Category: Editorial

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

A New Year’s resolution: working for peace

Most of us think of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as occasions to enjoy some food and drink with our family and friends. We might even wear party hats!

But according to the Church calendar, New Year’s Day is much more than a day to party. First of all, it is a holy day of obligation— the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. That means that faithful Catholics are obliged to attend Mass that day.

World Day of Peace

In addition, the Catholic Church has designated January 1 as the World Day of Peace. This was introduced in 1967 by Blessed Paul VI, who was inspired to do so by the encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) written by his predecessor, St. John XXIII.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Nativity display at State Capitol is the right thing to do

This year a group of families from the Diocese of Madison decided to sponsor a Nativity display at the State Capitol.

“For the thousands of folks that will visit the Capitol with their children and grandchildren, the Nativity will remind everyone that Jesus is the reason for this special season,” said Geralyn Kettermann of St. Joseph Parish in Edgerton in a letter that was published in our paper.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

People of faith can offer solutions

People of faith may provide some solutions to the unrest in our country over the deaths of civilians by police officers.

Like many others, I have been discussing these matters with people at home and work. We can understand the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with situations in their communities. Police officers are trying to protect citizens, but they can also find themselves in danger.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Don’t shop on Thanksgiving: Spend the holiday with family and friends

Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes. Just ask any members of my family. They know I’m ready to shop at the drop of a hat — or any object, for that matter!

But when it comes to shopping on Thanksgiving Day, it’s another story. I have been resenting the encroachment of “Black Friday” — the name given to the day after Thanksgiving — onto the holiday itself.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Tale of two dying persons

How sad it was to hear of the death of Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old woman who ended her own life on November 1 using Oregon’s assisted suicide law.

Maynard suffered greatly from terminal brain cancer, and we can understand her wish to stop her pain and suffering.

More hopeful path

However, the story of another young person who is also facing death shows, I believe, a more hopeful way to face death.

A  Catholic News Service article reported on Philip Johnson, a 30-year-old Catholic seminarian in the Diocese of  Raleigh, N.C., who is facing the same disease as Maynard. He wrote a poignant essay in October responding to Maynard’s decision to end her own life.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Remembering three special people

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Over the years, I have observed that deaths often come in threes. Three people I know often die within just a few weeks of each other. This seems to happen especially with priests.

Whether this is a true phenomenon or not, a coincidence or not — people do seem to die in threes. As a believer in the Catholic faith, I wonder if it somehow has to do with the Trinity of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This past week, it happened again. Three people of significance in the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Madison died close together. They are Msgr. George Hastrich, who died on October 27; Dorothy Lepeska, who died on October 31; and Fr. George Horath, who died on November 2.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

End of life: Deserves as much attention as the beginning

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

As we conclude the month of October — designated as Respect Life Month — it seems appropriate to reflect on end-of-life issues.

Doesn’t it seem that our society today pays much more attention to the beginning of life than the end of it? We get excited about the birth of a baby. We have baby showers, spend time getting the nursery decorated, and send out birth announcements when the baby is born. We buy cards and gifts for the new child.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Good timing: Catholic Charities Sunday focuses on strengthening, supporting families

catholic-charities-logo

Talk about good timing: we just watched the conclusion of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family and this weekend we will observe Catholic Charities Sunday in the Diocese of Madison.

The bishops and Pope Francis — along with a number of married couples and other observers — spent two weeks in Rome discussing pastoral challenges facing the family in the context of evangelization. They talked openly about many issues involving families today.

Final message of bishops

In their final message at the conclusion of the synod, the bishops said that we must remember to practice charity by being near “to those who are last, marginalized, poor, lonely, sick, strangers, and families in crisis.”

They reminded us of the Lord’s words, “It is more blessed to give them to receive” (Acts 20:35). They mentioned that Christians should give gifts of goods, fellowship, love, and mercy and be witnesses “to the truth, to light, and to the meaning of life.”

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