Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Long distance caregiving

Q My mother lives in a small community in northern Wisconsin. My dad died a few months ago and since his passing the children (three daughters) have noticed how much he did for mom.

We collectively have noticed some forgetfulness, lack of attention to housekeeping, and poor nutrition.

We all live in different communities. My oldest sister is the closest, about a one hour drive; my youngest sister is the farthest, a six hour drive; and I am in the middle, about four hours away. My older sister feels that in order to keep mom home where she wants to stay, we should each spend one week each month with her.

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Kevin Wondrash

The awakening

Morgan Smith

I am thinking now of my friend’s face. It is lit up with a mix of joy and surprise.

The other day, he was talking about his brother, whom he had seen the weekend before. His brother is in a program for recovering addicts which after years, he had finally wanted to enter. My friend was struck by his conversation with his changing brother. And so was I.

A new view of life

My friend said of his brother: “He shared in a way I’ve never witnessed him share before, about some changes in himself. He’s forming a new view on life; in particular he has an openness to being surprised, to novelty. He now takes his walks differently, open to beauty, and treats his interactions with people differently, wanting to learn about them and hear their story.”

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Kevin Wondrash

We’ve been here before

Recently, I had the privilege of spending four hours in the Sistine Chapel with my Word on Fire team. Toward the end of our filming, the director of the Vatican Museums, who had accompanied us throughout the process, asked whether I wanted to see the “room of tears.”

This is the little antechamber, just off of the Sistine Chapel, where the newly-elected pope changes into his white cassock. Understandably, tears flow in that room, once the poor man realizes the weight of his office.

Papal memorabilia

Inside, there were documents and other memorabilia, but what got my attention was a row of albs, chasubles, and copes worn by various popes.

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Kevin Wondrash

Encyclical: respect for human and environmental ecology

Dear Friends,

Around this time of year, things typically slow down in this space. Our Catholic Herald usually has a reduced schedule during the summer, and I always take a bit of a “summer recess” from writing these columns.

That being said, there’s been enough happening in the last two weeks to fill numerous columns, and so I feel compelled to write.

Two very major things happened this past Friday — the ordination of six men to the priesthood for the diocese, and the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision redefining marriage.

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Kevin Wondrash

Ground breaks on new Edgewood College residence hall

MADISON — Just several days after the end of another school year, Edgewood College looked to the future with the start of another building project.

As supporters and guests gathered on campus, Chair of the Board of Trustees Gary Schaefer welcomed everyone to what he called a “great occasion at Edgewood College.”

On Thursday, May 28, ground was broken on what will be the college’s newest residence hall.

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Kevin Wondrash

St. Joseph School golf outing in Fort Atkinson set for July 12

FORT ATKINSON — On Sunday, July 12, St. Joseph School’s Home and School Association will host its sixth annual golf outing at the Koshkonong Mounds Country Club, W7670 Koshkonong Mounds Rd. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. with shotgun start at 1 p.m. Golfing is $35 for members and $75 for non members. Registration forms are available at St. Joseph School and at the Scrip table in the gathering space.

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Kevin Wondrash

Rosary Rallies for Religious Liberty to be held at McFarland parish

MCFARLAND — Our religious freedoms have come under attack. What is the Catholic response to hostilities, political agendas, and perhaps unjust laws?

The most important response is to pray, support one another, and reflect on how to bring love and peace to often difficult and emotional situations.

For the fourth year, Christ the King Parish will be holding weekly Rosary Rallies for Religious Liberty. The kickoff is Tuesday, June 23, at which Fr. Steve Smith, pastor, will present a short overview of the issues and our role as Catholics in bringing light and truth to the challenges we are facing.

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