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| Lindsay Becher |
“God thirsts that we may thirst for him.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2560
I thirst.
These words spoken from Jesus on the cross were also imprinted on the heart of St. Teresa of Kolkata (Mother Teresa) on September 10, 1946, and every day forward.
These words, and what Jesus revealed to her about them on a train ride that “Inspiration Day,” changed her life. Through the Church’s newest saint, they have also changed mine.
MADISON — Citing a three-fold inspiration, Bishop Robert C. Morlino announced on Wednesday, Sept. 7, his plan to direct $500,000 in recent charitable bequests to provide the initial money for the establishment of a fund for works of mercy throughout the Diocese of Madison.
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First in a two-part series on a Pew Study about why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity.
After perusing the latest Pew Study on why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity, I confess that I just sighed in exasperation. I don’t doubt for a moment the sincerity of those who responded to the survey, but the reasons they offer for abandoning Christianity are just so uncompelling.
That is to say, any theologian, apologist, or evangelist worth his salt should be able easily to answer them. And this led me (hence the sigh) to the conclusion that “we have met the enemy and it is us.”
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Q I am an “older woman” who has worked hard, raised a family, and valued my education. I feel I have lived a good life.
My issue is that when I am out tending to my own business, some individuals will call me “honey,” “dear,” or “sweetie.”
They may hold a door open for me, they may pick up something that I have dropped, or perhaps offer some other gesture they consider to be helpful.
It is not that I don’t appreciate kindness as I think they are trying to be helpful, but I find this somewhat demeaning. They don’t know my capabilities or how I prefer to be addressed.
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October 1 is International Day of Older Persons as declared by the United Nations.
It is appropriate to celebrate this day during the fall of the year in order to focus upon the elderly’s autumn blessings and needs. An elderly Italian couple reminded me of this recently.
On August 9, 2016, in Rome, Italy, four policemen visited the home of Michele, a 94-year-old man and Jole, his 89-year-old wife.
After 70 years of marriage, they still loved each other, but they were suffering from the cross of loneliness, partially because their neighbors were vacationing and also because of upsetting TV reports about terrorists’ attacks and abused children.
When we think of the work of St. Teresa (or Mother Teresa as we’ll always know her), we remember her helping the poor, sick, and homeless people in the slums of Calcutta.
But do we realize that there are poor and homeless people right in our own communities? It was shocking for me to read about poverty in our own state in a report issued by the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
BLOOMINGTON — St. Mary Parish of Bloomington will host its 11th biennial Quiltfest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the St. Mary School gym and cafeteria.
Area quilt enthusiasts are invited to enter their work or family heirloom quilts for display. Show attendees can vote for their favorite quilts with a Viewer’s Choice ballot.
PINE BLUFF — The 2016-17 Ladies of Divine Mercy events will kick off on Friday, Sept. 16, with an evening of reflection led by Fr. Richard Heilman, founder of the Knights of Divine Mercy and Ladies of Divine Mercy.
The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary of Pine Bluff Church, 3673 CR P, Cross Plains, with sung vespers. Father Heilman will speak at 6:45 p.m., followed by Exposition and Adoration. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction will close the evening, followed by a social in the narthex. Confession will be available the entire evening.
CALAMINE — St. Michael Parish in Calamine was established in November of 1916.
St. Michael Parish merged with four other parishes on July 12, 2015, to become Our Lady of Fatima Parish.
The long-standing members of St. Michael’s decided a 100-year celebration was in order to commemorate the history of St. Michael Church.
MADISON — On Saturday, Sept. 24, Pregnancy Helpline, Inc. of Madison will host the second annual DiaperDash Run/Walk at McKee Farms Park.
The DiaperDash will kick off Diaper Need Awareness Week to encourage community-wide diaper drives and draw attention to the struggles that low-income families experience to keep their children in clean diapers.
Diaper Need Awareness Week will run September 26 through October 2.
