Annual Catholic Pro-Life Dinner benefits variety of ministries

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, elevates the Blood of Christ as he celebrates Mass on May 20, 2007, at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Beech Grove on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. He is the keynote speaker for the fourth annual Catholic Pro-Life Dinner on March 8 in Indianapolis. (File photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

Known for his tireless pro-life advocacy, Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, is the keynote speaker for the fourth annual Catholic Pro-Life Dinner on March 8 in Indianapolis.

“It’s wonderful to have a vicar general like Msgr. Schaedel, who lives the Gospel of Life and leads others to cherish the dignity of every person—both born and unborn,” said St. Bartholomew parishioner Eileen Hartman of Columbus, director of the Gabriel Project of Indiana, a volunteer ministry that helps women who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy.

“His combination of wisdom and sense of humor make him a sought-after speaker,” Hartman said, “and we are blessed to have him highlight our celebration of life through our pro-life dinner.”

The dinner and pro-life awards program, which benefits the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry and the Gabriel Project, begins at 7 p.m. on March 8 at the Sheraton Hotel, 31 W. Ohio St., in Indianapolis.

It is sponsored by the Catholic Life Network, which consists of the pro-life office, Gabriel Project and Catholics United for the Faith (CUF).

The dinner is the primary means of raising funds for a variety of the Church’s pro-life ministries in central and southern Indiana.

Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the pro-life office, said proceeds from the dinner support the archdiocesan Birthline ministry’s crisis pregnancy hotline and outreach to poor women and babies, Project Rachel post-abortion reconciliation programs for women and men, post-abortion ministry training for professionals and clergy, and pro-life youth activities that include the annual pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington.

Hartman said dinner proceeds also benefit the Gabriel Project’s crisis pregnancy intervention efforts and ­

parish-based outreach to pregnant women and new mothers.

Msgr. Schaedel also serves the archdiocese as moderator of the curia, director of the Mission Office and Society for the Propagation of the Faith, and pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis.

Sister Diane said the vicar general was asked to be the featured speaker because “his commitment and support of pro-life initiatives in the archdiocese is clear and consistent.”

In his homilies, retreats, conferences and ecclesial roles, Sister Diane said, “Msgr. Schaedel never hesitates to speak the truth concerning our human dignity and destiny. He is a very popular speaker in the tradition of the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen.”

During the dinner, six pro-life volunteers from parishes in central and southern Indiana will be honored for their distinguished service to the cause of life.

On behalf of the Office for Pro-Life Ministry, Sister Diane will present Catholic Life Network Pro Vita Awards to St. Anthony parishioner Kathleen Naghdi of Indianapolis, a longtime Birthline volunteer; Our Lady of the Greenwood parishioner Pam Leffler of Greenwood, a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats volunteer; and SS. Francis and Clare parishioner Kim Stecher of Greenwood, a pro-life youth event coordinator.

Hartman will present Gabriel Project Awards to St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) parishioner Anita Moody of Indianapolis; Robert Rust of Greensburg, who is a member of St. Nicholas Parish in Sunman; and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishioner Jane Blanchard of Carmel, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese.

(Tickets for the Catholic Pro-Life Dinner are $45 for adults or $35 for students. Reservations for tables of 10 are also available. For more information or to register for the dinner, call the Office for Pro-Life Ministry at 317-236-1569 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1569, or log on to www.archindy.org/prolife.) †