Day: May 1, 2014

On
Dick Jones, For the Catholic Herald

Choir presents final O’Connor Center concert

diocesan choir

The Madison Diocesan Choir will bid farewell to the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison when it presents its final spring concert in the center’s chapel on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Here they sing at the 2013 Lessons and Carols with Dr. Patrick Gorman directing and Glenn Schuster accompanying the choir along with guest musicians.(Catholic Herald file photo)

MADISON — On Friday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m., the Madison Diocesan Choir will present its final concert at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, and under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman, members will bid farewell to their principal venue for many years with a spring concert to remember, featuring an orchestra, guest soloists, and two seldom-heard, but stunning and inspiring pieces.

Only a year ago, it was in the O’Connor Center chapel that the choir celebrated 40 years of music ministry. Its more than 70 active members from parishes throughout the diocese swelled to over 100, as former members returned. Together, they performed a spring concert as an anniversary choir.

Leaving the center

Since then, the Diocese of Madison announced its decision to leave the center, located at 702 S. High Point Rd., and lease it to a developer. Under the tentative agreement announced last fall, the former seminary will become an apartment complex with up to 150 rental units.

“I think everybody’s sad in their own way, but it seems to be a practical move,” said Gorman, choir director for 22 years in addition to being director of the diocesan Office of Worship.

“I trust that that’s what needs to be done. But as I’ve said before, my favorite place to sing in the diocese always had been St. Raphael Cathedral. It was such a lovely cathedral. I was very sad when that burned, and there’s a similar sadness here in that we have a nice home, it’s convenient, it’s a good acoustic. People like to come here. Good parking. That’s all going to have to change.”

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On
Jane Lepeska Grinde, For the Catholic Herald

Women of diocese celebrate 60 years of council

BARABOO — With the theme of “Finding Grace through Faith, Trust, and Patience,” the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) will celebrate its 60th birthday at its annual gathering Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20 and 21, at the Clarion Hotel here.

MDCCW calls women of the diocese together to share their faith through service, leadership, learning, prayer, and socializing.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Summer skills workshop at St. Ambrose Academy

MADISON — Students in Catholic schools devote much effort to mastering the subjects they study, like math, history, and literature, but also worthy of attention is how those students study, according to St. Ambrose Academy history and science teacher Michael Kwas.

“Good students aren’t usually the smartest ones,” Kwas said. “Instead, they are the ones who have learned how to study and have developed the best work habits.”

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On
George Weigel

John XXIII and John Paul II: Canonizing the bookends

Pope Francis’ bold decisions to canonize Blessed John XXIII without the normal post-beatification miracle and to link good Pope John’s canonization ceremony to that of Blessed John Paul II just may help re-orient Catholic thinking about modern Catholic history.

For what Francis is suggesting, I think, is that John XXIII and John Paul II are the twin bookends of the Second Vatican Council — and thus should be canonized together.

Summoning an ecumenical council

On January 25, 1959, less than three months after his election, John XXIII surprised the Catholic world by announcing that he would summon the 21st ecumenical council in history.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

First Saturday at Durward’s Glen observed May 3

BARABOO — On December 10, 1925, Our Blessed Mother appeared to Lucia at Pentevedra, Spain.

She said, “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the first Saturday of five successive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.”

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Immaculate Heart of Mary hosts Hispanic Heritage Day on May 3

MONONA — Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School, 5913 Schofield St., is hosting the second annual Hispanic Festival on Saturday, May 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. The festival celebrates the heritage of the Hispanic community at IHM and in the Diocese of Madison.

Children at IHM School have participated in a Hispanic dance group all year. They will be performing the traditional dances they have learned and be dressed in authentic costumes. Entertainment will also be provided by other Hispanic dance groups from the area. A dinner of homemade traditional foods, such as tamales and salsa, will be provided along with drinks.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Donate four-packs for St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry garden

COTTAGE GROVE — Eager to get your garden going? A visit to a local garden center from Friday to Sunday, May 2 to 4, could give you that chance — and the opportunity to help local people in need.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is asking those visiting America’s Best Flowers Garden Center in rural Cottage Grove this weekend to purchase and donate vegetable-transplant four-packs destined to become fresh produce on the tables of Dane County families in need.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Two inspiring saints: They encourage us to spread Christ’s message in the world

Our two newest saints — St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II — have been inspirations in my life and the lives of many people in the last 50+ years. Their canonizations should help bring more attention to their lives and their influence on the Church and the world.

Influence of St. John XXIII

Pope John XXIII (now St. John XXIII) died in 1963, the year I entered Aquinas High School in La Crosse.  Despite his death, he had a profound impact on my high school years. That’s because during my daily religion classes we talked about what was happening at the Second Vatican Council called by Pope John XXIII. We also studied the documents of the council, hot off the presses.

The one I remember most is Gaudium et Spes (“Joy and Hope”), the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. This document touches on many of the challenges facing people in the modern world which we continue to face today: rapid change, an abundance of wealth and resources, discoveries in science and technology, advances in biology and psychology . . . the list goes on. This document is available in its entirety on the Vatican website (www.vatican.va) and is certainly worth reading today.

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