MADISON — Our amazing priests lead us spiritually, pray with our families, visit the sick, hurting, and dying, hear our confessions, and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
It turns out some even bake, or at least are trying their hands at it to support a good cause!
This year, four priests from the Diocese of Madison are competing in a bake-off, called The Great Mercy Match-Battle of the Bakers, to support the Heart of Mercy Endowment (HOME).
The HOME fund, held with the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF), financially supports organizations in the diocese performing Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Fr. Stephen Brunner, Fr. Scott Jablonski, Fr. Garret Kau, and Fr. Lawrence Oparaji are putting their baking skills to the test to support the HOME fund with the hope of winning $1,000 towards a work of mercy of their choice.
Each contestant baked the same bread recipe and a creation of their choice — each with the help of an assistant baker.
In addition to their baking scores, you have the opportunity to boost your favorite priest’s score with each donation of $10 to the HOME fund counting as one vote for the priest baker.
Follow along with reveals of each bake for The Great Mercy Match and vote for your favorite priest on the CDMF’s website: https://www.diocesemadisonfoundation.org/mercymatch
The final video of all the bakes will air on June 18 on the CDMF Facebook page and voting will close on June 22.
May the best baker win!
Patron saint of bakers
Each year, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison selects a saint who exemplifies the Works of Mercy to promote the Heart of Mercy Endowment.
This year, we look to St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
St. Elizabeth was born a princess of Hungary at the beginning of the 13th century.
She lived a short life, passing at the age of 24, but is known as an example of generosity and mercy toward the poor. She chose a simple life of service and prayer.
Her family often looked down on her generosity to the poor as squandering royal money, and eventually, she was thrown out of court.
She founded and personally served in a hospital for the poor and sick in her kingdom and fed the needy daily. St. Elizabeth is often depicted with bread and roses in her cloak and is known as the patron saint of bakers.
Many of the 2021 gifts from the HOME fund will focus on the works of mercy: Feeding the Hungry and Forgiving Offenses Willingly.
Bolstering Works of Mercy in the diocese
The Heart of Mercy Endowment was established in 2017 to memorialize the Year of Mercy.
Each year, it enables the Bishop of Madison to aid organizations performing works of mercy by offering gifts to further their efforts.
Gifts support many organizations such as St. Vincent De Paul councils, food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters; strengthen ministries and apostolates like county prison ministries and addiction recovery services; and help with the cost of interment for the unborn and burial of children.
The HOME fund has been built up to over $970,000 by donations from supporters in the diocese.
In 2021, over $32,000 will be distributed across the diocese from Shullsburg to Fort Atkinson, and Beloit to Westfield.
Over $133,000 has been gifted from the HOME fund’s annual disbursement to support Works of Mercy since its establishment.
Consider supporting next year’s gifts with a contribution to the Heart of Mercy fund.
Checks can be made out to the Heart of Mercy Endowment and sent to the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation at 702 S. High Point Rd. Suite 223, Madison, WI 53719.
Nikki Sena is the communications manager for the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation.