After the Diocese of Madison closed Holy Name Seminary in Madison in 1995, a year of transition in 1996 was spent studying plans for use of the renamed Holy Name Catholic Center.
Tag: Bishop O’Connor Center
Bishop Morlino has provided strong, compassionate leadership in diocese
When Bishop Robert C. Morlino came to the Diocese of Madison as our fourth bishop in 2003, I had the opportunity to spend some time with him both in Madison and in Helena, Mont., his previous diocese.
Many people asked me then, “What do you think of our new bishop?” My first impressions of Bishop Morlino have continued throughout the past 15 years.
First impressions continue
My first impression was that I could see Bishop Morlino’s faith in Jesus Christ shining forth in both his words and actions.
Children’s choir joins in Lessons and Carols
MADISON — For more than 25 years, the Madison Diocesan Choir has celebrated the birth of Christ with its Festival of Lessons and Carols, and the worship service on Sunday, Dec. 18, at Holy Name Heights promises to be a celebration like no other.
Unlike earlier concerts featuring a professional brass ensemble, string section, acclaimed vocalists, or soloists on harp or horn, this event offers the angelic voices of youth, featuring the Cardinal Cantors of St. Maria Goretti Catholic School in Madison as special musical guests.
Christian culture is collapsing, warns Dr. Ralph Martin
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| Dr. Ralph Martin gives a talk on “Mercy and Mission: Living as a Catholic in Challenging Times” on April 20 at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center in Madison — part of the semi-annual St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
MADISON — “Seventeen hundred years of Christian culture is collapsing before our eyes,” Dr. Ralph Martin warned in his talk, “Mercy and Mission: Living as a Catholic in Challenging Times.”
Dr. Martin was the guest speaker for the semi-annual St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center in Madison on April 20.
He is president of Renewal Ministries and an associate professor of theology and director of Graduate Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.
He is the author of a number of books, the most recent of which are The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call; The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints; and ed? What Vatican II Actually Teaches Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization.
Living with challenges
“We’re living in something like a big apostasy, whether it’s the [Great] apostasy or not, I don’t know,” he added. He cited the decreasing numbers in Mass attendance, vocations to the priesthood and Religious Life, and Baptisms and other sacramental practices.
The “Great Apostasy” Dr. Martin referenced is one of the events St. Paul said has to happen before Christ comes again — a “a turning away of the faith on the part of those who once had faith.”
Another event is a time of unrestrained evil and lawlessness.
Papal honors conferred in the Diocese of Madison
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| Bishop Robert C. Morlino presents Msgr. Monte Robinson with the papal decree. At left, Msgr. Larry Bakke, who received the same honor, applauds. (Catholic Herald photos/Kevin Wondrash) | |
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| Bishop Morlino honors Sir William Yallaly as a knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope Saint Sylvester. |
MADISON — When Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison offered a reflection on the events of the evening of October 18, he called it, “an acknowledgment that the Church is alive here in Madison and very good things are happening.”
On that evening, at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison, Bishop Morlino presided over solemn vespers and the investiture of Msgr. Monte Robinson, Msgr. Larry Bakke, and Sir William Yallaly, as their papal honors were celebrated.
Papal honors
Earlier this year, Monsignor Bakke and Monsignor Robinson were both honored as Chaplains of His Holiness — an honor granted to priests recognizing their exceptional service to the Church – which allows them to be addressed as “Monsignor.” The chaplain becomes part of the “papal household.”
Sir Yallaly was honored with Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope St. Sylvester — honoring Catholic lay men and women who are actively involved in the Church and successful in the exercise of their professional duties.
Comments by bishop
Prior to the Presentation of the Candidates by Msgr. James Bartylla, vicar general of the diocese, Bishop Morlino said of Monsignor Robinson, pastor of St. Philomena, Belmont, and the Congregation of St. Mary/St. Paul, Mineral Point, “The Church is alive because we have a priest like Msgr. Monte Robinson who is giving us a wonderful example these days that if we live, we live in the Lord, and if we die, we die as his servants.”
Monsignor Robinson is currently battling a serious illness.
Diocesan Choir promises extraordinary Spring Concert
MADISON — With voices raised heavenward, the Madison Diocesan Choir will present a free Spring Concert on Friday, May 8, at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center with the classic Irish hymn Be Thou My Vision as the centerpiece and theme of a special program unlike any of the choir’s previous spring concerts.
The extraordinary program by director Patrick Gorman will feature Dublin-born tenor George Breadon of Monroe singing the hymn’s first two verses in Gaelic.
Divine Mercy Sunday celebrated in Madison
For the past decade and a half, the eighth day of the Easter Octave has become a time of celebration in its own right.
Bishop O’Connor Center prepares for changes
MADISON — While not officially a done deal yet, the redevelopment plans for the Bishop O’Connor Center (BOC) in Madison are inching closer to reality.
This month, many items, including furniture and other items from the BOC, were given away to parishes, schools, and other organizations in the diocesan area.
40 Days for Life kicks off in Madison
MADISON — From now until Sunday, Nov. 2, for 24 hours a day, at least two people at a time will be praying for an end to abortion in Madison.
The annual 40 Days for Life campaign kicked off on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The campaign has a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion.
Lecture focuses on Pope Francis
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| Alejandro Bermúdez |
MADISON — “Who Is Pope Francis? What Is His mind?” is the topic of the next St. Thérèse Lecture to be presented on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.
It will be presented by Alejandro Bermúdez, author of Pope Francis: Our Brother, Our Friend: Personal Recollections about the Man Who Became Pope.
Bermúdez will reveal little-known insights into the pope’s personality, his interior world, his human abilities, his work habits, his devotions, his concerns, and his friendships.
Bermúdez will open a fascinating door to better understanding the man whom the Holy Spirit called to lead the Church at this time.
Bermúdez is director of ACI-Prensa, the world’s largest Catholic news agency in Spanish, as well as the executive director of Catholic News Agency and the Portuguese agency ACI digital.
Bermúdez is a frequent contributor to the National Catholic Register and Our Sunday Visitor, and he hosts several Spanish programs on EWTN, including Criterios on Radio Católica Mundial.
He was a participant in the pivotal Fifth Conference of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) at Aparecida in 2007, where Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) was elected to draft the final document.