2
The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
B
Tony Bonta: Building on foundation of fa
Co
oi ese
orville
Following is a personal pro-
file, part of an on-going series
about people and places in the
Diocese of Evansville, during
the fiftieth anniversary year.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG
Message editor
"From the very beginning,
faith, family, friends and food
were the four most important
parts of my life," said Tony
Bonta, the acting director of
Catholic Campus Ministry at
the University of Evansville.
Bonta -- "Anthony M.
Bonta" on his resume -- and
"Tony" among the people he
works with -- is 29, a native of
Hobart, Ind., and an
Evansville resident since 1993.
His parents, Elaine and
Tony, are of Slovakian and
Italian descent -- each with
deep roots in Catholicism.
"My maternal grandmother
had a deep devotion to the
Blessed Virgin," Bonta said.
"My paternal grandparents
God, help u.s.
During this festive celebration of the birth of Your Son, Jesus...
Gad, our Savior, help us remember that Your Son spent His first nine
months on this earth in the womb of the Virgin Mary as an unborn child.
God, help us stop the overwhelming flood of abortions in our country. Help
us act responsibly and decisively to bring about respect for all human life
from its beginning until its natural end.
God, show us how we can give even more support to pregnant women and
girls who need comfort.
God, teach us how we can help end the epidemic of teenage pregnancy.
God, bless our efforts to introduce young men and women to You as Creator
and Savior - which is the foundation for healthy self-respect.
God, supply us with patience and love - and with the strength we need to do
what is right, no matter what the cost.
In the name of Him whose birth is the reason for this season. Amen.
Bist Gerald A. Gelfinger Bob Vollmer Bill Peroni Mr. Mike Claypool
Chuck Stepeoe Father RoOert Oeig DaM Rinehart Rev. Darrell Yeager
Brenda Steproe Father Plus Klein, O.S,B. Chuck Tipto Father Eugene Schroeder
Rev. John Lovelace Father Grog Chamberhn, O.S.B Steve Wyatt Rev. Jeff Gaskit[
Pastor Stevan Schwambach Sister Mary Agnes Sern Father Henry Kuykandall Rev. John Hatctr
Pastor David Schwambach Father Godfrey Mullen, O.S.B. Father Dick Wiideman Msgr. Cad Shetler
Pastor RR, Schwambach St. Martin Church, Wh Deacon Glltert Fehr Rev. Steve Wyatt
Pastor Teresa A. Patchin Pastor John M. Hatcher Deacon Francis Hillenbrand Abundant Life Assembly of God
Pastor Judith K. Griesemer Father August Busch Father Joseph Kane Fat Jim Saue:
Pastor Tim Reist Father Greg Spencer Father Ken Butz Sr. Man/louise Uebelhor
Bob Seymore Father John Leller Rev, Dale Culbertson Man/Ann Miles
Rev. James Hamilton Pastor Troy Buulware Dana Culbertson Barbara Forehand
Ray Akin Pastor Steve Pittman Mank Gemer Mike Deeg
Holy Sp Pastoral Team Pastor Joe Diaz Tn Bowling Spence Downs
Father Joseph Zitiak Ray. Andy Fuller Rev. A.D, Van Hoose Charlie Gearharl
Fat Gene Heerdink Rev, Bret Nicholson Ray. Rick Van Hoose Colin Kerr
St. Mary Church, Shoals Father Theodore Tempe Nancy Van Hoose David Niednag
Mike Claypod Deacon Ed Wilkerson Rev. Ray Brown Lou Rodriguez
Mike Duke St. Manj Cetestin Maurer, O.S.B. Nancy Brown Steve Stewart
Father John Briedanbach LaDonna Nalin Rev. Alan Shelby Pat Townsend
Sr. Clei'Wemer, Ost: Father Frarces R. Allega Sheila Shey Debbie Wholxey
Father Donald C. Oilger Father Phil IO,':,llein Ders Gill Pastor & Mrs. Donald Wells
Rev. Walter Ullman Father Patr Foster Rhonda Gill Mr. & Mrs. Alfred L. Stewart
Father Ray Brenner Father Michael AI Marie Brand',, Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Uley
Deacon Joe Schapker Father Bernard Etienne Eva Key Mr. & Mrs. Jim Abney
Msgr. Clarec,e Schlacter Rev. Edwin Backwood Sr. Jennifer Miller, O.S.B. Winston & Shirley Foerster
Father Jean Vogler Jack Amey Lynn IJbelho¢ Mr. & Mrs. Richard Wilson
Msgr. Cance Lindauer Tim Bussey Father Kenneth Graet Fa'r Sy Loehdein
Fair Jim Koress$ Todd Bussey Father Tom Kessler Rev. Geofl Hush
Father James Brune Dan Hendricks Father William Sct,enk
Paid for by Vanderburgh County Right to Life
also stressed the importance of
faith in our lives."
