Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Adult faith formation Bible studies offered at Blessed Sacrament

MADISON — Pope Francis has captivated the attention of many people around the globe with his simplicity, humility, directness, and outreach to the marginalized.

He calls us to be in dialogue with the world reaching out to build a culture of “solidarity” or “encounter” in which a society shares and includes. This desire to love flows from the love we have received from Christ.

To help us better experience God’s love in the Scriptures and thus grow in loving, the Blessed Sacrament Parish Adult Faith Formation Committee will be offering various Bible studies this year:

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Kevin Wondrash

Marriage is built on mercy and forgiveness

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.
On Sunday, August 19, I was honored and privileged to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for those in the diocese marking 50 years of marriage.

It was a joyful moment, gathering about 60 couples from throughout the diocese and, in a particular way, I felt called by the Lord to point out that the durability and the steadfastness of their married lives is a “school of forgiveness,” from which all can learn.

I could see the twinkle in their eyes as I recalled that beneath the marriage covenant of each and every couple present there was a mountain of forgiveness built on 50 years of forgiveness and mercy, with and through the Lord.

It is no small feat to have built that mountain, and it is a tremendous sign for the whole world. In fact, it is one of my most cherished occasions of the whole year when I am in the company of those who, with Mary, have said their “fiat” — their, “let it be” — and continue to mean it.

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Kevin Wondrash

Pastor’s family pitches in to raise funds for Clinton church

CLINTON — When the need arose for a new heating and air conditioning system in the 41-year-old St. Stephen Church in Clinton, Fr. Bill Connell, pastor, enlisted his large family to help raise the money.

Four generations will be present at a Labor Day weekend fundraiser, but not all will be working since the youngest is only six months old.

On Saturday, Aug. 31, about 40 of Father Connell’s siblings, nieces, and nephews are going to prepare and serve a public chicken and ham dinner. This will be preceded by a “polka Mass” with Beloit big band leader Jack Farina providing the music.

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Kevin Wondrash

Pastoral ministers support each other through association

MADISON — Pastoral ministers who are part of a parish staff may have any number and variety of responsibilities.

Many of us coordinate outreach to the homebound, visits to people in care facilities, and ministry to the bereaved.

Others are deacons, liturgists, pastoral musicians, social justice coordinators, directors of communications, or have adult faith formation responsibilities.

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Kevin Wondrash

Madison Catholic Woman’s Club to present benefit style show

MADISON — The Madison Catholic Woman’s Club invites all the women of the diocese to a benefit dessert and fashion show.

Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks at Greenway Station in Middleton will present the “Color Me Autumn” Style Show at the St. Peter Church Social Center, 5001 N. Sherman Ave. in Madison, on Monday, Sept. 9. Dessert will be served at 12 noon with the fashion show beginning at 12:30 p.m.

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Kevin Wondrash

‘Faith & Fun’ program in Belmont

BELMONT — This year, the focus of the “Faith & Fun” summer program for children at St. Philomena Parish in Belmont was the Year of Faith as proclaimed by our former Pope, Benedict XVI.

Children participating in the program were given a mustard seed and focused on the biblical text: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could move a mountain.”

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