Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to become the fifth Catholic bishop of Evansville, was ordained and installed Wednesday at Roberts Stadium, becoming the pastor of some 85,000 Catholics across 12 Southwestern Indiana counties.
The Evanville Courier & Press reported that Bishop Thompson is an energetic 50-year-old prelate with a heart for youth and a keen interest in vocations and Catholic education. Our newest American bishop is certainly in our prayers.
Phillip Owen, 26, says he has always felt the Blessed Mother watching over him. Born and raised in St. Luke Parish in River Forest, Owen is the eighth of 10 children in his family. The experience of growing up in a large family served him well, he said. “I learned at an early age what it meant to sacrifice, share with others, and be generous with my time,” he said. “My parents instilled in me the importance of sharing with others, being respectful of others, the importance of Sunday Mass, and the importance of daily prayer.”
He also learned the joy of assisting at liturgies when he was quite young, becoming an altar server after his first communion.
“As a young boy in grade school I enjoyed getting out of class to serve funerals on Tuesday mornings,” he recalled. “Looking back now, I believe that God blessed me with special graces for all the time I assisted at liturgy at a young age. My favorite thing to do was serve Benediction on Monday nights during the summer months. I believe that being surrounded by so much grace at a young age allowed me to say yes to the priesthood.” Continue reading Time-Tested Ingredients of a Priestly Vocation