Year: 2012

On
Chris Lee

Sunday, Oct. 14 is Catholic Charities Sunday for the Diocese of Madison

As Bishop of Madison, I am pleased to announce that I am designating Sunday, October 14 as Catholic Charities Sunday for the Diocese of Madison.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The mission of Catholic Charities is precisely that — to reach out in love from the solid foundation of our faith. Catholic Charities works daily to protect, preserve and promote the natural dignity of persons out of love and respect for them. Together, we provide help and create hope for our brothers and sisters each and every day.

On this occasion, we recognize the good works that Catholic Charities does to fulfill the Church’s role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, caring services to all God’s people. Through Catholic Charities, we can strengthen and support the aging, children, individuals, families and communities, including:

Read More
On
Patrick Gorman

Taking a closer look at the council

Year of Faith column logo

Mother Church Rejoices! With his typically optimistic words, Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council on October 11, 1962. Today, we share that same joy as we commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Council that Pope John frequently referred to as “a new Pentecost.”

The first document issued by the Council was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. It was one of only four Constitutions (which are of the highest rank of Church teachings) issued by the Council. The goals of the entire Council are laid out in the first paragraph: to increase the vigor of people’s Christian life, to adapt those things which may be changed to the needs of our own times, to promote Christian unity, and to help all people come to know Christ in the Church.

Read More
On
Lindsay Becher

Witnessing to a wide web world

Year of Faith column logo

As the faithful enter this Year of Faith, they will be called to give witness to their faith more and more. In Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict wrote, “faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy.”

In a time when the virality of a message and success in communications is often measured by the number of views a video gets on YouTube and how many times an article is shared on Facebook, it makes sense that Catholics would feel like their message and witness is not easily or rapidly spread through the world today.

Read More
On
Patrick Delaney

What is the year of faith all about?

Year of Faith column logo

On Thursday of this week (October 11), the Church will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th Anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s promulgation with the initiation of a very special Year of Faith.

In his apostolic letter Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict XVI called for this special year —which will conclude on November 24, 2013 — with the primary aim “to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope.” He also intends this year to be “a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist,” and to “intensify the witness of charity.”

Read More
On
Bill and Joy Exner

Article found ambiguous

To the editor:

We find the “Forming Consciences” article (Catholic Herald, September 27, 2012) to be both ambiguous and confusing. Stating that Catholics are to vote using a well-formed conscience is correct; however, our consciences have not been well-formed for the past 40 years or so. This close to the election it is essential that we speak plainly and clearly about what is at stake and disregard “nice platitudes and political correctness.”

Certain issues trump all other issues. The most significant issues trumping all others have to do with religious freedom, abortion, same-sex marriage, contraception, and other “culture of death” issues.

Read More
On
Fr. Donald Lange

Fostering vocations

To the editor:

During the Year of Faith we recall the Second Vatican Council. I respect the priests who persevered, held things together, and helped to implement the council. Many of these outstanding priests have died. We remember them each year at the Priests Assembly. Others are retired while some are still in active ministry.

The years after the council were challenging, yet graced times. However, priestly and religious vocations gradually decreased. Since 2000 in our diocese, ordinations have increased. In my opinion this happened because the Holy Spirit helped more Catholics to see and respond to the truth that “vocations are everyone’s business.”

Read More
On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Welcoming the Year of Faith: Rediscover the faith you received at Baptism. Share it with others.

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Those of us who are “cradle Catholics” — baptized as babies, raised in Catholic homes, educated in Catholic schools — may wonder why we should participate in the Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict XVI.

We’re already believers, so this Year of Faith must be for other people, right?

Wrong!

Experiencing a new conversion

In announcing the Year of Faith, the Holy Father said it is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei, 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for all Catholics — even cradle Catholics — to experience a new conversion. It’s an opportunity to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him.

The pope has described this conversion as opening the “door of faith.” This door was originally opened at our Baptism, but many of us weren’t aware of what was happening at that time.

During the Year of Faith we’re called to open it again, walk through it, and rediscover and renew our relationship with Christ and his Church.

Read More
On
Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer

Followers of Christ are all called to be missionaries

Propagation of Faith by Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer

“Go teach all nations all things that I have commanded you.” These words of Our Divine Savior remind us of the share that all Christians have in the mission of Jesus.

When Our Lord read from the prophecy of Isaiah at his first public appearance in the synagogue at Nazareth, He quoted: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, release of captives, recovering of sight for the blind, and to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”

Then He said, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your midst.”

Read More