Indianapolis parish to host 16th annual Lenten speaker series
By Sean Gallagher
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, 520 Stevens St., in Indianapolis, will host its 16th annual Lenten speaker series titled “Spaghetti and Spirituality,” on Wednesday evenings in Lent, starting on Feb. 17 and ending on March 9.
Prior to dinner and each week’s presentation, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration following the conclusion of the traditional Latin Mass at noon. Another Mass, celebrated in English, will start at 5:45 p.m.
A light, meatless pasta dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. at Msgr. Priori Hall. Each presentation will begin at approximately 7:15 p.m., and ordinarily concludes by 8:30 p.m.
James and Kathleen Littleton will begin the series on Feb. 17 with a presentation titled, “Raising Christian Children in an Unchristian World.”
The parents of 19 children, including five who have died, the Littletons have authored three books on their adventures in raising a large family. They are also the founders of Forming Faithful Families, a ministry that seeks to support and honor the domestic Church, marriage and family life.
On Feb. 24, Joyce Coronel will speak on the topic, “Fearless Faith: Religious Persecution in Iraq.”
A staff member of The Catholic Sun, the newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix, Coronel has witnessed firsthand the persecution of Christians in Iraq, including a priest who died for his faith. The experience has helped her abandon herself more to God’s will, and renewed her appreciation of her faith and freedom.
David Wilder will give a presentation on March 2 titled, “Catechist, therefore Apologist: Taking Catechesis from Devotion to Discipleship.”
Wilder is the managing director of the New York-based Lumen Institute Inc., which provides formation for business executives and cultural leaders in character, faith and leadership.
An experienced apologist of the Catholic faith, Wilder specializes in high-impact, bridge-building evangelization and parenting techniques that use logic, humor and the art of example to drive the methods of Catholic persuasion.
The last presentation in this year’s series, on March 9, will be given by Father Martin Rodriguez, associate pastor of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis, and is titled, “Turning toward God: Liturgical Orientation and Conversion.”
Father Rodriguez, who was ordained in 2013, received his priestly formation at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
After ordination, he earned a licentiate degree in liturgical theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
(People interested in attending any of the presentations are asked to call Holy Rosary Parish at 317-636-4478 by no later than 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to each seminar. For more information about “Spaghetti and Spirituality” or to register for sessions in the series, visit www.holyrosaryindy.org.) †