Dear Friends,
Prior to launching into a reflection upon our readings from this past Sunday, I find myself desiring to reflect for a moment upon the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, of our United States Supreme Court.
I only met Justice Scalia twice, very briefly, and so my reflections are not necessarily drawn from personal experience. But they are certainly from the reliable and personally related experience of his family and of friends, who were very close to the Justice.
PINE BLUFF — Jeff Heller, grand knight of Knights of Columbus Three Hearts Council of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff, recently presented a check for $340 to Monica Quinones, Madison volunteer with Military Outreach USA, to support the Military Outreach USA program for helping homeless veterans.
This program provides a move-in kit of new household supplies for the kitchen, bathroom, and other essentials for veterans who have qualified for a housing voucher, have a job, and are exiting homelessness.
MIDDLETON — St. Bernard Parish Health Commission is sponsoring a Happy Hearts Harvest Hoedown on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the St. Bernard Parish Center, 2015 Parmenter St.
Caller Tom Nickel will teach basic American folk dancing and line dancing.
Profits will be given to St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP). Everyone is invited to join the fun.
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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,
As you can see elsewhere in this issue of the Catholic Herald, I was recently blessed to be with a large number of our young women and men during “Frassati Fest.”
It was a joy to be with so many young people excited about their faith, and who were willing to make the sacrifice to gather. I also have to give my special thanks to Lindsay Becher and all those who worked so hard to put the weekend together.
During the Sunday Mass I celebrated with those great young people, I reflected on the readings of the day, and I’d like to share a bit of my reflections here, adapted slightly for print.
The Scriptures of the day leave us with a beautiful message which we can take back into our homes and which have, not surprisingly, three points.
The first point was repeated in the Psalm (Ps 95) over and over again: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.”
Now what does that really mean? What does “today” mean? It doesn’t simply mean Sunday, Feb. 1, the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. “Today” means our whole time redeemed by Christ in this world, before this world passes away.
“Tomorrow” refers to the great heavenly rest, when this world has passed away. So, the Psalmist is writing, “harden not your hearts,” while it is still today! Today is a long time, but it is not endless; there is a limit to “today,” and so there is an urgency there. “Harden not your hearts while it is still today.”
SUN PRAIRIE — Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish will host a Christmas Concert on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at the church, 221 Columbus St. The concert will feature the Adult Choir, Folk Choir, and Grace Notes (young people’s choir).
SUN PRAIRIE — Seventh and eighth grade students at Sacred Hearts School returned this year a little more enthusiastic than usual.
Two years of research and planning by Principal Kim Frederick and the IT and junior high staff culminated in the students starting off their year with individual iPads.
Loaded with more than 70 apps that have been carefully chosen by their teachers to support the curriculum and enhance the learning atmosphere, the new iPad Airs also enable students to communicate with their teachers through iCal, iLife, and iTunes U.
MIDDLETON — The Health Commission, Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul Society are sponsoring an evening of fun for St. Bernard Parish and its cluster parishes.
The Happy Hearts Hoedown will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. in the parish center.
As the bells rang out from the church’s bell tower, people filled Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church for a special Mass culminating the parish’s year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Dear Friends,
By now you’ve surely heard the startling (if not shocking) news of last week — the mass media, celebrities, bloggers, and even pro-abortion groups have reported their decision to aid the Church in our evangelization of the world and in preaching Jesus Christ! Thanks be to God!
Of course, that’s not actually what happened, not even in the slightest. However, I can be left to hope, and here’s why:
MADISON — Theology on Tap for young adults will meet on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave.
Brandon Cook and Jim Stokman will speak on “What Does It Mean To Be Human?: Fulfilling the Needs of Our Hearts.”
This presentation will discuss how looking at our life’s experience helps us to know (1) how we’re made and (2) what can fulfill us.
