Category: Guest column

On
Meg Matenaer, For the Catholic Herald

Unexpected homeschooling during COVID-19

Meg Matenaer

I am a homeschooling dropout. Seven years ago when my oldest was five, we decided that we would homeschool her.

Eight weeks later when the reality was so depressingly different from the ideal I had painted in my mind, she was enrolled in an amazing Catholic school and we’ve never looked back.

Until yesterday.

After it was clear that there would be an imminent shutdown of the schools in Madison, our heroic teachers and principals in only a matter of days mobilized, creating systems to keep learning going at home.

They sent home computers, devised ways to stream lectures and collect homework, spent hours photocopying and recording videos, and packed up the students’ belongings, distributing them at assigned times to parents in the parking lot.

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On
Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

Staying connected in a time of ‘social distancing’

Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

Several years ago, a summer heat wave of historic proportions settled over Europe, leading to the death of over 14,000 people in France alone.

Many of the victims were elderly citizens who were left behind in major cities as their families and neighbors enjoyed their summer holidays far from the country’s urban areas.

The memory of this tragedy has been very present to me as we hunker down, close our doors and try our best to isolate our elderly residents from the coronavirus for as long as it takes to protect them from danger.

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On
Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

Elders shape the future

Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

During February my thoughts turn to two of my favorite biblical figures, Simeon and Anna.

Simeon is described in St. Luke’s Gospel simply as “a man in Jerusalem” and Anna as an 84-year-old “prophetess.”

These two elders greet Mary and Joseph as they bring their newborn infant to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. We celebrate this moment in Jesus’ life, referred to as the Presentation in the Temple, on February 2.

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On
Fr. Richard Heilman

Marching Bosco’s pillars around the state Capitol

Fr. Richard Heilman

On Friday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m., we are calling all pro-lifers to join together on this Feast of St. John Bosco, as we bring “Bosco’s Two Pillars” of the Most Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary to the sidewalks surrounding the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison.

We will meet on the State St. steps and then process the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady around the State Capitol. All who march with us will be given Epiphany Holy Water and Exorcised and Blessed Salt to sprinkle around our State Capitol, and call upon God to bless and transform our state and country back to a culture of life.

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On
Deacon Lawrence Oparaji

New year, new me: the right way

Journey with Faith
Deacon Lawrence Oparaji

In November, I visited my uncle in Dallas, Texas, and while I was there, we went to a barbershop to get a haircut.

While waiting for my turn, I overheard a man say to the barber that he was moving to Las Vegas. The barber asked further why he was doing that, and the man simply said, “I want to start the new year and new decade in a new city. You know what I mean — a fresh start?”

Take concrete steps to change

On hearing this, I thought to myself, “sounds great, but it’s not sufficient.” It is a new year and new decade quite right, but what concrete steps are we taking to make whatever change we desire, other than just moving to a new city, like Las Vegas?

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On
Deacon Lawrence Oparaji

Christmas and the gift of encounter

Journey with Faith
Deacon Lawrence Oparaji

One fateful Christmas season some years ago, something very significant happened in a family.

A mother came back from Christmas shopping and was welcomed by her eight-year-old son Daniel and her much younger daughter Jane. The children were so excited and eager to see what their mum bought. She, however, asked them to allow her to freshen up and rest a little before unveiling the Christmas goodies.

The unveiling eventually came, and the children were handy and active. There were gifts for their daddy, for their mummy, for their aunties and uncles, for their grandpas and grandmas, for their family friends and for their cat and dog.

Eventually the shopping bag was empty! Looking at the empty shopping bag, Daniel became sad and moody. Discovering Daniel’s sudden mood change, his mother became worried, and asked him what was wrong with him.

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On
R. Dietzman and K. Styler

AmeriCorps/VISTA makes difference for Catholic Charities

Amy Lachuk & Katherine Styler

For the past year, Rachel Dietzman has gained professional experience by completing one year of full-time service for The Beacon and Catholic Charities.

The 23-year-old recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate is a member of the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) program. AmeriCorps VISTA is a highly professional and rigorous volunteer service program through which members serve in organizations; it is often called a domestic Peace Corps.

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