Wisconsin’s laws make for some pretty dull reading. Most laws consist of technical prose defining eligibility for programs and drawing lines between legal and illegal conduct.
But some laws serve a different purpose. Some declare a policy vision for our state or define the scope and mission of what our government should do.
It is in these sections of the statutes that prose becomes poetry. It is there that we Wisconsinites define who we are and what we want our state to be.
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MADISON — Have you ever modeled your charitable life around the Holy Family?
You may not give of yourselves the same way as Mary and Joseph did, but modeling your charitable giving through your time, talent, and treasure is your way of giving back.
One way to live your mission of charity is through giving to the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Each year, the ACA asks each parishioner in the Diocese of Madison to prayerfully consider what they are able to give back to their diocesan Church.The Diocese of Madison lives on your generosity to support its missions — missions that are critical in helping our neighbors in need, teaching those that need education and training on our faith.
The Annual Catholic Appeal reaches every corner of our diocese in some way, here are just a few.
Marriage Preparation — Does your parish offer marriage preparation classes to those seeking the sacrament Sacrament of Marriage? The ACA funds the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, which oversees the training and materials needed for marriage preparation classes around the diocese.
Catholic schools — Do you know of a child that attends a Catholic school? Just like every school district in the state, the Office of Catholic Schools is directed by the superintendent of Catholic schools. This office oversees all of the administrative functions supporting the Catholic school system in our diocese.
Catholic Charities — Has your parish community benefited from the Mobile Food Pantry? It travels around the diocese helping those that need that extra assistance at difficult times. This is just one mission that Catholic Charities does for our neighbors in need. |
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Pope Francis has declared this year as the Year of Consecrated Life and you will see from his letter that he has several objectives for this year.
Among them being: thanksgiving for all the Lord has accomplished through the various Religious communities, a greater fidelity to the mission established by the founders and foundresses, and embracing the future with hope.
The Diocese of Madison is looking to assist the Holy Father with these objectives by engaging the priests, Religious, and laity in various events and activities throughout the year.
We are inviting our consecrated men and women to use this year as an opportunity to highlight the many graces received through the living out of their community’s charisms throughout the history of the diocese.
We also look forward to opportunities to joining the various Religious communities in their prayer which is crucial to their identity.
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| Fr. Delbert Schmelzer meets Pope John Paul II in 1981 at a meeting of diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies held in Rome, just two weeks before the Holy Father was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca. (Contributed photo) |
MADISON — Jesus told his disciples before he ascended into heaven, “As the Father has sent me, so I also send you” (John 20:21).
Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer believes all baptized Christians have that same mission. “We, too, are sent to bring good news to the poor to the ends of the earth,” he emphasizes.
Monsignor Schmelzer has been encouraging people in the Diocese of Madison to support the missionary work of the Church for over 46 years.
He retired in July from his position as diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Fr. Chad Droessler, pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Lodi and Dane, has assumed the position.
In an interview, Monsignor Schmelzer discussed the vital missionary work of the Catholic Church led by the Holy Father. “The Holy See has the obligation to extend the Church to the whole world. We are doing the Holy Father’s work throughout the world in over 1,150 mission dioceses. They couldn’t exist without our support,” said Monsignor Schmelzer.
Back in 1968, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell asked then Father Schmelzer to assist Msgr. Edward Auchter with the Pontifical Mission Societies work in the diocese.
“I was his associate director for 13 years,” noted Monsignor Schmelzer. “In 1981, I became the director. It’s an honor to be given this job.”
MADISON — Love Begins Here (LBH), an apostolate of the Catholic Diocese of Madison’s Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, works to provide the youth with an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ in a life changing way through weeklong, local mission trips where they live in Catholic community and continue His work on earth.
MADISON — As warmer spring weather approaches, Catholics across the Diocese of Madison are invited to the fifth annual Spring Wine Fest, benefitting the mission of St. Paul University Catholic Center.
St. Paul’s continues to grow its mission and outreach to thousands of Catholic and non-Catholic students who come to UW-Madison from across the diocese and state.
MADISON — It has been 50 years since the first volunteers went to Mexico with the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP).
To mark this anniversary, there will be a Mass at 12 noon celebrated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino on Sunday, April 6, at the Bishop O’Connor Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.
A catered dinner will follow the Mass at the Bishop O’Connor Center. All past LAMP volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend the anniversary celebration.
MADISON — For the first 11 months of 2014, Gina Neuville is going on a mission trip with a schedule resembling the closing credits to Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
She’ll go to Zambia, Malawi, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, China, Nepal, Cambodia, Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam “in no particular order,” she said.
Her trip to 11 countries in 11 months is part of the World Race, which has the purpose, according to its website, “to serve ‘the least of these’ while amongst real and raw community.”
MADISON — There is a math puzzle commonly put before young students in which they are offered $10,000 right now or one penny that doubles every day for the next 30 days.
Those who take the upfront cash miss out on more than five million dollars.
Dear Friends,
I don’t know if it’s been your experience, but, of late, I’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of people who are very obvious for their display of unhappiness. I’ve been taken aback on a number of occasions by total strangers who, by way of their rude behavior, and shortness with others, indicate a real lack of joy in their lives.
