leaders, along with members of length on the way in which Pope Francis, communities of Indianapolis and Indiana. met his Vatican counterpart, Cardinal- the congregation in attendance, sang elected last March, has encouraged “In this city and state, we are designate Pietro Parolin, at the Vatican hymns, listened to Scripture readings, ecumenical relations among Catholics and called to expand the space in which a on Jan. 14, he told reporters, “I know that offered prayers and gave thanks for the other Christians. ‘culture of encounter’ might flourish,” the Holy Father is anticipating the visit of spiritual gifts with which God has blessed “From the beginning, Pope Francis Archbishop Tobin said. “We must meet President Obama here, and the president each of the communities. has left little room for doubt that he each other doing good. is looking forward to coming here to meet They also listened to a homily offered sees the ecumenical and interreligious “ … We have much [good] to do in with him.” by Archbishop Tobin. mission of the Church as integral to this city and this state. As we feed the Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, In it, he offered thanks for the his vision for the new evangelization,” See PRAYER, page 2A Vatican spokesman, told reporters that See POPE, page 3A ‘The Light is On for You:’ Confession will be available across archdiocese on April 2 By Sean Gallagher room when a priest is available to celebrate the sacrament. From 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 2, The program has often involved all parishes priests will be available in churches across in a diocese offering a period of time for the central and southern Indiana to celebrate sacrament of penance on the same evening each File photo by Sean Gallagher File photo by the sacrament of penance with anyone week during Lent. who comes and wishes to experience During this first time that it will occur in the God’s mercy and Archdiocese of Indianapolis, it will take place on forgiveness. one evening during Lent. The initiative, Bishop Christopher J. Coyne took part in it called “The Light from 2008-10 when he was serving as a parish Is on for You,” has See CONFESSION, page 3A been successfully tried during the season of Lent in In this file photo, people stand in line to go to many dioceses confession at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church across the country. in Indianapolis. From 6:30 p.m. to 8 pm. on April 2, The name refers priests will be available in churches across central and to the light that southern Indiana to celebrate the sacrament of penance Bishop would be on in with anyone who wishes to celebrate the sacrament Christopher J. Coyne a reconciliation and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Page 2A The Criterion Friday, January 24, 2014 PRAYER continued from page 1A hungry, welcome the stranger and carry out Sean Gallagher Photos by good works in the name of Christ, we will expand the culture of encounter that will help us to fulfill the prayer of Christ the night before he died for all: ‘ …that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me’ ” (Jn 17:21). Speaking to The Criterion before the ecumenical prayer service, Angelique Walker- Smith, executive Father Nabil Hanna, pastor of St. George director of the Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, presents Church Federation an icon portraying Pentecost during a of Greater Jan. 19 ecumenical prayer service at the Indianapolis, Blessed Sacrament Chapel of SS. Peter and anticipated Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. Archbishop Tobin’s reference to Jesus’ us are coming down so that we can really prayer for unity be one body of Christ.” Miguel Diaz when commenting Also attending the ecumenical prayer Rev. Anne Henning Byfield, a presiding elder for the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Indiana, on the need for service was Miguel Diaz, professor of faith proclaims a Scripture reading during a Jan. 19 ecumenical prayer service at the Blessed Sacrament prayer to promote Christian collaboration. and culture at the University of Dayton in Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. “Sometimes we don’t always give Dayton, Ohio. He served as United States [prayer] the emphasis it deserves,” said Ambassador to the Holy See from 2009-12. Walker-Smith, an ordained Baptist minister. He travelled to Indianapolis in part “The whole Week of Prayer for Christian because of his friendship with Archbishop Unity [which runs through Jan. 25] and the Tobin, which was formed when both were ecumenical movement comes out of the serving in Rome. prayer of Christ that we would all be one “It is always an honor for me and before he went to the cross.” always a blessing to be among people The Church Federation of Greater who desire to build bridges,” said Diaz Indianapolis co-sponsored the ecumenical to The Criterion after the service. “As a prayer service at the cathedral with the diplomat and as a theologian, I believe that Archdiocese of Indianapolis. there is no greater task in this world than Your support is critical to Bishop Michael Coyner, who leads the to build bridges among men and women of United Methodist Church in Indiana, also good will.” participated in the service and spoke about He said that he believes Archbishop our serving ministry needs the importance of prayer in advancing Tobin is one who seeks to build bridges. cooperation among Christians. “I believe that he is one of the great “Prayer has to undergird all of that,” servants of God,” Diaz said. “He is truly United Catholic Appeal Goal he said. “If we don’t pray together, I don’t a man of God, a man who builds bridges, $6,000,000 think we can act together very well.” someone who I deeply respect and care for. $5,000,000 The prayer service moved St. Monica So I am deeply privileged to be here in his parishioner Maria Pimentel-Gannon of presence with other religious leaders as we $4,000,000 Indianapolis to tears. pray for Christian unity and act on behalf “It was very emotional,” said of the people of God.” $3,000,000 Pimentel-Gannon, a member of the Church Federation’s board of directors and a past (To view a gallery of photos from the $2,000,000 president of its board. “This would not Jan. 19 ecumenical prayer service at the $1,000,000 have happened a number of years ago. Blessed Sacrament Chapel at SS. Peter and Today, it’s happening, and praise the Lord Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis, log on to $0 that the barriers that we allowed to divide www.CriterionOnline.com.) † $ Raised to date Annual Appeal Goal $4.5 million $5.7 million 15% If you’ve returned to the Church, The United Catholic Appeal United Catholic supports three ministry areas we want to hear from you Appeal Participation where the needs are greatest: Have you returned to the Church after editor John Shaughnessy by e-mail Participating • Catholic education and faith Households (15%) being away from it for some time? If so, at [email protected] or formation The Criterion would like to share your by mail in care of The Criterion, Total Number of • Education for seminarians story of what led you to come back to the 1400 N.