Tag: Advent

On
Kevin Wondrash

Things are different this year

kevin-editorial

Other than the strong few that are holding on to tradition and doing things as they’ve always been, in spite of 2020 doing its 2020 things all around them, I can divide everyone into two groups.

Those who started their Christmas season as early as possible (12:01 a.m. on November 1) and those who haven’t gotten around to their shopping, putting decorations out, getting the tree up, etc., yet all because “it doesn’t feel like Christmas yet.”

And yes, Church-ily speaking, it’s Advent, now, not Christmas.

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On
Cathy Lins, Catholic Herald Correspondent

Parishes around the diocese to host Men of Christ event

MADISON — The Men of Christ-Madison and the St. Francis Xavier Parish Knights of Columbus Council #3924 are hosting an Advent Men’s Retreat on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 5.

The event has come together after the initial in-person Men of Christ-Madison event had to cancel.

Due to COVID-19, the format has been adjusted to a mixed design.

The speakers’ presentations are being recorded and extended out to participating parish sites.

Each participating parish will host a live event, following the recommended health guidelines for their area.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Going forth as missionary disciples

Bishop Donald J. Hying's column

The fourth part of the Kerygma is giving witness to the saving love of the Lord to others, to go forth as missionary disciples.

Too often as Catholics, we have quietly and individually lived out our faith, but seldom have we equipped believers to share that faith with those around them.

Missionary discipleship

Believers focus on their relationship with God; missionary disciples help others grow their own spirituality. Believers embrace a deep prayer life which is seldom shared with other people; missionary disciples boldly and joyously pray with others out loud and speak of their love for Christ.

Any pastoral renewal seeks to help our leaders and people grow in their understanding and practice of missionary discipleship. We can look at missionary discipleship through the lens of Jesus’ two commands, “Follow me” and “Go forth.”

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Let us sing as we prepare for Jesus’ birth

Years ago, Sister Victricia chose seventh and eighth graders for the Kieler Immaculate Conception grade school choir. Miraculously, I was chosen. At rehearsals, however, whenever I sang, Sister stopped playing the piano and stared at me. My voice was changing. To survive her stares, I began to lip-sync long before I ever heard of it.

A positive thinking friend told me, “Maybe Sister was admiring your singing.” If so, why did she quit staring after I stopped singing? Dad often said that the Louisburg Langes can’t sing. Fr. Ron Lange, my missionary first cousin, agrees.

Perhaps this is a senile illusion, but now I think I can sing a little better at Mass. Because of old age, however, when celebrating Mass I often refrain from singing hymns that I don’t know to conserve my limited energy for parts that I proclaim and for the Gospel reading and homily.

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On
Julianne Nornberg

This Advent seek God’s will, not your own

Everyday Faith column by Julianne Nornberg

Today my daughter was searching our house for a recorder, an instrument for her school music class.

Over the years we have acquired a couple of recorders, but, used by different children at various times for school, their whereabouts are not always known. (Yes, unfortunately things do get lost in our house sometimes.)

“Should we write a note to the teacher, saying we have a recorder, but we just don’t know where it is?” my daughter asked.

“No, we’ll find it,” I said, pulling open and peering into desk drawers in our home office. “Go look in your brother’s cubby.”

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On
Julianne Nornberg

This Advent seek God’s will, not your own

Everyday Faith column by Julianne Nornberg

Today my daughter was searching our house for a recorder, an instrument for her school music class.

Over the years we have acquired a couple of recorders, but, used by different children at various times for school, their whereabouts are not always known. (Yes, unfortunately things do get lost in our house sometimes.)

“Should we write a note to the teacher, saying we have a recorder, but we just don’t know where it is?” my daughter asked.

“No, we’ll find it,” I said, pulling open and peering into desk drawers in our home office. “Go look in your brother’s cubby.”

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On
Bishop Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison

This Advent, invite the Lord to enter in

In my columns during the season of Advent, I am reflecting on the Kerygma, the basic proclamation of the Gospel in its essence.

Last week, I pondered the first part of this Good News, which is the radical, unconditional, and eternal love of God for us, a love that we cannot even begin to grasp! Our experience of the Lord’s saving mercy is the basis of our spiritual response to God’s remarkable initiative, as Jesus breaks into our lives in all joy and promise.

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Bishop Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison

If you had five minutes to speak about your love of Christ, what would you say about your belief?

Bishop Donald J. Hying's column

The kerygma also reminds us of other key Scriptural figures — Peter standing up in the streets of Jerusalem on the feast of Pentecost to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus for the first time; Paul preaching the meaning of faith in Jesus as Lord and Messiah, and his letters as thoughtfully theological follow-ups to the kerygma.

Proclaiming the Gospel

The task of every vocation in the Church, from those in Holy Orders to the Religious to the lay faithful, is to proclaim the Gospel. This mission is the fundamental purpose of the Body of Christ.

Advent is a significant moment for us to go back to the basics of our faith. Who is Jesus for us? How have we experienced him? How do I grow in my relationship with the Lord? How do I better proclaim the love, mercy, and forgiveness that I have experienced flowing from his merciful heart?

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