. E S SAGE
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE VOLUME 18 NUMBER 36 MAY 13, 1988
i I
Bishop Francis R. Shea receives a hug from Sister Kath]een Finis, O.S.B., after he
presented her with the 1088 Teacher of the Year Award. University of Evansville
President James Vinson at right, was the guest speaker at the Teacher of the Year
banquet May 5.
-- Message Photo by Mary T. Ellert
I t tl
_. From the desk of
B! pFr
sho ancis R. Shea
B00shopofDioceseofEvansville
ii
My dear People of Gad:
World Communications Day is
observed this Sunday, May 15. It is a
day established by Pope Paul YI to draw
public attention to the important role of
communications media in our society
and in our church.
. New communications technology
should be used to promote global
solidarity rather than prejudice and
violence, said Pope John Paul II, as he
proclaimed the 22nd annual observance
of World Communications Day.
We observe the day, perhaps without
full realization of all the risks and
rewards of modern communications
technology. Signals from satellites link
the lands of humankind with news of
the day. Cameras peer into the private
lives of politicians and poets,
presidents and prisoners. The groceries
we buy, the movies we rent, the books
we check out from the library, the taxes
we pay -- small and not-so-small bits of
r our lives are processed by computers
capable of "talking" to each other and
telling all.
In this Marian year, the pope recalled
both the fear and the faith of the Virgin
Mary -- to whom was first proclaimed
the good news of God's Word about to
be made flesh: "Was not Mary herself
frightened at the announcement which
contained the sign of salvation offered
to the whole of humanity?" the pope
asked.
"To hearts which are troubled by the
risks of the new technologies of com-
munication, I would reply: 'Fear notl'"
said the pope. The church, full of care
for man and woman, is aware of the
deep aspiration of the human race for
fraternity and solidarity," he stated,
This aspiration "sculpted in the human
heart by the same God who has created
in it the need for communication and
the capacity to develop it on a planetary
scale."
The pope continued, "It is thanks to
her faith that the Virgin Mary accepts
God's plan, enters into the mystery of
trinitarian communion, and, becoming
the mother of Christ, inaugurates in
history a new fraternity.
"Blessed are those who believe, those
whom the faith liberates from fear and
opens to hope and leads to the construc-
tion of a world where, in fraternity and
solidarity, there is a place for the com-
munication of joy!"
My brothers and sisters, let us pray
that the Church may be able to intensify
its presence in the world of mass com-
munications, and that the world may
See BISHOP Page 9
Teacher of the Year
i i u| , t i
Sister Kathleen Finis, O.S.B',
accepts 1988 education award
By MARY ANN HUGHES
Message Staff Writer
Sister Kathleen Finis, O.S.B., was
named the 1988 Teacher of the Year for
the Diocese of Evansville at an awards
banquet May 5 at Resurrection School,
Evansville. One-hundred-and-forty per-
sons attended.
As Bishop Francis R. Shea announc-
ed the 1988 winner of the award, he
said, "I'm not sure this is correct, but
she is said to be 'relentless' in her ex-
pectations of her students." However,
the consensus of the guests at the ban-
quet, especially those sitting with Sister
Finis, was that 'relentless' was the cor-
rect word.
As Sister Finis approached the
podium to accept her award, she
received a standing ovation. She told
the audience, "We're all working for
the same end, the honor of God."
Sister Finis is currently a music
teacher at Marian Heights Academy,
Ferdinand. During her 50 years as an
educator, she has taught at St. Benedict
School and Nativity School, both in
Evansville, and at Sts. Peter and Paul
School, Haubstadt. She also taught at
Mater Dei and Memorial high schools.
Atjhe banquet, "27 ,other teachersin,
the diocese were honored for excellence
in teaching and received Certificates of
Merit for their service. The 27 teachers
were nominated for the Teacher of the
Year award by principals, other
teachers, former and current students,
and parents. A panel of three educators
selected Sister Finis for the Teacher of
the Year award, based on her years as an
educator who served "with wisdom
and heart."
The Teacher of the Year award is
sponsored by the Message and the Of-
fice of Catholic Education.
Dr. James Vinson, president of the
University of Evansville, was the guest
speaker at the banquet. ".We ought to
say once in a while what an astounding
success the American educational
system has been, and you are a very
special part of that." Dr. Vinson said.
The United States has been suc-
cessful, despite "all our problem," in
providing "greater access and mobility
through our educational system than
any other nation."
Despite this "enormous success,"
there must be a renewed focus on
.teaching students the basic skills of
reading, writing, and speaking well.
There must also be a new emphasis
placed on teaching American students
foreign languages because "we aren't
going to dominate the world and we
had better learn other languages."
Dr. Vinson said he does not believe
the classroom is the place "to solve all
of our social problems." Teachers are
not responsible for all of society's "ills
and they are not capable of solving
them."
Instead, he suggests we "return the
classroom to the teacher and get out of
the way of the teacher and the students.
"That's what education is all about."
Richard Rust resigns as Executive
Director for Catholic Charities
By PAULLEINGANG ting the responsibilities of executive
Message Editor director, Rust had served from 1976-84
as casework supervisor.
A search committee has been formed
to find a replacement for Richard Rust
as Executive Director of the Catholic
Charities Bureau in the Diocese of
Evansville.
Rust, 39, resigned from his post, ef-
fective April 29, after four years at the
helm of the organization. Prior to accep-
His departure "is a real loss to
Catholic Charities and a real loss to the
diocese," said Msgr. Kenneth R.
Knapp, chancellor of the diocese. "He
had tremendous knowledge in the field
of social work, he had the respect of the
community, his was a great Christian
See RICHARD RUSTpage 13
On the insid00
Hats off to teachers
-- More Teacher of the Year highlights on
pages 2 and 3.
Around the Diocese
-- The latest school and diocesan news on
page 7.
St. Mary Church, Shoals
-- Parish feature on pages 10 and 11.
• Bishop's Fund- ADA
-- Update on page 15.
The gift of life
-- Story on organ donation on page 16.
titt : "
