Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Edgewood’s coach combines faith with football

MADISON — For Edgewood High School football coach Al Minnaert, the start of his 23rd season is another opportunity to go beyond teaching Xs and Os, it’s a chance to teach young men about relationships.

“You’ll remember wins and losses, close games, and some of those things, but the real part that matters and that they get the most out of are the relationships they establish with their classmates, their teammates, and their coaches, and if it’s done the right way, even perhaps opposing players.”

Minnaert, like coach Bob Ladoucuer in the movie When the Games Stands Tall, is both football coach and religion teacher at Edgewood — teaching half of the freshman class each year.

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Kevin Wondrash

By the Cross offers books by area author, items for children

MADISON — Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles — in fact anyone involved with children — should visit By The Cross Catholic Gift and Bookstore on Madison’s east side.

This store is filled with many wonderful religious items for children, from coloring and activity books to prayer books to stuffed animals. It’s literally a treasure trove of educational, faith-filled, and fun things for Catholic kids.

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Kevin Wondrash

St. Stephen Parish hosts benefit for Connor Gracyalny

CLINTON — Food, kids’ games, a silent auction, and fun in a family-friendly atmosphere will be featured at the Connor Gracyalny Benefit to be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 4 until 8 p.m. at the St. Stephen Parish Family Center. Parishioners and the public are especially invited to the event.

Ten-year-old Connor, son of Michelle and John Gracyalny, St. Stephen parishioners, has been undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) for the past 10 months. He was diagnosed September 30, 2013, with the disease, which is a type of cancer of the white blood cells.

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Kevin Wondrash

Parish offers creation care class

MADISON — Blessed Sacrament Parish will host the Just Faith Ministries’ module, “God’s Creation Cries for Justice,” which probes a faithful response to climate change.

In this eight-week class, participants will examine climate change through the lens of Catholic social teaching — reflecting on their place in and responsibility for God’s creation. With a particular focus on the impact of climate change on the poor and vulnerable, the group will explore what action steps they can take to insure a sustainable future for all.

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Kevin Wondrash

POLST: A Catholic moral dilemma (part one)

Author’s note: “Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity. All people feel the interior impulse to love authentically: love and truth never abandon them completely, because these are the vocation planted by God in the heart and mind of every human person” (Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate).

These words from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI capture so well the weight of the pro-life mission. Working as a dining room server at a retirement home in high school, I formed friendships with the elderly community there. This experience was formative and heightened my awareness of the love that must infuse end-of-life care. In my research, I came across the controversial POLST form, an advance directive becoming commonly used in hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes.

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Kevin Wondrash

Mazzuchelli memorial Mass and dinner planned

BENTON — The annual Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli memorial Mass and dinner will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, at St. Patrick Church in Benton.

The public is invited to attend the day’s events sponsored by the Father Mazzuchelli Assembly 1202 Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Lancaster.

Prior to the Mass, the public is invited to visit St. Augustine Church, New Diggings. Tours will be given from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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