MADISON — St. Thomas Aquinas Parish will host a Family Fun(d) Night, “Heads, Shoulders, Kneelers, Toes,” on Saturday, May 2, beginning after the 4:30 p.m. Mass in the social hall and gathering area, 602 Everglade Dr. This family-centered event will help to raise funds to purchase new kneelers for the church.
Tickets are $15 per person, $25 a couple, or $40 for families with parents and children under 18 years of age.
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I once gave a sermon in which I mentioned Keith Richards, the lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones.
I recounted how struck I was by a passage from Richards’ autobiography in which the guitarist described the almost maniacal dedication with which he and his bandmates set out to learn Chicago blues.
“Benedictines,” he said, “had nothing on us.” I urged my listeners to approach their spiritual lives with the same “Benedictine” focus and fervor that the young Rolling Stones had in regard to the blues.
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I write these words on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Merton, one of the greatest spiritual writers of the 20th century and a man who had a decisive influence on me and my vocation to the priesthood.
I first encountered Merton’s writing in a peculiar way. My brother and I were both working at a bookstore in the Chicago suburbs. One afternoon, he tossed me a tattered paperback with a torn cover that the manager had decided to discard.
MADISON — Catholic attorneys will be intrigued at their next meeting as they hear about the Global Common Good from Br. Edward van Merrienboer, OP.
With both national and international experience in working for the Common Good, Brother Edward has served in Rome as an adjunct faculty member of Aquinas Institute, as chair of the Department of Theology and Philosophy of Barry College, at a Newman center, and currently as director of faith formation at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison.
MADISON — Evening prayer and reflection marking the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church.
The reflection entitled “Graced Experience: Discerning the Call of God in Our Lives” will be presented by Edward Hahnenberg, Ph.D.
MADISON — St. Thomas Aquinas parish has two upcoming events open to all interested persons.
• Saturday, Jan. 10: “Six Dates for Catholic Couples” — Consider making a New Year’s resolution to spend more quality time with your spouse. All married couples are invited to participate in “Six Dates for Catholic Couples,” an opportunity to invest in your loving, happy marriage.
These once-a-month evenings begin with an opportunity to attend 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas (602 Everglade Dr., Madison). Immediately after Mass, come to the social hall for a brief social and presentation. By 6:15, couples leave for a date night with a marriage-enriching topic for conversation. This is the first of the “Six Dates.”
MADISON — As our parents age, they may experience some decline. That can cause a sometimes difficult transition from being their child to being their primary caregiver.
How do we address these changes and challenges with love, strengthened and supported by our Catholic faith? How do we care for ourselves and remain grounded in hope?
MADISON — The St. Thomas More Society of Catholic attorneys in the Diocese of Madison challenged themselves to live Lent by making a difference in world and local hunger issues.
In March, approximately 30 attendees were inspired by an ethics lecture based on the life of Abraham Lincoln. They were further inspired to give $300 to the Rice Bowl project of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
Mobile Food Pantry locations in dioceseThe hard work and dedication of volunteers at these participating parishes help relieve hunger: Corpus Christi in Boscobel, St. Joseph in Fort Atkinson, SS. Anthony and Phillip in Highland, St. John Vianney in Janesville, St. Clare Parish and St. Vincent de Paul in Monroe, St. Mary in Palmyra, St. Mary of the Most Holy Rosary in Pardeeville, St. John in Patch Grove, St. Mary in Platteville, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish and St. Vincent de Paul in Portage, and Sacred Heart in Reedsburg. |
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MADISON — The newspapers and gossip columns are filled with Hollywood stars and their prenuptial agreements. These agreements are not just being used by the super wealthy.
Fr. Tait Schroeder, who did his dissertation on prenuptial agreements, will de-mystify some of the aspects of what prenuptial agreements mean for Catholics approaching marriage. He will delve into how prenuptial agreements impact marital consent.
MADISON — All are invited to attend a fun and brain-stimulating night of mental Olympics at Trivia Night II to be held at the St. Thomas Aquinas social hall, 602 Everglade Dr., on Saturday, March 29, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Cost is $20 per person. Either bring your own team (up to 10 people) or you will be will paired up the night of the event.
