NWI Catholic Stories

Enhance your prayer life by coming to God as you are, giving over all that dwells within you. Add a religious statue to your prayer space as a focal point in directing your prayers to God. (Provided photo)
Resolution: Renew your prayer life in 2025
St. Mary’s Thrift Shop manager Mary Davis discovers a sweater among other women’s fashions at the ministry in Michigan City on Jan. 6. The thrift shop, which was founded in 1976, has been housed in three locations, presently on the first floor of the former St. Mary Elementary School, and is known for its wide variety of clothing and household items offered at low prices. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Local shop provides clothes, comfort for 50 years
Bill Harmon, Sharing Meadows executive director, stands in front of a new pavilion being constructed near Tucker Lake on the grounds of Sharing Meadows. The pavilion is one of many projects under way for the Sharing Meadows community. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
Sharing Meadows’s first thirty years provides solid foundation for serving other-abled
Volunteers John Zamora (left), Bernadine Barrett (center), and Veronica Fuerte (right) gather at the Monsignor Robert B. Weis Center during a Teens Gather In Fellowship (T.G.I.F.) meeting on the campus of St. Thomas More in Munster on Jan. 13. The coordinators of the youth group are hoping to get the club for high schoolers off the ground and establish a sustainable ministry. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
St. Thomas More volunteers seek to (re)launch faith group for high schoolers
"Google yourself and you will be shocked at the information about you that is available to anyone online!" Yolande Sobkowicz (right), of Cedar Lake, told fellow Boomers and Beyond members (from left) Marge Gasior and Judy Grenawalt, both of St. John during a luncheon program on Jan. 8 about how to protect children and teenagers from online sexual exploitation. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Federal investigators fight to safeguard children from predators
Jeannine Quigley (second from right), an adult youth leader at St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville, explains some of the events and activities available at the National Catholic Youth Conference that she has attended in past years with young people from her parish. "It's an experience you and your team will never forget," she told other youth leaders (from left) Bernadette Barrett from St. Thomas More in Munster, Diocese of Gary youth and young adults coordinator, and Gianni Niece, campus ministry app
Young people invited to say ‘I Am/Yo Soy’ at NCYC
A view of the ceiling and catwalk shows original features and new enhancements to St. Mary church in Crown Point in 2024. Undergoing more than a year of assessment, reinforcement and construction, the circa 1890 building features a new truss frame, ceiling and roof necessitated by the discovery of compromised timber in Nov. 2023. (St. Mary parish photo)
Unexpected roof abnormality leads to reconstruction at St. Mary
Tamara and Marsha Browne, who earlier led the congregation in reciting "The Memorare," participate in a candlelight vigil for Michael and Pegg Sangerman on Dec. 30 at St. Mary of the Lake in Gary. "It was Pegg's favorite prayer," said Tamara Browne of the shooting victim who succumbed to her injuries on Dec. 18. An estimated 200 community members attended the prayer vigil as Michael Sangerman remained hospitalized. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Prayer vigil brings community together to support family
Ross family
Training Day kicks off Catholic Services Appeal for 2025
Father Roque
Make a resolution to grow in holiness this year
Bishop Robert J. McClory dips his hand in the baptismal font at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary on Dec. 29 during a procession before Mass to celebrate the anticipation of the Jubilee Year 2025, when the Catholic Church recognizes the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of Our Lord. A year of pilgrimages to holy sites, stronger sacramental participation and other evangelistic commitments will be of "great spiritual, ecclesial and social significance in the life of the Church," according to the U
Diocese opens Jubilee Year with message of hope and forgiveness
Bishop Robert J. McClory (right) and Father Rick Holy, director of Pro-Life Activities for the Diocese of Gary, lead a group in the rosary followed by a prayer vigil outside Indiana State Prison, Michigan City prior to the execution of Joseph Corcoran, 49, on Dec. 17. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
Faithful gather in prayer pending Indiana execution 
