On the first Sunday of Lent, March 9, more than 100 people came forward saying they want to be full members of the Catholic Church.
Tag: Diocese of Madison
Latin American Mission Program celebrates 50th anniversary
MADISON — It has been 50 years since the first volunteers went to Mexico with the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP).
To mark this anniversary, there will be a Mass at 12 noon celebrated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino on Sunday, April 6, at the Bishop O’Connor Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.
A catered dinner will follow the Mass at the Bishop O’Connor Center. All past LAMP volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend the anniversary celebration.
Annual Catholic Appeal: Why I give to the appeal and why you should, too
This is the time of year when Catholics throughout the Diocese of Madison are hearing and reading about the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).
Members of parishes have received a letter and pledge form from Bishop Robert C. Morlino. In addition, there have been prayers and announcements about the ACA at Masses each weekend. There was an insert about the appeal distributed last weekend in parishes; it is also included in this week’s Catholic Herald. Next weekend, we will watch a video message from our bishop.
Why the ACA is important
Why is this so important? The ACA funds the ministries and services benefitting every Catholic in the Diocese of Madison. It supports the work of diocesan offices and agencies in the 11 counties of our diocese and also the work of our Church beyond the diocese.
Perhaps the best way to talk about the ACA is to explain why I give to the appeal — and why I think you (other Catholics in our diocese) should, too.
Dead Theologians Society follows blueprint of St. Patrick as it inspires youth to become saints
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| The original Dead Theologians Society (DTS) chapter in Ireland is pictured above. Several of the girls are now pursuing a religious vocation and the others are active in leading the DTS chapter. Also pictured are Eddie Cotter, third from left, and his son, Rory, right, who recently helped lead a Confirmation retreat in Ireland with the Antrim DTS Chapter. (Contributed photo) |
BLACK EARTH — In the fifth century, St. Patrick travelled throughout Ireland, where he established small communities of people of the Catholic faith which eventually spread across the country.
Today a Catholic apostolate is following the blueprint of St. Patrick in spreading the faith, not only in Ireland, but in the United States and other countries.
It is the Dead Theologians Society (DTS), a Catholic apostolate for high school teens and college-aged young adults. DTS has its headquarters in the Diocese of Madison in Black Earth.
Following St. Patrick’s blueprint
As we prepare to observe St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, it is appropriate to reflect on how DTS uses a similar approach to St. Patrick, said Eddie Cotter, co-founder and executive director of DTS.
“Our DTS efforts in Ireland (as well as here in the U.S. and other countries) really do follow the blueprint of St. Patrick, who traveled many miles establishing and strengthening small faith communities that produced disciples who converted an island and a race of people,” said Cotter.
Of DTS, he said, “It isn’t flashy, but it is real, and thank God it is truly effective! Young people in DTS are literally following in the footsteps of the saints. They are spreading the Gospel by their lives wherever they are.”
To help support this apostolate, an evening of Irish music, food, and fun will be held on Saturday, March 15, at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison with proceeds to help sponsor the work of DTS in poorer parishes in the U.S. and Ireland.
Fr. Francis Joseph Dominic dies
CUBA CITY — Fr. Francis Joseph Dominic died on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the age of 88, at Epione Pavillion (nursing home) in Cuba City.
Eleanor Ryan Curtin dies
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| Eleanor Ryan Curtin |
MADISON — Papal award recipient Eleanor Ryan Curtin, 93, of Madison died on Monday, Feb. 3, at home, surrounded by her family.
She was awarded the Cross Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope John Paul II in 1997 in recognition of service to the Church in the Diocese of Madison.
Eleanor was born May 13, 1920, the daughter of Dr. Frank and Loretto (Carbery) Ryan in Chicago, Ill.
She attended high school at Loretta Academy in Chicago and went on to Chicago Teachers College and received her teaching degree in 1942.
She was a kindergarten teacher in Chicago until her marriage to William J. Curtin II in 1944 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Chicago.
She and her husband settled in Madison. They had seven children.
Our suffering brings us closer to Christ
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| 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,
You’ve been right at the heart of my prayers in the recent days and weeks. In addition to my usual prayers for your growth in the virtues of faith, hope, and love have been prayers for your warmth and safety, as well as for your joy in these frigid days!
I have been very fortunate to take some time for rest and renewal in warmer climes, as I’m blessed most always to do in January. (There are a number of things for which I am grateful to my predecessor, Bishop Bullock, but on a personal level, I’ll always remain grateful for his wise advice — and precedent — that I take my time for vacation in January, and not in the summer!)
I don’t take for granted for a moment the blessings that I’ve received. I’m grateful and I’m hopeful that such moments of leisure can prepare me all the more for my service.
And so it is with only the slightest sense of irony that the Lord has drawn to my mind the following three words and phrases from our readings this past Sunday: purification, suffering, and a sign of contradiction. And each of those words accompanies the readings, in order. Purification is spoken of in the first reading — Mal 3:1-4; suffering in the second reading — Heb 2:14-18, and a “sign of contradiction” in the Gospel reading — Lk 2:22-40.
Local Catholics join hundreds of thousands at March for Life
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| Attending the March for Life in Washington, D.C., were representatives from the Diocese of Madison including, from left, Jennifer Dunnett, Bob Dorn, and Patrick Delaney pictured as they stand in front of the Supreme Court Building. (Contributed photo) |
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite a significant snow storm and particularly frigid weather, the 2014 March for Life in Washington, D.C., rallied-on with undaunted participation and unquenchable energy.
The march remains the largest annual demonstration in the world regularly garnering hundreds of thousands of participants.
The dignity of human life
This persistent high representation indicates a cause which is deeper in significance than congressional budgetary items or tax policy.
Indeed, it touches upon the very foundation of civilized society, the inviolable dignity of the human person.
It affirms the fundamental truth that human rights precede the state, and — as acknowledged by the Declaration of Independence — the fundamental purpose of government is to affirm and protect these rights.
Blessed Pope John XXIII rightly taught that when these fundamental rights are not recognized and protected by government, it calls the very legitimacy of such governments into question.
Former Assistant Superintendent of Schools Monica Bischoff dies
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| Monica Bischoff |
VERONA — Monica Grace Bischoff, former assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Madison and former principal at St. Peter School in Ashton, died on January 22.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 301 N. Main St., Verona, with Bishop Robert C. Morlino presiding. Private burial will follow at St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery, Verona.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, at Ryan Funeral Home, Verona Chapel, 220 Enterprise Dr., with a vigil service at 7 p.m. There will be no visitation prior to Mass at the church, but the family will receive visitors during the luncheon following the private burial.
Monica was born on February 19, 1960, in Verona. She married Francis Ray on December 14, 1996, at St. William Catholic Church in Paoli.
Fr. Gary Wankerl paints portrait of Pope Francis as part of series
Fr. Gary Wankerl, a priest of the Diocese of Madison, has presented a portrait of Pope Francis he painted recently to Bishop Robert C. Morlino and the diocese.