Twelfth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Fr. Jim McEnery was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1953, along with classmates August Buenzli and Tom Massion, by Bishop William P. O’Connor.
Twelfth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Fr. Jim McEnery was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1953, along with classmates August Buenzli and Tom Massion, by Bishop William P. O’Connor.
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison:
Rev. Fr. Alex Navarro, resignation from pastor, Queen of All Saints Parish, Fennimore, per canon 538, effective Monday, February 15, 2021, awaiting further pastoral assignment.
Rev. Fr. Faustino Ruiz, SJS, to parochial administrator, Queen of All Saints Parish, Fennimore, per canon 539, effective Monday, February 15, 2021, remaining as Local Superior of the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest.
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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”.Msgr. James Bartylla, […]
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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.![]() |
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| Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison speaks to diocesan seminarians during this year’s Seminarian Gathering held at Camp Gray in Reedsburg. (Contributed photo) |
WASHINGTON — The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week on November 1-7.
This annual weeklong celebration is an opportunity for dioceses and parishes in the United States to uphold and promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and Consecrated Life and encourage the faithful to renew their prayerful support for those currently discerning one of these calls.
This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unforeseen challenges in the lives of many throughout the country.
Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, offered that these current challenges provide an opportunity for genuine discernment fully rooted and dependent upon Christ.
“These unusual and difficult times have brought much uncertainty and fear into our lives, but we know in faith that Christ’s powerful hand extends over all of us in mercy. I invite those discerning a vocation to use this time to prayerfully renew your love for Christ and recognize your complete dependence upon Him who loves and calls you uniquely,” he said.![]() |
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| Fr. Gregory Ihm |
When a man stands as his name is called during an ordination and responds “present”; it isn’t the first time he has presented himself to the Church for ordination.
The commitment to the priesthood comes in stages.
The first stage is the interior journey that happens before applying to the seminary. It is probably the most important/pivotal, because it makes real many aspects of the priesthood that are usually off limits in most men’s minds.
Once they wrestle with the many doubts and fears that surround it and give themselves permission to pursue a call to the priesthood there can be freedom.Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, effective Saturday, October 24, 2020, and announced at weekend Masses of Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, 2020.
• Rev. Fr. D. Stephen Smith, resignation from pastor, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, in accordance with canon 538 §1, to pastor emeritus.
• Rev. Fr. Steven Brunner, to parochial administrator, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, per canon 539, from parochial vicar, St. Dennis Parish, Madison.This year, five of us priests were honored for serving 50 years in the priesthood. Barring a cancellation because of the coronavirus, we will be honored again at the Priests Assembly.
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, effective as stated below:
• Rev. Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP, to promoter of vocations of the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great, Chicago, per canon 682 §2, effective July 1, 2020, from parochial vicar, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison.
• Rev. Fr. Ronald Kreul, OP, to parochial vicar, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison, per canon 545, effective July 1, 2020, after presentation of the candidate, per canon 682 §1, by Rev. Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great, to Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, from Parochial Administrator, Saint Rita Parish, Cottage Grove, Minnesota.