Archbishop finishes tour of deaneries with Batesville Mass

Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin reacts to 3-year-old Kathryn Mack showing him her age during a Feb. 19 reception at St. Louis Parish in Batesville following a Mass celebrated there by the archbishop for Catholics in the Batesville Deanery. Joining Kathryn in meeting the archbishop are members of her family, from left: Deb, Grace (partially obscured), Pete, Christian and Spencer Mack, all members of St. Louis Parish. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

BATESVILLE—Despite frigid temperatures and a cold, blustery wind, Catholics from across southeastern Indiana filled St. Louis Church in Batesville on Feb. 19 for a Mass with Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin.

The Mass in the Batesville Deanery was the last of the 11 deanery Masses that Archbishop Tobin celebrated across central and southern Indiana to help him worship with and get to know Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

In his opening remarks during the Mass, Archbishop Tobin used humor to reference being at the end of his tour of the deaneries.

“I think that it’s a bit like the wedding feast at Cana because the best wine has been reserved for the last,” he jokingly said as the congregation laughed.

(Related story: Archbishop Tobin reflects on worshiping, meeting parishioners in 11 deaneries)

In his homily, Archbishop Tobin told his listeners that an early goal for him in his ministry in leading the Church in central and southern Indiana is simply to learn.

“Each day, believe me, is a learning curve,” he said. “And I’m not sure if it’s gotten less steep. But that’s alright because the shepherd should know the people he serves, the Church that he leads.”

The Gospel reading for the Mass included Jesus teaching his disciples the “Our Father,” and the importance of forgiveness.

“Jesus wants us to pray from the freedom that he gained for us in his death and resurrection,” Archbishop Tobin said. “What can take away that freedom is hatred or resentment, which becomes something like drinking poison ourselves and hoping that the other person dies. The poison kills us.”

Archbishop Tobin also reflected in his homily, as he did in other deanery Masses, on the necessity to connect all pastoral priorities to growth in holiness.

In reflecting on the importance of this call, Archbishop Tobin showed understanding for the difficulties some Catholics in the Batesville Deanery have experienced for more than a year as they have participated in the “Connected in the Spirit” parish planning process.

The process seeks to take account of resources for the future ministry needs of parish communities across central and southern Indiana.

“Holiness is finding freedom, and that’s why Jesus asks us to forgive, to forgive all those who harm us, forgive even the Church who at times, through its representatives, has not seemed to be sympathetic or to listen or care,” Archbishop Tobin said. “We do that because we loved the one who died saying, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ [Lk 23:34]. And our mission is to be holy, to forgive and to be free.”

After the Mass, a group of women from St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Shelby County spoke about how important it was to attend the Mass and worship with their new shepherd.

They arrived an hour before the liturgy began “because we wanted to be sure to get good seats,” said St. Vincent parishioner Pat Barley with a laugh.

“The homily was wonderful,” said Naomi Woods, also a member of St. Vincent Parish. “He’s very friendly and down-to-earth. He wants to meet everybody in the archdiocese.”

Jane and Nick Bauer of St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceburg arrived even earlier. Nick, who is a maintenance worker at his parish, was glad to see the church packed for the liturgy.

“It definitely shows that there’s a strong Catholic community in this part of Indiana,” said Nick. “I hope his ministry goes long and strong. He’s a very wonderful person, very personable.”

Many of the worshipers attended a reception after the Mass and stood in line to meet Archbishop Tobin.

Among those who greeted him were Pete and Deb Mack and their four young children, all members of St. Louis Parish in Batesville.

Deb sees good things for the archdiocese in the months and years to come because of Archbishop Tobin’s leadership.

“I hope that the enthusiasm that he has for the Lord and his faith just spreads throughout the archdiocese and takes it up a notch,” she said. “[Then] we can embrace that and get excited and enthused and then go out there and change the world.”

Grace Mack, a fifth-grader at St. Louis School, also spoke in praise of her new archbishop.

“It was cool to meet [him],” said Grace. “I think he’s very good at homilies. He’s funny and very easy to understand.”

Father Randall Summers, pastor of St. Louis Parish, sat a table during the reception watching the steady flow of well-wishers waiting in line to meet the new archdiocesan shepherd.

“The fact that Archbishop Tobin has been standing there for quite a long time receiving everyone and taking time to meet with everyone—that just says volumes about how much he cares about the people in this area and the archdiocese as a whole,” said Father Summers. “I just think he’s a very genuine, kind, gentle kind of man. What a great gift it is for us to have him in the archdiocese.” †