Author: Chris Lee

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Chris Lee

Right of conscience not protected in health care act

To the editor:

The Affordable Care Act, funded by half the Medicare budget, offers free condoms, free birth control, and free abortion for all ages. The right of conscience is not protected as it was before the legislation.

Medicare defunding will not be felt until after 2012. The Independent Advisory Board of 15 appointed by our president makes all decisions about who gets what and at what age without input from seniors or politicians. The board is also delegated to defund Medicare by another $200 billion in the next decade.

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Chris Lee

Newly crowned Miss America is from Kenosha

Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, talks to second-grade students at Blessed Sacrament School in Milwaukee Oct. 6, 2011. The 23-year-old Catholic was crowned Miss America 2012 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas Jan. 14. (CNS photo/Ernie Mastroianni )

MILWAUKEE (CNS) — All smiles, Susan Kaeppeler, fourth-grade teacher at Kenosha’s St. Joseph Academy’s lower campus, was greeted with the red-carpet treatment when she arrived to class Jan. 16 after a whirlwind weekend where she saw her oldest daughter, Laura, crowned Miss America.

The 23-year-old brunette, a Kenosha native, won the Miss America title at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas Jan. 14.

“Some of the parents decorated her classroom, and made some posters and put them up in the gym as the school day began,” Pauline McTernan, St. Joseph development director, said in a telephone interview with the Catholic Herald, newspaper of the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

“We rolled out a red carpet, presented her with a crown, bouquet of flowers, and balloons and led her to the gym as the school day began. The teachers all wore T-shirts that said, ‘I teach with Miss America’s Mom.’ It was so exciting!”

Particularly touching to McTernan was Susan’s impromptu speech as she reminded students what her daughter had said to them when she visited the school last October, as Miss Wisconsin, a title she won last June.

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Chris Lee

What does ‘health care power of attorney’ mean?

Q. My father has just asked me to be his health care power of attorney. I am not sure what that entails and what my responsibilities would be. We have a good relationship and I am willing to help him (he is 78 and in fairly good health). In the worst case scenario what would this mean? (From a son in Dodgeville)

A. This is a great question because there is a lot of confusion about health care power of attorney and what that entails.

The power of attorney or “agent” is a person who has the permission to make health care decisions for the “principal” (in your case your father) in the event of incapacitation.

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Chris Lee

Local principal receives award from NCEA

Principal Mary Kilar, back row second from right, was honored by the National Catholic Educators Association with the Distinguished Principal Award. Kilar, the principal of St. John the Baptist School, Jefferson, is the first in the diocese and the second in the state to have been given the prestigious award. (Contributed photo)

JEFFERSON — St. John the Baptist School in presented their annual Christmas program with the theme: “Touch of an Angel” on Thursday evening, Dec. 22, in St. John the Baptist Church.

Students from pre-K through eighth grade, under the direction of music teacher and band director, Andrea Haffelder, presented the Nativity in story and song with angels as the main focus. Prior to the main program, the junior and senior bands performed a variety of Christmas music for the enjoyment of the crowded church, which was filled with family and friends.

The highlight of the evening took place at the conclusion of the program with the presentation of the NCEA (National Catholic Educators Association) Distinguished Principal Award to Mary Kilar, principal of St. John the Baptist School for the last eight years. Michael Lancaster, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Madison, presented the good news to a surprised Kilar and overjoyed parish school community. Lancaster had nominated her for this honor at the start of the current school year with Kilar being the only principal being chosen from the Madison Diocesan schools.

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Chris Lee

We need priests to celebrate the Eucharist

In the United States the Catholic Church celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week from Monday, Jan. 9, to Saturday, Jan. 14, this year.

During this week the Church asks us to pray for all vocations. In no. 2013 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness.” God calls us all to live our faith and seek out our vocation as a deacon, priest, Religious Brother, Sister, married, or single person.

No priests, no Eucharist

However, we need to continue to pray for and encourage priestly vocations because priests preside at the Eucharist, which is the center of Catholic life. During the 2009 Year for Priests, Pope Benedict stressed that without priests there would be no Eucharist, no mission, or Church. We priests have the privilege of celebrating Mass and ministering to Catholics at key spiritual times in their lives from infancy to old age. Priests administer the sacraments, preach, offer pastoral care, and much more.

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