To the editor:
It may be time to move past questions about the Catholic Multicultural Center’s closure to ask the more urgent question: how can we finance the CMC now? My modest proposal is to look to the method of the saints: do works of mercy, tell others about it, and pray.
In my 35+ years on the staff of the Catholic Herald, I have had the privilege of getting to know many priests in the Diocese of Madison.
Christ the King Parish in McFarland will join with Madison area parishes in raising funds to reopen the Catholic Multicultural Center by contributing 10 percent of the profit from King Fest, the annual parish festival.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) will issue $50,000 term life insurance policies to benefit children of eligible working families in the Madison area, at no cost to the families. MassMutual pays the premiums.
REEDSBURG — Campers and parents are being notified this morning that Camp Gray (a Catholic youth summer camp) will be closed until Sunday, July 5, after one staff member was confirmed as positive for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, late Monday. Immediately upon learning of the confirmed case, camp directors decided to close the camp, for the health and well-being of the campers.
The free community meal program held at the Catholic Multicultural Center until its closing by the Diocese of Madison May 28 has been temporarily relocated to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 605 Spruce St., starting June 15.
MADISON — Due to a downturn in investment income and a new Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) which has not reached its goal, the Diocese of Madison announced on May 27 that it was cutting 19 full-time and four part-time diocesan employees and closing the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison.
However, on June 5 the diocese announced that Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison had offered to assume primary responsibility for the operation of the CMC. The offer, made through pastor, Msgr. Kenneth Fiedler, with the support and collaboration of neighboring pastors and parishes, was “weighed and gratefully accepted” by Bishop Robert C. Morlino.
St. John Mary Vianney once said, “All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, because they are the works of men, but the Mass is the work of God. Even martyrdom is nothing in comparison, for it is but the sacrifice of man to God, but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.”
Marking the 150th anniversary of St. John Vianney’s death, Pope Benedict XVI has announced a “Year for Priests” beginning this June 19th. It is meant to be, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
Following are questions and answers provided by the Diocese of Madison on the diocesan cutbacks and the closing of the Catholic Multicultural Center.
Harmon Killebrew, the Hall of Fame former major league baseball player for the Minnesota Twins, admires his father. His dad spent hours playing baseball with Harmon on their big farmhouse lawn. As he taught Harmon how to play baseball, he also taught him how to be a good father. Harmon fondly remembers when his mother complained that this nonsense of playing baseball was ruining the lawn. What would the neighbors think?
His dad replied, “Dear, we are not raising grass. We are raising children.” His words reflect Pope John Paul II’s words, “Children are the hope of the future.”
Harmon Killebrew’s dad knew how to raise farm crops. Better yet, he knew how to raise children by sharing the gift of quality time.
