CLINTON — Fr. Bill Connell, who was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1975, will be retiring because of health reasons from St. Stephen Parish, Clinton.
He will have a farewell Mass and reception on Sunday, Sept. 17. This will include the usual 9 a.m. Sunday Mass, followed by a light brunch and reception until 12 noon provided by his parish and large family. All are welcome.
LA VALLE — Holy Family Parish in La Valle will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the erection of its church with a special Mass on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 12 noon, with Bishop Robert C. Morlino presiding.
The church is located at 310 Bluff St. in La Valle. Fr. Sanctus K. Ibe is the pastor.
Holy Family Catholic Parish of La Valle originated in 1915 under the leadership of Father Kriel. The first services were held in a vacant shoe store.
MADISON — The Madison Catholic Woman’s Club will host its annual Benefit Dessert Party and Fashion Show by Talbot’s with the theme, “Autumn’s Palette,” on Monday, Sept. 11. This is the club’s major fundraiser with proceeds going to charitable projects.
All women of the diocese and their guests are invited to join the club for dessert, fashions, raffle, and prizes at St. Peter Catholic Church Social Center, 5001 Sherman Ave., Madison. Doors open at 11 a.m. for raffle and seating; dessert will be served at 11:30.
It doesn’t seem possible that it has been 20 years since the death of St. Mother Teresa.
She died on September 5, 1997. I remember that year well, because Princess Diana died on August 31, just a few days before Mother Teresa.
The two were connected by more than the proximity of their deaths. They had met and Princess Diana had said that Mother Teresa inspired her to help the poor.
For the seminarians of the Diocese of Madison, it was both a sign summer is ending and their studies are about to continue as well as a chance to thank those making their discernment to the priesthood possible.
PINE BLUFF — I’ve come to know Fr. Donald Calloway over the course of the past few years. His conversion story is amazing, and not unlike many of us priests today, in that our worldly lives were, by the grace of God, completely transformed into a life totally dedicated to God.
The similarities come, especially, as his mother never gave up on him; trusting in Our Lord and Our Lady that her son would turn his life around some day. Now, Fr. Donald Calloway and I serve on the Board of the Holy League together, with Cardinal Raymond Burke as our spiritual adviser.
Perhaps one of the hardest things Jesus told us as his followers was to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).
It’s pretty tough to tolerate people we don’t like, let alone love them. But that’s what Jesus told us to do, and he certainly practiced what he preached. He even forgave those who crucified him!
Our country — and indeed our whole world — seems to be filled with racism, hatred, and violence. We all wonder how we should respond.
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Even though I lived in France for three years while doing my doctoral studies, I never managed a visit to Mont Saint-Michel, the mysterious, mystical, and hauntingly photogenic abbey situated on a promontory just off the Normandy coast between Caen and St. Malo.
But last week, in connection with the filming for my Pivotal Players series, my team and I made the pilgrimage.
I first spied the mount from the backseat of the van, when we were still many miles away. It looked like a great ship, moored on the line of the horizon. As we got closer, the place became increasingly impressive, sometimes looming like a fortress, other times seeming to float on the sea.
When we entered the gates this morning to commence our work, we stepped out of our world and into the Middle Ages. Our climb to the top —arduous and steep — mimicked that of thousands of pilgrims and monks and spiritual seekers over the centuries.
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| Ask DMU |
Q .I keep hearing how a Catholic therapist makes a world of difference, but I’m not sure how a therapist with a Catholic-Christian worldview would operate differently from a secular therapist. Can you help me understand the difference?
A. Excellent question. Since the answer to this inquiry is very complex, I will only present three ways in which a Catholic therapist’s approach is different from their secular colleagues.
MADISON — So, what do you think most teenagers do during the summer? Sleep in? Head to the beach? Hang out with friends?
All of that may be true. I hope it is true — summer is summer, after all.
But summer is also a time to serve: to be the “light of Christ” in the world and to be “Sent Forth by the Spirit.”
Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison has students that serve all year long: as ushers, altar servers, cantors, leaders of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, etc.
