Category: Around the Diocese

News from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.

On
Kevin Wondrash

Pregnancy Helpline sponsors Diaper Dash run/walk

MADISON — Pregnancy Helpline, Inc.’s Diaper Dash run/walk will kick off Diaper Need Awareness Week, September 28 through October 4.

This week in Wisconsin has been proclaimed for the second year through the effort of Pregnancy Helpline of Madison to draw attention to the struggle low-income families face to keep their children in clean diapers. Sizes four, five, and six are especially needed.

Diaper Dash

The first Diaper Dash 5K run/two mile walk will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at McKee Farms Park, 2930 Chapel Valley Rd, Fitchburg. Check in begins at 8 a.m. with the race at 9 a.m.

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Kevin Wondrash

Ladies of Divine Mercy second year to kickoff

PINE BLUFF — The second year of the Ladies of Divine Mercy will kick off on Friday, Sept. 18, with speaker Fr. Christopher Gernetzke, newly ordained priest of the diocese.

Ladies of Divine Mercy, modeled after the popular Knights of Divine Mercy, is a prayer apostolate which meets the third Friday of each month, September through April, at St. Mary of Pine Bluff Church, 3673 Co. Hwy. P, Cross Plains. The events are open to all women. Nursing mothers are welcome to bring their nurslings. The January and April events will be combined events with the Knights of Divine Mercy.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Chancellor Kevin Phelan retires, prompts changes in chancery

Kevin Phelan
Kevin Phelan Eric Schiedermayer William Yallaly

MADISON — Effective August 28, Kevin Phelan retired as chancellor of the Diocese of Madison, a position he has held since 2004.

Before he came to Madison, Phelan served as chancellor of the Diocese of Helena, Mont., for two years. In both dioceses he served as the sexual abuse victim assistance coordinator.

While thanking Phelan for his “faithful lay service,” Bishop Robert C. Morlino said “his departure both necessitates and allows for other changes at the diocesan level.”

The bishop said, “In order to address some of our current needs, as well as to bring our office in closer alignment with the curial structure provided in the Code of Canon Law, two major changes will take place at this time”:

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Hundreds protest Planned Parenthood in Madison

Planned Parenthood Protest, Madison

Fr. Bart Timmerman, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, leads more than 200 people in praying the Rosary outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Madison’s east side as they protested the selling of baby body parts from abortions. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

MADISON — Prayer.

That’s what it will take to end abortion.

That’s what rush hour commuters saw as more than 200 people prayed on the sidewalks near the Planned Parenthood clinic on Madison’s east side to do their part to see that facility close and protect the lives of the unborn.

The protest on Monday, Aug. 24, was held in unity with nationwide protests following reports of Planned Parenthood harvesting and selling the organs and tissue of aborted babies.

As people’s workdays ended, they arrived at the Orin Rd. site for the 5 p.m. protest, despite the unseasonably cold and gloomy late August weather.

‘All things are possible’

Fr. Rick Heilman, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Mount Horeb and Perry, welcomed everyone who came out.

“With man it’s impossible, but with God all things are possible,” he said. Encouraging everyone to pray and be in a state of grace, he added, “We need to lean on God and his grace . . . lean on Our Lady as much as you can. She is the one who steps on that satanic head.”

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