DEFOREST/EAST BRISTOL — St. Olaf Parish in DeForest and St. Joseph Parish in East Bristol are planning an Advent parish mission.
What if we could promise that your life could take a direct turn into the heart of God? That is what can happen when we open ourselves up to the words of the Spirit shared by Deacon Ralph Poyo, a nationally renowned speaker on evangelism and lighting fire in the hearts of the faithful.
Dear Friends,
As autumn approaches as well as the start of the new school year, I hope and pray that the summer has been good to you, each in accord with your needs and the Lord’s Providence.
The summer (though too short, of course) has finished with a great flourish of late, as I’ve been able to bless or consecrate a number of new altars around the diocese.
In the first place, a few parishes have recently completed renovation projects — some minor but beautiful, some more involved — in order to enhance their sanctuaries and especially to have a fitting place for the tabernacle in the middle of the sanctuary.
Thank you to all the pastors and people who have worked hard on these projects to date. (And thanks to all those who are working on projects for the future.)
In addition, two weeks ago I blessed the lovely chapel built into the tremendous new development at the Catholic Charities’ All Saints Community. It is a fitting centerpiece for that growing retirement community and assisted living facility. Jackson Fonder and his team, along with the All Saints Board, should be proud.
MADISON — There’s no time like the days of the Easter Triduum to venture to the sidewalk to pray for women and men contemplating abortion, that they might choose life.
As we ponder Christ’s crucifixion and death at Calvary on Good Friday, it is appropriate to remember that Christ died for all our sins, including the sin of abortion committed by so many in our country.
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The heartbreaking photo of the little Syrian refugee boy washed up dead on the shore of Bodrum, Turkey (see the picture at bit.ly/1PZHvDV) strikingly illustrates the tragic plight of desperate refugees — mostly Syrian — fleeing for their lives from the Islamic State and other violent groups in the Middle East and Africa.
The three-year-old boy, named Aylan, along with his five-year-old brother, Galip, and their mother, Rehan, drowned after the raft carrying them capsized near the Turkish coast.
MADISON — Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles — in fact anyone involved with children — should visit By The Cross Catholic Gift and Bookstore on Madison’s east side.
This store is filled with many wonderful religious items for children, from coloring and activity books to prayer books to stuffed animals. It’s literally a treasure trove of educational, faith-filled, and fun things for Catholic kids.
On the beautiful spring day of Wednesday, April 23, students at St. Dennis School in Madison excitedly put on their coats and hurriedly made their way to the doors while teachers and staff — also with smiles on their faces — did their best to keep all the kids from running outside at once.
MADISON — Every Friday afternoon, Jen Dunnett stands on the sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Madison talking to those who will listen, and those who won’t.
On one recent Friday, someone listened.
Dunnett is a volunteer sidewalk counselor with Vigil for Life, an organization whose members pray, fast, and peacefully witness for an end to abortion in the Madison area.
She hands out informational brochures on abortion and birth control, informs people about free services offered at the nearby Women’s Care Center of Madison (WCCM), and talks with women and men about to go inside the Planned Parenthood Clinic.
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For several weeks now, I have been reporting on various aspects of Vigil for Life and the now ongoing 40 Days for Life vigil to end abortion.
So often when I attend various events to write about them, I ask myself if I’m really doing enough. Does my job as reporter for the Catholic Herald give me a “free pass” from getting more involved in the efforts I write about? Is just telling people about it enough?
If I was going to try to convince other people to pray at 40 Days for Life, shouldn’t I do the same? I did, and so can you.
