MADISON — On Monday, Feb. 2, Bishop Robert C. Morlino will celebrate Candlemas, in the traditional Roman liturgical calendar the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a Pontifical Mass at the Throne in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Center at 7 p.m.
Bishop Morlino will bless candles brought by parishes and people before Mass. All are invited.
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| Incense rises in the air as Fr. John Blewett, pastor, incenses the altar in the Adoration chapel altar of the new Mary, Mother of God Chapel at St. Aloysius Church at Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City on January 1. (Photo by Jim DeSchepper) |
SAUK CITY — Bringing in the new year was a very special occasion at Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City, where Bishop Robert C. Morlino held a dedication Mass and ceremony for the new Mary, Mother of God Adoration Chapel on January 1, fittingly the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
“Let Us Go Rejoicing to the House of the Lord” was the processional hymn sung as the bishop, Divine Mercy Pastor Fr. John Blewett, and Mass servers entered the chapel for the dedication.
It was no small task getting to this day, but the perseverance and faith of many parishioners who have helped keep a successful Eucharistic Adoration (EA) program going for over 12 years at St. Aloysius Church at Divine Mercy Parish made this day a reality.
Until now, Eucharistic Adoration has been held in the church proper. The “new” chapel is actually a renovated chapel that was “hidden” in the old Sisters convent located between the church and the school, according to Father Blewett.
“It is almost like it was waiting there,” he said, to be discovered and brought out through Divine Providence.
According to Bishop Morlino, a dedication ceremony for an altar or for a church or chapel is somewhat like a consecration ceremony for a new priest: it is preparing a temple to be worthy of the sacrifice of Christ in the Eucharist, he said.
Bishop Morlino blessed Cristobal Padilla, a candidate for Holy Orders at the beginning of the dedication Mass to symbolize the similarity in the rites.
SAUK CITY — “Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament is the gift we can give to God this Christmas,” according to Fr. John Blewett, pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City.
The parish has been working since May to expand its current, two-day a week Eucharistic Adoration Program held at St. Aloysius Church to a Perpetual Adoration program slated to begin January 1.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino is scheduled to dedicate the new chapel, called the “Mary, Mother of God Chapel,” fittingly on the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1.
MADISON — In the “Church Year,” November is a significant month for considering the Communion of the Saints and the holy souls in Purgatory.
At the start of the month, the Church celebrates All Saints Day, giving thanks to God for all those we believe have achieved their heavenly goal, and then All Souls Day, during which we pray for the souls of all those who have departed but await their entry into heaven. They are moving days, which call to mind not only loved ones and friends who have died, but also the end of our own lives.
I haven’t written one of these columns in a while. In between the busyness of the job, the holidays, and a struggle to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, I’ll be honest), my still-developing “On His Time” series has not appeared in the Catholic Herald since October.
MADISON — The St. Paul Catholic Center’s “Christ the Cornerstone” campaign to build a new chapel and student center continues to develop in exciting ways. A recently redesigned campaign website is filled with renderings and up-to-date information about one of the most important Catholic projects in our lifetime.
PLATTEVILLE — A new era at St. Augustine University Catholic Parish began on September 8 when Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison blessed the recently-renovated chapel.
The project lasted all summer and “was well worth it,” according to parish development director Carly Hood.
The project came to life from the suggestions of parishioners. Hood met with many of them back in December when she first moved to the area.
Sr. John Fisher Soeldner, OP, died April 21, 2012, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino blessed the new chapel and altar of Monroe Clinic’s hospital in Monroe on March 29.
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| Bishop Robert C. Morlino elevates the monstrance at the new Perpetual Adoration chapel at Holy Redeemer Church in Madison on December 22. (Catholic Herald photo/Joe Ptak) |
MADISON — Dennis Ganser, a parishioner at the Cathedral Parish and the proprietor of Ganser exteriors, had been an adorer for a number of years at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Redeemer Church.
Inspired by a strong spiritual impetus from our Blessed Mother, he was moved to donate a striking antique wooden statue of the Virgin Mary to the Adoration chapel. Indeed, the new statue of Mary brought new life to the chapel.
But it was only the beginning. Mary knew Ganser’s predilection for improving and perfecting — his talent for bringing both beauty and functionality to the exterior of homes throughout Southwestern Wisconsin. And so the design of an Adoration chapel more worthy of our Lord had begun.