Eighth graders Olivia Vega and Lillian Wanek discuss the recent performance of the four stocks their classroom chose to 'buy' at the start of the Stock Market Program at Big Shoulder Schools in Northwest Indiana during a class on Dec. 18. Wanek proposed divesting of the Chase stock and adding a foreign stock to provide more diversification, and the class agreed. The program will extend through April. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Stock market program has students checking their investments
Bishop Robert J. McClory incenses nativity scene statuary displayed near the sanctuary as Deacon Ivan Alatorre (right) watches at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary during Christmas Vigil Mass on the evening of Dec. 24. Bishop McClory presided at the Mass, which featured beautiful vocal and musical performances, and reminded believers that Bethlehem means "House of Bread," and that from the place of Jesus' birth to the present, Catholics nourish themselves on the Bread of Life. (Anthony D. Alonzo phot
Cathedral Christmas vigil Mass a hopeful holiday gathering   
Youth, including Shantelle Masonsong (center), 3, and Zia Bucu (right), 4, each each carry a parol, or star-shaped lantern, near the sanctuary during Mass that preceded an ethnic Sambang Gabi dinner on Dec. 21 at Our Lady of Consolation church/Holy Martyrs parish in Merrillville. Sambang Gabi is a traditional celebration of the Philippines that is part of an Advent novena leading up to Christmas that include pilgrimages, food and fellowship. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Faithful fill church and hall to celebrate Filipino Simbang Gabi 
Bishop Robert J. McClory celebrated Mass with Father Jeffrey Burton and the congregation of St. John Bosco in Hammond on Dec. 15. On the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, the bishop shared the message that the faithful can bring their anxieties to the Lord and reminded them to rejoice in God's blessings. (Erin Ciszczon photo)
Parishioners encouraged to rejoice while awaiting Christ child
Ken Kolodziej, Dan Ditola and Ed Schneider of the St. John the Evangelist Men's Club present the 2024 Sylvester Reising Stewardship Award to Theresa Birlson together with Danny Reising. Reising is the great grandson of Sy Reising for whom the award is named. (Provided photo)
SJE Men’s Club recognizes efforts of parishioner Theresa Birlson
Portraying St. Juan Diego, Alex Muñoz (right) displays a tilma and roses, signs of a Marian apparition, to the character of Bishop Juan de Zumarraga (of Mexico City, New Spain), portrayed by Father Robert Ross, on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, in Schererville. About 300 faithful gathered to celebrate the "Patroness of the Americas" at St. Michael the Archangel where Mass celebrant Bishop Robert J. McClory lauded the Blessed Mother's intercessory power and desire to bring us closer to her Son.
Hundreds gather in solidarity with Our Lady of Guadalupe
Father Sroka
Priest remembered as a kind, spiritual and welcoming pastor
Alice Earnshaw greets visitors to St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart each Tuesday as a volunteer at the West Entrance reception desk. At 94, she enjoys staying activce and helping people. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Staying active as a volunteer keeps senior in step
Costumed as peasant women, and carrying small candles in their hands, dancers from St. Margaret Mary church closed the Mass on Dec. 8 in honor of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. With a congregation of more than 500 expected, the liturgy celebrated by Bishop Robert J. McClory was held at the Bichop Noll Institute fieldhouse next to the church. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Music, dancing and scripture honor Blessed Mother
Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., blesses pilgrims July 17, 2024, during adoration at the opening revival night of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
National pilgrimage, congress stand out as 2024 highlights for US church
Bishop Robert J. McClory (left) greets discerners including Alexander Brown (right), 15, during the Andrew Dinner on Dec. 3 at St. John the Evangelist in St. John. The event, hosted by the diocesan vocations office team, is a causal gathering designed to support those who may have a calling to the priesthood and is based on the traditional view that Andrew the apostle was first to share the Good News, having located his brother Simon to bring him before Jesus. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Young men hosted at Andrew Dinner to talk priesthood
Christine Shewchuck, of Corporate Travel, talks with Father Nathaniel Edquist prior to a meeting on Nov. 21 about a diocesan pilgrimage to Rome next year. Both Father Edquist and Bishop Robert J. McClory will be participating in the pilgrimage scheduled for Fall 2025. (Erin Ciszczon photo)
Diocese finalizes plans to travel to Rome for 2025 Jubilee
state capitol
ICC works to support legislation outlawing death penalty 
