Thirty-ninth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
In 2020, Bishop Donald J. Hying and the Diocese of Madison had to cope with the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease).
Limiting spread of the virus
In a letter to priests of the diocese on March 3, 2020, the diocesan Office of Worship adopted a plan to limit the spread of the virus.
In a letter to the faithful of the diocese dated March 12, Bishop Hying temporarily lifted the obligation to attend Sunday and holy day Masses in person. He said that it is “important for us to take precautions to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. Currently the best steps we can take in that regard seem to involve creating a sort of firewall, diminishing the opportunities for the spread of this virus, while some degree of containment is still possible.”
At a press conference, Bishop Hying said that suspending Masses as a bishop was “the hardest thing that I could possibly do, because for us as Catholics, Mass is everything.”
On March 15, Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin announced that public and private schools would close on March 18. Bishop Hying encouraged each parish and school to consider cancellation of events. The bishop said, “Let us continue to pray for and support one another.”
The bishop curtailed his personal appearances while using livestream Masses, radio, and video messages to communicate with the people of the diocese. Many parishes also offered livestream Masses.
Catholic churches in the diocese reopened at 25 percent capacity on Pentecost weekend, May 30-31, 2020.
In September of 2020, Catholic schools outside Dane County opened for in-person classes with safety precautions. Schools in Dane County followed Public Health orders allowing in-person instruction for students in grades kindergarten through two.
St. Ambrose Academy in Madison sought legal action after the order. On September 10, the State Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the order so Dane County Catholic schools could hold in-person instruction for all students.
Bishop Hying announced that the Mass dispensation would end on September 27 with safety protocols remaining in place in churches. Those older or immunodeficient were not bound to attend Mass in person.
Evangelization Initiative
In May of 2020, Bishop Hying announced that he was launching an Evangelization Initiative — Go Make Disciples — on the occasion of the diocese’s 75th anniversary in 2021 to deepen and animate the commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.
He issued a pastoral letter which was serialized in the Catholic Herald.
Weekly articles on evangelization and catechesis were published each week in the Catholic Herald starting with the May 28, 2020, issue, and continuing to the present. They are written by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis staff, parish staff, and others.
On Pentecost Sunday, May 31, Bishop Hying led an Evening of Prayer at St. Christopher Parish in Verona to begin the Evangelization Initiative. He encouraged people to pray for the initiative saying, “It’s not just for one year or two years, but for the rest of our lives to give witness to our faith.”
In Phase I of the initiative, the bishop asked each pastor to choose an evangelizing team, composed of parish staff and leaders, and spend a year praying together, sharing faith, and studying the kerygma and teachings of the Church.
Every parish also has a mentor, a layperson who is both a leader of Go Make Disciples within the community and a point of contact with the diocese. The diocesan staff prepared monthly newsletters for pastors and parish teams.
Bishop Hying reported after the first year of the initiative, “Despite the COVID restrictions, every pastor and parish is participating in Phase I, often with immediate and astonishing fruit.”
Phase II expands the circle of discipleship to equip a group of parishioners to reach out to others who are not fully engaged with the faith. “This effort converges well with our need to invite folks back to Mass as we emerge from the pandemic,” said Bishop Hying.
Diocese’s 75th anniversary
In his column in the December 31, 2020, Catholic Herald, Bishop Hying looked ahead to the 75th anniversary of the diocese in 2021 as an opportunity to give thanks for those who have gone before us and to embrace the future.
The bishop encouraged everyone to mark the anniversary and the Evangelization Initiative by committing themselves to the faith, prayer, the Scriptures, the sacraments, and the Church.
To mark the 75th anniversary in the summer of 2021, there were two opportunities to walk in the footsteps of the pioneer missionary priest Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli in early August. Bishop Hying and many others took part in a three-day pilgrimage and one-day pilgrimage concluding at St. Patrick Church in Benton where Father Mazzuchelli is buried.
Rural life and Hispanic ministry
Bishop Hying brought Tom Nelson on board as rural life coordinator for the diocese in 2020.
Rural Life Listening Sessions were planned in all 11 counties of the diocese, but they were postponed because of COVID. They are resuming in the fall of 2021.
A rural life advisory board has been established and is involved in helping prioritize needs and program details.
On May 15, 2021, Bishop Hying honored farmers and food producers as he celebrated a Rural Life Mass at St. Lawrence Church in rural Jefferson. He also blessed farm implements and seeds.
In September of 2021, Lorianne Aubut was hired as the new coordinator of Hispanic ministry and coordinator of marriage and family ministries for the diocese.
A Hispanic ministry advisory council has been formed and regional pastoral visits with Bishop Hying and Aubut are being planned. A comprehensive Hispanic pastoral plan for the diocese will be developed.
Other news
In February of 2020, Scott Klaas was appointed the new executive director of the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation succeeding Daun Maier, who served the diocese for 19 years.
In November of 2020, Chancellor William Yallaly accepted a national position with the Knights of Columbus. He had served in the diocese for nearly 14 years.
In December of 2020, Timothy Cavanaugh, JCL, was named chancellor of the diocese while continuing his work with the diocesan Tribunal.
In May of 2021, Catholic Charities of Madison announced that Shawn Carney is the new CEO.
In September of 2021, Dr. Patrick Gorman retired as director of the diocesan Office of Worship, a position he held for 26 years, as well as director of the Madison Diocesan Choir.
Bishop Hying appointed Fr. Greg Ihm as director of the office in addition to his service as diocesan vocations director. Amy Yanzer continues as associate director of the Office of Worship with expanded responsibilities. Dr. Gorman died on September 28.
In October of 2021, it was announced that the Diocese of Madison had entered into a formal covenant of charity, prayer, and solidarity with the Diocese of Jacmel in Haiti.
By November of 2021, Bishop Hying had visited the vast majority of parishes in the diocese with about 10 to go, nearly fulfilling his goal despite the pandemic.
Source: Archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper.
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.