Last October, Pope Benedict XVI released his apostolic letter Porta Fidei (“The Door of Faith”) announcing a Year of Faith to begin for the Universal Church this October 11, 2012, concluding on the Feast of Christ the King, November 24, 2013.
Day: September 13, 2012
Parish Mobile Food Pantry reaches hundreds of clients
By 3 p.m., as the first Parish Mobile Food Pantry held at St. Mary of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Pardeeville began, the queue of people holding their empty bags and boxes already snaked around the parking lot.
Afrontando el desafío de aprender tu fe
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Queridos amigos:
La semana del Día del Trabajo ya llegó y ya terminó, las escuelas en todos lados están comenzando a “todo vapor” y por eso es importante que recordemos rezar por todos nuestros estudiantes. También es una buena época para que los padres católicos recuerden aplicarse en la educación y formación en la fe de sus hijos, ¡y que todos nosotros los apoyemos! Es una gran tarea, pero es una que dará frutos para la eternidad.
La próxima semana tender la bendición de celebrar dos Misas con estudiantes: una con alumnos de la UW-Madison y otra en la que estarán alumnos de todas las escuelas católicas de nuestra diócesis. No puedo esperar a estar con todos estos jóvenes llenos de energía. La edición del Catholic Herald de la próxima semana también se concentrará en los 32 hombres que llamo “mis hijos” de manera particular. En recientes semanas también he visto a la mayoría de los seminaristas volviendo a clases. ¡Y ciertamente me identifico con aquellos padres que extrañan a sus hijos porque, como estudiantes, están de nuevo en los dormitorios universitarios!
Packers walking tour connects faith and football
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| St. Willebrord Church in downtown Green Bay, is known to many as the church where legendary football coach Vince Lombardi attended daily morning Mass. It is one of the sites on the Green Bay Packers Heritage Trail. Above is pictured the plaque as seen outside the church. (Compass photo/Sam Lucero) |
GREEN BAY — Green Bay Packers fans who check out the new Packers Heritage Trail will discover a number of Catholic sites that have ties to the team’s history.
The trail, designed as a self-guided walking tour, features 22 commemorative plaques located within a two-mile radius of downtown Green Bay. Seventeen plaques are part of a city walk. Five others are a part of self-guided bike tours.
St. Willebrord Church
One of the city’s sites is St. Willebrord Church, known to many as the church where former Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi attended Mass.
Cliff Christl, a Green Bay native and longtime sportswriter who developed the idea for the tour, said St. Willebrord was an easy choice for the trail but he didn’t know if placing a plaque on church property would be possible.
Norbertine Father Andy Cribben, pastor at St. Willebrord, said he was initially skeptical of the plaque but the text, which connects faith with the history of the Packers, convinced him it was worth it.
Loving those with disabilities
Many of us have hidden fears and hesitations when it comes to dealing with persons with severe disabilities. Their unfamiliar gestures, behaviors, and limitations can challenge us and infringe on our comfort zones.
We may be tempted to apply a different standard when we deal with them. Even very young children with disabilities may suffer discrimination through denial of care as newborns, or through abortion in utero.
Santorums’ daughter Bella
During his presidential campaign, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and his wife Karen were often asked by people on the campaign trail about their daughter Bella, who was born with Trisomy 18, a severe genetic defect caused by an extra chromosome.
Such children tend to have shorter lifespans, with 90 percent dying during the first year of life. Nevertheless, with proper care, some can live well into their teens, and even into their 20’s or 30’s.
Bella became known to the public during her father’s candidacy in part because of several memorable moments during the TV debates where Rick powerfully described how Bella’s birth and struggles had impacted their family.
Religious education: It’s not just for kids anymore
The late Jack McBride, who used to be in charge of adult education programs in the Diocese of Madison, often reminded me that Jesus taught adults and blessed children.
When I think about Jesus’ life as recorded in the Scriptures, I realize that Jack was right. Jesus is almost always found teaching adults. As we know, Jesus often used parables to help get his message across in words his audience could understand in that time and place.
I’m sure Jack realized that we do need to educate our children. However, he felt that the Catholic Church should do much more to educate adults on matters of the faith.
Matthew 25 and Madison Square
MADISON — So. It’s Autumn. How did you live your faith this summer? Mass? Good. Eucharistic Adoration? Going on retreat? Personal prayer time? Terrific. Love Begins Here and other Mission Trip experiences? Great.
Farmers Market? Fabulous.
Wait. Farmer’s Market?
Yes. Farmer’s Market.
Facing the challenge of learning your faith
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| This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop. |
Dear Friends,
The week of Labor Day now having come and gone, schools everywhere are kicking into “high gear,” and thus it’s important that we remember to pray for all of our students. It’s also a good time for Catholic parents to remember to reapply themselves to educating and forming their children in the faith, and for all of us to support them! It is a large task, but one which will bear fruit for all of eternity.
Next week I’ll be blessed to celebrate two Masses with students, one with students at the UW-Madison, and another which will gather together students from all of the Catholic schools in our diocese. I can’t wait to be with all of these young, energetic young people. Next week’s issue of the Catholic Herald will also focus on the 32 men who I call “my sons” in a particular way. In recent weeks I’ve also seen almost all of the seminarians head back to school — and I can certainly identify with those parents who are missing students, who are back in the dorms!
Facing the challenge of learning your faith
Dear Friends,
The week of Labor Day now having come and gone, schools everywhere are kicking into “high gear,” and thus it’s important that we remember to pray for all of our students. It’s also a good time for Catholic parents to remember to reapply themselves to educating and forming their children in the faith, and for all of us to support them! It is a large task, but one which will bear fruit for all of eternity.