NWI Catholic Stories

Bishop Robert J. McClory hands a ciborium to diaconate candidate Manuel Pena as Father Marty Dobrzynski holds the book during the Deacon Jubilee Mass that also included the Rite of Acolyte for the five diaconate candidates. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
Deacon Jubilee Mass honors 22 for their 457 years of service; 5 men instituted as acolytes
'Hold On, You’re in for the Ride of Your Life'
All ages of women are participating in the new, nine-week program, “She Shall Be Called Woman” that began on Sept. 14 at St. John the Evangelist in St. John. Among the young adults who shared snacks and fellowship before the first video and small group discussion are (from left) Regina Puch of St. John, her sibling Mary Rose Gianotti of Beecher, Ill. and Yesenia Lopez of Lansing, Ill. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
New spiritual series views women as God’s ‘Masterpieces of Creation’
'She Shall Be Called Women'
Three generations of women, grandmother Lori Sneiderwine, of Merrillville, and daughter Sami Sneiderwine and granddaughter Adalyn Sneiderwine, of Crown Point, pray a decade of the Rosary together in the chapel of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Merrillville during a Mother-Daughter Retreat on Sept. 12. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Mother-Daughter Retreat offers skills to build self-esteem and resilience
Confident and Connected
Mike Montgomery of the Serra Club talks with nonagenarian Sister Kathleen Quinn of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ during the annual luncheon hosted by the club for Diocese of Gary religious sisters. The meal, along with games, prizes and gift bags, was held at St. Bridget in Hobart on Sept. 12. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Serra Club hosts religious sisters for afternoon of lunch and games
Honoring Their Service
Father Declan McNicholas
Diocese prepares to celebrate life of American archbishop
The Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
A U.S. flag is posted in the rubble of the World Trade Center Sept. 13, 2001, in New York, two days after the terrorist attacks. Sept. 11 this year marks the the 10th anniversary of the attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in New York City and Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon. (OSV News photo/Beth Kaiser, Reuters)
Diocese of Gary reflects on terrorist attacks 25 years later
9/11
Father John Kartge, an astrophysicist, biblical scholar and, since 2015, rector/president at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, explains how scientist Wilhelm Rontgen (on the screen) pursued a mystery in his 1895 cathode ray tube research that led to the invention of x-rays. “Good scientists don’t ignore a mystery, they stay with it,” said the Bishop Noll Institute alumnus who retired to the Hammond high school on Sept. 2 at the invitation of the Indiana Knights of Columbus to discus
BNI alumnus connects faith and science in talk hosted by K of C
‘Heart Unto Heart’
All Campus Mass at Bishop Noll
Noll students encouraged to be the light in the darkness
All-Campus Mass
Women's Care Center in Merrillville
Women’s Care Center relocates for greater impact
Open the Door to Hope
Blanco family
Father strives to create awareness and reduce stigma surrounding suicide
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
Holy Name of Jesus
Faithful to gather for discussion on document released by Indiana bishops
Generations of Faith
Emmaus Conference collection
Catholic Charities continues providing assistance to residents of Lake, Porter and La Porte counties
Financial Storm Relief
Bishop Robert J. McClory greets students and teachers Marquette Catholic High School’s Back to School Mass at St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Church . (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)
Bishop McClory celebrates back to school with Marquette students and staff
'Show Me What You Believe'
Members of the Cursillo friendship group that meets weekly at St. Patrick in Chesterton include: (front row from left) Leti Moreno, Debbie Rose, Josephine Martinez, Joan Baruffi, (back row) Anna Sasin, Sharon Duracz, Cathy Schuster and Debbie Pedzinski. (Provided photo)
Upcoming Women’s Cursillo Weekend promises to be a life-changing experience
A Purposeful Journey
St John Bosco sanctuary
New offering sets to create comfortable space for worship
Sensory-Friendly Mass
Calumet College of St. Joseph Mural
Mural on Calumet College campus depicts the life of St. Joseph
A Modern Interpretation
Andrean returns for new school year
Andrean students return to start new school year after building repairs
Summer of Storms
adoration
Emmaus Conference encourages faithful to walk with purpose
Journey Together
Sandwiches and snacks were devoured by young people during a social hour after the “Emmaus Youth Encounter: Hearts on Fire! Walking with Purpose” program on Aug. 21 at St. Paul in Valparaiso. Spending time with keynote speaker Father Agustino Torres, CFR (third from left) are (from left) Vanessa Breshock, chaperone Heather Sandilla, Father Agustino, Victoria Ramirez, Camryn Latham and Elliott Poole, all from Crown Point. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Storytelling priest brings miracles of Jesus alive for young people
Hearts on Fire
logs
Local programs offer support during life’s more difficult times
GriefShare, DivorceCare
Young Adult Evening
Talk brings young adults together for discussion on Theology of the Body
A Young Adult Evening
New Franciscan VASIA volunteers sworn in earlier this month seen here with Lake Superior Court Probate Commissioner Ben Ballou (center) are (l-r) Angelique N. Gray Thompson of Gary, Tyler Lucas Rodriguez of Schererville, Bridgette LaShawn Peppers of Hobart and Lexi Nicole Taylor of Orland Park, Ill.
