Category: Around the Diocese

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

On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Sidewalk counselors perform ‘God’s mission’

MADISON — Every Friday afternoon, Jen Dunnett stands on the sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Madison talking to those who will listen, and those who won’t.

On one recent Friday, someone listened.

Dunnett is a volunteer sidewalk counselor with Vigil for Life, an organization whose members pray, fast, and peacefully witness for an end to abortion in the Madison area.

She hands out informational brochures on abortion and birth control, informs people about free services offered at the nearby Women’s Care Center of Madison (WCCM), and talks with women and men about to go inside the Planned Parenthood Clinic.

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Kevin Wondrash

Queen of Peace Parish to hold special needs celebration

MADISON — Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 401 S. Owen Dr., will host a panel discussion and entitled “All Together Now! Celebrating and supporting those with special needs” on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.

Vicky Franchino, parishioner at Queen of Peace, said, “Please join us for an evening of fellowship and conversation as we come together to learn and connect during National Disabilities Awareness Month. Our evening will begin with brief presentations, followed by an audience Q&A. All are welcome!”

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Brent King, Communications Director, Diocese of Madison

Former seminary could be transformed into housing community

The Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, formerly Holy Name Seminary, may be transformed into a multi-family housing community. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner)

MADISON — A Madison icon, the former Holy Name Seminary, a neo-colonial revival landmark that welcomed its first students in 1964 and has served as the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center (BOC) since the seminary was closed in 1995, may be transformed into a multi-family housing community, officials at the Diocese of Madison announced September 25.

The diocese signed a letter of intent with Gorman & Company to enter exclusive negotiations for a development contract and 60-year lease agreement to renovate the building as a “certified historic rehabilitation” in compliance with historic preservation guidelines prescribed by the National Park Service.

According to the letter of intent, the Diocese of Madison would retain ownership of the BOC land to be leased, as well as determination over the future use of the approximately 72-acre Bishop O’Connor Center.

The landmark building that would be redeveloped by Gorman would revert to diocesan control at the end of the 60-year lease period. In the interim, the diocese would relocate its administrative offices, and those of Catholic Charities and its family of other tenants, on a mutually convenient date before construction starts.

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Joan Carey, For the Catholic Herald

Helping university students see life in Jesus Christ

MADISON — “Without St. Paul’s,” University of Wisconsin-Madison student Jamie Wheeler reflects, “without the guidance it offers . . . ” She pauses. Then she smiles. “We would be missing the Big Picture.”

Jamie is a chemistry Ph.D. student from Texas. Three years ago, she made the big move north to study at the University of Wisconsin.

The “Big Picture” Jamie refers to is, of course, life in Jesus Christ. Students like Jamie can’t even imagine what their years of formation as young adults would be like without the grounding they receive at St. Paul University Catholic Center.

Young adults coming out of the shelter of home and into a world-class campus like the University of Wisconsin face what too often becomes a subconscious decision to the Big Question: now that my parents aren’t around to drag me to Mass on Sunday, am I going to keep the faith or leave it behind?

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Nico Fassino, Catholic Herald Staff

40 Days for Life holds vigil for abortion victims

MADISON – On Saturday, Sept. 14, groups of pro-life Americans participated in a National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children to honor the gravesites of the unborn who were victims of abortion.

Nationwide memorial services

The Day of Remembrance was conducted at 39 different gravesites across the nation, and was held on September 14 to mark the 25th anniversary of the burial of several hundred children in Milwaukee.

 

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Renovated student chapel blessed in Platteville

PLATTEVILLE — A new era at St. Augustine University Catholic Parish began on September 8 when Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison blessed the recently-renovated chapel.

The project lasted all summer and “was well worth it,” according to parish development director Carly Hood.

The project came to life from the suggestions of parishioners. Hood met with many of them back in December when she first moved to the area.

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Roger Frey, For the Catholic Herald

Benefit planned for Meinholz family

MADISON — A benefit for Jeremy Meinholz and his family will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13, sponsored by Catholic Financial Life Chapter 280 Ashton/Middleton, along with Jeremy’s family and friends.

Jeremy has a fast-growing, life- threatening melanoma. He and his wife, Cheryl, have three children: Aiden (10), Isabel (seven), and Sawyer (four). Our goal is to raise funds for medical bills and other expenses as Jeremy fights this cancer.

 

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Kevin Wondrash

Catholic library conference

PLOVER — The Wisconsin Chapter of the Catholic Library Association (WCLA) will hold its annual fall conference on Friday, Oct.18, in Plover.

All elementary, middle, and high school librarians, as well as those from universities, colleges, and public and parish libraries, are welcome. The conference will be held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Plover from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Kevin Wondrash

West Dane Vicariate meeting October 8

MARTINSVLLE — The West Dane Council of Catholic Women (CCW) will meet Tuesday, Oct. 8, at St. Martin Parish Center, 5959 St. Martin Cir., Cross Plains. Registration is from 8:30 to 9 a.m., followed by business meeting. The theme is “Made in God’s Image.”

Rona Neri-Bergmann and Genna Eaton from the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection (WNC) will speak at 10, focusing on “seeing God in everyone we meet and treating everyone with respect.”

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Kevin Wondrash

West Dane Vicariate meeting October 8

MARTINSVLLE — The West Dane Council of Catholic Women (CCW) will meet Tuesday, Oct. 8, at St. Martin Parish Center, 5959 St. Martin Cir., Cross Plains. Registration is from 8:30 to 9 a.m., followed by business meeting. The theme is “Made in God’s Image.”

Rona Neri-Bergmann and Genna Eaton from the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection (WNC) will speak at 10, focusing on “seeing God in everyone we meet and treating everyone with respect.”

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