Archdiocese honors pro-life supporters for their work

By Mary Ann Wyand

On Respect Life Sunday, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will honor a Carmel, Ind., man who volunteers for a variety of pro-life activities in the archdiocese and Diocese of Lafayette as well as a Columbus teenager who is active in pro-life ministry and youth ministry.

Respect Life Sunday will be observed in dioceses throughout the U.S. on Oct. 7 with Masses and pro-life prayer chains.

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, is the celebrant for the archdiocesan Respect Life Sunday Mass at 1 p.m. on Oct. 7 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis. The public is invited.

On behalf of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, the vicar general will present the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Respect Life Award to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishioner Steve Hamilton of Carmel for his distinguished service to the cause of life.

Msgr. Schaedel also will present the Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro-Life Youth Award to St. Bartholomew parishioner Michael Padilla of Columbus for his outstanding pro-life volunteer service.

Following the Respect Life Mass, Catholics will pray with Christians from other denominations

during the ecumenical Central Indiana Life Chain from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. along North Meridian Street in Indianapolis.

Hamilton has organized the Carmel Life Chain in the Lafayette Diocese for four years, and will join several hundred pro-life supporters in prayer there after accepting the Respect Life Award.

“The Life Chain is ecumenical, and I’ve always stressed that,” he said. “I send out a mailing to about 95 churches in the area every year, and we have gotten very good participation. It’s

wonderful that these different churches come together for it.”

Hamilton has helped coordinate St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s pro-life ministry for six years, three as the

coordinator, and served the parish’s Gabriel Project of Indiana ministry in a leadership role.

He also participates in the monthly archdiocesan Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Pro-Life Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Indianapolis, sometimes helping as a server, then prays the rosary with the group in front of an abortion center on West 16th Street.

He is the father of two grown children, Christopher and Elizabeth Hamilton.

Father Brendan Mbagwu, associate pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, said Hamilton “bore witness to the cause of life” even when challenged by his wife’s cancer journey. Wanda Hamilton died on June 13, 2006.

“In spite of his family ordeal, Steve continued in his leadership role,” Father Mbagwu explained. “He remained faithful, dedicated, zealous and untiring in the discharge of his [volunteer] duties … with courage to share his faith and the will to witness to the truth of the Gospel of Life.”

Hamilton said he tries to live out the Church’s teachings on the consistent ethic of life—including opposition to the death penalty—and participation in Christ Renews His Parish helps him do that.

He said “it’s a good feeling to know that you have helped people.”

Michael, who prefers to be called Mikey, has been a pro-life leader and activist for most of his life. He is the son of St. Bartholomew parishioners Michael and Lourdes Padilla of Columbus, and is a senior at Columbus North High School.

A nomination submitted by leaders of the Gabriel Project of Indiana and St. Bartholomew’s Pro-Life Ministry includes a two-page list of Mikey’s pro-life and youth ministry volunteer activities.

Currently president of the Archdiocesan Youth Council, Mikey helps plan the annual Archdiocesan Youth Rally for teenagers in all 11 deaneries. He has been a youth council member for two years.

His pro-life service projects include two youth ministry trips to the Gulf Coast to help displaced residents with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts and four years of participation in the monthly archdiocesan Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Pro-Life Mass with his family followed by prayers in front of an abortion center.

Mikey helps his family with Gabriel Project services for expectant mothers who need assistance and temporary housing in their home. He also worked with Columbus officials to fulfill city requirements for placement of a Gabriel Project “Sign of Life” at his parish.

Two years ago, the Padilla family earned the Pro Vita Family Award from the Catholic Life Network for their distinguished pro-life volunteer service.

Mikey has attended the March for Life in Washington twice and regularly assists the Knights of Columbus with service

projects. He is active in Scouting, skilled in choral and instrumental music, and

volunteers as a cantor for Masses at St. Bartholomew Church and Our Lady of the Greenwood Church in Greenwood.

In grade school and high school, Mikey has presented papers and led class discussions on pro-life issues. At his public high school, he attempts to evangelize and educate his peers by discussing Catholic beliefs and pro-life views, relating faith to everyday situations and wearing religious or pro-life T-shirts.

Father Jonathan Meyer, director of youth ministry for the archdiocese, said “Mikey desires to change the world through the grace of Jesus Christ and does that in a variety of ways. … He is filled with love for God and desires to show that joy in everything he does.”

Asked about his numerous Church and community volunteer activities, Mikey said he has no idea how many service hours he has completed since fifth grade.

“I’m doing my best to follow God’s plan for me,” he said, “by being open to God’s will. … I don’t know what to consider service time because so much of my family’s time is spent in service. If it

hadn’t been for my parents, I may not have become as close to and enriched in my faith. Fortunately, my mother and father are very devout Catholics.” †