Year: 2020

On
Fr. Jim Leeser, For the Catholic Herald

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.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

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.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

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.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Almsgiving: the least known Lenten practice

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

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.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli inspires us

Carlo Gaetano Samuel Mazzuchelli was born on November 4, 1806, in Milan, Italy. He died on February 23, 1864, at St. Patrick Parish in Benton, where he was pastor. Years later, when I became pastor of St. Patrick’s, my knowledge and admiration of him deepened.

Father Samuel accomplished so much that I get tired just thinking about it. One parishioner appropriately called him “our steam engine missionary.” It would take books to completely cover his many accomplishments and gifts, so I will focus on just a few areas.

A mysterious occurrence

On October of 1863, according to Sr. Nona McGreal, Father Samuel rode to St. Matthew Parish in Shullsburg to celebrate Confirmation conferred by Milwaukee Bishop John Henni.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Ordination of Deacon Lawrence Oparaji February 22

Fr. Lawrence Oparaji
Deacon Lawrence Oparaji

MADISON — Bishop Donald J. Hying will ordain Deacon Lawrence Oparaji to the priesthood for the Diocese of Madison on Saturday, Feb. 22, at a 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Bishop O’Donnell Chapel at Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd.

Deacon Lawrence is the son of Kenneth and Calista Oparaji of Angwan Fadama, Orozo, FCT, in Nigeria.They are members of St. Andrew Kagwa Parish, Orozo Abuja.

Deacon Lawrence’s home parish in the Diocese of Madison is St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison.

He attended grade school in the Model Learning Center/Jikwoyi Phase II, and high school in the Federal government College/Keffi, Nasarawa.

His college studies were taken at the Dominican Institute Samonda Ibadan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies.

He studied at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, St. Paul, Minn., where he earned a Master of Divinity degree.

His intern experience took place at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison. His deacon placements were at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison, and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie.

His clinical pastoral experience was taken at Lakeview Hospital, Stillwater, Minn.

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On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Christian girls and abortion

When Mother Teresa visited New Bedford, Mass., in June 1995, she told those of us gathered at St. Lawrence Martyr Church: “Abortion is the greatest evil of today.”

Never one to mince words, Mother Teresa’s courage, truthfulness, and charity were palpable. Parents today need similar fortitude, honesty, and love to be able to discuss the hard topic of unplanned pregnancies and abortion with their children.

Parents exercise influence

Parental input and advice are critical when these situations arise. Even as children profess independence, parents exercise influence over them, whether for good or for ill.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

The maintenance of harmony in the Church

Some years ago, my friend Msgr. Francis Mannion wrote an article concerning the three essential features of the Eucharistic liturgy — namely, the priest, the rite, and the people.

When these elements are in proper balance, rightly ordered liturgy obtains.

Further, from these categories, he argued, we can discern the three typical distortions of the liturgy: clericalism (too much of the priest), ritualism (a fussy hyper-focus on the rite), and congregationalism (a disproportionate emphasis on the people).

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