Author: Chris Lee

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Chris Lee

Advent: become a witness of waiting

This column is the second part of Bishop Robert Barron’s essay on Advent anticipation.

So when I’m told that waiting seems to belong to the heart of the spiritual life, I’m not pleased, for here, too, I want answers, direction, clarity — and I want them pronto. I desire to feel happy and to know what God is up to; I need my life to make sense — now.

I’m pleased to live a spiritual life, but I want to be in charge of it and to make it unfold according to my schedule: Run Barron Run. All of this is profoundly antipathetic to the mood and spirit of Advent.

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Chris Lee

Hurricanes damage Schoenstatt shrines

MADISON — On the evening of Friday, Aug. 24, to Saturday, Aug. 25, 18 Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Lamar, Texas, experienced the brunt of Hurricane Harvey, including the eye of the hurricane, as it crossed over their property.

Damage from Hurricane Harvey in Texas

The damage left in its wake was catastrophic. Just about every building on the campus was damaged. Some were destroyed, others lost part or all of the roof, most experienced extensive water damage. Even the Schoenstatt Shrine itself lost part of its roof.

Since then, volunteers and generous donors have been helping to clean up the debris, secure the buildings from further water damage, and supply food and other necessities to the Sisters.

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Chris Lee

Diocesan seminarians plan annual Caroling Tour

MADISON — Seminarians of the Diocese of Madison are planning their annual Caroling Tour at parishes and health care facilities on Friday, Dec. 22, and Saturday, Dec. 23. Locations and times include:

Friday, Dec. 22

8 to 8:45 a.m. — Opening Caroling Tour Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison

10 to 10:30 a.m. — Park Place Assisted Living, Platteville

11:20 a.m. to 12 noon — Holy Ghost and Immaculate Conception School, Dickeyville

12:30 to 1 p.m. — Atrium Post Acute Care of Lancaster, Lancaster

2:30 to 3 p.m. — Good Samaritan, Fennimore

3:15 to 3:45 p.m. — Boscobel Care & Rehab, Boscobel

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Chris Lee

Minimum requirements mentioned, but go beyond

To the editor:

Mr. Studinski made a great point in the December 7 issue about the importance of many other things that weren’t mentioned explicitly in my November 23 piece about what it means to be a practicing Catholic, such as the Works of Mercy and the Beatitudes.

But there was a reason for emphasizing the commandments. The terminology of “practicing Catholic” is one typically used to specify a minimum requirement for fulfilling certain functions within the Church (e.g. catechist, school teacher, godparent, etc.). And in the moral life, although the Works of Mercy and the Beatitudes are certainly more perfect than merely observing the commandments, yet still observing the commandments is the minimum.

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