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Bishop John Noll Honored
Not too many people knew Sally King Zimmer had an actual family connection to our high school founder!
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Attending Bishop Noll Institute’s Hall of Honor induction are, from left, honoree Bishop Dale J. Melczek; BNI President Paul Mullaney, BNI '77; Sarah King Zimmer, BNI '65; Superintendent of Gary Diocesan Schools Barbara O'Block; Patsy King Casassa, BNI '69; Msgr. Joseph Semancik, BNI '45; and BNI Principal Craig Stafford. Zimmer and Casassa are great-great nieces of honoree Bishop John Noll.
From NWItimes Staff
HAMMOND | Two bishops instrumental in the success and mission of Bishop Noll Institute were recognized at the 13th annual BNI Hall of Honor induction dinner May 12 at the school.
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The Most Rev. Dale J. Melczek, bishop of the Diocese of Gary, and the Most Rev. John F. Noll, the school’s namesake and bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne before his death in 1956, were honored for their outstanding leadership.
“We felt it was more than appropriate to honor Bishop Melczek for his tremendous support of our school and leadership in our diocese, and posthumously to recognize Archbishop Noll for his role not only in supporting the school but also for being such an impactful leader in the U.S. Church a century ago,” BNI President Paul Mullaney said.
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Bishop Melczek was presented for induction by Dr. Barbara O’Block, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Gary. As required by Canon Law, he submitted his letter of resignation to the Vatican after turning 75 in November 2013. He is awaiting word from Rome on the appointment of his successor.
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Bishop John Noll, whose archbishop title was given as an honorary title in 1953 by Pope Pius XII, was presented for induction by Msgr. Joseph Semancik. A 1945 graduate of Catholic Central High School, which was renamed in honor of Noll in 1947, Semancik was confirmed and ordained by Noll.
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Receiving the induction plaque and medallion on behalf of the Noll family were two BNI graduates, Sarah Zimmer, of Griffith, and Patsy Casassa, of Cedar Lake. Their mother, Mary Alyce (Noll) King, was the bishop’s great-niece.
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Bishop Melczek, in accepting his induction award, said he was humbled to be recognized in the same program as Bishop John Noll, who founded the Our Sunday Visitor national weekly newspaper, led fundraising efforts to complete work on the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., and introduced weekly contribution envelopes to Catholic churches.
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Noll served as bishop from 1924 to 1956, and twice spearheaded the construction of additional classroom wings at the diocesan high school in Hammond.
Shortly after Noll’s death, the northwesternmost counties in Indiana were removed from the Diocese of Fort Wayne and placed in the newly created Diocese of Gary.
06/02/2014
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