Year: 2017

On
Kevin Wondrash

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.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

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.

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On
Tom Roberts

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.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

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.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Labor Day invites us to reflect on our work

Labor Day has become a day of parades, picnics, and political speeches. Many see this day as a celebration of summer’s end, the beginning of school, and one more chance to relax before fall’s busyness. Labor Day did not begin with this intention.

On September 5, 1882, the first Labor Day celebration and parade in the United States were held in New York City. Thousands of workers marched in a parade up Broadway carrying banners that read: “EIGHT HOURS FOR WORK, EIGHT HOURS FOR REST, EIGHT HOURS FOR RECREATION.” It became a federal holiday in 1894.

Reflecting on dignity of work

In 1891, in his ground-breaking encyclical Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII outlined the rights of workers to a fair wage, safe working conditions, and formation of labor unions, while affirming the rights of property and free enterprise.

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On
Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service

Catholic groups helping after Harvey

texas flooding
A Texas National Guard soldier carries a woman during rescue operations in flooded areas around Houston, Texas. (CNS photo/courtesy Texas Military Department)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNS) — Catholic dioceses and charities are quickly organizing to help in the aftermath of a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall with heavy rains and winds of 130 miles per hour late August 25 into the Rockport, Texas, area, northeast of Corpus Christi.

The hurricane, named Harvey, is said to be the strongest one to hit the United States in more than a decade and perhaps the strongest one to make landfall in Texas.

Mobilizing to help
Bishop Robert C. Morlino has authorized a mandatory special collection at the parish level for flood victims in Texas. Here is the link for more information: www.madisondiocese.org/donate

Catholic Charities USA, as well as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services, announced early on August 26 that they’re mobilizing to help an as-yet-unknown number of persons affected by the hurricane. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops has a list of charities helping with the disaster listed on its website at https://tx catholic.org/harvey

Authorities reported at least five casualties as of August 27, but because of safety issues, not many emergency teams have been yet able to respond to the aftermath and much of the damage is unknown. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared the state a disaster area, which will allow federal money to help in reconstruction. Catholic groups said they want to help with the immediate needs of the communities affected.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

Charlottesville and America’s ‘original sin’

I vividly remember my first visit to Charlottesville, Va. It was about 20 years ago, and I was on vacation with a good friend, who shared with me a passion for American history and for Thomas Jefferson in particular.

We had toured a number of Civil War battlefields in Maryland and Virginia and then had made our way to Jefferson’s University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Finally, we ventured outside the city to the little hilltop home that the great founder had designed and built for himself, Monticello.

It was a glorious summer day, and the elegant manse shone in all of its Palladian splendor. We took in its classical lines, its distinctive red and white coloration, the understated beauty of its dome, its overall symmetry, balance, and harmony.

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