Category: Around the Diocese

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

On
Angela Curio, Catholic Herald Staff

Facing challenges with distance learning

JANESVILLE/STOUGHTON — “Do you guys remember when Mrs. Harker told us we didn’t have to come to school on Wednesday, and we were all cheering, and now we’re all wishing we could go back!”

That was a comment made by one of the students in Jane Harker’s fifth grade class during their weekly Google Meet video conference session on May 6.

Harker has taught fifth grade at St. John Vianney School for the last two years in Janesville. Before that, she taught at Jefferson Elementary school in the same city.

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On
Jane Lepeska Grinde, For the Catholic Herald

Convention postponed until 2021 for women

MDCCW Officers
MDCCW officers to be elected this year include, from left: Judy Lyons, president-elect, succeeds Bernadette Schaefer as MDCCW president; Katie Crosby continues as treasurer; and Linda Ripp is a candidate for president-elect. This year’s election will take place virtually as will the installation of officers by Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, MDCCW spiritual advisor, left.
(Jane Lepeska Grinde photo)

MADISON — “Five years ago, at the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) Convention in Orlando, it became my dream to celebrate the 100th anniversary of NCCW at our diocesan convention in 2020,” said Bernadette Schaefer, Lancaster, who is in her final year as president of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW).

“Now, instead,” she wrote in the MDCCW newsletter, “I have to announce that our convention and celebration have been cancelled.”

With concerns about the health and safety of its members during this pandemic, the MDCCW board voted by email to cancel the annual convention scheduled for June 13 in Cross Plains. The board will meet virtually May 16 to elect officers and conduct other business which is allowed during times of crisis.

Much accomplished

The June convention was to be the 66th annual convention. During those 66 years, area Catholic women have participated in countless activities at their parish, vicariate, and diocesan levels.

Add 34 years to that for the 100 years of organized activities of the NCCW, and the result is countless charitable projects in this country and internationally, said Schaefer.

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On
Angela Curio, Catholic Herald Staff

Three mothers reflect on pregnancy, birth, and faith during pandemic

MADISON — Pregnancy can be both a joyous and stressful time for new mothers. It can come with health hurtles, worries about the future, but usually not to the level of a global pandemic.

Three new and expecting mothers — Tabitha Hansen, Diana Bur, and Kristin Dvorsky — talked about what it is like to be expecting a child during this time and how their faith has been supporting them in their struggles.

Offering it up

Tabitha Hansen, a convert to Catholicism and member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, had already lost three children to miscarriage and has four living children. Her daughter, Julia, is due to be born in September.

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On
David R. J. Stiennon, For the Catholic Herald

Our Lady of Hope Clinic challenged by pandemic and personnel issues

MADISON — Our Lady of Hope Clinic has been hit by multiple challenges during the last three months.

The pandemic has not only altered how health care is provided but has all but eliminated the availability of volunteer medical assistants at the 11-year-old Odana Rd. clinic on Madison’s west side.

Open for members and uninsured recipients

Dr. Michael Kloess and Dr. Elizabeth Larson continue to serve an average of six uninsured patients daily, while providing enhanced access primary care to members of the clinic.

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On
Bishop Donald J. Hying

Turning to God during the pandemic and maintaining momentum afterwards

Hying Logo

Questions often raised during these weeks of social isolation and pandemic are: What am I learning from this experience? How will my life be different going forward? How will society change as a result?

I have heard from many people who are feeling a greater need for God in their lives. When we confront suffering, fear, loneliness, and privation, we gain greater insight into the essential nature of life’s meaning.

Discovering what really matters

Without frenetic activity to distract us, with less social contact to sustain us, with the threat or reality of sickness, unemployment, and even death staring us in the face, we discover very quickly what really matters.

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On
Angela Curio

More parishes offer livestream Masses, services

Following is information on additional livestreaming Masses and other services offered by parishes in the Diocese of Madison.

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sun Prairie. Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary offers the following:

1) Livestreamed Masses on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. on Facebook.

2) Daily homily posted on Facebook and daily Masses recorded and posted on website and YouTube.

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On
Angela Curio, Catholic Herald Staff

Overflowing generosity at drive-thru food drive

QOP Food Drive
Volunteers at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison take donations for the Catholic Multicultural Center in Madison out of the back of a vehicle. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish (QP) saw an overflow of generosity at its first Drive-Thru Food Drive to benefit the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) on the morning of Sunday, April 19.

“Many of you are asking for ways to help as COVID-19 continues to affect our community on a daily basis, so QP’s Social Action and Community Enrichment Board teamed up with the St. Vincent de Paul conference to find a creative way to help our neighbors in need!” read the Facebook event page that was posted just six days before the event.

“We need your help to feed the hundreds of families that are continuing to suffer by filling the Catholic Multicultural Center’s food pantry!”

High turnout

Thirty-eight individuals expressed interest on Facebook before the event, but the turnout was “more than we were anticipating,” said Annette Fox, director of the parish’s Social Action and Community Enrichment board. “It was awesome. Filled the van plus some!”

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