Day: September 28, 2017

On
Kevin Wondrash

Jefferson project provides more accessibility to church, school

st john jefferson
A resident from St. Coletta of Wisconsin in Jefferson is helped into St. John the Baptist Church in Jefferson before a recent Mass. People in wheelchairs and with other disabilities can now enter the church and school building on the new ramp pictured above. (Contributed photo)

JEFFERSON — “It’s like heaven now taking my mother to church.”

A bold statement, but fully expressive of the joy some parishioners are feeling in Jefferson.

The above quote was feedback heard at St. John the Baptist Church, part of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

It came near the close of a yearlong project to make the church more accessible to people with disabilities or other physical challenges to walk or enter buildings.

Now, there is added accessibility to the church and school.

Addressing a need

Steve Donley, member of the parish Building and Grounds Committee, said there had been growing instances of “people having trouble getting into church.”

These included people tripping on concrete walkways and wheelchairs not getting in easily.

More than a year ago, the committee began to look into the costs and practicalities of a project to increase accessibility.

The attitude was, “We have to get this fixed, and we have to make this better for people to get in,” said Harold Dehnert, also from the committee whose members put in many hours, sometimes 10 to 12 a day, to make the project happen, and keeping the project costs low.

Another concern was increasing the accessibility to the school bathrooms, the only ones on the grounds, and only accessible via a small staircase between the church and school.

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On
Chris Lee

St. Vincent de Paul issues ‘Invitation to Serve’ in parishes

MADISON — The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization in which members join together in friendship to grow spiritually by providing person-to-person services to neighbors in need.

Across the Diocese of Madison, 35 parishes host St. Vincent de Paul member groups, known as “conferences.” In Dane County alone, 18 St. Vincent de Paul conferences serve local people in need through home visits and other forms of direct, personal service — without regard to the religious affiliation or belief of those assisted.

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On
Chris Lee

Catholic Library Association conference

WISCONSIN DELLS — Librarians from Catholic schools, parishes, and religious education programs will be meeting at the Wisconsin Chapter of Catholic Library Association (WCLA) 2017 Fall Conference on Friday, Oct. 13, at St. Cecilia Parish Center (lower level), 603 Oak St., Wisconsin Dells.

Participants can enjoy a continental breakfast and networking from 9 a.m. until the conference begins with a welcome and prayer at 9:30 a.m.

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On
Fr. Steve Grunow

Why Our Lady of Sorrows?

Word on Fire
Fr. Steve Grunow

The poet Wendell Berry reflects that “for parents, the only way is hard. We who give life, give pain. There is no help. Yet we who give pain give love; by pain we learn the extremity of love . . . ”

In other words, it may be different in another world, but in this world, all love requires a sacrifice, and with that sacrifice there is inevitable pain. To reject sacrifice as the condition for the possibility of love, is to live an essentially loveless existence.

Berry continues his reflection with this insight: I read of Christ crucified, the only begotten Son sacrificed to flesh and time and all our woe. He died and rose, but who does not tremble for his pain and loneliness, and the darkness of the sixth hour? Unless we grieve like Mary at his grave, giving him up as lost, no Easter morning comes . . .

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On
Bill Dagnon

Health care bill was developed behind closed doors

To the editor:

Most people know a family member, friend, or neighbor who has had a traumatic health problem. In our family, it was when our two-year-old son ran into the highway as a car came over the hill. Comprehensive health insurance freed us from worrying about costs and let us concentrate on our son’s needs.

Anyone who experiences a similar disaster can imagine what other people go through in such a crisis. Empathizing with fellow Americans is natural in a country founded on the belief that we are all created equal. Equality in feeling suffering leads to equality in relieving and preventing suffering.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Health bill must be amended to protect poor

Here we go again. The U.S. Senate may be voting on another health care bill this week designed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

The Senate hasn’t given much opportunity for the public to weigh in on the Graham-Cassidy proposal. There was only one public hearing scheduled on the measure, to my knowledge.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have apparently studied the proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

‘Our Faith Stories’ resumes at St. Ann

STOUGHTON — “Our Faith Stories” is beginning again at St. Ann Parish.

Each month, people enjoy hearing about the faith journey of another, which gives inspiration and hope on their own journeys.

The first date is Sunday, Oct. 1. Rollie Budnar (father of St. Ann Pastor Fr. Randy Budnar) and Rita Ihm will be speaking. Rita’s talk will focus on listening, while Rollie’s theme is “Growing in faith in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit through the Church.”

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Women in Columbia North Vicariate meet

BERLIN — The Council of Catholic Women Columbia North Vicariate will hold its fall meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at All Saints Parish in Berlin. Registration begins at 3 p.m., followed by a business meeting, Mass at 5, and dinner at 6.

The 7 p.m. program will feature Janie Janis, renowned speaker and author, who will charm the audience with her Irish wit and move them with her deep compassion for people and real life struggles.

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