GARY – Using the “Our Father” as his palette, Bishop Robert J. McClory painted a vivid picture of prayer – praise, petitions, penitence – in addressing the 23 new Lay Ecclesial Ministers who received Certificates of Completion at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels on June 20.
“Prayer is communal,” said the bishop. “Above all, he who preaches … does not want us to pray in private, or alone. We do not say ‘My’ Father, rather we pray in public, as a community, for the people of God are all one.”
Acknowledging the first Lay Ecclesial Ministry class taught in Spanish as well as English, the bishop expressed hope that each of the 23 graduates “will be presenting yourself in a leadership role in the Catholic Church,” and noted, “You may be asked, ‘Will you lead us in prayer?’ and you can pray the ‘Our Father.’
The bishop outlined the “three ‘P’s of prayer – praise, petition and penitence” that should be included in all of our prayers.
He explained praise as “thanking God for the love he gives you” and gave a litany of things to thank God for, including “my parish, my vocation, my family …”
Petitioning is “when we ask God for something,” said Bishop McClory. “People may say ‘Pray for me’ and you can say, ‘Let’s pray right now’ and you can do it right then.”
As Catholics say in the ‘Our Father,’ penitence asks God to ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,’” said the bishop, adding that “We start every Mass with the Penitential Prayer. We may come with something on our minds that needs forgiveness.”
Bishop McClory offered the hope that “your ongoing commitment to a life of prayer” will flow from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. “Pray today that your work will be meaningful … and always remember to keep in your prayers praise, petition and penitence,” he said.
Dr. Claudia Sadowski, the Diocese of Gary’s new Intercultural Ministry coordinator, offered remarks in Spanish as a nod to the expansion of the Lay Ecclesial Ministry program. “I explained that being a lay minister is an honor, a privilege and a blessing, but more importantly it is a responsibility to have this beautiful ministry,” she said. “I told them that I am there to collaborate with them, and I touched on the bishop’s homily.”
Felicitas Villa de Reyes of St. Joseph church in Holy Family Parish, LaPorte, completed the LEM program with her husband, Santos Reyes Lopez, saying the couple had been interested “for a long time,” but finally stepped forward when Spanish-language classes were added. “My husband went to a meeting about the Spanish course starting, and then he asked me to do it together with him. It was great because we motivated each other,” she explained.
“The liturgy class was an eye-opener. I learned so much about what is happening at Mass,” said Villa de Reyes, who is offering Marriage Prep classes at her parish in Spanish with her husband. “Our first couple was just married last week,” she said proudly.
Retiring after a 25-year career in education, Emily Hynes serves St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Valparaiso as director of religious education and RCIA coordinator, lector and altar server. “I feel more confident in my ability to lead people on their faith journey,” she said. “I’m a lifelong learner and it was a great way to grow my faith.”
“I just took the first course to see what it was all about, and now I’m ready to follow where God chooses to lead me,” said Teri Kopil, who works as the diocesan Tribunal auditor and is a parishioner at Holy Martyrs Parish in Merrillville.
Lynda Klekowski, of Highland, a catechist at St. John Bosco in Hammond, entered the program “to dive deeper into my faith and learn more” as she began teaching Faith Formation classes. She finds Psalm 116 the most inspiring Bible verse. “It says that Jesus saved me in my time of despair; I called him and he answered,” she explained.
George J. Boby III, of Chesterton and St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso, hopes to join the new diaconate class this fall, to learn more about the sacraments. “I feel I have a calling to help our priests since there is such a shortage,” he said. “I would like to work with married couples, but it is God’s will where I serve. I have learned so much about myself, but there is still so much to learn.”
Members of the LEM class of 2024, and their home parishes, include:
Teresa P. Bloede, St. Mary, Crown Point;
George J. Boby III, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center, Valparaiso;
Sandra Lou Boynak, Nativity of Our Savior, Portage;
Sylvia E. DeJesus, St. Mary, Griffith;
Mark Gabrione, St. Joseph, Dyer;
Sergio Garcia, St. Paul, Valparaiso;
Bruce Garwood, Queen of All Saints, Michigan City;
Monica Garza Fletes, St. Mary, Crown Point;
Lidia Hernandez, St. Mary, East Chicago;
Alexandria Higareda, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Hammond;
Emily Hynes, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Valparaiso;
Lynda Klekowski, St. John Bosco, Hammond;
Mary Teresa Kopil, Holy Martyrs, Merrillville;
Uriel Martinez, St. Helen, Hebron;
Daniel Mills, St. James the Less, Highland;
Everardo Monteon, St. Paul, Valparaiso;
Hilario Munoz, All Saints, Hammond;
Claudia Ortiz, Holy Name of Jesus, Cedar Lake;
Manuel Pena, All Saints, Hammond;
Rosalba Quintanilla, Our Lady of Guadalupe, East Chicago;
Santos Reyes Lopez, Holy Family Parish, LaPorte
Rosa Rodriguez, St. Mary, East Chicago; and
Felicitas Villa de Reyes, Holy Family Parish, LaPorte
Caption: Mark Gabrione of St. Joseph parish, Dyer, shakes hands with Bishop Robert J. McClory upon receiving his diploma during the Mass with the Conferral of Certificates of Completion for graduating members of the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program, on June 20 at the Cathedral of The Holy Angels in Gary. The LEM Class of 2024 marked the first group to utilize instruction in Spanish as well as English. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)