As more than a dozen buses pulled into the parking lot on the grounds of the Tommy Bartlett Water Show on August 25, an annual tradition was about to begin again.
Day: September 7, 2017
Keeping the presence of God in busy times
Rest has never been something at which I’ve particularly excelled.
Somehow there is always laundry to be folded, children to be fed, dishes to be washed, and stories to be read.
A parent’s job is never done.
And yet, today, I saw just how important rest is.
Amid a busy schedule, somehow my seven-year-old daughter got a full, good night’s rest, uninterrupted by nightmares or early-rising siblings.
Farmers called to a unique vocation
DODGEVILLE — “Farmers are called to a unique vocation,” said Jim Ennis, executive director of Catholic Rural Life, the Catholic non-profit organization serving the rural Church in the United States for over 93 years.
Ennis discussed the role of farmers in an interview about a recent document called The Vocation of the Agricultural Leader: Integrating Faith with Agriculture and the Environment.
Worldly approaches to religion: karma or grace?
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Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Stephen Davis, retired professor of the philosophy of religion at Claremont University.
In preparation for the meeting, I read Dr. Davis’ book called Christian Philosophical Theology, which includes a chapter contrasting two basic approaches to religion throughout the world. The first — which can be found in much of the East — is a religion of karma, and the second — prominent in the Abrahamic religions of the West — is a religion of grace.
Religion of karma
The first approach has a lot to recommend it — which explains its great endurance across the centuries. A karmic approach says that, by a cosmic spiritual law, we are punished or rewarded according to our moral activities. If we do bad things, we will suffer, either in this life or a life to come. And if we do good things, we will be rewarded, again either here or in the hereafter.
Pregnancy Helpline to hold DiaperDash 5K Run/Walk
MADISON — Pregnancy Helpline is holding its third annual DiaperDash, a 5K Run/Walk, on Saturday, Sept. 23, to raise funds and awareness for diapers in Madison.
“One in three American families struggle with diaper need and it’s a reality in our community. We have mothers asking every week for help with diapers,” said Alissa Hirscher, Pregnancy Helpline executive director.
It’s back to school time in Beloit
BELOIT — It’s back to school time at Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Madison.
One of them is Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) School in Beloit, which began the 2017-2018 school year by celebrating Mass with the coming together of students, families, and staff. Students proudly debuted new school uniforms.
Students met their Mass buddies and greeted old friends. The Mass buddies will attend Mass together each week as well as celebrate special occasions, work on service projects, and support each other throughout the school year.
Merger expands youth ministry opportunities
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee-based ministries formerly known as WYRE Ministries and Arise Ministries have announced a new partnership moving forward as Arise Milwaukee.
This merging of ministries better equips the Arise Milwaukee community to serve the needs of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as well as pursuing new endeavors for youth throughout the state.
Day of Remembrance for aborted children
DANE — The National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9.
People are invited to join Vigil for Life for a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Church, 109 S. Military Rd. in Dane. After Mass, people will process out to the gravesite of the aborted baby who was named Malachai for a brief memorial.
Thoughts on Mass before and after Vatican II
To the editor:
While not yet Catholic, I attended many Latin Masses before Vatican II. The formal beauty and solemnity of the processions, the cross, the priest’s vestments — all inspired reverence.
I followed the spoken Latin, although not all of it was audible. Many parishioners not understanding Latin prayed the Rosary, following which they received Communion on the tongue, kneeling at a rail.
Support hurricane relief
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So I am letting this picture inspire us to pray and support relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
In the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Robert C. Morlino has asked parishes to take up a now mandatory collection. Proceeds will be sent via the diocese to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has announced an emergency collection to assist victims of Hurricane Harvey.