Church Blog - 2010

In October, the Christian Social Action Commission (CSAC) met and recommended eight (8) grants from our Christian Social Action Endowment, which were approved by the pastor and subsequently sent to the recipients earlier this month. The CSAC Endowment was generously established by our parishioners over ten years ago to fund Christian Social Action initiatives at the parish, national, and international levels. Once the Endowment was fully funded in 2005, up to five percent of the fund has been given each year in grants to various programs. The total given, including the grants listed below, has been $58,988. Thank you, St. Luke!


The St. Luke Christian Social Action Commission is pleased to announce the recipients of their Endowment Grants for 2010. They are:

• Saint Aloysius Gonzaga High School, Nairobi, Kenya. Grant: $1,000. This is the third and final year of their grant, which provides for tuition for a student to attend the Jesuit high school for AIDS affected children in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis (HHGI). Grant: $1,000.  Cathedral High School and HHGI have built a long history together, partnering since 2004.  Theirs is primarily a yearly service learning project and is anticipated by each member of the student body commencing in its freshman year to participate in as members of the senior class.   The senior class raises and contributes $15,000 to partially sponsor a home.  Our grant helps bridge the gap between the fundraising by Cathedral students and the actual cost of the home.
• Christmas Store, Catholic Charities of Indianapolis. Grant: $1,000. This grant is in conjunction with our annual collections for the Christmas Store.  The store is stocked with items such as clothing, toys, and household goods that are purchased or donated. Families in need can "purchase" a wide range of Christmas gifts for only a few dollars.
• White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. Grant: $1,178. The White Violet Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, who ministered in our educational ministry at St. Luke for many years. The center is grounded in Providence Spirituality and offers leadership and education in the preservation, restoration, and renewal of all natural resources. Our grant will purchase a tiller so that their interns can learn sustainable pasture care.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Haiti Program. Grant: $1,000. Our neighboring parish, St. Thomas Aquinas, has a well-developed twinning program with St. Jean Marie Parish in Belle Riviere, Haiti. This grant is being used to help renovate the parish rectory.
• Holy Angels Church Christmas Program. Grant: $1,000. Our neighbors to the south at Holy Angels Catholic Church will feed an estimated 400 families at Christmas. This is 100 more families than they assisted last year. Our grant is being used to provide food for the additional meals needed for this year's outreach efforts.
• Tatum's Bags of Fun. Grant: $1,050. Tatum's Bags of Fun is an organization that tries to make a difference in the lives of children and their families in Indiana who are fighting cancer. When hospitalized, the children receive a brightly-colored, cheery backpack filled with age-specific games and activities. Our grant will purchase the items for three (3) bags.
• Ryves Youth Center, Catholic Charities of Terre Haute. Grant: $1,000. As part of Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, the Ryves Youth Center is a direct service agency, serving approximately 1500 youth each year, ages 5 through 17. It has a full-day preschool and after-school programming. Our grant will help provide for their general services.

Seeking friendly individuals, couples and families for our brand new Greeter Ministry!

This is an exciting, important ministry at St. Luke as we focus on hospitality and strengthening our faith community.

Responsibilities include:
Arriving prior to Mass to provide hospitality to those attending Mass
Enthusiastically welcoming parishioners and visitors with a big smile
Offer directional help to those who need it

Please contact Lynne Sheplock at 733-0152 with questions or to signup to be a greeter.

Lord Jesus, carpenter and king, supreme sovereign of all peoples,
Look with tend mercy upon the multitudes of our day who bear the indignities of injustice everywhere.
Raise up leaders in every land dedicated to Your standards of order, equity, and justice.
Grant unto us the grace to be worthy members of your mystical body, laboring unceasingly to fulfill our vocation in the social apostolate of Your Church.
Sharpen our intellects to pierce the pettiness of prejudice; to perceive the beauty of true human brotherhood.
Lead our minds to a meaningful understanding of the problems of the poor, of the oppressed, of the unemployed, of all in need of assistance anywhere.
Guide our hearts against the subtle lure of earthly things and undue regard for those who possess them.
May we hunger and thirst after justice always. AMEN!

How is the health of God's Creation, the Poor, and my Family affected? 
What about my Body and Soul?

The Care for Creation Committee is sponsoring a small group study one night session on Tuesday, October 26 at 7pm in the Father Courtney Reception Room about Consumer Choices. This session is part of Caring for God's Creation developed by the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J.  Pre-registration is requested in order to send a set of pre-meeting readings and a simple assignment to you; space is limited.  Please email your interest to Jack Hill or leave a message at 253-9677.

Saturday night's "Pizza, Pasta, and Parishioners" was a great success! Held after the 5:30 Mass, the Parish Hall was filled with people enjoying the wonderful cuisine and fellowship of friends and neighbors.

Hats off to Therese Hartley, our Volunteer Coordinator, who did all the behind the scenes work for this event, as well as for serving pasta that night! Heartfelt thanks also go to the Stewardship Commission, sponsor of this wonderful evening; Parish Communications Coordinator Ronni Miller; and Jennifer Skulski, Robin Bischof, and Tom Hirschauer. We couldn't have had this evening without our caterer, Red Apron Catering (parishioner Amy Solomon); without flowers from Sullivan Hardware (parishioner Jay Snyder); or without the help of our Maintenance Staff, particularly Jack Arnot.

There were two other wonderful groups to thank:

• To the many parishioners who stayed a little longer to help clean up the facility so that we would be ready for a Confirmation meeting on Sunday morning; and
• To all of you who made the evening a fun-filled time by your attendance, we say

The Parish Pastoral Council met on September 14 and elected their officers for the new year. They are: Jeff Whiting (chair), Jeanine Golder (vice-chair), and John Koke (secretary). For complete minutes (unapproved until their next meeting), click here!