Sunday, Feb. 26, saw a crowd gather at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee.
Tag: St. John the Baptist
Lessons and Carols in Montello
St. John the Baptist Parish in Montello and Good Shepherd Parish in Westfield are again presenting an evening of Lessons and Carols on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Montello.
Comfort others by pointing them to Christ
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| 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,
If one were to put together the themes of the first reading and the Gospel from this past Sunday, Dec. 10, one might well conclude that the one who gives comfort to the people — the comforter — is St. John the Baptist. But, St. John the Baptist appears in camel’s hair.
Now, when St. John the Baptist is presented as the one who gives comfort, that is not the same use of the word as in “comfort food” — of which I have had my share. This is not the meaning of comfort at all. How can we tell that at first glance? Well, St. John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey . . . that ain’t comfort food!
Comfort others by being strong
To comfort, in the Latin derivation, is to be “strong with.” To comfort someone is not just to make them feel good, as they might over a beautiful, and yet, light lasagna. St. John the Baptist comforted the people by being strong with them.
St. John the Baptist preached the Holy Spirit and fire. He told the people to prepare for the wrath to come.
Jefferson project provides more accessibility to church, school
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| A resident from St. Coletta of Wisconsin in Jefferson is helped into St. John the Baptist Church in Jefferson before a recent Mass. People in wheelchairs and with other disabilities can now enter the church and school building on the new ramp pictured above. (Contributed photo) |
JEFFERSON — “It’s like heaven now taking my mother to church.”
A bold statement, but fully expressive of the joy some parishioners are feeling in Jefferson.
The above quote was feedback heard at St. John the Baptist Church, part of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
It came near the close of a yearlong project to make the church more accessible to people with disabilities or other physical challenges to walk or enter buildings.
Now, there is added accessibility to the church and school.
Addressing a need
Steve Donley, member of the parish Building and Grounds Committee, said there had been growing instances of “people having trouble getting into church.”
These included people tripping on concrete walkways and wheelchairs not getting in easily.
More than a year ago, the committee began to look into the costs and practicalities of a project to increase accessibility.
The attitude was, “We have to get this fixed, and we have to make this better for people to get in,” said Harold Dehnert, also from the committee whose members put in many hours, sometimes 10 to 12 a day, to make the project happen, and keeping the project costs low.
Another concern was increasing the accessibility to the school bathrooms, the only ones on the grounds, and only accessible via a small staircase between the church and school.
Teacher celebrates 40 years in Catholic education
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| St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson teacher Margie Schels, middle, stands with eighth graders Josie Peterson, left, and Karsen Powell, right, during a recent celebration honoring Schels’ 40 years as a Catholic school teacher and more than 20 years teaching at St. John the Baptist. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
JEFFERSON — As the annual observance of Catholic Schools Week came to a close at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson, Principal Susan Loof made a bold, but appropriate statement to a teacher sitting in the front row of church.
“You are Catholic education . . . Today is your day to be appreciated in a very public way.”
The teacher was Margie Schels, who was being recognized in that public way for her 40 years as a Catholic school teacher.
Schels teaches religion and math to seventh and eighth graders and is the eighth grade homeroom teacher.
“She touched so many lives,” said eighth grader Josie Peterson. “She cares for other students and she’s very kind and she helps people grow a lot in their faith.”
“She has so many amazing features about herself and she’s just a really amazing person,” said eighth grader Karsen Powell. “I look up to her — she’s just a great teacher.”
Student ‘buddies’ participate in traditional Seder service at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson
Classes at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson often participate in “buddy” activities with one another.
‘Do It for Jesus: Pray, Give, Sacrifice!’
Students and staff at St. John the Baptist (SJB) School in Jefferson initiated their Lenten journey together on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Graduates leave special legacy of Prayer Club
As schools near graduation season, it’s often a custom for students moving on to their future endeavors to leave a gift — be it a plaque, picture, or some other item in their name as a way to give back to the school.
Saint Wax Museum in Waunakee
On Friday, Feb. 28, fourth grade students at St. John the Baptist School presented their Saint Wax Museum.
Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion
MADISON — The Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion for Candidates for Full Communion in the Catholic Church will be celebrated by the parishes of the Diocese of Madison on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee.
Parishes from throughout the diocese will send those who will celebrate the sacraments of initiation this Easter, as well as their sponsors, family, and friends. About 800 people are expected to attend, with Bishop Robert C. Morlino presiding.