By Megan Erbacher, The Message editor
“Being old is great,” Pat Koch smiled and said to about 115 faithful who gathered for the Diocese of Evansville’s 2025 North Deanery Wisdom Day Oct. 6 at St. Francis Xavier Parish Center in Vincennes.
Wisdom Day is an annual event that celebrates adults aged 55 and older in the Diocese of Evansville to offer a space for faith, fellowship and enrichment. It aims to recognize the gifts and wisdom of the senior community.
Koch, along with her friend Donna, are founding members of Wisdom Day in Vincennes after they attended a similar event in the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky.
While discussing her enjoyment of being old, Koch shared stories about an old church that she loves.
“I just love that church because it’s old, and being old is great. … God is good to us old people, right?”
Retired Deacon Earl Ruppel served as master of ceremonies for North Deanery’s 2025 Wisdom Day. In addition to Koch, speakers for the event included Bishop Joseph M. Siegel, Father Tony Ernst, Father Tyler Underhill, Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum and Diocesan Director of Marriage, Family and Life Megan Knies.
Koch has achieved many accomplishments in her lifetime, including being involved in the development of Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, with her husband Bill; being a nurse; earning a master’s degree in pastoral ministry at 70 years old; completing a history book of Santa Claus; and serving as chief elf, coordinating volunteers who answer children’s letters to Santa Claus.
“When (Deacon Earl) was talking about the things I’ve done, my accomplishments, I didn’t do anything by myself, never,” she said. “Right? Anybody who has ever done anything knows that, right? All of these people help all the time.”
You can also help and make a difference in the lives of young people, Koch encouraged.
Bishop Siegel said it was great to be with everyone before he offered a State of the Diocese for 2025. He said the State of our Diocese is blessed, and he feels blessed to serve as bishop for nearly eight years. He noted that he’s seen some wonderful developments in our church even amidst some challenges over the years.
Bishop Siegel said that as a Diocese, our ultimate goal is the salvation of souls, which we achieve by carrying out the great commission Christ gave us to make disciples of all people, to teach the Gospel and baptize in the name of the Trinity. He said we do it in many different ways, and each one of us — parishes, clergy and lay leaders — do our part to fulfill this commission.
Bishop Siegel also offered some facts about the Diocese, which is made up of about 70,000 Catholics in 45 parishes across about 5,000 square miles in 12 counties. He said we have 84 priests, 53 of whom are assigned to full-time ministry, and the rest continue to serve very faithfully as senior priests. There are 61 permanent deacons, and 16 men who are currently in formation for the permanent diaconate, with an anticipated ordination in August 2026. We also have 16 seminarians.
The Diocese has 26 Catholic schools, including four high schools, educating about 7,500 students.
As the top 10 employer in southwest Indiana, the Diocese employs 1,400 lay people in parishes, schools and institutions, and has more than 6,000 volunteers.
With God’s help, Bishop Siegel said he believes we’re poised to make great strides in building up our local Church and reaching out to more and more people in Southwest Indiana.