January 27, 2012

Faith is at heart of events at St. John Parish in days leading up to Super Bowl

Priests, seminarians and members of Catholic fraternal organizations process into St. John the Evangelist Church at the start of the ordination Mass for Bishop Christopher J. Coyne on March 2, 2011. In the days leading up to Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, St. John parishioners will serve as volunteer tour guides, known as “St. John evangelists,” to explain the history and religious significance of the architecture and other aspects of the parish’s historic church. (File photo by John Shaughnessy)

Priests, seminarians and members of Catholic fraternal organizations process into St. John the Evangelist Church at the start of the ordination Mass for Bishop Christopher J. Coyne on March 2, 2011. In the days leading up to Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, St. John parishioners will serve as volunteer tour guides, known as “St. John evangelists,” to explain the history and religious significance of the architecture and other aspects of the parish’s historic church. (File photo by John Shaughnessy)

By Sean Gallagher

In the days leading up to Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, the streets surrounding St. John the Evangelist Parish, 126 W. Georgia St., in Indianapolis will resound with concerts, the screams of people zooming down an 800-foot zip line and the excitement of visitors going from one party to another.

A few feet away, however, inside the parish’s church, hushed voices will rule the day, some giving tours of the historic church, others saying prayers—some perhaps for a victory for the New England Patriots or New York Giants.

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 5, St. John will host a series of events to welcome the more than 100,000 visitors expected to come to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl. (Related story: Historic parish plans outreach to Super Bowl visitors)

Daily Mass will be celebrated Monday through Saturday at its usual time of 12:10 p.m.

On the weekend of the Super Bowl, Masses will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 4, and at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Feb. 5.

Confessions will be heard at its usual time of 11 a.m. to noon daily—except Sunday—from Jan. 27 through Feb. 1. On Feb. 2, confessions will be heard from 3-9 p.m. Priests will be available for confession from 1-9 p.m. on Feb. 3. And on Feb. 4, confessions will be heard from 1-5 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.

Eucharistic holy hours will take place daily from 10 a.m. to noon from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4—except Sunday.

The parish’s First Friday Holy Hour for Vocations will take place as usual beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3. Speaking during it will be Chris Godfrey, a starting offensive lineman for the New York Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI in 1987.

Tours of the parish’s historic church will be given by parishioners known as “St. John evangelists” from 3-9 p.m.—except during Masses—from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2. On Feb. 3, tour guides will be available from 1-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. And on Feb. 4, tours will be given from 1-5 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.

During those same times, an “Ask a Catholic” booth will be manned in the church’s narthex to answer questions about the Catholic faith. Visitors will also be able to have their photo taken with a life-size cutout photo of Pope Benedict XVI.

The archdiocesan Office of Young Adult and Catholic Campus Ministry will also invite Super Bowl visitors to offer prayers for specific daily intentions from Jan. 27 through Feb. 5. The intentions, which all archdiocesan Catholics are also invited to pray for, are:

  • Jan. 27—For a warm welcome and for the safety of all visitors to our city.
  • Jan. 28—For the homeless of our city, that they may be treated with dignity and respect as brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • Jan. 29—For the protection and dignity of all human life, especially for all families and children who will be involved at any level during this week of the Super Bowl.
  • Jan. 30—For the protection and dignity of all human life, especially for all women that they may be treated with the respect they deserve as daughters of our heavenly Father.
  • Jan. 31—For the protection and dignity of all human life from conception to natural death.
  • Feb. 1—For the protection and dignity of all human life, especially for the elimination of human trafficking in our city.
  • Feb. 2—That all people may celebrate these 10 days in a peaceful, non-violent way, giving glory to God in all things.
  • Feb. 3—For the broken, addicted and suffering, that they may know God’s healing, especially through reconciliation.
  • Feb. 4—For an increase in the virtue of temperance and self-control, especially during these times of celebration, that everything may reflect the glory of God in all people.
  • Feb. 5—That God’s abundant grace will draw more people back to his holy Church.

(For more information on events at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, log on to www.stjohnsyoungadult.org/events/super-bowl-2012 or check out the parish’s Facebook page or Twitter feed.) †

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