Parishioner Bridget Conry leads a guided meditation on the creche at the birth of Christ during an Advent reflection hosted at Our Lady of Consolation in Merrillvile on Dec. 5. The guest speaker at the first of a three-part series on preparing for Christmas was Deacon Gary Wolfe (left), who spoke on the topic "Joy to the World: the Mystery of the Incarnation." (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Advent reflection focuses on the mystery of the incarnation
Bishop Noll Institute seniors (left to right) Dusan Knezevic, Gianna Gaal and Anna De La Torre inspect their food sculpture made of donations from fellow Warriors for the Catholic Charities food drive, in Hammond on Dec. 2. Catholic Charities food pantry manager Tina Gunnum praised the efforts of the teens at Bishop Noll and Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City and said the need remains strong for donations from local faithful to endeavor to fulfill the minstry's charge to feed the hungry. (Antho
Creative students collect food, build structures to promote charity 
St. Stanislaus Kostka in Michigan City recently received two grants totaling $650,000 that will go towards much needed repairs of the structure's bell towers and brickwork. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
St. Stanislaus receives two grants totaling $650,000 for much-needed church repairs
Nathan Finke helps his daughters, Delilah, 3, and Penelope, 6, create a family Advent Wreath at Nativity of Our Savior in Portage on Dec. 1. The trio attended Family Advent Day at their parish, where Penelope Finke said she likes Advent (and searching for Elf on the Shelf) because it leads to Christmas. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Families and friends gather to begin Advent journey
Sponsor Angelina Andrade (front, center) places her hand on the shoulder of Christian candidate Jacob Rothchild (front, right), both of St. Mary of the Lake, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary on Nov. 24. Seekers from throughout the diocese were presented at the liturgy to Bishop Robert J. McClory and will continue in their conversion with the assistance of the faithful, as they anticipate full communion with the Catholic Church. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Rite of Call candidates seek full participation as Catholics
student project
Students give thanks to God for their many blessings
Father Nate Edquist, pastor of Holy Family Parish and vocations director of the Diocese of Gary, holds a recently released book, Advent Adventures with Father Nate, written by parish members and authors Mia Toschi, Saraidee Reyes-Villa, and Madalyn Jozaitis. (Photo provided)
Lack of resources leads authors on an adventure
Following along in the manual prepared by presenter Sheri Wohlfert, read aloud how to turn hospitality into evangelization as during a parish mission on Nov. 8-9 at St. Helen in Hebron. Wohlfert set out to prepare her audience "for receiving others in the name of Jesus Christ in your parishes and homes while also equipping participants with the skills to share the Gospel with confidence and joy." (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Presenter offers skills to bring “confidence and joy”
Hallow logo
Diocese encourages faithful to join in Advent prayer challenge
Kathy and Jim Clemons, of Valparaiso, chat as they enjoy their meal provided by St. Patrick Catholic Community’s Table of Plenty on Nov. 8. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
All are welcome to the Table of Plenty for a meal and fellowship
Cheryl Tolish (center) observes Marquette Catholic High School students work on a science project during the Big Shoulders visit to the school on Nov. 20. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
Lend A Shoulder Day showcases schools to benefactors
Members of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center led by Nathan Ringelstein (right) process with the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance held by Father Jacob McDaniel, chaplain, near the Chapel of the Resurrection on the campus of Valparaiso University on the evening of Nov. 15. The Eucharistic Procession was coordinated as part of the Inspire program for collegians at the Valparaiso school, and, according to Father McDaniel, the first such prayer journey through the campus of the Lutheran-affiliated col
St. Teresa members bring the Eucharistic Jesus to campus
Members of the Tameka Freeman (top) family pray during Mass, which preceded a fellowship gathering on Nov. 17 at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. The event called to mind the designation by the Church of Black History Month, when since 1990, U.S. faithful have joined together in worship, education, charity and entertainment to recognize heritage of Africa and the African Diaspora in the Catholic Church. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Mass, fellowship honor legacy of Catholics of African heritage
