Traditional Latin Mass Friend in Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana celebrates Silver Jubilee

May 7, 2008 Una Voce Carmel (Carmel, Indiana) – A great article that Kevin Cullen published in THE CATHOLIC MOMENT back in December 2007 said in part:

When he was a child, Father Ted Rothrock, now pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Carmel, lived across the street from the diocese’s first bishop, Bishop John George Bennett of blessed memory.  Father Rothrock’s father was the bishop’s physician and a personal friend.

Bishop Bennett would shoot baskets with the Rothrock boys, and he helped them build forts in a wooded area near the bishop’s house.  He would come to the house at Easter, and bring a little lamb cake with him … He’d drop it off for our Easter dinner,” said Father Rothrock, who was 6 when Bishop Bennett died.

In many ways, he said, he was “like the grandfather I never had. He was just a very … good man who we enjoyed being around … he loved everybody, and he had a marvelous vision of what the community of the Church really was, and was supposed to be.  He was really the guiding light.”

Obviously, many of Bishop Bennett’s fine qualities have rubbed off on Father Rothrock.  Congratulations and thank you Father Rothrock for 25 years of service to the Church.  Keep that guiding light bright!