Month: May 2015

On
Abbot Marcel Rooney

Adaptation and renewal of Religious Life: A return to the sources of Christian life

Reflections on Religious Life column by Abbot Marcel RooneyEditor’s note: During this Year of Consecrated Life, this is the fourth in a series based on the Second Vatican Council’s document, Perfectae Caritatis (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life) written by Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB, former abbot primate of the Benedictine order who now resides in Madison.

When the Second Vatican Council called for the renewal of Religious Life, it was not speaking primarily about the externals which characterized that life, such as the Religious habit to be worn, the living arrangements of communities and individuals, etc.

Rather, from the outset, the council was concerned about the deeply interior renewal of this special sign of the Church’s life.

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On
George Weigel

John Paul II and “America”

In the years preceding the Great Jubilee of 2000, John Paul II held a series of continental synods to help the Church in different locales reflect on its distinctive situation at the end of the second millennium and to plan for a future of evangelical vigor in the third.

These special assemblies were easily named in the case of the Synods for Africa, Asia, and Europe. But when it came to the synod for the western hemisphere, John Paul threw a linguistic curve ball that made an important point.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Blessing of seeds and soil to be held

CROSS PLAINS — All gardeners and farmers (and all who appreciate good eating) are invited to a “Blessing of Seeds and Soil” Prayer Service to be held at St. Francis Xavier Church, 2947 Thinnes St., at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 17.

Fr. Bernard Rott, diocesan rural life director, will offer a reflection followed by the Litany of St. Isidore the Farmer. The service will conclude with a blessing of seeds, of the land we steward as growers, and of the animals of farms and fields.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Gala for the Glen features The Kells

BARABOO — The third annual Gala for the Glen, with Irish food, music, and fellowship, will be held at St. Joseph Catholic School gym, 300 Second St., on Saturday, May 30, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $50 and are available at Durward’s Glen or at the St. Joseph Parish office.

Following a dinner of shepherd‘s pie and Gaelic chicken catered by Claddagh Irish Pub from Middleton, The Kells, an international Irish band, will entertain with traditional Irish music.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Keep Serra statue in U.S. Capitol

Just when Pope Francis plans to canonize Blessed Junipero Serra on September 23 during his visit to the United States this year, the California Senate voted April 12 to replace Serra’s statue in the U.S. Capitol with a statue of the astronaut Sally Ride.

The vote must still be approved by the California Assembly and by Governor Jerry Brown.

Statue in Capitol since 1934

Each state can place two statues of its important citizens in the U.S. Capitol. The statue of Serra has been in the Capitol since 1934. The other California statue is of former President Ronald Reagan.

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On
Chris Lee

Diocese encourages support for earthquake relief

MADISON — Following upon Pope Francis’ call for assistance for survivors of the massive earthquakes in Nepal and India, Bishop Robert C. Morlino has encouraged people in the Diocese of Madison to provide support for earthquake relief.

It is left to the discretion of pastors as to whether a special collection is held in parishes for relief efforts. If a collection is held, parishes are asked to send contributions to the diocesan Office of Finance, which will forward funds to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

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