Miter Society members help ‘carry forth the mission of God’
Steven and Rita Beck, left, and Ann and Art Berkemeier hold hands for the Our Father during a Mass for Miter Society members on May 8 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. The Becks are members of SS. Francis and Clare Parish in Greenwood, and the Berkemeiers are members of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis. (Photos by Natalie Hoefer)
By Natalie Hoefer
From the young parents of a 9-month-old baby to a woman age 93, from parishes around Indianapolis to parishes in Terre Haute and Floyd County, members of the Miter Society—those who have donated $1,500 or more to the “United Catholic Appeal: Christ Our Hope”—gathered to celebrate the spirit of generosity.
“This giving group brings together a mix of our Catholic population,” said Jolinda Moore, archdiocesan director of stewardship and development. “Tonight, one couple I talked with mentioned their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary, while another couple talked about their 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old twins.
“The Miter Society is for people of all ages who commit to supporting vocations, Catholic education, faith formation, priests’ retirement and serving those in need,” she said.
Nearly 200 of the 917 Miter Society members participated in an evening of thanksgiving on May 8. The event started with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis, followed by a reception across the street at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center.
“It’s great being here,” said Pat Byrnes, a member of St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Parish in Floyd County, who attended with his wife, Brenda. “The trip up seems short when compared with the excitement of breaking bread and talking with our other brothers and sisters.”
One Miter Society member who did not have to travel far was Archbishop Tobin.
“I’ll tell you why I gave,” he said in comments made during the reception. “It’s because I want to thank God for calling me to serve the Church in central and southern Indiana.
“The more I know this Church that’s called the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the more I see and hear the testimony of faith, the more I greet people in the four corners of this archdiocese, the more I love it.”
Archbishop Tobin noted that the 917 Miter Society members contributed almost $2.2 million of the nearly $5.1 million received thus far in the annual appeal. That equates to 44 percent of the monies raised, he said.
“Every dollar that is given is used for ministries to serve the poor, to educate our seminarians and deacons, to care for our retired clergy—in other words, to carry forth the mission of God that has been entrusted to us,” the archbishop said.
Mary Lou Gebuhr, 93, a member of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis, believes in that mission.
“We have to have the churches and schools that the United Appeal helps,” she said.
Being on a fixed income doesn’t stop her from giving.
“Giving isn’t difficult because that’s just part of life to me,” she said.
It’s part of life, too, for Susan and Jerry Wagner, parents of four adopted children who are now grown adults, including one with severe disabilities. The couple came from Terre Haute, where they are members of St. Patrick Parish.
“The appeal reaches so many people and so many important causes,” said Susan. “There are so many normal, everyday people who are suffering. They all need the services that we take for granted sometimes—food and clothing and shelter.”
Larry Timko, a member of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg, said that for him, “Priests are the most important part, taking care of those who have already served, and for the future.”
His wife, Debbie, added that the couple also gives “because of the needs of the communities and Catholic schools. Catholic schools produce children with better morals,” she said, noting that Larry’s two grown daughters and his son in college attended Catholic schools.
Catholic education is also a strong motivation for Jarod and AnnCatherine Downing of St. Pius the X Parish in Indianapolis to give to the appeal. The oldest of their three young children will start kindergarten at St. Pius X School in September.
“Giving to the appeal has been part of the experience of us developing our family,” said AnnCatherine. “We want to give back to support the Church long term both in the education of priests and deacons, and to provide Catholic education for our children and know that that will be there for them. We want to make sure that our children and their children have that future opportunity.”
The Downings were seated next to Melanie and Pete Kuester, members of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis. The Kuesters are the parents of 9-month-old Maggie.
“We adopted Maggie through St. Elizabeth/Coleman [Pregnancy and Adoption Services], which is part of the archdiocese and Catholic Charities,” said Melanie, who herself was adopted through Catholic Charities in the Springfield, Ill., diocese.
“For us, giving to the appeal is just an extension of our lives and wanting to give back, and having that opportunity available for other families and other couples who can’t have children.
“And both of us want to give back to the world of education and the formation of priests and seminarians and deacons, and having religious and clergy to support the faith and growth of more Catholics,” she added.
Douglas Hunter, a seminarian in a pastoral year of priesthood formation through Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, expressed his gratitude for those who have given to help fund his formation for the priesthood.
“It’s wonderful to get to meet some of the people who help make our formation possible,” he said. “Without them, I don’t think we could do it ourselves. It’s with not only their financial support, but also their prayers that help us along our journey toward the priesthood.”
Archbishop Tobin noted that those in formation for the priesthood are part of the legacy of the United Catholic Appeal.
“We have a lot to be grateful for in our archdiocese,” he said. “Four young men will be ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ on Saturday, June 7. Your support helped make their formation possible.
“Thank you for what you have done to support their formation, and [the formation of] all of the 29 seminarians who are preparing to serve our archdiocese.
“Please pray for the continued success of the United Catholic Appeal,” he said in his concluding remarks.
“It is a source that makes possible the mission across central and southern Indiana, and even beyond.”
(For more information on the “United Catholic Appeal: Christ Our Hope” and the Miter Society, or to contribute to the appeal, log on to www.archindy.org/uca. For questions, contact Jolinda Moore, director of annual major giving, at 317-236-1462 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1462.) †
