Columns – Page 148 – Madison Catholic Herald Archive (2001-2025)

This Lent has brought about a big change in our parish. We have doubled the attendance at daily Mass, thanks to a change in school policy. For the first time in maybe 30 years, the top three grades of our Catholic school students are attending Mass every day during Lent.

We daily Massers (a.k.a. senior citizens) had become adjusted to spreading out in our cozy little chapel, reserving the big church for Sundays and Thursdays when the whole student body is in attendance.

Surprised at first, we were happy to move over a bit and welcome a few teachers and so many bright young faces, filling every seat in our chapel. Only one thing worried me. What about our Word and Communion Service?

Eye on the Capitol

On March 11, 2010

John Huebscher

Foster public policies that are ‘family friendly’

Family, Community, and Participation is an important theme of Catholic social teaching. This theme reminds us of our need to foster public policies that are “family friendly.”

Policies that affirm and support parents in their role as the primary educators of their children certainly fall into this category. In recent weeks, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) has given testimony on two proposals that offer such support to parents of school children.

Spouses are united to each other and Jesus in Catholic marriage

A company organized a salvage operation off Ireland’s coast in order to recover treasure from a sunken Spanish treasure ship.

Day after day, diver after diver plunged into the cold waters and came up with nothing much. Then a diver discovered treasure that excited the entire crew. It was a wedding ring that a nobleman gave to his wife. On the ring was a heart accompanied by the words “I have nothing more to give.”

Cutting Edge

On March 4, 2010

Sr. Margie Lavonis

Lent, a time to take stock

My experience has been that far too much of our lives are often spent running in the fast lane. Many people, myself included, seem to go from one thing to the next without much time for reflection in between. There are times when I actually long for the days when I would complain to my mother that I was “bored.” I had a hard time doing “nothing.”

Although my actions don’t always witness to it, I am convinced that we are not meant to live at such a rapid pace. We need time to reflect on our experiences and on our relationships, especially with God.

Our Catholic Schools

On March 4, 2010

Michael Lancaster

Catholic schools planning in refinement stage

The work of the Catholic schools planning steering committee drew to a close in late January as they met for the final time to review the recommendations resulting from nearly 18 months of meetings, regional gatherings, and the diocesan wide schools planning congress that was held last October.

In November and December, the steering committee met to collate the recommendations resulting from the congress, adding consideration for the input that we received from regional meetings and task-force sessions, which were held throughout the diocese.

The Catholic Difference

On March 4, 2010

George Weigel

Papal environmentalism: pro-life and pro-marriage

In his January 11 address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI continued to carve out an interesting Catholic position on ecology.

The pope insists that care for creation is a moral obligation that falls on both individuals and governments. His very invocation of “creation,” however, challenges the secular shibboleths that underwrite a lot of contemporary environmental activism.

Grand Mom

On February 25, 2010May 20, 2021

Audrey Mettel Fixmer

The subject we avoid

In the past eight months our family has benefited from the dedicated services of hospice nurses, social workers, and chaplains.

That is in addition to the loving round-the-clock care my husband receives from a devoted staff at Countryside Home in Jefferson. Add that to the steady stream of visits from our 10 children, 19 grandchildren, and me, and you can see that Bob is one loved man.

Making Sense of Bioethics

On February 25, 2010May 20, 2021

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

How men are harmed by abortion

An important but often unacknowledged angle of the abortion debate involves the serious effects that legalized abortion has on men.

A recent scandal surrounding John Edwards, former North Carolina Senator and U.S. presidential candidate, brought this issue into plain view.

Mr. Edwards publicly acknowledged an extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter in the summer of 2008, a few months after pulling out of the presidential race. Even after admitting to the affair, however, he continued to deny having fathered Ms. Hunter’s daughter, Quinn, until January of 2010, when he finally admitted that he was, in fact, her father.

Abortion supports infidelity

Seeing with Jesus' Eyes

On February 18, 2010

Fr. Donald Lange

Lent prepares us to renew our baptismal promises

Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, good works, and penance. Lent prepares us to renew our baptismal promises with deep faith at Easter when we celebrate the paschal mystery, the heart of our faith.

In the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy it says “Lent disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the Word of God and devote themselves to prayer, to celebrate the Paschal mystery.”

Eye on the Capitol

On February 11, 2010

John Huebscher

State Senate improves access to public defender

Since Wisconsin does not permit capital punishment, the most significant action government can take is that of depriving a person of his or her freedom.

This loss of freedom makes the stakes in any criminal proceeding of great importance to the accused. That is why fairness is critical to our system of criminal justice.