Author: Chris Lee

On
Chris Lee

Converting diocesan parishes to QuickBooks

Last in a two-part series

Part one of this article described the parish software conversion to ParishSOFT and related activity in the Office of Planning. This week finishes the series as I discuss our process of converting a parish to QuickBooks and some other activities involving that program.

QuickBooks

Just like with census data, parish financial data also needs to be cleaned so that it, too, is consistent and predictable; that is, each parish posts to the same accounts in the same circumstances. For this reason it’s important for all parishes to use our diocesan Chart of Accounts and to follow a common set of financial procedures.

Read More
On
Chris Lee

Independence Day helps us to appreciate our blessings

Seeing with Jesus' Eyes column logo

Independence Day offers us an opportunity to thank God for our country’s blessings. Some visitors from poorer countries express amazement at the cornucopia of blessings that we Americans enjoy and sometimes take for granted.

We celebrate some of our blessings when we sing “America the Beautiful.” The words “God, mend thine every flaw” from this song can also invite us as responsible Catholics and citizens to try to help make America even more beautiful.

Independence Day is a federal holiday when we celebrate the anniversary of the day that the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On this day we can also thank God for the brave men who risked their lives and fortunes to eventually sign this great document.

Read More
On
Chris Lee

Fr. Jason Hesseling reports on his experience as Army chaplain in Afghanistan

MADISON — The day Fr. Jason Hesseling, United States Army Chaplain, left Alaska for his posting in Afghanistan, he prayed the Liturgy of the Hours and read the passage: “When O Lord, will I come to the end of my pilgrimage and enter the presence of God!”

“Kind of funny to read that on that day,” he wrote in his newsletter to friends back home. “Not sure I would term my time in Alaska as a pilgrimage, and I certainly wouldn’t say that Afghanistan is the presence of God. But it did kind of put a good spin on the flight and the next 12 months of my life.”

Read More
On
Chris Lee

A different type of Catholic conversion

Part one of a two-part series.

You often see articles from Grant Emmel describing the Trusting in the Spirit process but this is the first time I’ve been asked to write a column for the Herald.

My function at the diocese is to fulfill Bishop Morlino’s directive of all parishes converting to and using ParishSOFT and QuickBooks software. As a reminder, ParishSOFT is the program used for parish census data and offertory postings and QuickBooks is the complete financial software for all postings, tax reporting, payroll, and parish monetary activity.

Read More
On
Chris Lee

CMC update: Madison parish coordinating efforts to save center

MADISON — Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison has begun coordinating efforts for the future reopening of the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC).

The Diocese of Madison handed over keys to the center to Msgr. Kenneth Fiedler, pastor of the parish, on June 8. The diocese had closed the center on Madison’s south side on May 29 as part of diocesan cutbacks due to economic difficulties.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is researching and studying the use and programs of the Catholic Multicultural Center. “We have dialogued with former staff of the CMC, diocesan priests (all priests were invited to a meeting held at the parish on June 19), members representing civic organizations, Edgewood College, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Vincent de Paul, LaSup (Latino Support Network), the City of Madison, and the Dane County Executive’s Office,” reported the parish.

Read More
On
Chris Lee

Praise for parish response

To the editor:

I was overjoyed with Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish’s quick response to the closing of the Catholic Multicultural Center. As Catholics, we need to be ever mindful of the poor and the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. These are difficult times, financially and spiritually, for everyone.

Read More
On
Chris Lee

Camp closes as staff member diagnosed with flu

breaking newsREEDSBURG — Campers and parents are being notified this morning that Camp Gray (a Catholic youth summer camp) will be closed until Sunday, July 5, after one staff member was confirmed as positive for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, late Monday. Immediately upon learning of the confirmed case, camp directors decided to close the camp, for the health and well-being of the campers.

Read More
On
Chris Lee

Diocese cuts staff; parish to assume responsibility for CMC

MADISON — Due to a downturn in investment income and a new Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) which has not reached its goal, the Diocese of Madison announced on May 27 that it was cutting 19 full-time and four part-time diocesan employees and closing the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison.

However, on June 5 the diocese announced that Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison had offered to assume primary responsibility for the operation of the CMC. The offer, made through pastor, Msgr. Kenneth Fiedler, with the support and collaboration of neighboring pastors and parishes, was “weighed and gratefully accepted” by Bishop Robert C. Morlino.

Read More