Performing a skit to open the Conference '24 training and renewal sessions for liturgical ministers from the Diocese of Gary on Nov. 16 are (from left) Dr. Claudia Sadowski, diocesan coordinator of intercultural ministry, Michelle Alexander, Father Lalo (Ed) Shea, C.F.M., and Adeline Torres. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Catechetical conference offers servants training and renewal
Queen of All Saints Catholic School students show off their family trees that were on display in the school’s cafeteria. Student pictured kneeling in the front row are Natalia Serrano, Matias Pacheco, Simon Arnold, Aaron Arnold, Adelaide Arnold, Christian Arnold, Ellianah Nabatanzi, and Prim Namakula. Back row includes Daniel Serrano, Jared Serrano, Eleanor Hopper, Gregory Hopper, Amelia Arnold, Dylan Nelson, Anna Nelson, Audrey Nelson, Jonathan Galindo, and Maelie Bowling. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
QAS students find more to be thankful for after family tree project
Members of St. Vincent de Paul assist with setting up raised garden beds at Holy Spirit in Winfield. The garden was started in 2021 thanks to a generous donation and the support of the parish community. (Provided photo)
St. Vincent de Paul garden provides additional options for clients
Food pantry volunteer Ruthie Polito helps gather grocery items for clients at the Catholic Charities location in East Chicago during operation hours on the morning of Nov. 8. The pantry has already begun adding special food items to distribution ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. (Erin Ciszczon photo)
Catholic Charities food program goes beyond supplying groceries
Caption: Guatemalan native Christopher Arrué (left), 10, and Portage resident Joaquin Venegas (right), 9, sit on a park bench during recess on Oct. 30 at Nativity of Our Savior school in Portage. Arrué is one of three youths from Guatemala who are being hosted by Nativity families as the students participate in the Jump the World exchange program, which principal Sally Skowronski said is culturally enriching. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Nativity invites Guatemalan students to enrich school experience
Jodi McLawhorn, the new assistant superintendent for the Diocese of Gary Schools.
Leadership and opportunity drive new school administrator
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CANCELED: Evening of veneration and prayer will reflect on the life of St. Jude
Bishop Noll Institute students surround Father Jeffrey Burton (center), school chaplain, as he processes with the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance that was blessed by Pope St. John Paul II, at the Hammond school on Nov. 6. The diocesan Serra Club secured the use of the sacred vessel from Oct. 28-Nov. 8, as part of a special 10-stop initiative to encourage prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Serrans enjoy ‘great experience’ caring for JPII monstrance
Longtime friends Sister Barbara Kuper, a Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ and former director of Nazareth Home, and Loretta Levin, of Munster, enjoy the afternoon together at St. John the Evangelist's Tea Party/Baby Shower on Nov. 3. They were two of the more than 70 women who brought gifts for recipients at the Women's Care Center in Merrillville, dined on chicken tetrazzini and listened to presentations about the importance of life. (Lynda J. Hemmerling photo)
Gifts from St. John the Evangelist’s tea party, baby shower benefit moms in need
Gary Bonk (left), vice president of the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana, introduces Elaine Hein (center) of St. Mary, Crown Point, as Father Christopher Stanish (right), vicar general and moderator of the curia, watches at the annual Mercy Fund grants award dinner on Nov. 6 at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville. Managing $18.5 million in endowed assets, the non-profit, independent organization provides an avenue for faithful to invest in the future of acamedic, charitable and faith-related cau
Mercy Fund grants boost variety of local initiatives
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andy Rucker, a Lowell native and parishioner at St. Edward while growing up, is assigned to Commander, Naval Information Forces, in Suffolk, Va. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sierra Garcia photo)
Lowell native approaches two decades of service with U.S. Navy
David Herr, who has served in a variety of roles for the Diocese of Gary since graduating from college in 2009, joins cantor Ashley Cairo, of St. John, to lead the music at the diocese's Eucharistic Liturgy in Thanksgiving for Women Religious on Oct. 16 at St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville. He was recently appointed sacred music coordinator for the diocesan Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization team, where he will help parishes improve their liturgical music ministry, in addition to continuing
Diocesan sacred music coordinator aims to make parishes sing