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Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14.
Originating as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romantic love and friendship.
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MADISON — When a priest becomes a bishop, he is tasked with choosing a motto for his episcopacy.
Usually taken from Scripture, it should be of some importance to the focus of that bishop in his service as a shepherd to the people entrusted to him.
As Bishop Donald J. Hying made this decision for his episcopacy, he chose, Caritas Numquam Excidit, Latin for “Love Never Fails,” which also doubles as the theme of the 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).
Your donation to the ACA fuels the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the sacraments, the religious formation of our youth, the training of seminarians, the good work of Catholic Charities, and supportive services to our parishes and schools allowing the Diocese of Madison to fulfill the true mission of the Church by making disciples of all nations.
This year’s ACA is, once again, seeking your help and asking you to prayerfully consider what you are able to do to support the important ministries that are impacted through your generosity.
In the coming weeks, parishes across the diocese will participate in an in-pew pledge/donation process. You will view a short video highlighting more of the ministries that the ACA supports, so you are able to get a good idea of where your donation is going. |
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I write these words on the airplane taking me home from my first visit as a bishop ad limina apostolorum (to the threshold of the apostles).
This is the pilgrimage, required by canon law of every bishop, to pray at the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul and to meet personally with the successor of Peter.
In an earlier column, I wrote of the extraordinary visit to the tomb of Peter and an even more extraordinary conversation with the Galilean fisherman’s successor, Pope Francis.MADISON — Fariba Roughead discussed a topic that is “really near and dear to my heart” in a recent presentation at Holy Name Heights in Madison.
Fariba talked about “Interfaith Dialogue: A Personal Perspective on Catholicism and Islam.”
A native of Iran and now a U.S. citizen, she told the story of her conversion from Islam to Catholicism. Throughout her talk, she emphasized the importance of dialogue with those of other faiths.
MADISON — Fariba Roughead discussed a topic that is “really near and dear to my heart” in a recent presentation at Holy Name Heights in Madison.
Fariba talked about “Interfaith Dialogue: A Personal Perspective on Catholicism and Islam.”
A native of Iran and now a U.S. citizen, she told the story of her conversion from Islam to Catholicism. Throughout her talk, she emphasized the importance of dialogue with those of other faiths.
“Are you saved?” is a classic evangelical question which we have probably all been asked once or twice. Those posing the query usually view salvation as a specific event, the precise moment when they gave their lives to Jesus and experienced his forgiveness.
A gentleman told me once that he was saved at a Billy Graham crusade in 1978, which for him was a powerful spiritual transformation. As Catholics, we may fumble for an articulate answer to the question of salvation, which is a sign perhaps that our understanding of this central reality of faith is more nuanced.
We wanted to say that we really enjoy Fr. Donald Lange’s article that’s in the Catholic Herald.
To the editor:
I enjoyed Bishop Hying’s recent column about right to life issues, especially our mission to spread the Gospel of life, promote the flourishing of the human person, and care for the most vulnerable.
As our grandchildren grow older, I worry about the threat of human trafficking, especially the way human traffickers can lure young people through use of the Internet.
Pope Francis spoke about preventing human trafficking at his Sunday, Feb. 9, Angelus in St. Peter’s Square. The pope reminded people of the February 8 International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. It falls on the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was sold into slavery as a child.
SINSINAWA — The annual Mass to commemorate the death of Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, will be held at St. Patrick Church, Benton, at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 1.
The Mazzuchelli Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus invite everyone to attend and join them for a social in the parish hall afterward.
Father Mazzuchelli died in the house near the church on February 23, 1864, and is buried in the parish cemetery. The house is open for tours during warm-weather months. For more information, contact Mike Plear at 608-744-3639.