Bonta said that living with
my paternal grandparents for
most of my life, I was given a
solid foundation of faith and
values which would help shape
the rest of my life."
Except for a few years --
kindergarten, first grade, and
first year college, Bonta at-
tended Catholic schools. After
completing St. Bridget School
in Hobart, and Andrean High
School in Merrillville, Ind., he
went to St. Meinrad College,
where he graduated with a
bachelor's degree in Philosophy
in 1987. In May 1994, Bonta
earned a Masters of Divinity
from the University of St.
Mary of the Lake, Mundelein,
Ill.
"The lessons I learned, the
experiences I had and the
friends I made as a result of at-
tending Catholic schools have
been invaluable to me," Bonta
said, about his early education
in northern Indiana.
"I built on the foundation of
faith and values given to me by
my family," he added. "I also
have grown to appreciate and
treasure the exciting aspects of
the Catholic Church as well as
the struggles people have."
His seminary years "helped
me gain a deeper appreciation
• of spirituality and liturgy,"
Bonta said. "In addition, I
learned a great deal from the
people I was able to meet in
ministry. They taught me the
true meaning of faith and ser-
vice."
During his ministry, he said
he also "learned how many
people had been hurt by the
Catholic Church," and it has
been his personal mission "to
help reconcile these incidents
through ministry and/or educa-
tion whenever possible. I also
want to help people get in
touch with the excitement and
richness of the Catholic faith."
Bonta's work experience in-
cludes teaching theology at
Bishop Nell High School in
Hammond, Ind., and involve-
ment in pastoral ministry at
Mundelein.
From April 1992 to August
1994 he worked at
Col!ege in the
ment.
"During
Meinrad I learned
about
ing back to the
gave so much to
said. "These
helped me keep in
the needs of
adults in the
met many
thought of greater
and formation
lege age
brought me [to
the
from St.
Bonta describes
as "volleyball,
studying history,
visiting h
sites, Italian re(
cussing fa
people."
As a result
UE, students have]
in a New.Year'S
New Man's
cleaning Party,
the University
diana, the crea
FAITH
group, C
All Souls Day
to name a
ties and events.
Bonta said he is
Peer Minister
Boener, Chris
Jacobo and Be
"Without them
Nicholson and
hart, it would
to have so much:
much happen."
Acting director's "
U of E campus min
I am excited to join the Uni-
versity of Evansville commu-
nity. Having lived in
Evansville for over a year now
and having worked closely with
many mem'bers of the U of E
Office of Admission staff, I
have grown fond of the Univer-
sity of Evansville. As Director
of the Newman Center my
goals are to:
• offer support to U of E stu-
dents, faculty and staff.
• carry on the proud tradition
of religious life here at U of E.
• promote the vision of the
Catholic Church and collabo-
rate with other religious de-
nominations on campus.
• foster the
Faith can be
the college
• work
ministers and
facilitating
Catholic
mation of a
through
weekly Euchal
charistic
projects, social
simple
• to increase
Newman Center q
•to
take ownerf ....
man Center.
MILLER &
"A family
can
