An unemployed man unsuccessfully tried to find work. His wife nagged him for his failure. He explained that he was trying his best and he needed the understanding and support she promised to give him in their marriage vows.
Day: February 26, 2020
Make this the best Lent of your life
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| Fr. Brian Wilk, pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Middleton, distributes ashes to a parishioner during an Ash Wednesday Mass last year. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
Every Lent, the whole Church goes on a retreat together with Jesus in the desert for 40 days. Through increased attention to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we grow in virtue and holiness, more attentive to the grace and love of the Lord, more dynamic in the practice of our faith, more spiritually ready to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery, the death and resurrection of Christ.
The etymology of “religion” is “relationship,” so we deepen the relationships in our lives this Lent. Through prayer, we grow in our experience and attention to the Lord; through almsgiving, we serve and love others by sharing our time and treasure, especially with the needy and suffering; through fasting, we empty ourselves out, so the Lord can more truly reign on the throne of our hearts.
More Jesus. Less me. If I am especially faithful to fasting, there will literally be less of me, come Easter!
More about subtraction than addition
In a sense, Lent is more about subtraction than it is addition. By removing the noisy demands of my selfishness and the distracting clutter of my heart, God has greater freedom and capacity to live, move, and act within me.
This path of self-emptying is imitative of Jesus, who followed a trajectory of remarkable humility, in order to reach, heal, forgive, love, and save us. Jesus Christ was laser-focused on doing the will of the Father, radically directing every aspect of His life and personality to His mission.
What is ‘synodality’ and walking the synodal path?
It was a great privilege for me to participate in the Synod on Young People in the fall of 2018.
Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion
WAUNAKEE — The Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion for Candidates for Full Communion in the Catholic Church will be celebrated by the parishes of the Diocese of Madison on Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee.
Parishes from throughout the diocese will send those who will celebrate the sacraments of initiation this Easter, as well as their sponsors, family, and friends. About 500 people are expected to attend, with Bishop Donald J. Hying presiding.
‘Election’ means ‘chosen’
The word “election” is used in this liturgy to mean “chosen.”Power of prayer and healing ministry
JANESVILLE — St. William Parish in Janesville welcomed Fr. Patrick Gonyeau from Encounter Ministries (EM), and also a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, on February 7 to 8 to provide knowledge and information on the power of prayer and the healing ministry.
Ninety-three people attended the training portion of the weekend. Following the Saturday 4 p.m. Mass, a healing service was held with an additional 180 people in attendance.
Participants were from Janesville parishes, other Wisconsin parishes, and parishes in Rockford and other parts of Illinois.
News in Brief in the Diocese of Madison
Lenten Mission
MADISON — Bishop Donald J. Hying will lead a Lenten Mission at St. Dennis Parish, 505 Dempsey Rd., on Sunday and Monday, March 1 and 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The mission will include prayer, reflection, music, and fellowship. Childcare will be provided for children over age two.
Parish Mission
MADISON — A Parish Mission will be held at St. Peter Parish, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., on “The Importance of the Liturgical Reforms of the Second Vatican Council” with Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB. An introduction to the mission and a Mass will be held on Sunday, March 1, at 10 a.m. The mission will continue Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March 4, 5, and 6, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Angela Curio, new Catholic Herald administrative coordinator
MADISON — Angela Curio, resident of Madison and member of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison, has joined the staff of the Catholic Herald as its new administrative coordinator.
“I’m looking forward to working for the diocese and working for the paper,” Curio said.
She added that she hopes to connect and meet people all throughout the Diocese of Madison.
Curio called her faith her “stronghold” in life and looks forward to bringing that to her work at the Catholic Herald.Almsgiving: the least known Lenten practice
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — these are the three Lenten practices we’ve all learned about since childhood.
It seems that prayer and fasting are widely practiced and well-known among Catholics. Many of us deepen our prayer life during Lent, and we follow at least the minimal fasting requirements. Many of us go beyond by “giving up” some of our favorite foods such as desserts, candy, and alcoholic beverages.