IPF to honor Bishop Hanefeldt

The Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF) will honor Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt of Grand Island at its 15th annual “Celebration of Priesthood” banquet April 5 in Omaha.

 

Bishop Hanefeldt, a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha before being named bishop in 2015, will receive the Omaha-based institute’s St. John Paul II Award for Priestly Service.

 

Fathers Scott Schilmoeller, associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk, and Father Joseph Taphorn, pastor and director of the St. John Paul II Newman Center in Omaha and a judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal, will be among the speakers at the dinner.

 

All three men have deep connections to the institute. Bishop Hanefeldt is a graduate of its spiritual direction training program and serves on IPF’s bishops and mission advisory councils. The institute is dedicated to spiritual growth for diocesan priests and seminarians. 

 

“People will find it rewarding to learn about the mission of IPF and how Bishop Hanefeldt has received from us, as well as given to IPF and the future of the priesthood through his servant leadership,” said Father Richard Gabuzda, the institute’s executive director.

  

Cost is $100 per person or $800 to reserve a table for eight for the 6:30 p.m. social and 7:15 p.m. dinner and program at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish’s Mainelli Center, Omaha. 

 

Various sponsorship levels also are available. For tickets and other information, people can visit the institute’s website at priestlyformation.org or contact Linda Antonelli at 402-280-3901.