The 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison are rural and the few communities in areas defined as urban are dramatically affected by the success or the failure of farming communities. The diocesan Church seeks to provide some relief from the financial downturn through its partnership with Catholic Charities and its Rural Life Office, which opened on July 1, 2009.
Category: Around the Diocese
News from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.
Drawing down divine mercy on families
Starting March 3 through Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, join the Apostolate for Family Consecration, St. Aloysius Parish and St. Mary Parish, and cluster parishes St. Norbert, St. Barnabas, and St. John the Baptist as they pray for the outpouring of Divine Mercy on families and the country.
Students learn, fast, donate to Haiti relief
MADISON — Each week, St. Paul University Catholic Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus hosts a dinner to bring together the student community in a fun setting with the comfort of a family-style meal.
The dinner on February 4, however, had an additional intent — to learn a little more about Haitian culture through its cuisine, to understand the current situation in Haiti, and to contribute to the relief efforts there.
Defend Life Rally held in Madison
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| Defend Life Rally goers bear signs outside the Madison Surgery Center at 1 S. Park St. on February 6 following a march from State St. in downtown Madison. The rally and march included peaceful confrontations with screaming pro-abortion advocates at the rally and later at the clinic. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner) To see more pictures, click here. |
MADISON — Close to 500 pro-life advocates from around Wisconsin attended the Defend Life Rally on State Street’s Library Mall in downtown Madison February 6 and marched peacefully to the Madison Surgery Center (MSC) despite screaming pro-abortion advocates at both locations.
The rally, organized by Pro-Life Wisconsin and Vigil for Life of Madison, featured various pro-life speakers and served as both a recognition of successful efforts put forth by local pro-life advocates to prevent abortions at the Madison Surgery Center and as impetus for the 40 Days for Life vigil expected to begin Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, and for other pro-life events in the area.
The first Defend Life Rally in 2009 drew more than 800 people to protest the MSC board’s decision to begin performing abortions. Since that time, pro-life groups and demonstrators have maintained a persistent presence outside the site at 1 S. Park St. The MSC is jointly operated by Meriter Hospital, University Hospitals and Clinics, and the UW Medical Foundation.
“They thought we’d lose interest. They thought we’d forget. They thought we’d go away. My friends — have you lost interest? Have you forgotten? Do you plan on going away?” asked Steve Karlen, co-director of Vigil for Life. He received a resounding “no” from the crowd to each question.
Years of cooperation pave way for merger
KINGSTON/MARKESAN — Plans are being finalized for the merger of St. Mary Parish in Kingston and St. Joseph Parish in Markesan with the new name of Holy Family Parish.
St. Paul’s debuts Lenten Reflection booklet
MADISON — Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison show up in force to cheer on the Badgers and get free pizza during any number of Welcome Week celebrations.
Baraboo parish hosts program exploring the Bible
Over the weekend of February 19 to 20, St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo is hosting the Great Adventure Bible Timeline (GABT).
40 Days for Life begins February 17
This spring, from February 17 to March 28, Madison and surrounding communities are uniting with over 160 other large cities across America, as well as locations in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, for the largest coordinated spring pro-life mobilization in history — the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign.
Rite of Election to be held February 21
MADISON — The Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion for Candidates for Full Communion in the Catholic Church will be celebrated by the churches of the Diocese of Madison on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee.
Arlene McMorran celebrates 25 years as principal
Among accolades honoring Arlene McMorran for serving 25 years as Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) School principal is the Outstanding Catholic Educator Award in the Diocese of Madison. The honorary plaque was recently presented to McMorran by Madison Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Michael Lancaster.