FOOTVILLE — St. Augustine Parish in Footville and St. Paul Parish in Evansville joined efforts to promote Pope Francis’ “Year of Mercy.”
Throughout the year, both parishes have undertaken various charitable works and promoted evangelization, educational, and spiritual outreaches to inspire everyone to live their faith and to act on the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Just a few weeks ago, at a ceremony for the lighting of the national Christmas tree, President Obama remarked on the meaning of the season. Here are some of the things he said:
“Over these next few weeks, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, as we retell the story of weary travelers, a star, shepherds, Magi, I hope that we also focus ourselves on the message that this child brought to this Earth some 2,000 years ago — a message that says we have to be our brother’s keepers, our sister’s keepers; that we have to reach out to each other, to forgive each other.
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| This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop. |
Dear Friends,
The Book of Wisdom, Chapter 18, verse 14 says, “For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, Your all powerful word leapt from heaven, from the royal throne.”
It is a beautiful prophecy of the night of our Lord’s Birth. That’s why it’s the introit from the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas and it is a biblical reference, along with others, which give context to the beautiful Christmas hymn, “Silent Night.” Silence is part of the essential clothing, if you will, of Christmas.
Robert Cardinal Sarah, the Prefect for Divine Worship, has written a beautiful new book about the power of silence. Unfortunately, it is only available in French for now.
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| Mark Endres |
Several years ago, I read about a coffee shop in Minnesota called St. James Coffee — a wonderful place for people to drink, eat, pray, and talk freely about their faith.
I thought, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a ‘Divine Mercy’ coffee shop in my local town of Madison, Wis.?” I started to think about what it would take.
COLUMBUS — St. Jerome School invites students in 4K to eighth grades to participate in a buddy program.
This program has become one of the keys to students’ success.
An older student is partnered with a younger student for the entire school year.
As I put out the Nativity scene in our home this year, I thought about the meaning of this familiar Christmas decoration.
It is actually more than a decoration, but instead is an important reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
In looking into the history of Nativity scenes, I was reminded that the first Nativity scene supposedly appeared about 800 years ago, more than 1,200 years after the birth of Christ.
SINSINAWA — Sr. […]
Msgr. James Bartylla, […]
I bundled up on a very cold and windy evening last Tuesday night and met some new friends in the parking lot of First Methodist Church in downtown Madison.
Dennis, Daniel, and Sam were kind enough to invite me to help in their efforts to serve the homeless. This is what they do every Tuesday night as part of “Friends of the State St. Family.”
More than 500 guests recently got to enjoy a yearly seasonal tradition.
December 3 marked the annual Advent/Christmas Party put on by the Diocese of Madison Apostolate to the Handicapped (soon to be known as the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities) at Monroe High School in Monroe.
