Day: January 11, 2012

On
By Margarete Schels, For the Catholic Herald

Local principal receives award from NCEA

Principal Mary Kilar, back row second from right, was honored by the National Catholic Educators Association with the Distinguished Principal Award. Kilar, the principal of St. John the Baptist School, Jefferson, is the first in the diocese and the second in the state to have been given the prestigious award. (Contributed photo)

JEFFERSON — St. John the Baptist School in presented their annual Christmas program with the theme: “Touch of an Angel” on Thursday evening, Dec. 22, in St. John the Baptist Church.

Students from pre-K through eighth grade, under the direction of music teacher and band director, Andrea Haffelder, presented the Nativity in story and song with angels as the main focus. Prior to the main program, the junior and senior bands performed a variety of Christmas music for the enjoyment of the crowded church, which was filled with family and friends.

The highlight of the evening took place at the conclusion of the program with the presentation of the NCEA (National Catholic Educators Association) Distinguished Principal Award to Mary Kilar, principal of St. John the Baptist School for the last eight years. Michael Lancaster, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Madison, presented the good news to a surprised Kilar and overjoyed parish school community. Lancaster had nominated her for this honor at the start of the current school year with Kilar being the only principal being chosen from the Madison Diocesan schools.

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On
Steve Wideman, For the Catholic Herald

Catholic non-profit groups benefit from Packers’ success

GREEN BAY — Seminarians, Catholic schools, parish budgets, the homeless and hungry will all benefit when the Green Bay Packers take the field Sunday, Jan. 15, in a National Football League playoff game against the New York Giants.

Five hours before kickoff, hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life will begin descending on Lambeau for up to 12 hours of hard, and sometimes very cold work to assure that fans from both teams have food, comfort and plenty of souvenirs to take home.

“It’s a 12-hour day from the time you leave home until you get back home,” said Mike Bushman, who coordinates operations at a 22-man food booth on Lambeau Field’s fourth level for Knights of Columbus Council 5514 of Neenah.

 

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On
Ted Kaminski

Keep Christmas in our hearts every day of the year

To the editor:

At this time of year I hear about people taking the “Christ out of Christmas.” Why? Because some anti-religious group stops a public Nativity scene. Another is that some people will use the greeting “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”

What should really define this time of year for us is the feeling in our hearts. Do we only give gifts to get more? Do we only throw parties for public display? Are we only thinking of ourselves?

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

It’s Vocation Awareness Week: Pray! Invite! Encourage! Affirm! Vocations

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Every year since 1976, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) as a special time when we pray for the renewal and strengthening of all vocations within the Church.

This includes the vocations of married and single people; men serving as priests, deacons, and Brothers; and women serving as religious Sisters.

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On
John Huebscher

Recall season overlays final legislative sessions

Eye on the Capitol by John Huebscher

A year ago, the first thing the newly elected Legislature did was to adopt its scheduling resolution for the 2011-12 legislative session.

This resolution defined the floor periods during which the Legislature would meet to debate and pass legislation. In so doing, the legislators determined that they would convene for three “general business” floor periods between January 17 and March 15 in 2012, the last day of regular business for the year.

Complicates legislative schedules

When they adopted that resolution, our lawmakers had no way of knowing that their session schedule would mesh with Wisconsin’s first ever recall of a governor and recalls of several state senators. But that is what appears will happen and it will affect what lawmaking takes place in these final floor periods.

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On
Sr. Margie Lavonis

Where are the vocations?

Cutting Edge by Sr. Margie Lavonis

The shortage of priests and religious men and women in the Church, particularly in Europe and North America, is common these days. Many international congregations like my own, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, are still getting new members, but in countries other than the United States. Many consider it a crisis.

Too often when we speak of vocations we limit that term to mean the call to ordained ministry and the consecrated life. When we pray for vocations, we usually ask God to inspire young people to answer a call to be Sisters, Brothers, and priests. Once in a while we might include the call to lay ministry in the Church, but that is the exception.

God calls each of us

We do not have to look far to find vocations. The truth is that each baptized person has a vocation, not just religious and clergy. By our Baptism each of us is called to share the mission of Jesus. As disciples of Jesus, every Christian is called to reveal God’s unconditional love and to spread that love to others. The next time you are at a Baptism liturgy listen closely to the prayers.

 

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

We need priests to celebrate the Eucharist

In the United States the Catholic Church celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week from Monday, Jan. 9, to Saturday, Jan. 14, this year.

During this week the Church asks us to pray for all vocations. In no. 2013 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness.” God calls us all to live our faith and seek out our vocation as a deacon, priest, Religious Brother, Sister, married, or single person.

No priests, no Eucharist

However, we need to continue to pray for and encourage priestly vocations because priests preside at the Eucharist, which is the center of Catholic life. During the 2009 Year for Priests, Pope Benedict stressed that without priests there would be no Eucharist, no mission, or Church. We priests have the privilege of celebrating Mass and ministering to Catholics at key spiritual times in their lives from infancy to old age. Priests administer the sacraments, preach, offer pastoral care, and much more.

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