The myriad ways Catholics serve our corners of the world and Church is a credit to the beauty and diversity of the gifts given to each of us by the Lord.
Throughout the years, a number of sons and daughters of the Diocese of Madison have taken roles within the Church that serve an international scope.
One such example is Fr. John Putzer, a priest of the diocese, who has served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 2016 after completing four years of advanced studies in Rome. |
| 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 in Christ,
It has been a while since I’ve been able to write down here my thoughts for you in the form of a column. Know that you’ve been very much in my thoughts and prayers, especially as we come upon Christmas.
This week I’d like to share with you my homily from the wonderful Priestly Ordination we were fortunate to celebrate this past week. At this ordination the Lord blessed us with two great young men as priests and blessed me in a special way with two new sons.
I address my homily to Fr. John Putzer and Fr. Chad Droessler, but I think the words are a good reflection for all of us on the priesthood and on the great Grace with which the Lord blesses all of us:
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His great love endures forever.”
With these famous words from the Book of Psalms, we joyfully announce the ordinations to the priesthood of Jesus Christ of two of our transitional deacons.
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| Bishop Robert C. Morlino prays the prayer of ordination over the three candidates for the transitional diaconate — two of whom were seminarians for the Diocese of Madison — during the Mass of Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate at the American College in Louvain, Belgium, October 15. (Photo by Scott Haraldson) |
LOUVAIN, Belgium — Bishop Robert C. Morlino of the Diocese of Madison ordained Chad Droessler and John Putzer from the Diocese of Madison and Kevin Barnekow from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as transitional deacons on October 15 at the historic Saint Peter’s Church at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain, Belgium.
Concelebrants at the Mass included Bishop Richard Spencer, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services (seminarians at Louvain have pastoral assignments with the military services in Europe); Msgr. Ross Shecterle, rector of the American College; Fr. Paul Ugo Arinze, director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison; and priest friends and guests of the newly ordained. Msgr. James Bartylla, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison, was one of the masters of ceremonies for the Mass.
A number of priests from the Diocese of Madison attended the ordination, including Msgr. Kevin Holmes, Msgr. Charles Schluter, and Fr. David Carrano, Madison; Fr. David Flanagan, Cuba City; Fr. Monte Robinson, Belmont; Fr. Tait Schroeder and Fr. Greg Ihm, studying in Rome; and Fr. Lance Schneider, Waunakee.
Dear Friends,
As we begin the month of October, we recall first of all that this is Our Lady’s month — specifically the month of the Most Holy Rosary.
