Month: September 2014

On
Jean Mueller

Living independently involves many aspects

Q My dad is in his early 90s and fortunately has enjoyed really good health.

He lives alone since my mother died and is doing a great job of caring for himself.

I visit twice a week and have lunch with him and check up on things, but he is really a good role model for maintaining independence.

As his only child, I want to make sure I am not missing anything related to his health and well-being.

Are there things that need to be in place to assure he can stay in his home?

I guess what I am asking is what is out there for older individuals to help them stay safe?

(From a daughter in Columbus)

A You bring up a great point, and fortunately, there is a great deal of information and support in this area.

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On
Audrey Mettel Fixmer

Continuing education in our senior years

“Guess who is using a calculator these days?” said my husband Bob, as he set down his suitcase just inside the front door. “My mother!”

No! Not the woman who stubbornly maintained that not while she had the brains God gave her . . .

This was back in the late 60s or early 70s when Bob was traveling on business trips that rarely took him in the vicinity of his parents’ Illinois home, and now he recounted the happy visit when he was able to give them one of the calculators his company issued and teach them how to use it.

“I wish you could have seen how delighted they were with their new ‘toy’ after I taught them how to use it.”

Pleasant reminder

I was reminded of that incident recently when I visited my son Tom and his wife in Colorado.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Sacred Hearts School begins iPad initiative

SUN PRAIRIE — Seventh and eighth grade students at Sacred Hearts School returned this year a little more enthusiastic than usual.

Two years of research and planning by Principal Kim Frederick and the IT and junior high staff culminated in the students starting off their year with individual iPads.

Loaded with more than 70 apps that have been carefully chosen by their teachers to support the curriculum and enhance the learning atmosphere, the new iPad Airs also enable students to communicate with their teachers through iCal, iLife, and iTunes U.

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On
Fr. Robert Barron

The Gospel according to The Hobbit

Like Star Wars, The Divine Comedy, and Moby Dick, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is the story of a hero’s journey. This helps to explain, of course, why, like those other narratives, it has proved so perennially compelling.

The hero’s tale follows a classical pattern: a person is wrenched out of complacency and self-absorption and called to a great adventure, during which he (or she), through struggle, comes to maturity and vision.

Summoned to adventure

The Hobbit begins, humbly enough, with this line: “in a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Tolkien is quick to clarify that this is not a nasty or unkempt hole, but rather a cozy place, filled with fine furniture, doilies, and a well-stocked kitchen. This is the homey space from which Bilbo Baggins (the hobbit) will be summoned to adventure.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Annual priets’ assembly offers special grace

A special grace of my priesthood is the privilege of participating in the annual Diocesan Presbyteral Assembly held at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells from September 21 to 24.

The Presbyteral Assembly grew out of the landmark Madison Diocese Emmaus retreat in 1980, which was intended to bolster the spiritual lives of us priests. It did.

Since I was in high school work at Beloit Catholic High, I rarely was able to attend diocesan functions, but I was free during summers. During summer school, I learned that this was also true of priests who taught high school in other dioceses. I was happy that Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell asked all active priests to attend.

Emmaus experience

Msgr. Frank Bognanno of the Diocese of Des Moines was chosen to lead the Emmaus retreat. The bishop of Des Moines was Bishop Bullock, who later became our bishop. Father Frank returned to Madison for Bishop Bullock’s anniversary celebration. He also led an inspiring priests’ retreat in 2002.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Public invited to pray for peace at Sinsinawa Mound

SINSINAWA — The public is invited to join the Sinsinawa Mound community in prayer for peace in our world and in our hearts at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

The service is being held in conjunction with the International Day of Peace established by a United Nations resolution in 1981. This year’s International Day of Peace theme recognizes the 30th United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace.

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On
Jane Lepeska Grinde, For the Catholic Herald

Meetings offer women learning and service opportunities

MADISON — Women of the Diocese of Madison are invited to fall vicariate meetings scheduled at parishes in Spring Green, Jefferson, Berlin, Bloomington, and Pine Bluff.

Rosa Roper, president of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW), encourages women to take advantage of these meetings to connect with other Catholic women in their area.

The half-day meetings offer prayer, socializing, and service and fit into her theme as president: “Live, Learn, Love, and Share Our Catholic Faith.”

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On
Chris Lee

Sister Dorothy Doolan, OP, dies

SINSINAWA — Sr. Dorothy Doolan, OP, died Sept. 4, 2014, at St. Dominic Villa. Her religious name was Sister Damian. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Sept. 12, 2014, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.

Sister Dorothy made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 6, 1940, and her final profession Aug. 6, 1943. She taught for 53 years and served as pastoral minister for 13 years. Sister Dorothy served in Iowa, Montana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

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