Diocese of Gary

MERRILLVILLE – Lifelong learners share a curiosity about their world, and those who are Catholic also share a desire to keep growing in their love for Jesus Christ.
     
With that in mind, the Diocese of Gary’s Office of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization invites all adults to a new four-part program, “The Catechism Series on the Virtues,” beginning in November.
     
“This class is for anyone who wants to continue to learn about their Catholic faith, with a special emphasis on catechists who teach the faith,” said presenter Sean Martin, diocesan coordinator of faith formation and catechesis. “It is important as adults to continue learning our faith, to grow deeper in our understanding of the Lord and what he offers us. The more that we know our Catholic faith, the more that we can grow in our love for Jesus and his church.”
     
The first session will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the series continues for the next three weeks, Nov. 10, 17 and 24, at the Pastoral Center in Merrillville. The fee is $20, and attendees should bring a Catholic edition of the Bible and a copy of “The Catechism of the Catholic Church.” Register at dcgary.org/virtus-series.
     
This year’s catechist sessions will focus on Grace, Gifts, Fruits and Virtues. “We will cover the beginning of the third pillar of the Catechism, ‘Life in Christ.’  The four themes taught in this series are foundational to living a moral life and living out the 10 commandments,” explained Martin.
     
“I hope the attendees learn about the gifts that God has given them for the salvation of their souls and the souls of others. This can be applied in many ways in their ministries, but most especially practicing and utilizing the gifts,” Martin said. The session will include prayer, lecture, discussion and a question-and-answer period.
     
To those hesitant to attend because of the belief that the Catechism is too hard, or too deep, to follow, Martin responds: “If you truly love someone, namely Jesus Christ, you will strive to learn as much as possible about Him, so that at the end of your earthly life, you may say, ‘I know Him.’”
     
One Catholic ready to take the plunge is Steve Rudnick of Cedar Lake, a parishioner at St. Edward in Lowell. “This will be the first series I attend, and I’m looking forward to studying something tailored to the virtues,” said Rudnick, who has followed the “Bible in a Year” program but until now, approached the Catechism in “a kind of hunt-and-peck way. I’m interested in learning anything that makes my faith fuller.”
     
As he approaches retirement in a few years, Rudnick is making a determined effort to become involved in parish and diocesan ministries. He recently became a lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and, after completing training, will make his first visit to the Michigan City State Prison in November as a new member of the diocesan Prison Ministry. Since 2025, he has joined the Order of Christian Initiation program as an observer and is studying “Fifty-two Weeks with St. Faustina” as part of a Thursday Men’s Prayer Group at St. Edward.
     
Rudnick is also preparing to help lead a new ministry in the Diocese of Gary, if approved. Project Joseph, which is based on the Project Rachel program for women and men who have been touched by abortion, is tailored to men. “Some men may be more comfortable talking to other men,” explained Rudnick, who was the only man at a Project Rachel weekend he attended. “I decided to look into Project Joseph, and recently went to Dallas to learn more from the leader of Project Joseph.”
     “I was born and raised in Dolton, Ill., and attended St. Jude School, now Christ the King, but I fell away from the Catholic Church for many years,” he said. After moving to Cedar Lake several years ago, he decided to come back to his faith and was inspired to join St. Edward “after seeing the beauty of the church’s stained-glass windows with the sunlight streaming through. I just felt this was where I should be.”
     
Martin looks forward to leading Rudnick and other Catholics to a closer relationship with Christ. “I have a passion for spreading the Catholic faith and teaching anyone who will listen about Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. I studied the Catholic faith to be able to teach others,” he said.
     
Martin has extensive public speaking and grassroots organizing experience supporting the New Evangelization. He has been featured on EWTN television’s “150th Anniversary of Lourdes Special Feature,” and the “Life on the Rock” program.  He has authored numerous articles published in diocesan newspapers and co-hosted a local radio show called “New Evangelization Today.”  He and his wife, Stacy, who have been married for 25 years, have six children and were featured on Shalom World TV’s “Joyfully Big” program. 
 
“Oftentimes, our understanding of the Catholic faith is rudimentary,” Martin said. “It is important to learn about God, who He is, why He made us, and how He redeems us and makes us holy. In this way, we can strive to love and serve the Lord in the best possible way.”

Register for “The Catechism Series on the Virtues” at dcgary.org/virtus-series.

Caption: Sean Martin, coordinator of Faith Formation and Catechesis for the Diocese of Gary, presents a program on the Cardinal Virtues in 2025 at the Pastoral Center in Merrillville. On Nov. 3, his latest four-week program titled "The Catechism Series," will begin, with catechists and other interested Catholics welcome to participate.(Marlene A. Zloza/file photo)