Miter Society Mass and reception highlight stewardship

Seminarian Tim Wyciskalla, left, a sophomore at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis, and retired Father Patrick Commons, talk on May 7 during a reception for members of the Miter Society at the Archbishop O’Meara Catholic Center. The generosity of Miter Society members and other Catholics across the archdiocese supports priestly formation for seminarians and the needs of retired priests. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

Many Catholics across central and southern Indiana made great shows of stewardship in 2007 in their giving to both the Legacy for Our Mission Campaign: For Our Children and the Future, and the annual United Catholic Appeal.

The Miter Society is one way that the archdiocese honors those who make significant contributions to these stewardship initiatives that support home missions, Catholic schools, and such shared ministries as Catholic Charities, priestly formation for seminarians and the support of retired priests.

On May 7, approximately 150 members of the Miter Society gathered for Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indian-apolis and a reception afterward at the Archbishop O’Meara Catholic Center.

Wayne Davis, an archdiocesan deacon candidate who is a member of St. Michael Parish in Greenfield, spoke during the reception about the deacon formation that he has been involved in now for nearly five years, a program supported by the generosity of Catholics across the archdiocese.

“Your generosity has made possible the formation that we’ve received,” Davis said. “We purchase our books. We travel to the sites for instruction.

“But the instruction, the housing, the meals for the weekend are all provided by the archdiocese. … So I thank all of you for your support, and I ask for your continued prayers for all of us as we engage in this new ministry.”

Davis and 24 other men from across the archdiocese are the first permanent deacon candidates in the history of the archdiocese. They will be ordained on June 28 at the cathedral.

“The real core of the characteristic of the deacon is the ministry of charity,” Davis said. “And so one of the things that we will have for this archdiocese is a specific assignment of charity, either as a chaplain in a prison, a county jail, a hospital, a home for the aged, or some other ministry that is not being met adequately now because of limited resources. But we will be able to fill that void.”

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, was the primary celebrant at the Miter Society Mass and spoke at the reception.

“Your generosity is carrying out Christ’s mission in the archdiocese through your gifts to Legacy for Our Mission and the United Catholic Appeal,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “Your commitment to being good stewards, generous stewards, helps us care for the poor and the vulnerable. It educates our youngsters. It trains our seminarians and gives care to our aging priests.”

Those who were invited to the Mass and reception had either pledged $1,500 or more to the 2007 United Catholic Appeal, or $5,000 or more to the Legacy for Our Mission Campaign in the past year.

Msgr. Schaedel responded to several questions submitted by members of the Miter Society, including two concerning Catholic schools.

He noted that three new Catholic grade schools and two new Catholic high schools have been established in central and southern Indiana since Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein became shepherd.

Msgr. Schaedel also spoke about a growing concern across the archdiocese involving families who find it difficult to pay tuition for the children they send to Catholic schools. This concern is not just limited to the center city of Indianapolis, he said.

“There are [schools] in all parts of the archdiocese—Terre Haute, Richmond, New Albany, and even some of the outlying schools—where we have to figure out ways to provide financial assistance for families,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “We cannot have just schools for the wealthy. The archbishop is very determined, and we’re all determined, that we will not simply have schools for people that just happen to be able to afford it.”

The ongoing, day-to-day needs of ministries such as Catholic schools is one of the reasons why there will be a United Catholic Appeal again in the fall, Msgr. Schaedel said, even in light of the success of the Legacy for Our Mission Campaign.

“Stewardship is not quite the same as fundraising,” he said. “As Christian stewards, we have a need to give based on all that God has given us. … God has not stopped giving to us. And so we are accountable. And we want to give back to God as best we can.”

Sue and George Kempf, members of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis, look forward to attending the Miter Society Mass and reception each year.

“This is something that’s on the schedule that you know you’re going to do,” said George Kempf. “It’s very important. For long-term giving and continuous and consistent giving, it’s very important to keep people up to speed on what [we’re] doing.”

Becky and Dennis Gettelfinger, members of St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Parish in Floyds Knobs, attended the Miter Society Mass for the first time.

“It made me feel good. It felt like family—with all the different parishes being here—like we’re not the only ones out there,” said Becky Gettelfinger. “Throughout the state of Indiana, everybody’s growing and doing good. It makes you feel a part of the whole clan.” †