May 7, 2020 – Madison Catholic Herald Archive (2001-2025)

MDCCW officers to be elected this year include, from left: Judy Lyons, president-elect, succeeds Bernadette Schaefer as MDCCW president; Katie Crosby continues as treasurer; and Linda Ripp is a candidate for president-elect. This year’s election will take place virtually as will the installation of officers by Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, MDCCW spiritual advisor, left.
(Jane Lepeska Grinde photo)

MADISON — “Five years ago, at the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) Convention in Orlando, it became my dream to celebrate the 100th anniversary of NCCW at our diocesan convention in 2020,” said Bernadette Schaefer, Lancaster, who is in her final year as president of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW).

“Now, instead,” she wrote in the MDCCW newsletter, “I have to announce that our convention and celebration have been cancelled.”

With concerns about the health and safety of its members during this pandemic, the MDCCW board voted by email to cancel the annual convention scheduled for June 13 in Cross Plains. The board will meet virtually May 16 to elect officers and conduct other business which is allowed during times of crisis.

Much accomplished

The June convention was to be the 66th annual convention. During those 66 years, area Catholic women have participated in countless activities at their parish, vicariate, and diocesan levels.

Add 34 years to that for the 100 years of organized activities of the NCCW, and the result is countless charitable projects in this country and internationally, said Schaefer.

Our Catholic Schools

On May 7, 2020November 3, 2022

Michael Lancaster

Teacher Appreciation Week 2020

This week, all of our Catholic schools celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. It is a time set aside to think of all the many ways that our teachers give of themselves and give to our students and families.

Everyday Faith

On May 7, 2020February 15, 2022

Julianne Nornberg

Trusting in Our Father’s promises during uncertain times

“I don’t like Brussels sprouts,” complained my son one night at supper long ago.

“If you finish your Brussels sprouts, I’ll give you a noogie,” said Daddy, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“What’s a noogie?”

“If you finish your Brussels sprouts, then you’ll find out.”

Around the Diocese

On May 7, 2020

Angela Curio, Catholic Herald Staff

Three mothers reflect on pregnancy, birth, and faith during pandemic

MADISON — Pregnancy can be both a joyous and stressful time for new mothers. It can come with health hurtles, worries about the future, but usually not to the level of a global pandemic.

Three new and expecting mothers — Tabitha Hansen, Diana Bur, and Kristin Dvorsky — talked about what it is like to be expecting a child during this time and how their faith has been supporting them in their struggles.

Offering it up

Tabitha Hansen, a convert to Catholicism and member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, had already lost three children to miscarriage and has four living children. Her daughter, Julia, is due to be born in September.

Word on Fire

On May 7, 2020

Bishop Robert Barron

One, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church

One silver lining for me during this weird coronavirus shutdown has been the opportunity to return to some writing projects that I had left on the back-burner.

One of these is a book on the Nicene Creed, which I had commenced many months ago and on which I was making only very slow progress, given my various pastoral and administrative responsibilities.

The last several weeks, I have been working in a rather concentrated way on the Creed book, and I find myself currently in the midst of the section on the Church: “I believe in one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.”

Around the Diocese

On May 7, 2020

David R. J. Stiennon, For the Catholic Herald

Our Lady of Hope Clinic challenged by pandemic and personnel issues

MADISON — Our Lady of Hope Clinic has been hit by multiple challenges during the last three months.

The pandemic has not only altered how health care is provided but has all but eliminated the availability of volunteer medical assistants at the 11-year-old Odana Rd. clinic on Madison’s west side.

Open for members and uninsured recipients

Dr. Michael Kloess and Dr. Elizabeth Larson continue to serve an average of six uninsured patients daily, while providing enhanced access primary care to members of the clinic.

News

On May 7, 2020May 12, 2021

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, Spring Green

Principal brightens teachers’ spirits with paper cutouts of students

SPRING GREEN — The motto of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Spring Green is, “We’re more than a school . . . We’re a family!”

This was evident by the disappointment among St. John’s teachers when they heard the news that schools would not be reopening for the rest of the school year. They all understood the reasoning, but they just miss their students so much.

Around the Diocese

On May 7, 2020

Bishop Donald J. Hying

Turning to God during the pandemic and maintaining momentum afterwards

Questions often raised during these weeks of social isolation and pandemic are: What am I learning from this experience? How will my life be different going forward? How will society change as a result?

I have heard from many people who are feeling a greater need for God in their lives. When we confront suffering, fear, loneliness, and privation, we gain greater insight into the essential nature of life’s meaning.

Discovering what really matters

Without frenetic activity to distract us, with less social contact to sustain us, with the threat or reality of sickness, unemployment, and even death staring us in the face, we discover very quickly what really matters.