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Often what we want is different from what we need — or what is good for us.
Consider this recent exchange in my household, where we’ve been striving to be more health conscious.
“What would you like me to get at the grocery store?” I asked my husband, my pencil hovering over the grocery list.
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| Bishop Donald J. Hying blesses a mosaic of Blessed Frederic Ozanam at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on January 26. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn) |
Last week, I was honored to celebrate Mass in the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and to bless a newly-installed mosaic of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Society’s presence in the United States.
I have been involved with the Vincentians for 20 years as a chaplain, serving for the last two years on the national level. In preparing my homily for the Mass, I dug deeper into the life and legacy of Frederic Ozanam, realizing with greater clarity his inestimable contribution to Catholic thought and the wisdom of the Church in addressing the social issues of the day.
As a visionary founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Frederic has helped millions of Catholics to live the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in a practical and generous manner. He was a journalist, scholar, professor, social activist, husband, and father. He taught literature, history, and law, deeply engaged in the intellectual problems and social challenges of his day. Ozanam has much to say to our present age.
Frederic was born in Milan in 1813, going to Paris to study law, where he suffered a deep loneliness but also was befriended by André Ampère, a scientist exploring the wonders of electricity, in whose home Ozanam became a boarder.
Simultaneously a sophisticated scientist and a devout Catholic, Ampère showed his young charge that there was no inherent dichotomy between Christianity and science or between Catholicism and the social ills of workers and the poor. |
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In the more than 30 annual Washington, D.C., Marches for Life I have participated in, I always think the current march is the largest ever. But since accurate figures are hard to come by, it usually comes down to taking a good guess.
But a 60-second time-lapse video produced by Students for Life of America clearly reveals, regardless of the exact number, that this year’s March flowed on and on.
It’s heartening to see that lots of people care. But do we really care enough?
MADISON — Scott Klaas has started his new position as executive director of the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF), taking over from Daun Maier.
Maier has served the CDMF and the Diocese of Madison for the past 19 years. She stepped down from the position to spend more time with her family and her family farm.
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I write these words from the Eternal City of Rome, whither I’ve come with my brother bishops from Region 11 (California, Nevada, and Hawaii) for our ad limina visit.
This is a regular and canonically required trip to pray at the limina apostolorum (the threshold of the Apostles), the tombs of Ss. Peter and Paul, and to meet with the successor of Peter.
Yesterday was the first official day of the pilgrimage, and it was extraordinary indeed.
PINE BLUFF — Bishop Donald J. Hying will be coming to St. Mary of Pine Bluff Parish, 3637 CR P, on Friday, Feb. 7, to launch the “St. Joseph Strong” challenge, calling all men to enter into the 33 Day Consecration to St. Joseph (February 16 to March 19, Feast of St. Joseph).
All men who attend will receive a free copy of Fr. Donald Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph, along with a free “St. Joseph Strong” challenge coin. |
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| Sr. Constance Veit, LSP |
During February my thoughts turn to two of my favorite biblical figures, Simeon and Anna.
Simeon is described in St. Luke’s Gospel simply as “a man in Jerusalem” and Anna as an 84-year-old “prophetess.”
These two elders greet Mary and Joseph as they bring their newborn infant to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. We celebrate this moment in Jesus’ life, referred to as the Presentation in the Temple, on February 2.
MADISON — Materials for this year’s Madison Diocesan Choir’s Youth Pastoral Musician Scholarship have been posted at https://madisondiocese.org/scholarship
The scholarship award is designed to support youth participation in music ministries within the diocese and its parishes.
The $500 scholarship is intended to assist young musicians to attend a summer music clinic. It is the hope that the improvement of their musical skills will benefit the parish at this time as well as the universal Church in years to come.WAUNAKEE — Knights […]
MONONA — An Iconography Workshop will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, from Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8.
People are invited to come and paint their own icon. This hands-on painting workshop (taught in the Byzantine style) is open to adults and teens (age 12 and older).
Instructor will be Drazen Dupor, an iconographer who has been painting icons since 1986. He has a studio in Middleton and frequently leads workshops at retreat centers, schools, and churches.