Long road back

Former Chicago Cub and major league all-star second baseball Mickey Morandini talks to students at St Paul Lutheran School, Feb. 1 as part of its National Lutheran Schools Week activities.

Responding to trauma

Many region trauma patients are transferred here, to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., for care.

All-star baseball player talks with St. Paul students

Michael "Mickey" Morandini talks to students Friday at St. Paul Lutheran School in Munster. Students were encouraged to wear sports jerseys as Morandini, of Chesterton, talked about both his personal and professional life to more than 200 students and staff.

All-star baseball player talks with St. Paul students

Michael "Mickey" Morandini talks to students Friday at St Paul Luteran School in Munster.

All-star baseball player talks with St. Paul students

Michael "Mickey" Morandini, of Chesterton, pitches to Jack Henke, 7, on Friday at St. Paul Lutheran School in Munster. Morandini, an all-star second basemen who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays, visited St. Paul as part of National Lutheran Schools Wee…

All-star baseball player talks with St. Paul students

Michael "Mickey" Morandini signs a jersey for third-grader Owen Wilinski, 8, on Friday during a visit to St. Paul Lutheran School in Munster. After his remarks, Morandini answered questions from students, took time pitch to a handful of students, sign autographs and pose for photographs with…

052012SHEPHERD

Associate Pastor Mke Zurek address the children during a recent Sunday service at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in St. John.

052012SHEPHERD

Associate Pastor Mike Zurek delivers the sermon during a Sunday service at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in St. John.

052012SHEPHERD

Olivia Rich 2, feels like dancing as Associate Pastor Mke Zurek talks with the children during a recent service at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in St. John.

052012SHEPHERD

Confirmands walk to the front of Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church during a recent worship service in St. John.

Augustana Lutheran celebrates 150th anniversary

Augustana Lutheran Church is the oldest church in Hobart.

Augustana Lutheran celebrates 150th anniversary

At 150 years old, Augustana Lutheran Church is the oldest church in Hobart. The Rev. Charles Strietelmeier has been pastor for 10 years. He poses with his dog, Longfellow.

Valparaiso police distribute food baskets

Valparaiso police Officer Chris Allison, center, helps unload frozen turkeys and boxes of food from a truck Saturday morning at Immanuel Lutheran Church, one of three locations where more than 300 food baskets were delivered by the FOP for families in need during the holiday season.

Valparaiso police distribute food baskets

Valparaiso police, their family members and volunteers carry boxes of food Saturday morning into the Immanuel Lutheran Church food pantry, where it was distributed to families in need during the holiday season. Nearly $8,000 was raised by the FOP, with the Wise Way store putting the packages…

Valparaiso police distribute food baskets

Julie Mudd, of Valparaiso, adds food to packages that were delivered Saturday morning to Immanuel Lutheran Church by Valparaiso Federation of Police. The church was one of three locations where more than 300 food packages were delivered by the FOP to families in need during the holiday season.

"This city will be rebuilt"

GARY | More than 125 Lutherans from Gary-area churches gathered recently at historical St. John Lutheran Church to seek God's help in growing the Lutheran faith in the Gary community.

New pastor appointed for VU

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso University announced Monday that Rev. Charlene Cox was named university pastor succeeding Rev. Darlene Grega, who died a year ago.

Pastors say smaller churches provide unique spiritual experience

CROWN POINT | As pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, the Rev. Freda Scales has a unique gift that her counterparts at much larger congregations do not -- she knows each of her parishioners by name.