Tag: vocations

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Fr. Greg Ihm

Who will fill these shoes?

Fr. Greg Ihm

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

There is a story that comes out of the Archdiocese of Chicago that asks a profound question. It is a story of a monsignor.

At his last weekend before retirement, he placed his shoes at the foot of the altar and after a long pause looked out and asked: “Who is going to fill these shoes now?”

This is a question that has been placed before us as a diocese as we have lost both Msgr. Monte Robinson and Fr. Larry Bowens within a week of each other.

In the past three years, we have also lost Fr. John Auby, Fr. Michael Richel, and Msgr. Felix Oehrlein, who were pastors at the time of their death.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration

Eucharistic Adoration has been growing in the Diocese of Madison with parishes having everything from a few hours of Adoration a week to perpetual Adoration at two sites — and a third close to providing Adoration every day.

The January 8 issue of the Catholic Herald features a story and photos from the blessing of the new Adoration chapel at Divine Mercy Parish (St. Aloysius Church) in Sauk City on January 1. The new chapel — the Mary, Mother of God Adoration Chapel — was appropriately dedicated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

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Brent King, For the Catholic Herald

Priests for Our Future capital campaign seeks $30 million to endow education and formation of future priests

There are now 33 seminarians in the Diocese of Madison, up from six in 2003. Six were missing for this photo, taken at the seminarian gathering in Madison in August. Also pictured are Bishop Robert C. Morlino and Fr. Greg Ihm, director of vocations. A capital campaign seeks to raise $30 million for the education and formation of priests. (Catholic Herald photo/Pam Payne)

MADISON — Both by lay people and priests alike, it’s been talked about, studied, and identified as the top concern facing the Diocese of Madison for several years now: the vocations crisis.

With a continuous line of faithful senior priests reaching retirement and a decidedly thinner lineup of priests ordained in the 1980s and ’90s, it would be hard to deny a crisis brewing.

Number one priority

In fact, so serious was the concern in the mind of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, and so clear was the message that he received from around the diocese, that he made the fostering of vocations to the priesthood his number one priority upon arriving in Madison in August of 2003.

The bishop, priests, and faithful of the diocese together initiated a program of fostering a “culture of vocations,” of inviting young men to consider the call God might be making to them, and to prayer — especially in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — asking that more and more might answer the call of Jesus Christ.

Increasing numbers

And increasingly, men have been answering this need and God’s call with a profound “yes.” From six seminarians in 2003, the diocese has seen a near six-fold increase.

This year, the diocese is blessed to have 33 men studying for the priesthood, and the good news is that hopes remain high that (with continued prayers) growth in seminarian numbers will continue.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Ten years of praying bears many fruits

MADISON — It was 10 years ago that three diocesan seminarians began a Holy Hour for Vocations in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in the summer of 2004.

Knowing that the seminarians would be returning to their studies in fall, members of the Serra Club of Madison — along with then Fr. Jim Bartylla, the club’s chaplain and director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison — decided to institute daily Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations weekdays in the chapel from 9 to 11:45 a.m.

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Jill Driscoll, For the Catholic Herald

2014 Annual Catholic Appeal: ‘Beacon of Faith, Fire of Charity’

MADISON — As we prepare for Lent as a Catholic community, we prepare to give alms. What does it mean to give alms? The definition includes the charitable giving of money, food, or goods to people in need. It is one form of sacrifice we as Catholics are asked to perform during the season of Lent, just as Christ sacrificed himself for each of us.

This year’s theme for the 2014 Annual Catholic Appeal is “Beacon of Faith, Fire of Charity.” The focus this year is on evangelization and the Corporal Works of Mercy. The Annual Catholic Appeal funds both of those ministries, plus many others. Here are a few examples:

• Evangelization and Catechesis — Each of us as Catholics is asked to share Christ’s message through evangelization. The Church catechizes the young through religious education classes and adults through RCIA, retreats, and classes.

• Catholic Charities — As the Corporal Works of Mercy arm of the Diocese of Madison, Catholic Charities touches so many lives. They visit the sick through the Respite Care Program; feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty through the Mobile Food Pantry and the Catholic Multicultural Center. These are just a few of the programs supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal and provided through Catholic Charities.

 

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Bishop Morlino grateful for God’s blessings after 10 years in Madison

Encouraging vocations to the priesthood has been one of Bishop Robert C. Morlino’s priorities in his 10 years as Bishop of Madison. Here he greets Fr. David Johannes after ordaining him to the priesthood in 2012.  Bishop Morlino has ordained 20 priests for the Diocese of Madison. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner)

MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino is “grateful to God” for the many blessings he has experienced in his 10 years as Bishop of Madison.

In an interview, Bishop Morlino said “the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit get the credit” for whatever growth the Diocese of Madison has experienced in the past 10 years.

“I have invited people to grow in faith,” he said, pointing to an increase in such things as Eucharistic Adoration throughout the diocese.

Prayer, he said, is the “key” to more Church vocations. “We’re richly blessed with vocations — and with quality vocations — but we still need more.”

Encouraging more vocations to the priesthood — and to consecrated life and sacramental marriage — was one of his three priorities as Bishop of Madison. The others are strengthening liturgy and catechesis.

Increasing vocations
Bishop Morlino comments about his 10 years in Madison in his column this week. He calls on Catholics to invite others to know Christ in a life-changing way.

Since he came to Madison in 2003, Bishop Morlino has been doing everything he can to increase the number of seminarians studying to become priests.

When he came here, there were six seminarians. His goal was to grow the number to 30.

In 2012, the diocese hit that mark with 32 seminarians. This fall there will be 34, with three men ordained to the priesthood in 2013.

Bishop Morlino considers the seminarians and priests he ordains “his spiritual sons.” With his past experiences living with college students, he feels he has a greater rapport with young men.

“They really are like my sons,” he said. “Our efforts are bearing fruit. The quality of our men is very evident.”

Having a full-time vocation director has also helped bring more attention to the efforts to recruit more seminarians.

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