To the editor:
I am in agreement with Bishop Robert Barron in part two of “Christian apologists, wake up!” In all, that is, but one point. I do not believe the Enlightenment philosophers, Voltaire, Diderot, and Spinoza, set out to undermine religion.
Each did have an encounter with the Catholic Church. Diderot had considered becoming a priest, Voltaire had been educated by the Jesuits (1704-1711).
SINSINAWA — Sr. […]
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| Veronica Arntz |
In this four-part series discussing Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (AL), I hope to establish a clear understanding of marriage and family in the first and second parts.
In the third and fourth parts, I will clarify some confusion over the nature of the divorced and remarried and the reception of Communion, looking at the document itself.
Our next step shall be to link what we previously said about marriage to what the Church says about family.
MADISON — The […]
The plans originally called for an outdoor ceremony — a grand opening with guest speakers, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremonially opening the next phase in the All Saints Neighborhood in Madison.
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Recently I emailed questions to the auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Bishop William Shomali, asking him to share his first-hand insights regarding the many injustices and violent environment in the land of the Prince of Peace. He sent back a recorded audio response upon which this column is based.
Bishop Shomali said one of the most pressing problems facing Palestinians is Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement. For example, he said Palestinians living in Bethlehem or Ramallah need to obtain a permit to go just six miles to Jerusalem. And permits are only given during principle feasts. He said the ongoing illegal building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in the Occupied Territories is an extremely serious roadblock to a peaceful solution.
MADISON — The Parish Mobile Food Pantry program operated by Catholic Charities Madison serves rural communities who do not have access to the larger pantries in Madison.
Parishioners from participating Catholic parishes volunteer to unload and distribute food delivered to the parish by a Second Harvest foodbank truck. Parish volunteers organize each monthly pantry and assist their neighbors who depend on the pantry for food or to help offset other expenses (such as medical and utility bills).
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For the past week, I have been sequestered at the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum in Rome, an institution about five miles west of St. Peter’s Basilica.
I’m here for the Formation for New Bishops’ program, more colloquially known as “Baby Bishop School.” My colleagues are about 150 other bishops from around the world who have been appointed in the last 12 months.
The accommodations are fairly spartan: my room reminds me of my quarters in the college seminary, the bed is about two and a half feet wide, and there is no air conditioning. The meals, however, are tasty, and the conversations even tastier.
MADISON — As a new school year got underway, incoming freshmen at Edgewood High School in Madison got a chance to get started living the Sinsinawa Dominican values of Truth, Compassion, Justice, Partnership, and Community.
On September 14, the school held its first Service Fair in the school’s Wilke Gymnasium.
Representatives from several local organizations were on hand to meet with students interested in getting involved and helping others.
Edgewood High School students are required to complete 100 hours of service prior to graduation.
To the editor:
There were many good insights in the article by Bishop Robert Barron (on a Pew Study about why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity) which we can easily recognize.
What is often left out for consideration in discussion of this issue is that in the modern faith formation process, at least in my limited experience of 50 years, there is a lack of engagement of many people, including myself, to a life devoted to dynamic personal devotional intercession and communal intercession happening outside the confines of a very structured and impersonal speedy approach by some to the celebration of the Mass and community involvement within the parish outside of Mass.
