Born in Wheaton, Ill., and now a resident of Niles, Mich., Meyer is the oldest of three children of Kurt and Julie Meyer. He attended Holy Cross School, South Bend, and is a graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. Originally, Meyer had intended to pursue a business career but told his parents prior to graduation he wanted to become a Catholic priest. He then began his theological studies at Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio.

Muhlenkamp is from Geneva, and the son of Gary and Mary Agnes Muhlenkamp, the middle child in a family with five children, four of whom are girls. Raised on a dairy farm, he said he began thinking about the priesthood while he was in college an Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne (IPFW) studying for his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision. Following graduation, he began his theological studies at Pontifical College Josephinum.

• Rev. Peter Dee De to parochial vicar, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, with special ministry to the Burmese community of the Midwest.

• Newly-ordained Deacon Christopher R. Lapp to summer diaconal ministry at St. Therese Parish, Fort Wayne.

• Reverend James Bromwich to residence, St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, effective May 16, 2012.

• Reverend Daniel Whelan to residence, St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, effective May 16, 2012.

Given the recent media attention to the lawsuit filed against the Diocese and one of its diocesan elementary schools, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades would like to issue the following statement in response to concerns raised about the pastoral role of priests. The diocese will not argue this case in the media or in the court of public opinion. This statement is meant to clarify what appears to be a serious misunderstanding regarding the pastoral obligations of priests.

The Church and her priests include in their proclamation of the Gospel Jesus’ call to conversion. It is the task of priests, following the example of Christ, to be instruments of Christ’s love and mercy. This includes at times correction, since sinful behavior not only offends God, but also harms the individual and the community. While sometimes difficult and delicate, priests are expected always to speak the truth in charity. Priests are required to clearly affirm the truths of our faith, and to speak honestly about what these truths mean for our lives and what we owe to others. It is also clear that priests must convey these truths in a respectful and loving manner consistent with the intrinsic, inestimable worth of every human person.

Let there be no mistake — this obligation to speak truth in charity is affirmed by the Church, the Bishop, the diocese, and Monsignor Kuzmich. Indeed, Monsignor Kuzmich’s record of exemplary pastoral ministry as a priest of this diocese for nearly 47 years has been a model of truth in charity. The Bishop asks for continued prayers for Monsignor Kuzmich, the community of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish and School, and also for the plaintiff in this case.

Statement from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is saddened by the lawsuit filed against it by a former teacher at one of its grade schools. The claims made against the Diocese in the lawsuit allege matters of sex, pregnancy and disability discrimination. The Diocese denies any such discrimination occurred. Rather, the Diocese views the core issue raised in this lawsuit as a challenge to the Diocese’s right, as a religious employer, to make religious based decisions consistent with its religious standards on an impartial basis.

The Catholic Church has a deep pastoral concern for husbands and wives struggling with infertility. The Church promotes treatment of infertility through means that respect the right to life, the unity of marriage, and procreation brought about as the fruit of the conjugal act. There are other infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, which are not morally licit according to Catholic teaching. The Church teaches that every individual embryo has the right to life. The process of in vitro fertilization very frequently involves the deliberate destruction of embryos or the freezing of embryos, which the Church holds to be incompatible with the respect owed to human life. Furthermore, the Church teaches that it is morally unacceptable to “disassociate procreation from the integrally personal context of the conjugal act” and insists that procreation not be reduced to mere reproduction.

The Diocese has clear policies requiring that teachers in its schools must, as a condition of employment, have a knowledge of and respect for the Catholic faith, and abide by the tenets of the Catholic Church as those tenets apply to that person. The Diocese requires that its teachers serve as moral exemplars. Those requirements, and others, are expressly incorporated into Diocesan teacher contracts.

The Diocese does not intend to comment on the specific allegations raised in the lawsuit that was filed against it. However, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades believes it important that the Faithful understand that the Diocese does not take its obligations as an employer lightly. At the same time, the Diocese understands its obligation to uphold Church teaching and defends its freedom to do so. Bishop Rhoades asks the Faithful to join with him in prayer for the swift and just resolution of this matter – - one that affirms the Diocese’s ability to exercise its lawful rights consistent with Church teachings.

After getting to know the seminarians, the Meyers recognized their need for spiritual and financial support.

“Seminarians have no job for income,” said Julie. “They are committed to discerning their vocation, studies and serving their parish on breaks and summers. Their needs are simple: financial support for little things like laundry supplies, stamps and travel expenses.”

After the Meyers discussed their concern with their son, Deacon Meyer went to St. Pius X pastor Msgr. Bill Schooler to consider a program at the parish that would spotlight the needs of these young men. The Adopt-a-Seminarian program was developed to encourage financial and spiritual support for all Fort Wayne-South Bend seminarians.

Msgr. Schooler thought it was a great idea because “it connects young men studying for the priesthood with our parishioners and it is a good way to promote vocations within our parish.”

Betsy Quinn, director of Evangelization and Stewardship at St. Pius, invited the Meyers to become a part of a committee, which would oversee the program. During two weekends in February, multiple copies of information sheets for each diocesan seminary student were distributed to interested parishioners after every Mass.

Each information sheet included the seminary student’s picture, home parish, birthday, year in seminary and anticipated graduation date. The sheets also communicated some of the student’s favorite things such as treats, sporting team, stores and needs such as laundry and toiletry items. Parishioners were also given a prayer card for vocations to read throughout the year for each seminarian’s spiritual needs.

Seminary student Bill Meininger, who is spending his pastoral year at St. Pius X, emphasized the Adopt-a-Seminarian program provides the opportunity for a greater feeling of connection for the student with the home diocese while away.

“Knowing that we have so many people praying for us and supporting us in other ways is very encouraging and at the same time humbling, as we are reminded that we aren’t going through these years of study and formation for ourselves, but for the faithful of the diocese,” noted Meininger.

“With so much talk of the priest shortage in the Church today, the Adopt-a-Seminarian program is a wonderful way for the laity to get involved and, in a very real way, support the vocations we do have and encourage and pray that more men are willing to answer the call,” Meininger added.

Committee members Angie and John Miller expressed excitement about the development of the program at St. Pius X going forward.

“While the intent in phase one of this program was to initiate a simple exchange of a gift from a family to an individual seminarian, our long-term goal is to have a more ongoing and enduring relationship where the family is in touch on a more regular basis with letters, Facebook posts, You Tube videos, etc,” John emphasized. “We also hope that we can expand into the classrooms of St. Pius X School next year and get all the kids involved to further extend the bond.”

Angie adds, “Our hope is also that classrooms will respond in some way so our students can look to the seminarians as healthy role models.”

Out of town guests from Indianapolis who attended Mass during the Adopt-a-Seminarian kickoff were intrigued by the program’s concept and asked for contact information to start a similar program in their parish, the Meyers noted.

At least one St. Pius X family decided to deliver their gifts to their adopted seminarian in person. The Scott Null family, on vacation in Rome during this year’s spring break, met seminarian Royce Gregerson and presented him with a duffel bag full of gifts. Gregerson is currently studying in Rome at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

Kurt Meyer summed up the importance of parish support of vocations. “Parishioners are always looking to help. Impressed with the faith, determination and sacrifice of these young men the Adopt-a-Seminarian program seemed like a nice way to help them with basic needs during school. They represent the future of our Church, and this program can be a significant blessing to each of these young men.”