News from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.
VERONA — St. Ambrose Academy students will perform Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, April 17 to 19, at the Verona High School Performing Arts Center, 300 Richard St.
Over 50 percent of the school’s student body will be singing, dancing, and working behind the scenes to produce the story of Harold Hill, the dishonest salesman who charms and is charmed by a small Iowa town.
Some familiar faces from past productions will be on stage, with new actors making their debuts.
After several months of planning, and only a few days of hard work to put it together, St. Joseph Parish and School in Fort Atkinson has a “museum quality site” that parishioners and students will “cherish for years.”
MADISON — On Saturday, March 7, Pope Francis met with more than 80,000 members of the Communion and Liberation lay movement who filled St. Peter’s Square in Rome and the boulevard leading to it.
It marked the 60th anniversary of the movement, which has the purpose of forming its members in Christianity in order to make them coworkers in the Church’s mission in all areas of society.
MADISON/SAUK CITY/ MONONA — St. John Paul II declared in the Great Jubilee year 2000 that throughout the Church, the Sunday after Easter will be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
The message of the Divine Mercy is that God is love itself poured out for us and this love is more powerful than any kind of evil in which individuals, humanity, or the world are entangled. All need Divine Mercy.
PINE BLUFF — The Knights and Ladies of Divine Mercy will host an evening of reflection with Bishop Robert C. Morlino followed by a wine and cheese social on Friday, April 10, at St. Mary of Pine Bluff Church.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with the “Regina Caeli” and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by an hour of Eucharistic Adoration. The Sacrament of Confession will be available most of the evening. After a sung recitation of the “Chaplet of Divine Mercy” and Evening Prayer, Bishop Morlino will speak on Divine Mercy. Benediction will follow.
VERONA — St. Christopher Parish will host the spring West Dane Vicariate Council of Catholic Women meeting at its St. Andrew Church site on Tuesday, April 7, starting with registration at 8:30 a.m. and ending with a Rosary and Benediction at 1 p.m.
Shirley Kelter, a spiritual director and retreat facilitator, will speak at 10 a.m. on “Spirituality in the Elderly.” She serves as chaplain and program director for Honoring Our Elders, a spiritual care and companionship ministry in Sauk Prairie, and is an on-call/night chaplain at UW Hospital.
BARABOO — St. Joseph Parish will again celebrate the beautiful and peaceful Tenebrae service on Good Friday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. Tenebrae, which means “shadows” in Latin, dates to the ancient Church.
The service incorporates light, music, Scripture, and prayer to focus on Jesus’ passion — his betrayal, abandonment, and agony. The Passion narrative is told in readings, followed by Scripture and a musical reflection.
JANESVILLE — The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Rock County/Dementia Care Specialist is presenting a free Alzheimer’s disease and dementia educational series at the Job Center, 1900 Center Ave.
Each program in the series, “Stepping Stones to Understanding Dementia: Diagnosis to End of Life,” is free of charge and begins at 6 p.m. Upcoming installments include:
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| Bishop Robert C. Morlino, right, was the recipient of the first Christ Brings Hope Award in the Diocese of Madison presented by Fr. Francis “Father Rocky” Hoffman, left, executive director of Relevant Radio. (Photo by Elizabeth Groshek) |
MADISON — Fr. Francis “Father Rocky” Hoffman presented Bishop Robert C. Morlino with the first Christ Brings Hope Award in the Diocese of Madison at the festive Relevant Radio dinner held at the Edgewater Hotel on March 19.
Father Hoffman is the executive director of Relevant Radio, which presents the Christ Brings Hope Award on behalf of the staff and supporters of the Catholic radio network to “an American Catholic who has worked with extraordinary dedication to bring the good news and hope of Christ to all souls.
“This person exemplifies the virtues of charity, generosity, hope, apostolic zeal, and love for the Truth,” said Father Hoffman.
Father Hoffman said of Bishop Morlino, “Through his selfless and dedicated work in the New Evangelization, Bishop Morlino serves as a solid example of what it means to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to thousands of souls. Relevant Radio is personally blessed to have his support and to serve the Diocese of Madison through WHFA 1240 AM.”
Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer, pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison and former director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the diocese, gave the blessing at the dinner.
Monsignor Schmelzer said that for the past 12 years, Bishop Morlino “has been a courageous leader in our diocese. We ask God to shower him and the diocese with blessings.”
Whether because it was a “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, or a dream “fulfilled” for one pastor, a newly-installed pipe organ at St. Patrick Parish in Doylestown was a reason to celebrate.
