Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe

The countries in Central and Eastern Europe have faced a century of hardship. They have been oppressed by radical communism, horrendous crimes against humanity, and revolutionary, civil, and world wars.

Under communism, religion and religious practices were openly persecuted, and atheism was actively propagated and enforced.

Control of every aspect of life was taken over by totalitarian governments and the communist party, and civil society and the economy were deconstructed.

Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991, Central and Eastern European countries have been working to rebuild their political structures, social welfare, economies, and their religious life.

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Kevin Wondrash

‘Christianity is for losers!’

Ted Turner, the famous media mogul, once memorably said that Christianity is for losers.

In his opinion, religious faith is a crutch for those who are too weak to stand on their own two feet and simply acknowledge that we are alone in the universe.

What he hurls at us as an insult, we should actually wear as an epithet of honor. Christianity is for losers!

Our faith is custom-designed by God for those who are humble enough to acknowledge that they are sinners in need of a savior, those who do not have it all put together, those who need Christ’s help.

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Kevin Wondrash

Remembering one of the best days ever

kevin-editorial

As I am looking at the calendar for October of 2020, and seeing we have a Friday, Oct. 16, coming up, I’m asking myself — How has it been five years already?

The last time October 16 fell on a Friday was in 2015.

My parish, St. Maria Goretti (SMG) in Madison, and the Diocese of Madison as a whole, had one of its most eventful days ever.

The relics of St. Maria Goretti came to the parish for nearly a 24-hour stay, part of the Pilgrimage of Mercy tour that had taken her relics around the country ahead of the Year of Mercy, which started later that year.

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Kevin Wondrash

Diocesan Hispanic leaders attend V Encuentro regional gathering virtually

MADISON — Once again Hispanic leaders from our diocese come together to continue the five-year process of the V Encuentro.

Back in March, about 12 people of the team were going to attend a regional gathering in Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.

This event was focused on welcoming the participation of all the dioceses of Region VII (consisting of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin) to lead valuable discussion and helping Region VII establish strategies for different ministerial areas.

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Kevin Wondrash

Next ‘Unite’ Rosary Rally on October 11

Rosary Rally
More than 3,000 people are expected to take part in the second Unite Wisconsin Rosary Rally on Sunday, Oct. 11, in Madison. Pictured above are clergy and parishioner participants on State St. in Madison during the initial rally on August 15.
(Catholic Herald photo/Joe Ptak).

MADISON — On Sunday, Oct. 11, many will again come out to pray in downtown Madison.

Hoping to repeat the numerical and spiritual success of the previous rally, the second Unite Wisconsin Rosary Rally will be held to honor Jesus and his Blessed Mother.

The first rally took place on August 15 and brought more than 3,000 people out.

Materials for the October event said, “We are all living in perilous times facing EPIDEMICS and THREATS TO OUR FREEDOMS. Our cities are disintegrating into anarchy with RIOTS damaging the property and taking the lives of innocent people. More than ever, we are being called to pray together — to UNITE Wisconsin against all evil.”

The event is being planned in conjunction with similar rallies going on in many other parts of the United States on the same day and will be the conclusion of a 54-day Rosary Novena that started the same day as the previous rally.

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Kevin Wondrash

Using God’s gifts for good

kevin-editorial

I used to joke that if Bishop Robert Barron can often reference Bob Dylan in his written columns, then I’m going to write about Jimi Hendrix someday.

Welp, here goes.

We’re in the time of the year when rock radio stations and music magazines remember the “West Coast Seattle Boy” during the anniversary of this death — this year being 50 years on September 18.

Those same media entities will remember his contemporary, the singer Janis Joplin, on the anniversary of her death, also 50 years ago this year on October 4.

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Kevin Wondrash

Evangelizing through Works of Mercy

BELOIT — At a time when many activities and efforts have slowed to a crawl, fervent hands and minds are still at work on the stateline in Rock County.

Five area Catholic parishes – Our Lady of the Assumption, St. Thomas, and St. Jude in Beloit; St. Stephen in Clinton; and St. Peter in South Beloit, Ill. – have formed a dedicated planning committee to establish the Stateline Mission Outreach.

The service will provide a day center where those suffering from homelessness can do laundry, take a shower, and share a simple meal together with the volunteers.

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