News from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.
MADISON — Evening prayer and reflection marking the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church.
The reflection entitled “Graced Experience: Discerning the Call of God in Our Lives” will be presented by Edward Hahnenberg, Ph.D.
PINE BLUFF — A Requiem Mass for the Unborn will be held at St. Mary Church in Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22. It is being held to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
DARLINGTON — A […]
Jessica* was a sophomore in college. Naïve about sex, she thought she was in love.
But when Jessica became pregnant, her boyfriend coerced her into having an abortion. Jessica went along with a “choice” that seemed largely out of her control.
Shelly’s* pregnancy was unplanned and unwelcome. After her abortion, her immediate reaction was relief — she just wanted to move on.
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| Incense rises in the air as Fr. John Blewett, pastor, incenses the altar in the Adoration chapel altar of the new Mary, Mother of God Chapel at St. Aloysius Church at Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City on January 1. (Photo by Jim DeSchepper) |
SAUK CITY — Bringing in the new year was a very special occasion at Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City, where Bishop Robert C. Morlino held a dedication Mass and ceremony for the new Mary, Mother of God Adoration Chapel on January 1, fittingly the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
“Let Us Go Rejoicing to the House of the Lord” was the processional hymn sung as the bishop, Divine Mercy Pastor Fr. John Blewett, and Mass servers entered the chapel for the dedication.
It was no small task getting to this day, but the perseverance and faith of many parishioners who have helped keep a successful Eucharistic Adoration (EA) program going for over 12 years at St. Aloysius Church at Divine Mercy Parish made this day a reality.
Until now, Eucharistic Adoration has been held in the church proper. The “new” chapel is actually a renovated chapel that was “hidden” in the old Sisters convent located between the church and the school, according to Father Blewett.
“It is almost like it was waiting there,” he said, to be discovered and brought out through Divine Providence.
According to Bishop Morlino, a dedication ceremony for an altar or for a church or chapel is somewhat like a consecration ceremony for a new priest: it is preparing a temple to be worthy of the sacrifice of Christ in the Eucharist, he said.
Bishop Morlino blessed Cristobal Padilla, a candidate for Holy Orders at the beginning of the dedication Mass to symbolize the similarity in the rites.
MADISON — Madison’s Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) held an open house recently to celebrate the installation of new solar panels.
The installation of solar panels represents the latest evidence of the center’s on-going commitment to God’s people and caring for God’s creation.
Intending to bring Christmas cheer and delight to children at their sister parish, a talented group of Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) parishioners sewed 187 flannel pillowcases to be used as gifts.
MT. HOREB — A brunch for women sponsored by the St. Michael Council of Catholic Women to be held on Saturday, Jan. 17, at St. Ignatius Church Hall, 109 S. 6th St., will feature Kelly Wahlquist, a Catholic author and speaker.
Wahlquist will speak on “The Supreme Role of Women in the New Evangelization: Living ‘The Joy of the Gospel.'”
BARABOO — On Saturday, Jan. 24, St. Joseph Parish will host a one-day men’s retreat titled, “Living Supernaturally.”
Featured speakers include Fr. Rick Heilman and Scott Hackl. Father Heilman is the founder of the Catholic men’s apostolate Knights of Divine Mercy, founder of the Holy League, and regular on Relevant Radio.
Hackl is the father of six and advancement director working on a $24 million campaign to rebuild St. Paul’s University Catholic Center in Madison.
SAUK CITY — “Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament is the gift we can give to God this Christmas,” according to Fr. John Blewett, pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City.
The parish has been working since May to expand its current, two-day a week Eucharistic Adoration Program held at St. Aloysius Church to a Perpetual Adoration program slated to begin January 1.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino is scheduled to dedicate the new chapel, called the “Mary, Mother of God Chapel,” fittingly on the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1.
