Year: 2017

On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Take a good look at proposed tax bill

Although the president and some members of Congress would like to get a new tax bill passed soon, I think it would be wise for citizens to take a good look at this bill before it is fast-tracked.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, as it is called, is touted as saving taxpayers money and helping the country produce more jobs. However, there are concerns about whether both of those goals will be met in this bill.

Bishops comment on bill

In a November 9 letter to U.S. House of Representatives members, three bishops who are chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called the House version of the bill “unacceptable” as written because it “contains many fundamental structural flaws that must be corrected,” reported a Catholic News Service article.

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Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Diocese of Madison

Frassati Fest weekend for teens to be held February 2-4

WISCONSIN DELLS — High school youth in the Diocese of Madison are invited to attend Frassati Fest February 2-4, 2018, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Frassati Fest is the coolest weekend around for Catholic high school students in the Diocese of Madison. Our planning team has been hard at work planning this year’s event: PURSUIT.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Ralph Middlecamp installed as president of U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul

ralph middlecamp
Ralph Middlecamp joined more than 10,000 members of the “Vicentian Family” for a recent gathering in Rome. He is the new national president of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — This story has a dateline of Madison, but Ralph Middlecamp will be traveling throughout the United States and the world in his new position as national president of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP).

Middlecamp has worked with the local SVdP for almost 30 years and will remain based in Madison during his six-year term as the society’s national president.

Gathering in Rome

In October, he joined more than 10,000 members of the “Vincentian family” for a gathering in Rome to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and the men’s Congregation of the Mission.

The gathering included an audience with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, where Pope Francis venerated a reliquary containing the heart of St. Vincent de Paul.

Middlecamp said the incorrupt heart is usually kept in Paris in a reliquary at the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity.

He noted that over 200 Vincentian organizations were present in Rome. There are SVdP societies in 150 countries.

The worldwide Church

“My new position allows me to see the worldwide Church at work,” he said.

Besides Rome, he has also visited Paris and will be going soon to Quito, Ecuador, for a meeting of SVdP leaders from the Western Hemisphere.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Lutheran-Catholic service held in Madison

MADISON — St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ELCA have been neighbors and partners in the Madison community for over 60 years.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, they came together for the first time in a joint evening prayer service on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Fr. Robert Evenson, pastor of St. Maria Goretti, and Pastor Chris Enstad of Good Shepherd were the worship leaders.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Giving gifts to others on his birthday

MADISON — When someone “very special” turns 50 and makes that occasion all about giving to others, it’s time to have a party.

Edgewood High School in Madison kitchen staff member Richard Hare recently celebrated that milestone birthday.

In addition to a birthday cake and singing, Hare usually celebrates his special day at the school by making others around him happy.

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Bishop Robert Barron

Barron book released with faith and fire

Bishop Robert Barron’s latest exploration into the life and truth of the Catholic faith, To Light a Fire on the Earth, was released recently.

To Light a Fire on the Earth is Bishop Barron’s anticipated follow-up to his book Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of Faith, which was released in 2011. This book differs from the first as it is written in partnership with Vatican journalist, John L. Allen, Jr.

The WordonFire website offers the synopsis shared below.

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