Month: November 2014

On
Kevin Wondrash

Reduction to a ‘singleton’ baby

In my capacity as theologian, teacher, and culture commentator, I’ve been reading articles on ethical matters for years and have grown relatively inured to the expression of even the most outrageous points of view.

But a few years ago, I came across a piece that was so shocking that I was compelled, as I read it, to put the magazine down several times and just shake my head in disbelief.

‘Reducing’ a pregnancy

It was an article in the New York Times Sunday Magazine called “The Two Minus One Pregnancy,” dealing with the phenomenon of “reducing” (love the Orwellian language) a pregnancy from two children to one.

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Kevin Wondrash

A thankful attitude helps us appreciate our blessings

Sometimes we appreciate more fully what we have when we see what others don’t have; yet, they are more thankful than us who have much more.

Matt Hasselbeck learned this the hard way. He was a Boston College sophomore who was going nowhere in football. Worse yet, he got in his coaches’ doghouse when he volunteered for the missions in Jamaica during spring break.

Gratitude amidst poverty

When Matt saw the poverty in the missions, he experienced cultural shock. At a prayer meeting, he heard someone enthusiastically thank God for his blessings. The person was George McVee, a leper who was so disfigured that Matt avoided him. He wondered what George had to be thankful for. He had no money, nose, feet, or hands; yet, he was thankful. His gratitude helped Matt to appreciate his cornucopia of blessings.

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Kevin Wondrash

Birth parent support group starting

MADISON — Catholic Charities’ Post Adoption Resource Center will be sponsoring a birth parent support group for parents who have voluntarily placed their child up for adoption. The adoption did not have to occur through Catholic Charities in order to attend.

The support group will take place on Mondays from Dec. 1 through Dec. 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 1810 S Park St. Suite 200 in Madison. The support group is free, safe, and confidential.

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Kevin Wondrash

Solar Energy Open House at CMC

MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) invites you to a “Solar Energy Open House” on Monday, Nov. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CMC, 1862 Beld St. This bilingual event is FREE and includes dinner.

Through interactive displays, energy activities, and presentations, this fun for all ages event will allow you to learn about the CMC solar panel project, find resources for installing solar energy at your home or business, and help you learn how to save money by conserving energy.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Robert B. Imhoff dies

Robert B. Imhoff
Robert B. Imhoff

PACKWAUKEE/WESTPORT — Robert B. Imhoff, age 89, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family the morning of November 18, 2014. He was born in Highland, Wis on May 13, 1925, to Ben and Lena (Munz) Imhoff.

On July 21, 1948 he married Edith Urban in Madison. He was the father of Marilyn Brown, Mary Imhoff, Audrey Imhoff, Janet Imhoff, David (Lisa) Imhoff, Annette (Jim) Vanover, and Terry and Linda Caulkins. Grandfather to Vito (Caitlin) DiPiazza, Catherine DiPiazza (Jeff Boatman), Russell DiPiazza (Megan McKay), Suzanna Imhoff, Alesha Imhoff, Jessica Yittri, and Carey Nelson-Yittri; Great-grandfather to Vito DiPiazza, Dominic DiPiazza, Isaac Imhoff, and Emily Nelson.

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Kevin Wondrash

Janesville teen finalist in cooking contest

JANESVILLE — An eighth grader at St. William School needs your help to win $30,000 for his school.

Elijah Thurner and his family are finalists in the Ben’s Beginners Cooking Contest, sponsored by Uncle Ben’s rice.

The contest was developed to encourage children to make healthier choices by getting them interested in cooking at an early age. The goal is also to empower parents to connect with their children one meal at a time and aims to make cooking an enjoyable activity that brings families together.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

40 Days for Life concludes life-saving vigil in Madison

Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison leads people in prayer at the 40 Days for Life closing vigil on Sunday, Nov. 2. For the eighth straight year, the vigil was held outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in Madison’s east side. Reportedly, two babies were saved during this year’s vigil in Madison with 528 lives saved across the country. (Catholic Herald photo/Joe Ptak)

MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino was on hand to celebrate efforts to respect life as prayer warriors came out to help conclude this year’s 40 Days for Life vigil.

40 Days for Life is an internationally-coordinated 40-day peaceful pro-life campaign to end abortion.

Locally, the Madison vigil — in its eighth straight year — ran from September 24 to November 2 and consisted of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach.

For 24 hours a day, volunteers prayed outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Madison’s east side for an end to abortion.

About 50 people gathered at that site for the closing celebration on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Bishop Morlino thanked the pro-life community in Madison for its “perseverance” in praying and working toward an end to abortion.

The bishop also spoke about how everyone must continue to bring the truth on marriage to life.

Special recognition

After the closing prayer vigil, some of the group went to St. Albert Church in Sun Prairie for food and fellowship.

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On
Chris Lee

St. Ambrose Academy Benefit Dinner

MADISON — It’s become a tradition. Each Advent season, St. Ambrose Academy in Madison welcomes apostolates, organizations, and friends from every corner of the Diocese of Madison for a fun, festive Benefit Dinner in support of Catholic education.

This year’s Benefit Dinner is Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall in Madison. The cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner itself begins at 7 p.m.

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Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Praying for, focusing on unity in the Church

Dear Friends,

This past Sunday we had the opportunity to celebrate a Feast Day which can often pass by unnoticed and under-appreciated by many Catholics.

November 9 is always the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, but for those Catholics who do not attend Mass on a daily basis, the opportunity to hear about this feast only comes about when November 9 is a Sunday.

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