Catholic News Around Indiana
Compiled by Brandon A. Evans
Diocese of Evansville
Tulsa crash claims priest, seminarian, with Indiana connections
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Father Jorge Gomez, a Tulsa, Okla., priest who had been active in Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Evansville during his seminary years at St. Meinrad, was killed in a traffic accident Aug. 21 in Tulsa.
Also killed was Stanley Kuriuki, a seminarian originally from Kenya who would have been starting his third year of theology studies next week at St. Meinrad School of Theology. Both men were 32.
“The hearts of all at St. Meinrad go out to the families of these wonderful young men,” said Benedictine Father Denis Robinson, president-rector of the School of Theology. “Their loss is a tragedy for the Diocese of Tulsa and the whole Church. Both of them will be sincerely missed.”
The priest and the seminarian were pronounced dead at the scene of the three-car accident in Tulsa, according to reports in the Tulsa World newspaper. The newspaper reported that their car was struck by a car driven by a woman who was frightened by gunshots in the area and was speeding through an intersection. The car of the priest and the seminarian was proceeding through a green light when it was struck and pushed into a third vehicle.
Father Gomez, who graduated in May, was ordained to the priesthood on July 1.
During his four years of theology studies, he was very active in the Spanish speaking ministry, volunteering with Benedictine Sister Karen Durliat in activities coordinated by the Guadalupe Center in Huntingburg.
“Jorge was very involved in the Hispanic community through-out his four years at St. Meinrad,” said Sister Karen, director of diocesan Ministry to the Spanish Speaking.
“He was always willing to offer his time and talent or to organize other seminarians when a group was needed for an activity,” Sister Karen said. “He enjoyed visiting families throughout the diocese and supporting them in their faith and in their transition to the US culture.”
The seminarian also assisted Father Gene Heerdink, the former director of the Guadalupe Center who continues in retirement to serve the Spanish-speaking community.
Photo caption: Jorge Gomez, a seminarian at the time, enjoys a birthday celebration with members of the Hispanic community in Dale. (Message photo courtesy Guadalupe Center)
Increased enrollment projected in Catholic schools; vouchers help
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
The official school enrollment count does not take place until Oct. 1, but first day numbers indicate an increase in students K-12 as well as in preschool and pre-kindergarten programs.
“The diocesan theme for schools this year is All Are Welcome,” said Daryl Hagan, Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Evansville. “The theme is very appropriate as it relates to the Indiana School Scholarships Act (HEA 1003).”
Hagan said the new law has ushered in “the most expansive school voucher program in the country and it allows parents to make an independent choice to find the best school to meet their child’s unique learning needs.”
According to figures provided by the State Department of Education and the diocesan schools office, 3,500 students have received a voucher in the state, and 167 of those students have chosen to enroll in a Catholic school in the diocese.
There are 28 schools operated by Catholic parishes and one private Catholic High School — John Paul the Great High School in Jasper. The estimated population is near 7,400, Hagan said.
“I enjoyed meeting so many new students and personally welcoming them to our schools,” said Hagan.
He, along with Donna Halverson and Michelle Priar, assistant superintendents, just completed visiting all 29 schools, “which provided the opportunity to interact with students, teachers, principals, staff, and pastors,” he said.
Hagan encouraged families who are interested in the voucher program to apply.
“The deadline of Sept. 16 is fast approaching and families will not be able to apply for a voucher for the 2011-2012 school year after that date,” Hagan said. “Interested families should contact their Catholic school and they will be happy to assist the family in the application process.”
Photo caption: A chalk rendition of the diocesan theme and logo greets all students and parents on the first day of school at Flaget Elementary School in Vincennes. The design was done by Amanda Oakes, Flaget’s art teacher. (Message photo courtesy Amanda Oakes)
(For news from the Diocese of Evansville, log on to the website of The Message at www.themessageonline.org)
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Rosina Harber was born with music in her soul
By Bonnie Elberson
ARCOLA — Rosina Harber has been an organist at St. Patrick Church, Arcola, for more than 60 years and has played for the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass as long as anyone can remember. It’s no wonder, then, that she is finally planning to take it a little easier and retire from active duty in the choir loft.
Rosina was very likely born with music in her soul.
“It’s a family thing,” which has been handed down through the years, said her daughter Annette Lamle, also a parishioner.
Annette says the family’s musical talent first took root in her grandmother, Luella Hinen, who was organist at St. Patrick’s in the mid-1900s and taught her young daughter Rosina those skills as well.
By the time Rosina was a sixth-grader at St. Patrick Catholic School, one of the teaching nuns there, Sister Dolorita, recognized her musical abilities and decided she should play the organ on Children’s Sunday, the third Sunday of each month when the students planned the readings and the music. She did so well that from then on she was on call every week.
Rosina is a lifelong St. Patrick’s parishioner, having received all her sacraments from Baptism to Matrimony at the small rural church. Appropriately, she even chose Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, as her Confirmation name.
Though Rosina has suffered progressive hearing loss and is a cancer survivor, she has put aside those personal difficulties and continued to share her time and her love of music with St. Patrick parishioners, said her daughter.
These days Annette always sings for the Masses when her mom plays and helps out at the organ as well.
“I love music so much,” Annette said. “It’s a gift from God that we share.”
She says that when she plays, she feels two hands on her, her mother’s and her grandmother’s. “There’s a very strong tie,” she said.
In honor of Rosina’s years of religious and musical dedication to St. Patrick Church, a reception for parishioners, friends and family is being planned in the parish hall after her 7:30 a.m. retirement Mass on Sunday, Aug. 28. It will be an opportunity to recognize her decades of service to the church she loves.
Rosina says that she looks forward to reminiscing with many of her friends and former students at the event. Annette stresses that everyone is welcome to share that wonderful day with her mom.
“What better way for people to say thank you?” she asks.
Photo caption: Rosina Harber, at the St. Patrick, Arcola, organ is shown with her daughter Annette Lamle. A reception for parishioners, friends and family is being planned in the parish hall after her 7:30 a.m. retirement Mass on Sunday, Aug. 28.
(For news from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, log on to the website of Today’s Catholic at www.todayscatholicnews.org)
Diocese of Gary
No briefs available this week
(For news from the Diocese of Gary, log on to the website of the Northwest Indiana Catholic at www.nwicatholic.com)
Diocese of Lafayette
No briefs available this week
(For news from the Diocese of Lafayette, log on to the website of The Catholic Moment at www.thecatholicmoment.org)