I must make an embarrassing confession: I am a complacent pro-lifer.
I never thought of myself this way, but it is true. And I have proof.
Beginning May 2, 2016, the Planned Parenthood abortion facility on Madison’s east side began providing only abortion services; it will no longer provide screenings or dispense contraceptives.
Alex Erickson, former […]
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I experienced a miracle! A few days ago, I held in my arms my first grandbaby — newly born Faith Annmarie.
Thank God she’s healthy and perfectly formed. And as I was looking at her, I reflected how wonderfully she is made: arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, eyes, mouth, nose, ears, as well as what I couldn’t see but was just as real — hundreds of different tissues, dozens of organs including the remarkable brain, and trillions of cells.
And then I reflected on her divinely infused eternal soul.
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Fr. Daniel Berrigan, SJ, passed away April 30 at the age of 94. Though many younger Catholics might not remember him, Father Berrigan was one of the most provocative and controversial religious figures of his time.
Standing in the tradition of principled non-violence proposed by Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, and others, Berrigan led the charge against America’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict and its on-going participation in the Cold War and the nuclear arms race.
He was most famous, of course, for his leadership of the “Catonsville Nine,” a group of protestors who, in the spring of 1968, broke into a building and burned draft records with homemade napalm. To say that he was, during that tumultuous time in American history, a polarizing figure would be an understatement.
BERLIN — With the theme, “Women on Fire for the Lord,” keynote speaker Marianne Skrobiak will challenge women “to witness the power of God in our lives” at the 62nd annual convention of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) Tuesday and Wednesday, June 7 and 8, at All Saints Church here.
MDCCW President Rosa Ropers, Waunakee, invites women “to come together to celebrate, learn, and pray so we can become women who are willing to speak up for the Lord with enthusiasm and dedication.”
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| Parishioners of St. Clement Parish in Lancaster, with Pastor Fr. John Sasse, process down S. Madison St. with a statue and image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday, May 1. The procession was held to ask for Mary’s intercession for good weather, a good harvest, and other intercessions. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
LANCASTER — Sunday, May 1.
The first day of the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
May 1 was a chance for one Catholic community in the Diocese of Madison to honor the Blessed Mother, give thanks for her intercession, and pray for the year ahead.
The prayers to Jesus through Mary started that day at St. Clement Church in Lancaster, the county seat of Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin.
The first special event of the day began at the 9 a.m. Mass. Following his homily, Pastor Fr. John Sasse enrolled the recent parish second grade First Communicants into the Brown Scapular.
In what was a display of family faith togetherness, parents of First Communicants were also enrolled into the scapular at the same time.
The Brown Scapular is worn as a sign of devotion to the Blessed Mother.
A promise made by Mary is that those who wear the scapular when they die will not suffer the pains of hell.
BERLIN — The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) has published a “We Are Called to Witness” program to provide ideas for implementing the New Evangelization in parishes and families.
Downloadable from the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) website (www.mdccw.com/pdfs/new_evangelization.pdf), the program can be used throughout the year and includes ideas for religious holidays and family gatherings.
“That time in my life was very confusing,” shared Amanda. “I had recently dropped out of college due to stress, anxiety, and depression. And then I found out I was pregnant . . . I just didn’t know what to do.”
Amanda and her boyfriend, Brandon (names changed), came to Care Net feeling nervous, scared, and “a little lost.” They were greeted by “open arms and smiling faces.”
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Last week the world marked the 400th anniversary of the death of the greatest writer in the English language and one of the three or four most significant artists the human race has produced. William Shakespeare simply contains so much.
In the manner of Dante, Homer, Michelangelo, James Joyce, and Aquinas, he seems to encompass the whole: every texture of feeling, every nuance of thought, the tragedy of sin, the most exquisite longings of the soul, the most confounding confusions, heaven, hell, and everything in between.
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, effective Saturday, July 9, 2016, unless otherwise specifically stated, and announced at weekend Masses of Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and May 8, 2016.
• Rev. Msgr. Terrence Connors, resignation from pastor, St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie, in accordance with canon 538 §1, to pastor emeritus.
• Rev. Fr. Sanctus Ibe, resignation from pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Janesville, in accordance with canon 538 §1.
• Rev. Fr. Alex Navarro Saenz, SJS, to parochial vicar, St. Mary Parish, Platteville, St. Augustine Parish, Platteville, Queen of All Saints Parish, Fennimore, per canon 545, from parochial vicar, Divine Mercy Parish, Sauk City, Holy Cross Parish, Mazomanie, and St. Norbert Parish, Roxbury, effective July 30, 2016.
