Year: 2015

On
Fr. Robert Barron

Startling news of the resurrection

Just a few weeks before the most significant Christian holy day of the year, British Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking on an evangelical radio program, articulated what, for him, is the meaning of Easter.

He explained that the central message of Easter is “kindness, compassion, hard work, and responsibility.” I’m for all of those virtues, but so, I would venture to guess, is any decent person from any background, religious or non-religious. Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, fair-minded agnostics, and atheists would all subscribe to that rather abstract and harmless description of the significance of Easter.

In a sense, we shouldn’t blame the prime minister for his characterization, for the Christian Churches in general, but especially the Anglican Church, have not distinguished themselves for the crispness of their doctrinal formulations.

But if that’s all Easter is about, not to put too fine a point on it, the jig is up.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Talk on Catholic response to global warming

MADISON — Pope Francis’ universal prayer intention for the month of April this year is “That people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God.”

This summer the pope is expected to issue an encyclical on ecology.

In synch with the pope’s prayer intention and in anticipation of his encyclical, Steve Coleman, a parishioner of St. Dennis Parish in Madison and a retired mechanical engineer, will present “A Catholic Response to Global Warming” on Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 602 Everglade Dr.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Jefferson students experience Passover Seder meal

JEFFERSON — Classes at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson often participate in “buddy” activities with one another.

One such example happened on Thursday, March 26, one week before Holy Thursday.

This day commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion the next day. Since Jesus and His followers were Jewish, this last meal they shared was the Passover Seder.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Let us make every day an Earth Day

On clear mornings from my apartment window which faces Platteville’s Mound, I enjoy watching the morning sun, like a huge orange-red host, rise majestically from earth’s chalice, inspiring me to offer a new day to God.

Beautiful sunrises deepen my respect for God’s gift of creation. Celebrating Earth Day on April 22 reminds me of my responsibility to care for this gift.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Philharmonic Chorus of Madison concerts

MADISON — The Philharmonic Chorus of Madison will perform free concerts on Wednesday, April 29, 7 p.m., at Oakwood West; Friday, May 1, 7:30 p.m., at Monona United Methodist Church; and Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m., at Bethany United Methodist Church.

The chorus, under the direction of Patrick Gorman, will perform Aaron Copland’s In the Beginning with soloist Shannon O’Brien-Kaszuba.

Considered the Dean of American Music, Copland composed the choral work in 1947, setting 38 verses from the Book of Genesis.

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On
Fr. Robert Barron

Why our democracy trusts in God

I was pleased that the United States Supreme Court dismissed a suit brought by Michael Newdow, a Sacramento man who wanted to remove the phrase “In God We Trust” from the nation’s coins and paper currency, as well as from the fronts of our public buildings.

The argument that the gentleman brought forward was that this custom somehow violates the First Amendment guarantee that the government shall make no law either establishing an official religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion in the United States.

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