A Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Ronald Rank, who died May 24, 2017, will be celebrated in Waterloo on Wednesday, May 31.
Tag: Lancaster
Helping homeless families in Grant County
LANCASTER — During the 2015-2016 school year, almost 150 students were identified as experiencing homelessness in Grant County. This does not take into account children who are not in school, so the numbers could be higher.
A national organization that helps families who experience homelessness recently arrived in Grant County in an attempt to “Shelter the Homeless.”
Parishioners honor Blessed Mother in Lancaster
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| Parishioners of St. Clement Parish in Lancaster, with Pastor Fr. John Sasse, process down S. Madison St. with a statue and image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday, May 1. The procession was held to ask for Mary’s intercession for good weather, a good harvest, and other intercessions. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
LANCASTER — Sunday, May 1.
The first day of the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
May 1 was a chance for one Catholic community in the Diocese of Madison to honor the Blessed Mother, give thanks for her intercession, and pray for the year ahead.
The prayers to Jesus through Mary started that day at St. Clement Church in Lancaster, the county seat of Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin.
Enrollment in the Brown Scapular
The first special event of the day began at the 9 a.m. Mass. Following his homily, Pastor Fr. John Sasse enrolled the recent parish second grade First Communicants into the Brown Scapular.
In what was a display of family faith togetherness, parents of First Communicants were also enrolled into the scapular at the same time.
The Brown Scapular is worn as a sign of devotion to the Blessed Mother.
A promise made by Mary is that those who wear the scapular when they die will not suffer the pains of hell.
Teens are involved at Lancaster parish
LANCASTER — Each month, a group of teens gather at St. Clement Parish to grow closer to God and each other.
Part of the parish’s religious education program, it’s the Dead Theologians Society (DTS).
DTS is a Catholic apostolate for teens that inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow through learning about the saints of yesterday.Could return to past model help small Catholic schools remain vital today?
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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.
The school year is a time of new beginnings
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We are a people of new beginnings! In our faith, this is manifest most directly in the sacraments.
In Baptism, we are reborn in Christ, washed clean of the stain of original sin, beginning anew in him. When we confess our sins in Reconciliation, we are forgiven, washed clean of sin, and begin anew in Christ. When we present ourselves humbly before the Lord and receive his body in Holy Eucharist, He enters our very being and creates us anew in him (2 Cor 5:17, Rev. 21:5). We are a people of new beginnings!
Do-It-Yourself retreat series offered
LANCASTER — May is dedicated to our Blessed Mother. Are you looking for a way to grow in your faith?
Consider joining St. Clement Parish for a weekly discussion and video series on Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat.
Divine Mercy Day of Reflection to be held in Lancaster
LANCASTER — St. Clement Parish will host a Divine Mercy Day of Reflection on Saturday, March 28. Dr. Bryan Thatcher and Annie Karto, from the Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy (EADM), will be the featured speakers.
The day will begin with Mass at 8:15 a.m. followed by registration at 8:45 a.m. and the program from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The program is an opportunity to learn more about Divine Mercy and the Eucharist.
Catholic schools serve society
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This year we again celebrate our Catholic schools as “Communities of faith, knowledge, and service.”
It is always edifying to look at our Catholic schools with satisfaction and pride as we recognize the wonderful communities of faith, knowledge, and service created by each school.
During Catholic Schools Week, we acknowledge these communities, extoll their virtues, and invite others to join us as members of these communities that educate children in faith and knowledge that they might serve others and by so doing, serve God.
Teens attend Steubenville youth conference
ST. PAUL, Minn. — More then 20 high school students from St. Clement Parish in Lancaster recently attended the Steubenville North Youth Conference in St. Paul, Minn.
They were accompanied by students from Queen of All Saints Parish in Fennimore and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Mt. Horeb at the conference that had a grand total of 2,000 high schoolers from all over the Midwest.
Nine adults from Lancaster went along as chaperones as well as Fr. John Sasse, pastor of St. Clement, and Fr. Greg Ihm, vocations director for the Diocese of Madison.