Catholic Schools Week Mass

As part of the nationwide celebration of Catholic Schools Week, today I accompanied seven of our junior high students, along with our parish youth minister, to the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul in Indianapolis for the 2nd Annual Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Week Mass. This mass gathered students, teachers, and staff members from Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. I always enjoy the opportunity to gather with other schools, especially ones where I have a connection - today's mass included representatives from both the grade school and high school I attended (St. Jude and Cathedral, respectively) as well as my eighth grade teacher, my kindergarten principal, and others I have come in contact with over the years.

Archbishop Daniel was scheduled to preside at the mass, but because of his recent diagnosis of cancer, he was unable to be with us. Msgr. Joseph Schaedel, vicar general of the Archdiocese, presided in his place. Msgr. Schaedel assured us of the Archbishop's prayers for us at the time of the mass. He also said that the Archbishop was undergoing more tests today and will probably start chemotherapy on Friday. Beginning on Sunday, people throughout the Archdiocese are encouraged to pray a novena - a series of prayers over nine consecutive days - for all who are sick, including Archbishop Daniel. These prayers will conclude on February 11, the World Day of Prayer for the Sick and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Information can be found on the website of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. As a parish, we will pass out information on the novena at all our our masses this weekend.