Day: October 13, 2016

On
Michelle Nilsson, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

Answering the call to the New Evangelization

ralph poyo
Deacon Ralph Poyo

MADISON — Beginning on November 1, the Diocese of Madison will be a hosting Deacon Ralph Poyo of New Evangelization Ministries for several events at local parishes.

Deacon Poyo will be inspiring and guiding us in our own journey of conversion but also helping us to assist others to encounter Jesus and our Catholic faith with new ardor, new methods and expression.

Our history of evangelization
and the New Evangelization

It may be unclear whether we as Catholics truly understand the meaning of the term evangelization. But it is certain that we all agree that the earliest followers of Christ were called to go out to spread the Good News of Jesus. That was in fact the first call to evangelize the world. Jesus taught his followers to be evangelizers.

But we do not live in biblical times and our recent Holy Fathers have recognized a need to reteach and engage the world with a re-proposing of the Gospel Message.

Shortly after Vatican II, Blessed Paul VI promulgated a post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation entitled, Evangelization in the Modern World. This document gave the Church the foundation and principles of evangelization that informs our current understanding.

St. John Paul II continued this work and coined the phrase “The New Evangelization.” He began to define what that phrase means and a vision for this New Evangelization.

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On
Julianne Nornberg

Clinging to our Father with childlike abandon

Everyday Faith column by Julianne Nornberg

My six-year-old daughter clutched her daddy’s hand as they walked side by side through the woods one day.

Suddenly, a black and yellow snake slithered across their path, startling my daughter. She gasped in fear and squeezed her daddy’s hand.

Her daddy, my husband, patted her hand gently and said, “Don’t worry. Garter snakes won’t bite you. They’re just looking for crickets to eat.”

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On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Helping homeless families in Grant County

LANCASTER — During the 2015-2016 school year, almost 150 students were identified as experiencing homelessness in Grant County. This does not take into account children who are not in school, so the numbers could be higher.

A national organization that helps families who experience homelessness recently arrived in Grant County in an attempt to “Shelter the Homeless.”

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

The communion of saints ‘online’

Recently, while working at my computer in Santa Barbara, I encountered a confounding problem and decided to call Brandon Vogt, who is not only the excellent content director at Word on Fire, but also a trained engineer and tech whiz.

After trying in vain to talk me through the problem, Brandon said, “Look, let me just take over your screen.” And with that, he pressed some buttons in Atlanta, where he was attending a conference, and then commenced to move my cursor around the screen, click on all the right settings, and resolve the difficulty.

The Internet and the saints

Though I had seen him do this before, I was, once again, impressed by this long-distance maneuver. Displaying my utter lack of scientific expertise, I asked, “Now Brandon, is this being done through the phone lines or is outer space involved?”

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Presentation and exposition of sacred relics

MT. HOREB — On Friday, Oct. 21, Fr. Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross will present “Treasures of the Church: an Exposition of Sacred Relics” at St. Michael the Archangel Parish (St. Ignatius Church), 109 S. 6th St.

The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with a presentation in the church by Father Martins. After the presentation, the relics will be available for veneration from 8 p.m. until close.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Vicariate Councils of Catholic Women focus on mercy

Mercy will be the focus at the fall meetings of the West Dane, Sauk, and Columbia North Vicariate Councils of Catholic Women (CCW).

Affiliated with the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW), the regional councils provide an opportunity for prayer, service, and fellowship. MDCCW Co-Presidents Sue Koch and Ellen Martin will participate in the meetings. All women are invited to attend.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Diocese of Madison welcomes John Joy as new marriage and family coordinator

MADISON — John Joy recently started in the position of marriage and family coordinator in the Diocese of Madison’s Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Joy comes to Madison from northwestern Indiana where he had been teaching ethics at a high school.

Prior to that, he studied graduate level theology at the International Theological Institute in Austria for five years.

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