Volunteer court-appointed guardians advocate for the elderly, incapacitated
Franciscan Health’s latest VASIA class
abortion healing and recovery
Parents of aborted children can grieve and find peace confidentially
Healing the Pain
Seventh Station of the Cross at Carmelite Shrine
Woman witnesses sign of hope as clean up began at Carmelite Shrine
Jesus Walks With Us
Smiling as she works, volunteer Sandy Butler helps set up on Aug. 11 at Camp Lawrence in Valparaiso for the Diocese of Gary Priests’ Picnic, which had to be moved from Aug. 12 to Aug. 19 due to the damaging storm that moved through Northwest Indiana as the work continued. Butler will receive this year’s Diocese of Gary Guardian Angel Award at the Vocations Office’s Black Tie, White Collar Gala on Sept. 18. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Award recipient is guardian angel to diocesan seminarians and priests
Answering the Call
American Martyr Rother
American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story to hit local theatres
A Message from the Archbishop of Oklahoma City
St. Mary School Crown Point
After delays, principals and staff excited to welcome students
Back to School
Holy Spirit in Winfield held just one Mass on Aug. 16 at its worship site, St. Helen in Hebron, to welcome new administrator Father Steven Caraher (left), who greets Carol Lee and Judy Fidcher outside the church. The Annual Parish Mass and Picnic drew a large congregation as it also incorporated an official welcome for Father Caraher, who previously served as associate pastor at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs in Merrillville, another combined parish, following his ordination to the priesthood in 2024. (Marlene
One Catholic Family had head start on planning parish merger
Coming Together In Faith
St. John the Evangelist
Parishes provide outreach as region waits for power to be restored
Community Meal
Local Attorney Andrew Bennett and his staff were among the volunteers assisting with the food delivery at the Portage American Legion Post 260
Catholic Charities rescues food from power-stricken Hunger Relief Center
Storm-Affected Communities
Thousands of faithful are gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa during Sunday Mass on the second day of the Piesza Polonijna Pielgrzymka Maryjna (Polish Marian Walking Pilgrimage) in Merrillville on August 9. Predominantly Polish Catholics participated in the 39th annual event in which walkers made their way from the South Side of Chicago to Munster and Merrillville in praise and petition. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Pilgrims prayerfully traverse Region in Polish tradition
Walking in Faith
The reception of Mary into heaven is depicted in the center section of a rose window at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, R.I. The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15, celebrates the belief that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her life. (OSV News photo/Crosiers)
Pastors discuss dogma behind Blessed Mother's body and soul taken into heaven
The Assumption of Mary
Discernment Retreat
Retreat brings seminarians and discerners together for three-day journey
Where Are You Going?
St Teresa of Avila's Faith Food and Fellowship group
Sharing faith, food and fellowship at St. Teresa of Avila
Making New Friends
Bishop McClory
Franciscan leaders, dignitaries break ground on school of osteopathic medicine 
First Class of Medical Students Begins in 2030
Bishop Robert J. McClory distributes communion, along with Father Roque Meraz during the Mass for Migrant Workers at Garwood Orchards on July 12. (Michael Wellinski photo)
Living Our Faith in Community
Tim Wheeler
FOCUS missionary returns to serve the Valparaiso community 
A Call to Serve
Jennie Weer
Catholic Foundation hires executive director to expand its impact
Guiding Strategic Growth, Inspiring Philanthropy
Deacon Dan Lowery
Dyer parishioners gather for renewal for mission following parish changes
Spiritual Retreat
Garett Bonk and Daniel Rodriguez
Upcoming seminars set to provide a healthy attitude toward money 
God Never Stops Giving
A family of parishioners from Knox, led by hymn leader John Kleist (standing at left), opened Mass with “Amazing Grace” on July 25 at Holy Cross in Hamlet. Father Anthony Spanley and his congregation welcomed Bishop Robert J. McClory as celebrant, with Father Spanley assisting. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
Bishop brings message of parables to small town congregation
Know, Love And Serve God
Father Ivan Alatorre blesses Rosaries following the Mass for Migrant Workers at Garwood Orchards on July 12. (Michael Wellinski photo)
Mass for Migrant Farm Workers brings the Church and community to migrant workers
'That Meal Didn't Magically Appear'
Roberto Martinez (left) of St. Mary in East Chicago offers comments on a scripture passage from the Book of Matthew, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike,” during a small group discussion with Javier Carrillo, of Nativity of Our Savior in Portage, and others at the July 17 meeting of the Hearts Aflame Yong Adults group at St. Mary. Just over a year old, Hearts Aflame boasts 84
Young adults from throughout diocese share faith and fellowship
Fired Up For Jesus
Vicky Hathaway and Saraidee Reyes-Villa
Diocese welcomes faithful of all ages to walk with purpose
Emmaus Conference 2026
The Media Team for the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, including Zach Dotson of Hammond, answers questions during a press conference at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington D.C. (Provided photo)
Local perpetual pilgrimage returns to diocese after participating in 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage 
Iron Sharpens Iron
Roxanne Franko teaches a fourth-grade religious education class at Our Lady of Grace in Highland. The parish serves about 65 youths from 25 families during the school year. (Provided photo)
Religious education classes help parents teach children the Catholic faith
Learning the Faith
Father Franciszek Czaicki (right), OCD, unwraps an unearthed package as Father Andrzej Gbur (back), OCD, looks on at the opening of a 50-year time capsule on July 12 at the Carmelite Monastery in Munster. Well-preserved artifacts such as photos, papers and coins were discovered in the steel case, originally buried on the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Carmelites open bicentennial time capsule at Munster monastery  
Unearthing History
Sister Mary Amata Naville, OSF, (center) signals that the runner, Father Alexander Kouris (front), is safe at third base as seminarian John LaCorte (right) walks away during the Collars vs. Scholars Classic, hosted on July 10 at the Marquette Athletic Complex in Michigan City. The annual recreational event brings out a competitive spirit in the clergymen and discerners who participate, but is mainly designed to encourage support for priestly vocations from among area faithful. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
Diocesan clergymen slug past seminarians in fellowship game  
Priestly Pastime
Andrean classroom
Andrean announces school year will start as scheduled
Campus Update
Diocese of Gary receives Enduring Partnership Award at Lindenwood.
Lindenwood honors diocese with Enduring Partnership Award
A Welcoming Sanctuary