Letter from Msgr. Schaedel for bulletin of May 20, 2001

Dear Parishioners,

For years, this was my favorite time of year—Spring. I think it goes back to my years in the classroom. From the time I began first grade, in 1954, until the Spring of 1994, I had always been in the classroom—on one side of the desk or the other. I was pupil, teacher, or school administrator in Catholic Schools for 40 years of my life.

I guess this time of year was a favorite because it is the traditional time for the school year to come to an end. I know that the “Year-round School” concept has changed some of this, but even year-round schools get a substantial break during the summer months.

Congratulations to all students and teachers who are completing another academic year. In particular, good wishes to those who are graduating from eighth grade, high school, or college. May God bless all that you do.

Not too long ago, there was another interesting study about the success of Catholic Schools. This one was conducted in Kansas among 1,200 schoolchildren in both Catholic and public schools. One of the most surprising results of this study, done by a University of Kansas professor, was that those in Catholic Schools had significantly higher hopes for their future than their counterparts.

This is true, despite the fact that the Catholic schoolchildren came from the same lower socioeconomic background as the other children surveyed. (The original intent of the study was to test the hypothesis that minority children had less hope for the future than other schoolchildren.) According to the researchers, “We didn’t expect there would be any difference. But lo and behold, there was a difference—with Catholic School kids coming out significantly higher in hope. To us, that was pretty amazing.”

To us—that is great! And to us, it’s no big surprise. The researchers think that higher hopes for Catholic School pupils has something to do with the Faith that is so evidently part of the curriculum as well as the strong discipline. The discipline in the Catholic Schools is seen as an expression of love, although the students would not always readily admit it. It’s the message of the Gospel. By and large, it looks like our Catholic Schools are continuing to do an outstanding job. Congratulations Catholic School pupils, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators!

Speaking of Catholic Education, let’s don’t overlook the Catholic Home-School. This weekend, at the 4:30 p.m. Saturday Mass, we welcome Catholic Home-School pupils and their parents for their end of the year Mass. This is the second year we have hosted this Liturgy. Welcome!

I remember writing in this column back in February about my attendance at the Legatus Convention held in Naples, Florida. Legatus is an international organization of Catholic CEO’s and their spouses. I am the chaplain for the Indiana Chapter. Legatus was founded by Domino’s Pizza founder, Tom Monaghan.

One of our speakers was Bill Bennett, a rather well known social commentator and educator. One thing he said was, “We are the greatest nation in the history of the world…and we have no problems in medicine or technology, but our problem are problems of the human heart and of the human spirit.” Mother Teresa often said essentially the same thing about the U.S. Mr. Bennett also had some interesting observations about Home Schooling. Let me repeat some of them here—at least the ones I can remember!

There are more than two million in our nation who are home schooled. On the average, they score 32 percent better than students in public schools. In a recent national spelling bee, the top three winners were home schooled.

Mr. Bennett went on to say that many people are reluctant to home school because they are afraid their child will fall behind in socialization, a notion that was refuted by a recent study done by the University of North Carolina.

The study noted that home school children were actually more outgoing than public school children because their parents were more involved in their lives, which makes them more confident. Also, home-schooled students make a point of being involved in extracurricular activities.

This weekend we host the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This image, depicting Our Lady under this title, has become a symbol of the Pro-Life movement within the Church. We will have a holy hour to venerate the image of Our Lady and pray in the presence of Our Lord in the tabernacle after the 4:30 p.m. Mass Saturday and the 12:15 p.m. Mass on Sunday. Please come and pray for the protection of all human life from conception until natural death.

Today (Sunday) Father Elias, O.F.M., will celebrate his 60th Anniversary of ordination to the priesthood in our church next Sunday, May 20th, at 3:30 p.m. Because of the recent fire at Sacred Heart Church, Holy Rosary proudly opens her doors to Father on this wonderful day! Congratulations, Father. Ad multos annos!

Next weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, is also “Indy 500 Weekend.” Our Mass schedule will remain the same but with the addition of a 6:30 p.m. Latin Mass on Saturday, May 26. Some folks might want to go the race itself or others may find it hard to get here for the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Latin Mass because of the additional traffic in town for Race Day.

On Memorial Day itself, Monday, May 28, there will be only Mass here at Holy Rosary—a Latin Mass at 9:00 a.m. There will be no evening Mass on Memorial Day.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Italian Street Festival—Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9, from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m. On Saturday evening, June 9, we will have two evening Masses. The Catholic Choir of Indianapolis will provide the music for both Masses. As usual, we will have the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Then the special 7:00 p.m. preceded by the outdoor street procession with the statue of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary.

Faithfully yours in God’s Providence,

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel