Many residents of urban areas appreciate the diversity and stable learning environments at schools operated by the Catholic dioceses (districts) in the state.
In recent years, however, economic challenges have forced many of them to close.
Daniel Buechlein was determined not to let that happen to two schools located in predominantly African-American neighborhoods of Indianapolis. He and his staff successfully worked to keep the schools open.
“We knew it would be a hard thing, but we were going to keep our schools going. And we have,” said Buechlein, who retired last week after serving 19 years as archbishop of the Indianapolis Catholic archdiocese. “Obviously, it’s been difficult, but it’s working because God is blessing us.”
Under Buechlein’s leadership, the diocese saved St. Anthony Catholic School, along with St. Andrew and St. Rita Catholic School. In April, they successfully petitioned the city to approve converting the two Catholic schools into charter schools, becoming among the first in the nation to utilize this creative approach.
“Archbishop Buechlein led the way in raising money to build new schools and to renovate existing schools,” said Greg Otolski, a spokesman for the Indianapolis diocese. “Even though many students at these schools were not Catholic, he believed that the schools were so important to those neighborhoods that he would do everything possible to keep them open.”
Stabilizing multicultural schools for students was among the many accomplishments Buechlein was praised for after he announced his retirement to fight health complications related to cancer and a recent stroke.
He will return to the St. Meinrad Archabbey in Southern Indiana, where he began his ministry as a monk nearly 50 years ago. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne will oversee the archdiocese on an interim basis until Pope Benedict selects a permanent replacement for Buechlein.
Buechlein said it had been a joy for him to serve as archbishop.
“I want to thank all of the clergy, archdiocesan staff and lay people for the support they have given me over the years,” he said. “With their help and the help of God we have been able to accomplish much.”
Supporters point out that another major accomplishment of Buechlein’s is greater diversity in the archdiocese.
The number of African-American Catholic priests serving as senior pastors reached its height of four shortly after Buechlein’s appointment in 1992, and included the late Rev. Clarence Waldon at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Rev. Tony Clark at St. Rita Catholic Church, Rev. Kenneth Taylor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Rev. Micheal Kelley, who served at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clark County.
Today, with the death of Waldon and resignation of Kelley, the diocese’s Black Catholic pastors are Taylor, who is now at Holy Angels, and Rev. Eusebius Mbidoaka at St. Rita.
In 1995, Buechlein formed a commission to bring attention to the needs of various cultural and ethnic groups in the archdiocese. The following year, he established the office of Multi Cultural Ministry to address those needs.
“That was a major step forward in terms of diversity among Catholics here,” said Taylor, who directs the ministry. “Until then, many people weren’t aware just how diverse we are. We’ve been able to reach out to our different demographic groups and bring them to the forefront of the archdiocese.”
Recently, a new leadership-training program was formed for Hispanics, and outreach ministries have been established for African Catholic immigrants, as well as those of Filipino, Indian, Korean and Vietnamese origin.
Catholics across the nation have taken notice of the success the Indianapolis archdiocese has had in promoting its diversity, and the city has been selected to host the 2012 convention of the National Black Catholic Congress.
Buechlein also built relationships with several dioceses and religious orders in Africa, Asia and South America.
As a result, he was able to bring priests and nuns from countries such as India, Mexico and Nigeria to serve on the staffs of several churches, some in Indianapolis, and others that are in predominantly white small towns or rural areas.
Under Buechlein’s leadership, the Indianapolis diocese became among the first in the Midwest to seriously respond to growth in the Latino population.
In the late 1990s he began running a Spanish version of his weekly column in the diocese’s Criterion newspaper, and instructed some parishes to offer Mass in Spanish.
Several priests were sent to Mexico for language and cultural immersion programs, and clergy from Mexico were invited to minister at local parishes.
“The archbishop himself has learned enough Spanish to be able to celebrate Mass in that language,” Otolski said. “Diversity awareness has been very important to him, and essential to ensuring that the needs of everyone are met.”
