Category: State News

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Tracy Rusch, Catholic Herald-Milwaukee

Bishop Donald Hying called a special priest

MILWAUKEE — She made regular visits home to Menomonee Falls from her convent once every six months, but there’s one visit that Sister of St. Benedict Center Margaret Mary Baravella will never forget.

“This young priest hustled down the aisle one day . . . and said, ‘Hi, I’m Fr. Don. Who are you and where are you from?’” said Sr. Margaret Mary, who attended the Wednesday afternoon ordination Mass with Sister of St. Benedict Center Cecilia Cannon and their mutual friend Hester Lewis. “We became fast friends at that moment.”

After that encounter at St. Anthony Parish, Sr. Margaret Mary said she continued to pray for him.

“I prayed for him for all the time that he was away at the missions and really kept my ear to the ground to when he would return,” Sr. Margaret Mary said. “He was surprised. I said to him, ‘I prayed for you always,’ and he said, ‘I can’t believe you remembered me.’ I said, ‘I would not forget you, Father. You are special.’”

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Jeff Kurowski, The Compass

College student pedals in ‘Biking for Babies’ benefit ride

KAUKAUNA — When it comes to athletics and outdoor activities, Kevin Biese of Holy Cross Parish, here,  enjoys trying anything and everything. He plays volleyball, tennis, and basketball. His pastimes include biking, hiking, and swimming. Throw in support for a good cause and he is ready to push himself physically like never before in his life.

Biese, who will be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is biking more than 800 miles in seven days to raise money for three pro-life charities. Along with four other cyclists, he is pedaling from Covington, La., to Champaign, Ill., as a part of Biking for Babies. Funds raised through donations will support a new Women’s Care Center in Madison, the Champaign Pregnancy Resource Center and Students for Life of Illinois. The target is $15,000.

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Wisconsin Catholic Conference

Getting involved in your government

Next to voting, the most important way citizens can participate in government is to communicate their wishes to legislators.

Become informed

In order to communicate most effectively with your legislators, it is necessary to know the issue under consideration. Many issues are very complex, both for legislators and the average citizen. If you want to influence the legislator, you must study the issues. An aware citizen can:

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Wisconsin Catholic Conference

Bishops champion Catholic schools, urge continued support

MADISON — The bishops of Wisconsin have published a letter to Catholics affirming the vital role Catholic schools play in their communities and urging a renewed commitment to their success. The letter, entitled “Catholic Schools and Our Church: Faith Moving Forward” will be distributed throughout the state in conjunction with this year’s annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week, January 30 through February 5.

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Brian T. Olszewski, Milwaukee Catholic Herald Staff

Milwaukee Archdiocese files for bankruptcy protection over abuse claims

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — A year to the day after his installation as the 11th archbishop of Milwaukee, Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki announced January 4 that he had directed archdiocesan attorneys “to file a petition for a Chapter 11 reorganization of its financial affairs under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.”

Milwaukee is the largest archdiocese to file for Chapter 11. The Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., with approximately 390,000 Catholics, filed for bankruptcy in July 2004. In February 2007, the Diocese of San Diego, with nearly 900,000 Catholics, filed for Chapter 11 protection.

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Catholic News Service

Bishop Callahan, auxiliary in Milwaukee, named bishop of La Crosse

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has named Auxiliary Bishop William P. Callahan of Milwaukee as bishop of La Crosse, Wis.

He succeeds Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, who was bishop of La Crosse from 2004 until he was named to the Milwaukee post in November.

The appointment was announced June 11 in Washington by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

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Kat Wagner, Catholic Herald Staff

Archbishop Listecki speaks opposing ‘window legislation’

MADISON — Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, archbishop of Milwaukee, spoke at a public hearing held January 12 at the State Capitol against a bill that would, if passed, repeal the statute of limitations for all civil suits filed by childhood sexual abuse victims.

Senate Bill 319 and its counterpart AB-453, currently in committee in the State Assembly, would also create a window for suits previously barred by the statute of limitations. The current statute, amended in 2003, allows child sexual abuse victims 17 years past their 18th birthday to bring a case to civil court against their perpetrator or the perpetrator’s employer if the assault occurred due in part to the employer’s negligence.

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