Tag: Catholic Relief Services

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Can’t have one without the other: Faith and good works are both essential

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Over the years, Christians have had discussions — sometimes very heated arguments — about the primacy of faith or good works.

For Catholics, it’s really not one or the other that takes precedence. It’s both. In fact, according to Scripture and Church teaching, you can’t have one without the other.

As we begin the season of Lent, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on the connection between faith and good works. Traditionally Lent is a time when prayer, fasting, and almsgiving take centerstage.

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Mary C. Uhler

Pray, fast, learn, give: Operation Rice Bowl provides focus for Lent

editor's view by Mary C. Uhler

The 2010 movie Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts told the story of a woman’s search for enlightenment and self-fulfillment.

I never saw the movie, partly because a Catholic reviewer called it “spiritually barren.” This story — like so many in our culture today — seems to emphasize that we will find happiness by fulfilling our own needs, rather than by reaching out to others.

Pope’s Lenten message

In his 2011 Lenten message, Pope Benedict XVI alludes to that problem in our culture. He encourages people to let go of all traces of selfishness and self-centeredness by embracing the traditional Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.

The Holy Father says, “For Christians, fasting, far from being depressing, opens us ever more to God and to the needs of others, thus allowing love of God to become also love of our neighbor.”

Operation Rice Bowl

One way to carry out his message is by participating in Operation Rice Bowl, the annual Lenten program sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

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Mary C. Uhler, editor

Blessed Mother Teresa: She remains as a living role model for us today

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If she were alive today, Blessed Mother Teresa would have celebrated her 100th birthday this week. She is someone who will never really die.

She will be remembered for what she said and did while on this earth. But she will especially remain with us in the caring ministry of the Missionaries of Charity she founded and all the orphanages, AIDS hospices, and centers for the disabled and refugees she established throughout the world.

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Mary C. Uhler, editor

Haiti continues to need our help

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It has been six months since an earthquake devastated the country of Haiti, affecting an estimated three million people and leaving more than one million Haitians homeless.

Immediately after the earthquake, people throughout the world responded generously with humanitarian aid. The outpouring of support was especially needed in Haiti, which was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere before the quake.

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Mary C. Uhler, editor

Generous response to Haiti relief: Catholic Relief Services is putting our donations to work

We can be proud of ourselves! People in the Diocese of Madison responded with an outpouring of financial support in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake in Haiti.

As you can see by the chart accompanying this editorial, people in our diocese have donated over $547,000 to Haiti relief. Contributions have been sent to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which was already on the ground in Haiti prior to the earthquake. CRS continues to deliver relief supplies to the Haitian people, but it is also working on long-term recovery plans for the country.

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Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Aid in Haiti — the beginning to a Lent of love
This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear Friends in Christ,

As was mentioned last week, you, your parishes, and your pastors are to be highly commended in general! We as a diocesan family have come together in an incredible show of our love of neighbor and our unity as a diocese by raising a remarkable $508,130.02 for our sisters and brothers in Haiti.

Very soon after the devastating earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI promised the people of Haiti of the prayers and concrete support of Catholics around the world. And even before the Holy Father made these promises, Catholic Relief Services was there in Haiti helping those injured and dying; you and your parishes were asking “what can we do?” and our diocesan offices were organizing how we could respond.

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Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Ayuda a Haití: El inicio de una Cuaresma de Amor

Bajo el libro del evangelio por Obispo Robert C. Morlino
Esta columna está dirigida a los fieles de la Diócesis de Madison. Cualquier circulación más amplia transgrede la intención del Obispo.

Queridos hermanos en Cristo:

Como dije la semana pasada, ¡ustedes, sus parroquias y sus pastores tienen que ser altamente encomendados en general! Como familia diocesana, hemos demostrado mucho amor por el prójimo al recaudar en nuestra diócesis la cantidad nada despreciable de 508 130.02 dólares para nuestros hermanos y hermanas de Haití.

Muy poco después del devastador terremoto, el Papa Benedicto XVI prometió al pueblo de Haití las oraciones y el apoyo concreto de los católicos en todo el mundo. Incluso antes de que el Santo Padre hiciera estas promesas, Catholic Relief Services ya estaba en Haití con los heridos y los fallecidos. Ustedes y sus parroquias preguntaban “¿qué podemos hacer?” y nuestras oficinas diocesanas estaban organizando la manera en que podíamos responder.

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