Author: Chris Lee

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Chris Lee

A divine design: Natural Family Planning

MADISON — “Marriage and Natural Family Planning . . . A Divine Design” is the theme of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, being promoted July 19 to 25 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The aim of this week is to focus attention on Natural Family Planning (NFP) methods and Church teachings which support their use in marriage.

This year also concludes a year-long observance of the 40th anniversary of the papal encyclical, Humanae Vitae (issued July 25, 1968), which articulated Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love, and responsible parenthood.

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Chris Lee

Bishop from Ghana visits diocese

MADISON/STOUGHTON — On July 2 and 3, Bishop Lucas Abadamloora and Fr. Augustine Agaya from the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga visited the Diocese of Madison.

The Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga is our Global Partnership diocese located in Ghana, West Africa.

A reception attended by former delegates to Ghana and friends was hosted by Maryann Slater, principal of Blessed Sacrament School, Madison, on Thursday evening.

On Friday Bishop Lucas traveled to St. Ann Parish in Stoughton to concelebrate Mass along with Vicar General Msgr. Daniel Ganshert, Pastor Msgr. Gerard Healy, and Father Ayaga.

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Chris Lee

Believe it all

“Believe it all.” That was the “very best” preaching advice from our Dominican priest speaker at a clergy day on homiletics back in 2004.

Guest Column

This followed shortly my ordination to the permanent diaconate. “Do not pick and choose” from the Church’s teachings, Father said.

Don’t question it, he said, for to do so is to enter treacherous waters, that spiritual trap which whispers to us that our own personal wisdom is superior to the Church of Christ and its guarantee of doctrinal purity with guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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Chris Lee

State budget 2009 — History in the making

Eye on the Capitol by John Huebscher

The state budget is a fixture of every legislative session. It holds “center stage” for the first several months of every odd-numbered year before it becomes law. Once it is adopted, the legislature turns its attention to other matters.

Every budget reflects the fiscal and political reality in which it is debated and enacted. The 2009 budget was shaped first and foremost by Wisconsin’s dire fiscal situation and the obligation of the governor and legislature to deal with a more than six billion-dollar gap between spending commitments and available revenues.

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Chris Lee

Catholic women learn about value of leadership

First in a series.

MADISON — In her keynote address at the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s (MDCCW) annual convention June 17, M. Elizabeth Tardola of Beloit stated that she wanted to share some thoughts on women and leadership.

She began by saying that, at a recent, local, mixed-gender meeting of Catholics on the subject of social justice within the Church and community, one attendee, a woman, referring to the role of women within the paternal hierarchy of the Church, said that today’s Church of the 21st century could not function without all the work that women perform and contribute to its success. Then everyone, including men, nodded and openly agreed.

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Chris Lee

Annual baseball outing scheduled for Aug. 7

MADISON — Some say that the only prayers left unanswered are those interceding for sports and weather.

This August, prove them wrong by joining the seminarians for the Diocese of Madison at their annual Summer Seminarian Baseball Outing.

The annual event, sponsored by the Serra Clubs of Madison and Janesville, and the Southwest Vocations Club, will take place on Friday, Aug. 7, at Warner Park in Madison. The hometown Madison Mallards will take on their Northwood League rivals Eau Claire Express in a night game under the lights at the “Duck Pond.”

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Chris Lee

She’s passionate about faith, family, football, and Gilda’s Club

MADISON — For Cindy Alvarez, her passions in life have been faith, family, and football.

But in more recent years she’s also become passionate about Gilda’s Club, which offers social and emotional support for people affected by cancer.

Cindy, wife of University of Wisconsin-Madison athletic director and former football coach Barry Alvarez, talked about “Passions in My Life” at the Madison Catholic Woman’s Club’s 95th annual Spring Celebration held recently at Blackhawk Country Club.

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Chris Lee

A sad farewell to Brian Kelly and Relevant 2 U

MADISON — One of the casualties of the recent staff cutbacks in the Diocese of Madison was the elimination of the media specialist position in the diocesan Office of Communications.

That position was held by Brian Kelly for over three years. Prior to working for the diocese, Kelly was station manager at Relevant Radio 1240, the Catholic radio station in Madison.

Bishop will miss him

Bishop Robert C Morlino expressed his appreciation for Kelly’s work and lamented his departure. “Brian Kelly has been absolutely an invaluable coworker in my mission, as bishop, to preach the Gospel of Christ and to teach the people of the Diocese of Madison,” said Bishop Morlino.

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Chris Lee

Serra Club holds annual Bishop’s Dinner

MADISON — The Serra Club of Madison held its annual Bishop’s Dinner on May 22 at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.

All priests of the diocese were invited to join Serrans, their spouses, and guests at the annual dinner.

Msgr. James Bartylla, club chaplain and diocesan vocation director, introduced all the priests present, noting especially two golden jubilarians attending: Frs. Henry Kalscheuer and Roger Nilles.

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