Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Proclaiming the truth about the Ascension

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear Friends,

Why did Christ ascend to heaven? Wouldn’t it have been nice if He had just stayed here on earth and appeared regularly for the rest of history? Wouldn’t it be nice if every so often we could go to a certain place and He would appear? Wouldn’t it be nice if the whole world simply knew the truth and would not have to seek after faith, since they would have regular audiences with Christ, our God? Wouldn’t it be nice!

What was so important that Christ, with His Father and the Holy Spirit, decided not to do it that way? What could be so important? Two things:

Christ is Eternal High Priest

First of all, the Eternal High Priesthood of Christ had to be definitively accomplished, completed, and revealed. And that Eternal High Priesthood was definitively completed and revealed only when Jesus ascended and took His place at the Father’s right hand.

It says in the Hebrew Scriptures, the one who takes his place at the Father’s right hand is, in fact, the Eternal High Priest. “The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies your footstool . . . You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek (Psalms 110: 1, 4)’.”

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Kevin Wondrash

‘Healing of the Heart’ retreat coming to Durward’s Glen

BARABOO — Fr. Christopher Crotty will lead two “Healing of the Heart: Mission of Christ in the Modern World” retreats at Durward’s Glen Retreat and Educational Center.

According to Father Crotty, “We are healed and set free in Christ Jesus to proclaim His Wonders!” He will focus on Christ’s healing during this retreat.

The first retreat will be held May 20 to 22, starting Friday night at 6 p.m. and ending on Sunday at 12 noon. The second retreat will be held June 3 to 5, starting Friday night at 6 p.m. and ending Sunday at 12 noon.

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Kevin Wondrash

Conversation about restorative justice

MADISON — There will be a community conversation about restorative justice practices in Dane County on Tuesday, May 17, at the Urban League of Greater Madison, 2222 S Park Street, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The panel will include Jonathon Scharrer, director of the Restorative Justice Project at the UW Law School Frank J Remington Center, Ron Johnson, Coordinator, Dane County Community Restorative Court, Ismael Ozanne, Dane County District Attorney, Sheila Stubbs, Dane County Board of Supervisors, and Chief David Raasch, former chief judge of the Mohican Nation Tribal Court.

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Kevin Wondrash

Conversation about restorative justice

MADISON — There will be a community conversation about restorative justice practices in Dane County on Tuesday, May 17, at the Urban League of Greater Madison, 2222 S Park Street, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The panel will include Jonathon Scharrer, director of the Restorative Justice Project at the UW Law School Frank J Remington Center, Ron Johnson, Coordinator, Dane County Community Restorative Court, Ismael Ozanne, Dane County District Attorney, Sheila Stubbs, Dane County Board of Supervisors, and Chief David Raasch, former chief judge of the Mohican Nation Tribal Court.

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Kevin Wondrash

Bloomington school exchanges teachers with Chinese school

Bloomington Teacher with Chinese Students
Miss Margie Duwe, a teacher at St. Mary School in Bloomington, is pictured with some of the students she taught at Shijiazhuang No. 40 Middle School in China as part of an exchange program. (Contributed photo)

BLOOMINGTON — People might forget many things about you, but they rarely forget how you make them feel.

St. Mary School in Bloomington — located in Grant County in the Diocese of Madison — has completed our first teaching exchange with Shijiazhuang No. 40 Middle School in China.

Exchange program

St. Mary’s teacher Miss Margie Duwe spent four weeks in China teaching science to almost 1,000 students a week, and Mr. Mark Ma, Mr. Peter Cao, and Miss Susan Wang taught science and reading at St. Mary’s.

The experience has had a profound effect on both teachers and students, who embraced culture beyond the classrooms.

Since 2012, St. Mary’s and Shijiazhuang No. 40 Middle School have been strengthened by an exchange program in which students and teachers live with host families.

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Kevin Wondrash

Culinary Creations Catering expands

MADISON — “Used to be I couldn’t boil water, but now I’m a lot better at cooking. Plus I’m the best dishwasher in the United States,” said Larry with a laugh, explaining what he likes about his job.

Larry is a member of the Culinary Creations Catering crew, a social enterprise of the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC).

From homeless to working

Before becoming involved with Culinary Creations Catering, Larry was homeless and struggling to find a job where he could make a living.

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Kevin Wondrash

Students help a friend through Works of Mercy

JEFFERSON — Inspired by the Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis, Margarete Schels’ eighth grade class at St. John the Baptist (SJB) Catholic School organized a “Basketball FUNday” in honor of Kena Eighmy, a fifth grade student battling leukemia.

Extended care teacher Katie Warpinski, whose own husband, Josh, is fighting cancer, suggested that the students do something for Kena.

With the guidance of their teacher and school principal, Susan Loof, they planned the all-morning event that offered a variety of activities.

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