Tag: education

On
Robert Enright

Clearing up misconceptions about forgiving

Robert Enright

Second in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.

Lent is a time of seeking forgiveness for sins and then practicing forgiveness toward those who have been unfair to us.

When we forgive, we give the gift of goodness to those who have not been good to us. As we are forgiven, we forgive, as the Catholic Church teaches (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 2838).

Sometimes, when people reflect on this link between being forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance and then forgiving others, there may be some apprehension in now extending that forgiveness to those who have been hurtful.

Read More
On
Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk

Talking to kids about pornography and human sexuality

A growing concern today involves the role of pornography as the next generation’s instructor in human sexuality.

For many young people, pornography has become the only guide to sexuality they have ever known. For Catholic parents, this raises the critical challenge of how best to approach these matters with their children, given that kids as young as eight or nine may already be acquiring information and viewpoints about human sexual behaviors from internet pornography.

Read More
On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Pray for all students and Catholic schools

Dear Friends,

As we come to the end of the school year, it strikes me as a wonderful time to reflect on Catholic schools.

Of course, this is made all the more easy for me as I’ve also just concluded an outstanding Confirmation circuit. It was simply a joy for me to be with our young people from parishes and schools around the diocese, and I have to say that I was very impressed with the young women and men I encountered and with whom I prayed.

Read More
On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Parents play key role in sex education

While some parents might be happy to avoid the awkward conversations that arise around human sexuality by allowing the school system to provide their children’s sex education, it is nonetheless important for parents to recognize that they are the most significant teachers and models for their own children as they mature sexually.

Instilling a healthy attitude about sexuality in young people involves a variety of considerations, including conveying a proper sense of constraints and boundaries. These boundaries arise organically through the virtue of chastity, by which a person acquires the ability to renounce self, to make sacrifices, and to wait generously in consideration of loving fidelity toward a future spouse, out of self-respect, and out of fidelity to God.

Read More
On
Michael Lancaster

Could return to past model help small Catholic schools remain vital today?

At this time each year, the Office of Catholic Schools collects data detailing the state of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison.

When looking at data from the past few years, we have seen some exciting trends, such as the addition of grades six to eight at three different schools, the addition of three-year-old pre-school programs at several schools, and marked enrollment increases at several Catholic schools in Dane County.

These positive signs indicate growing enrollment and a focus on continuous improvement and development. While growth comes with certain challenges, it is a reason for great hope for the future of Catholic schools.

While this growth is exciting and encouraging, many Catholic schools, especially those in rural communities, are facing a different set of challenges: how to remain vital and vibrant in communities where the general population is shrinking, leaving an ever smaller pool of students from which to draw.

Read More
On
Brent King, For the Catholic Herald

Priests for Our Future capital campaign seeks $30 million to endow education and formation of future priests

There are now 33 seminarians in the Diocese of Madison, up from six in 2003. Six were missing for this photo, taken at the seminarian gathering in Madison in August. Also pictured are Bishop Robert C. Morlino and Fr. Greg Ihm, director of vocations. A capital campaign seeks to raise $30 million for the education and formation of priests. (Catholic Herald photo/Pam Payne)

MADISON — Both by lay people and priests alike, it’s been talked about, studied, and identified as the top concern facing the Diocese of Madison for several years now: the vocations crisis.

With a continuous line of faithful senior priests reaching retirement and a decidedly thinner lineup of priests ordained in the 1980s and ’90s, it would be hard to deny a crisis brewing.

Number one priority

In fact, so serious was the concern in the mind of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, and so clear was the message that he received from around the diocese, that he made the fostering of vocations to the priesthood his number one priority upon arriving in Madison in August of 2003.

The bishop, priests, and faithful of the diocese together initiated a program of fostering a “culture of vocations,” of inviting young men to consider the call God might be making to them, and to prayer — especially in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — asking that more and more might answer the call of Jesus Christ.

Increasing numbers

And increasingly, men have been answering this need and God’s call with a profound “yes.” From six seminarians in 2003, the diocese has seen a near six-fold increase.

This year, the diocese is blessed to have 33 men studying for the priesthood, and the good news is that hopes remain high that (with continued prayers) growth in seminarian numbers will continue.

Read More
On
Kevin Wondrash

Grief camp for kids scheduled for August

JANESVILLE — Rock County Council on Aging will be offering “Powerful Tools for Caregivers®”, a nationally recognized education program to help family and friends caring for older adults and anyone who cares for someone with chronic health concerns.

“Taking Care of You — Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves. This class teaches the caregiver necessary emotional tools to reduce guilt, anger, and depression; how to deal with difficult feelings; take care of yourself; help you relax; set goals; solve problems; and effective communication with family members and health service providers.

Read More
On
Kevin Wondrash

Catholic lawyers invited to ‘Client Care — a Step Above’

MADISON — The St. Thomas More Society is hosting a lunch meeting featuring Jackson Fonder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison.

Fonder will discuss how attorneys can recognize when clients need more than a legal solution to their problems. Catholic Charities has many programs that can assist people of all faiths or no faith and attorneys can benefit from knowing how to get additional help for their clients.

Read More