Month: September 2014

On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

St. Paul’s celebrates Masses for Facebook followers

MADISON — On Monday, July 21, the St. Paul University Catholic Center Facebook page was sitting with a strong following of 900 followers.

After the page’s administrator had a short conversation with Fr. Mark Miller — the recently arrived new director of student ministries at St. Paul’s — the following was posted on the page:

“If we reach 1,000 Facebook page ‘likes’ by the end of the week, Fr. Mark will say a Mass for just our Facebook followers:) Please click on our page and on the left hand side, click to invite your friends to like our page!”

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On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Is artificial insemination wrong? Even among married couples?

Editor’s note: This column contains some information that might not be suitable for younger readers.

Artificial insemination introduces sperm into a woman’s body by use of a thin tube (cannula) or other instrument to bring about a pregnancy.

Artificial insemination can be either homologous (using sperm from a woman’s husband) or heterologous (using sperm from a man she is not married to). Both forms of artificial insemination raise significant moral concerns.

Treating people as objects

Bringing about a pregnancy by introducing a cannula through the reproductive tract of a woman and injecting sperm into her body raises concerns about reducing her to a kind of conduit for the purposes of obtaining a child.

These actions fail to respect the most personal and intimate aspects of a woman’s relational femininity and her sexuality. She ends up being treated or treating herself as an “object” for the pursuit of ulterior ends.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

‘Fire On the Hill’ for teens at Holy Hill

HUBERTUS — On Saturday, Oct. 4, come out for the 14th annual “Fire On the Hill!” Find out why it’s the single largest youth event in the state.

Last year, 1,800 youth poured onto the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, popularly known as “Holy Hill.”

This beautiful fall event includes bonfire, speakers, sports, and sacraments.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Pregnancy Helpline promotes diaper collection

MADISON — Through the effort of Pregnancy Helpline of Madison and the National Diaper Bank Network, the week of September 8 to 14 has been proclaimed Diaper Need Awareness Week in Wisconsin as a result of the great amount of needed support.

People are encouraged to aid this critical issue by donating funds or diapers during Diaper Need Awareness Week. Diapers can be dropped off at three Madison Shopko stores September 8 to 14. Diapers can also be brought to the Lil Badger Consignment Sale in Monona September 11 to 13.

Donations can be made online at www.pregnancyhelpline.net

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Workshops help adults with chronic health conditions

JANESVILLE — Rock County Council on Aging will be offering a six-week LIVING WELL workshop series Tuesdays, Sept. 16 through Oct. 21 at the Rock County Council on Aging office, 3328 Hwy. 51 North, Janesville, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

LIVING WELL is a program for people with chronic diseases and their caregivers. Chronic diseases are ongoing health conditions and include diabetes, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Faculty lecture open to public

MADISON — “Not One Iota! Why We Say ‘Consubstantial’ in the Creed” is the topic of a St. Ambrose Faculty Lecture to be presented at the Cathedral Parish (St. Patrick Church) on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. by Dr. Constance Nielsen.

Nielsen has taught extensively on the ecumenical councils in Church history in her religion classes at St. Ambrose Academy in Madison, where she is the director of classical education. She received a doctorate in religious studies from Marquette University.

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Chris Lee

Resources for voters prepared

MADISON — The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), the public policy voice of Wisconsin’s bishops, is distributing a series of resources to help Catholics reflect on their duties as faithful citizens.

The series is designed for parish bulletins, but it can also be reproduced on a parish website or as a series of posters.

John Huebscher, executive director of the WCC, explained that the bishops are “modeling the Catholic duty to engage in public life in an informed, consistent, and respectful manner.”

 

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