First impressions and lasting memories

By John Shaughnessy (Assistant Editor, The Criterion)

The stories have flowed easily.

Some melt your heart. Others bring a smile or a laugh. All share an insight into the qualities that make Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin respected and loved by many people.

As friends and family members have traveled to Rome this weekend to witness him be installed as a cardinal by Pope Francis on Nov. 19, here are some of the memorable stories that were shared about Cardinal Tobin.

An unexpected song of joy

The smile keeps growing across Carolyn Noone’s face as she recalls the remarkable moment from the evening of Dec. 3, 2012—when Cardinal Tobin was installed as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

As director of special events for the archdiocese, Noone had arranged a dinner for the archbishop, his family and some of his friends at a downtown Indianapolis hotel. So Noone and Annette “Mickey” Lentz, chancellor of the archdiocese, went to the hotel to make sure the dinner was enjoyed by everyone.

“After dinner, most of the family went into the foyer,” Noone recalls. “There was a grand piano there. His sister, Ann, went back into the banquet hall and said, ‘Joe, you have to come out to the foyer right now!’ He said, ‘I always do what my sisters tell me to do.’ Then he sat down at the piano and began to play.

“They were spiritual songs. Mickey and I were looking at each other and said how beautiful it was. Then he stopped, he got a twinkle in his eyes, and he started playing ‘Great Balls of Fire.’ He sang every word. Mickey and I said, ‘We have a winner.’ ”

Noone paused as her smile gave way to her emotions. “He put a lifetime into four years with us.”

A position of service

Holy Cross Father Joseph Corpora became friends with Cardinal Tobin “a few summers ago” at the University of Notre Dame for an event involving the college’s Alliance for Catholic Education program.

“I had the good fortune of being his host,” Father Corpora notes. “One evening we sat and talked for about two hours. Since then, we’ve had several lengthy conversations. On two occasions, he and I went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant in Indianapolis. He made a point of talking personally with the waiters and the staff. In everything that he says and does, he is very human. His very person invites confidence and trust.

“He has taught me that power does not have to go to one’s head, as obviously it has not in his case. He truly sees his position as one of service. He gives me great hope for the life and future of the Church.”

A moving story

Msgr. William Stumpf recalls a conversation he had with Cardinal Tobin shortly after it was announced on Nov. 7 that Pope Francis had reassigned him from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to the Archdiocese of Newark.

“I said, ‘We’ll get you moved out to Newark.’ He said, ‘That’s so kind of you. I was thinking I’d probably just rent a U-Haul and take it out there.’ I said, ‘We’ll get you moved.’

“It just shows his absolute humility. He’s a true servant, just like Pope Francis.”

First impression, lasting memory

First impressions often last, and Loral Tansy will never forget the first impression that Cardinal Tobin had on him. The moment occurred during the first Mass that Cardinal Tobin celebrated in one of the parishes of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis after he became the archbishop.

In his role as master of ceremonies, Tansy is responsible for making sure the Mass runs smoothly when the archbishop celebrates the liturgy. So he was intent on getting the Mass started right as he and the archbishop processed up the main aisle. Yet halfway up the aisle, something happened that changed Tansy’s plan.

“There was a handicapped boy in a wheelchair midway up the aisle,” Tansy recalls. “As the archbishop started to go by, the child raised his hand, and the archbishop took his hand. The child started talking to him. The archbishop got down on one knee and carried out this conversation with him.

“In that moment, I knew how blessed we were to have him, and how much I was going to love him.”