On January 9, 1946, Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Madison, taking territory from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Diocese of La Crosse.
Created right at the end of World War II, our diocese was poised to grow dramatically in the ensuing decades of population boom and economic ascendancy.
Bishop William P. O’Connor, a priest from Milwaukee, became Madison’s first bishop and was immediately faced with the many challenges of shaping a brand new diocese.
This painful year of 2020 has dramatically revealed our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and mortality. It has also shown the resilience and generosity of the human spirit. So many things that may have seemed so important a year ago matter very little now. Other realities, like faith, prayer, family and friends, health, and ultimately God stand in sharper focus as the bedrock of our existence. This year will be a different sort of Christmas, as we pray for those who died this year, those who are ill and those who heroically serve them.
We will forego many of our Christmas traditions this year, but the central truth remains. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered into our broken and sinful world as a vulnerable baby to rescue us from sin and death. In our poverty and frailty, we can most profoundly relate to the Christ Child, who is born among animals and adored by shepherds. How easy it is to romanticize Christmas; the reality was far different. The advent of God is marked by poverty, obscurity, and danger. God quietly slips in through the back door, unbidden and unnoticed, but here with us. This overwhelming divine love is the cause, meaning and destiny of our human existence.
MADISON — Sometimes, drive-thru service can be a little impersonal, even cheerless.
This year, Madison-area St. Vincent de Paul Society members took a festive annual event curbside to help make Christmas brighter for hundreds of children from local households in need.
MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) offers its deepest thanks to the community for offering financial support during the recent Radiothon fundraiser and community celebration with La Movida Radio.
The CMC aimed to raise $18,000 to fund its pandemic services such as food pantry delivery, daily free meal, and low cost immigration legal services.
Thanks to many generous donors, business sponsors, and one big matching donation, the CMC surpassed its goal, raising a grand total of $22,424. |
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| Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison lays hands on Fr. Kumud Nayak, CJD, during Father Nayak’s Ordination Mass on December 7 at Holy Name Heights in Madison. (Catholic Herald photo/Joe Ptak) |
MADISON — The vigil of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception included a blessing for the Diocese of Madison — a new priest.
Fr. Kumud Nayak was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison on December 7 in the Holy Name Oratory at Holy Name Heights in Madison.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited number of invited guests were able to attend the Ordination Mass, while hundreds from the diocese and elsewhere watched via a livestream.
“Let Rev. Mr. Kumud Chandra Nayak, who is to be ordained a priest, come forward,” proclaimed Deacon Chris Schmelzer during the Mass.
At those words, still-Deacon Kumud stood up from his pew and uttered “present”.
He then came forward as Vicar General Msgr. James Bartylla presented the priesthood candidate to Bishop Hying.
Knowing him to be “worthy,” Bishop Hying said, “Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose Kumud, our brother, for the order of the priesthood”.MADISON — Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic Charities of Madison created a virtual event to celebrate faith in action across the diocese.
Several organizations came together to make a memorable evening on December 1.
SSM Health, the Catholic Multicultural Center, the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities, Edgewood High School, St. Peter School in Ashton, and Catholic Charities programs all pitched in to spread a message of hope this Advent season. |
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In this column, I have been reflecting on the kerygma, the essential Gospel message of salvation, love, and mercy which is the heart of our faith.
To be effective evangelizers, each of us baptized into Christ needs to effectively communicate what our Christian faith means, how we have experienced the Lord, and why everyone is invited to the abundance of Jesus’ life and grace, freely offered to all.
The third movement of the kerygma is the whole Christ event, as God’s gracious response to our existential predicament of condemnation to the power of sin and death.
Compassion is love’s response to misery and suffering, and so the Father could not bear to leave us lost in the darkness of eternal estrangement from Him.MADISON — Spanning three weeks in January and covering five states, pro-life advocates from around the Midwest will gather in multiple locations leading up to the March for Life Chicago.
The “Moving the Movement” Tour will begin with a kick-off event in Madison, on Saturday, Jan. 2.
The Chicago march is an annual event that draws thousands from across the Midwest to celebrate all human life from conception through natural death.
This year in Madison, March for Life Chicago is partnering with the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), Wisconsin Family Council, Wisconsin Right to Life, and Pro-Life Wisconsin, the same organizations that sponsored the March for Life Wisconsin in the past.MADISON — As 2020 comes to a close, the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF) has a lot to be grateful for.
As of October 30, the foundation has reached $55 million in assets under management and expects to finish out the year strong.
Over the past year, more than $225,000 has been distributed to support the programs and operations of parishes and schools. |
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| Deacon Kumud Nayak |
MADISON — Deacon Kumud Chandra Nayak is set to complete his journey to the priesthood.
The transitional deacon, currently assigned to St. Olaf Parish in DeForest, is scheduled to be ordained on Monday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. in the oratory at Holy Name Heights in Madison.
Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison will celebrate the Mass.
The Mass is not open to the public. Only those with tickets — personal guests of Deacon Nayak — will be admitted.