Fr. Tait Schroeder will soon be leaving the Diocese of Madison to work at the Vatican.
Author: Mary C. Uhler
Keep working to give life a chance
One of the first events I covered for the Catholic Herald was a pro-life rally held at the state Capitol on January 22, 1974.
It was held one year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
I went back and read that article, which noted that many people attending the rally wore buttons which said, “Give Life a Chance.”
Pray to Saint Michael the Archangel
Bishop Robert C. Morlino has asked that people in the Diocese of Madison pray for the triumph of good in our world and the overcoming of evil by praying the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel at all Sunday and Solemnity Masses in our diocese.
In doing some research (see www.catholic.org), I learned that Saint Michael the Archangel is the leader of all angels and the army of God. He has four main responsibilities, according to Scripture and tradition:
• To combat Satan.
• To escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death.
• To be a champion of all Christians and the Church itself.
• To call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.
Pray to Saint Michael the Archangel
Bishop Robert C. Morlino has asked that people in the Diocese of Madison pray for the triumph of good in our world and the overcoming of evil by praying the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel at all Sunday and Solemnity Masses in our diocese.
In doing some research (see www.catholic.org), I learned that Saint Michael the Archangel is the leader of all angels and the army of God. He has four main responsibilities, according to Scripture and tradition:
• To combat Satan.
• To escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death.
• To be a champion of all Christians and the Church itself.
• To call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.
We should get educated about human trafficking
As someone who has three granddaughters living in Wisconsin, I am concerned that our state is one of worst states in our country in terms of both sex and labor trafficking.
That information was shared at Catholics at the Capitol held in March. “Human trafficking is happening in counties all over Wisconsin. It happens everywhere, in rural and urban areas and online,” said keynote speaker Colleen Stratton, a survivor of human trafficking and member of the Eye Heart World Outreach Team.
January is observed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is an effort to raise awareness among businesses, national and community organizations, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we can play in ending all forms of slavery and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
Give pregnant women loving support
This is the time of year when we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We know that for his mother, Mary, her pregnancy could not have been an easy time. Although she knew she was carrying the Son of God in her womb, it must have been challenging to discuss her pregnancy with others, especially since she and Joseph were not yet married.
Fortunately, Joseph supported her. Yet, they travelled to Bethlehem in the last month of her pregnancy for a census and could find no place to stay in an inn. So Jesus was born in a stable, probably not the easiest place for labor and delivery!
Unexpected pregnancy
Many women today may find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy. We may know such women; they could be members of our families or friends, people who work with us, married or unmarried.
We all have responsibility in dealing with sexual abuse of girls and women
We’ve been hearing a lot about incidents of sexual abuse of girls and women this year.
It is a difficult subject to talk about, and I think many people want to avoid discussing it. However, I think we all have a responsibility to deal with this issue, especially in our own families.
Jesus reminds us to welcome strangers
We just observed Thanksgiving, the holiday started by the Pilgrims in 1621.
As we know, the Pilgrims emigrated to the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts and shared a harvest feast with the Native American Indians who had helped them.
Why they came
The Pilgrims came from England to America primarily to be able to practice their religious faith freely.
Over the centuries, people from many other parts of the world have come to the United States. My own ancestors hailed primarily from Ireland, Germany, and Belgium.
We should go beyond just giving thanks
As we observe Thanksgiving this week, of course it’s a time to give thanks for the blessings we have received in our lives.
While it is good to give thanks, it may be more difficult for us to go beyond giving thanks.
Take a good look at proposed tax bill
Although the president and some members of Congress would like to get a new tax bill passed soon, I think it would be wise for citizens to take a good look at this bill before it is fast-tracked.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, as it is called, is touted as saving taxpayers money and helping the country produce more jobs. However, there are concerns about whether both of those goals will be met in this bill.
Bishops comment on bill
In a November 9 letter to U.S. House of Representatives members, three bishops who are chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called the House version of the bill “unacceptable” as written because it “contains many fundamental structural flaws that must be corrected,” reported a Catholic News Service article.