New prayer room is dedicated at Intercultural Pastoral Institute

(En Espanol)
 

Father Vincent Gillmore, pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis, center, blesses the new prayer room for the Intercultural Pastoral Institute in Indianapolis on Sept. 12. Also shown are Father José Neri, left, parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish in Greenwood, and Deacon Thomas Hosty, far right, archdiocesan director of pastoral ministries. (Submitted photo)

Criterion staff report

While prayer has always been a key component for students attending classes at the archdiocese’s Intercultural Pastoral Institute (IPI) in Indianapolis, there was no physical space dedicated for those who wanted to offer petitions to our Creator.

That changed on Sept. 12 when a prayer room was blessed at the former St. Andrew the Apostle School in Indianapolis, where IPI classes are held.

“It will provide a small space that will serve for reflection, meditation and prayer for students in their training as pastoral leaders and to strengthen their relationship with God in a space conducive to spiritual rest,” said Dr. Carmen Hernandez, the coordinator of IPI.

Father Vincent Gillmore, pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis and one of several priests who teaches classes at the institute, presided at the blessing ceremony.

During the event, a discernment course coordinated by Father Gillmore and Father Michael Keucher, archdiocesan vocations director, was also initiated. Its aim is to engage and accompany young Latino laymen who may be interested in pursuing a vocation to the priesthood, if it is God’s will for them, Hernandez noted.

Also present at the gathering were Deacon Thomas Hosty, archdiocesan director of pastoral ministries, and several teachers, students and IPI graduates.

“We are very grateful to God for the blessing of this IPI [prayer room], which is a privileged place,” said student Paula Escobar. “We extend blessings to Deacon Tom and Dr. Carmen [and] to the teachers and priests, who with their knowledge give us light to prepare us as pastoral leaders and continue to love God more every day, who is the giver of all that is good.” †