MADISON — Despite his fatigue from the exhausting journey (his flights from Rome lasted over 17 hours and covered approximately 5,000 miles), Fr. John Putzer smiled broadly as he exited the terminal at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison on Thursday, Sept. 20. Descending the staircase with a noticeable spring in his step, he took in his surroundings and exclaimed, “It’s good to be back!”
COLUMBUS — Elizabeth A. Larson, MD, is a Catholic physician who will bring her beliefs into her work in Columbus. Dr. Larson will be opening her own independent practice in family medicine with a focus in obstetrics in Columbus starting on October 15.
On Thursday of this week (October 11), the Church will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th Anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s promulgation with the initiation of a very special Year of Faith.
In his apostolic letter Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict XVI called for this special year —which will conclude on November 24, 2013 — with the primary aim “to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope.” He also intends this year to be “a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist,” and to “intensify the witness of charity.”
As the faithful enter this Year of Faith, they will be called to give witness to their faith more and more. In Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict wrote, “faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy.”
In a time when the virality of a message and success in communications is often measured by the number of views a video gets on YouTube and how many times an article is shared on Facebook, it makes sense that Catholics would feel like their message and witness is not easily or rapidly spread through the world today.
Mother Church Rejoices! With his typically optimistic words, Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council on October 11, 1962. Today, we share that same joy as we commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Council that Pope John frequently referred to as “a new Pentecost.”
The first document issued by the Council was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. It was one of only four Constitutions (which are of the highest rank of Church teachings) issued by the Council. The goals of the entire Council are laid out in the first paragraph: to increase the vigor of people’s Christian life, to adapt those things which may be changed to the needs of our own times, to promote Christian unity, and to help all people come to know Christ in the Church.
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As Bishop of Madison, I am pleased to announce that I am designating Sunday, October 14 as Catholic Charities Sunday for the Diocese of Madison.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The mission of Catholic Charities is precisely that — to reach out in love from the solid foundation of our faith. Catholic Charities works daily to protect, preserve and promote the natural dignity of persons out of love and respect for them. Together, we provide help and create hope for our brothers and sisters each and every day.
On this occasion, we recognize the good works that Catholic Charities does to fulfill the Church’s role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, caring services to all God’s people. Through Catholic Charities, we can strengthen and support the aging, children, individuals, families and communities, including:
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Queridos amigos:
Es realmente una alegría experimenta el cambio de estaciones. Es difícil no estar agradecido por la creación en este tiempo de tanto color y en este tiempo de cosecha. Esta época del año debe darnos infinitas semillas para la reflexión y siempre estoy dispuesto a reflexionar a partir de la vida de nuestros granjeros, de modo particular.
Por la naturaleza de ser la “sede” de la diócesis, el centro del gobierno estatal, la ciudad más grande, más o menos el centro geográfico de estos 11 condados, y la sede de una universidad de clase mundial, mucha de nuestra atención en la diócesis se concentra en Madison. Y, de hecho, Madison es todo lo que he mencionado, pero no debemos caer nunca en la trampa de que la diócesis de Madison es mayormente Madison. Hace eso no significaría sólo perder de vista algunos de los aspectos más ricos de la diócesis, ¡sino también nos llevaría a una existencia muy monótona e hiper-política! Y eso es lo más alejado que tengo en la mente y el corazón.
World Mission Sunday, organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. In 2012, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on October 21.
Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday in October.
“Go teach all nations all things that I have commanded you.” These words of Our Divine Savior remind us of the share that all Christians have in the mission of Jesus.
When Our Lord read from the prophecy of Isaiah at his first public appearance in the synagogue at Nazareth, He quoted: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, release of captives, recovering of sight for the blind, and to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”
Then He said, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your midst.”
To the editor:
During the Year of Faith we recall the Second Vatican Council. I respect the priests who persevered, held things together, and helped to implement the council. Many of these outstanding priests have died. We remember them each year at the Priests Assembly. Others are retired while some are still in active ministry.
The years after the council were challenging, yet graced times. However, priestly and religious vocations gradually decreased. Since 2000 in our diocese, ordinations have increased. In my opinion this happened because the Holy Spirit helped more Catholics to see and respond to the truth that “vocations are everyone’s business.”
