Year: 2016

On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Christian culture is collapsing, warns Dr. Ralph Martin

ralph martin
Dr. Ralph Martin gives a talk on “Mercy and Mission: Living as a Catholic in Challenging Times” on April 20 at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center in Madison — part of the semi-annual St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

MADISON — “Seventeen hundred years of Christian culture is collapsing before our eyes,” Dr. Ralph Martin warned in his talk, “Mercy and Mission: Living as a Catholic in Challenging Times.”

Dr. Martin was the guest speaker for the semi-annual St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center in Madison on April 20.

He is president of Renewal Ministries and an associate professor of theology and director of Graduate Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

He is the author of a number of books, the most recent of which are The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call; The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints; and ed? What Vatican II Actually Teaches Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization.

Living with challenges

“We’re living in something like a big apostasy, whether it’s the [Great] apostasy or not, I don’t know,” he added. He cited the decreasing numbers in Mass attendance, vocations to the priesthood and Religious Life, and Baptisms and other sacramental practices.

The “Great Apostasy” Dr. Martin referenced is one of the events St. Paul said has to happen before Christ comes again — a “a turning away of the faith on the part of those who once had faith.”

Another event is a time of unrestrained evil and lawlessness.

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George Weigel

The best nuncio we’ve had thus far

The announcement that Archbishop Christophe Pierre will succeed Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò as Apostolic Nuncio to the United States is an opportunity to pay tribute to a courageous churchman who has served Catholicism, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis in an exemplary way during his tenure in Washington.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with each of the nuncios in Washington since full diplomatic relations were established between this country and the Holy See under President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II.

And at the risk of embarrassing him, I have to say that I consider Archbishop Viganò to have been the best of them all thus far.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Madison Diocesan Choir presents Spring Concert

MADISON — “Built on a Rock” is the theme of the Madison Diocesan Choir’s Spring Concert to be presented on Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.

Choir Director Dr. Patrick Gorman said the theme points to Christ as our rock and the cornerstone of our faith as we look forward to our heavenly home. “We’ve taken the theme, ‘Built on a Rock,’ and selected Scripture readings and songs based on the theme,” he said.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Students in Ashton learn about mercy and prayer

ASHTON — “I want to talk to you today about something very special that we can pray about,” said Grace Mazza Urbanski, director of children’s ministry for the Apostleship of Prayer, to students at St. Peter School in Ashton.

That “very special thing” was mercy.

“We’re going to pretend we are mercy walking through the world,” Urbanski said.

The Apostleship of Prayer, based in Milwaukee, encourages Christians to make a daily offering of themselves to the Lord for the coming of God’s Kingdom and for the Holy Father’s monthly intentions.

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Jean Mueller

Alleviating concerns of adult children

I know most of the time children are writing in to you to ask questions about their aging parent. Well, this is the opposite.

I am a 79-year-old mother who is being “smothered” by my children. All of a sudden they think I can’t do anything on my own. They think I should stop driving and that I should sell my house; the list goes on and on.

My husband passed away several years ago and I have been just fine on my own. I feel I am in good health and really just want them to stop worrying about me. Do you have any suggestions? (From a mother in Portage)

You are obviously a very good parent and are so blessed to have such caring, concerned children. I know several others who would love to have this kind of attention from their children.

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Kevin Wondrash

Gala for the Glen set for June 18

BARABOO — Durward’s Glen Retreat and Educational Center will hold its 2016 Gala for the Glen on Saturday, June 18, at St. Joseph School in Baraboo. Dinner tickets are $50 each.

The Gala for the Glen is one of the major fundraisers for Durward’s Glen. The Friends Group that purchased the property in 2011 to preserve these 37+ acres of natural and historic beauty, has been working steadily to make improvements to the grounds and expand the programs offered for Catholic faith development and renewal, cultural arts, and environmental stewardship.

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Kevin Wondrash

Our Lady Queen of Peace school is holding Fun Run/Walk fundraiser

MADISON — Our Lady Queen of Peace School is holding its second Annual Fun Run/Walk fundraiser to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation, WUNDERGLO Foundation, and the school.

All are invited to come to the school parking lot at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, to help cheer on students as they run or walk as many laps as they can in one hour around the Queen of Peace neighborhood to raise money for charities and the school.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

No one is beyond conversion

These days it seems as if people fall into opposing camps on many issues. Abortion is certainly one of the most divisive issues in our society.

But people can change their minds on issues, even polarizing ones like abortion.

Someone who exemplifies the possibility of change is Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood Clinic director. Johnson — whom I’ve heard speak — is now a powerful advocate for the pro-life side of the spectrum.

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