The theme for the 2024 Annual Catholic Appeal is We are One Body in Christ, a reference to the writings of St. Paul, who often preached and wrote about our unity in the Lord, flowing from our communion as brothers and sisters in the Church and our participation in the Eucharist.
This theme is timely as Catholics across the United States are embracing the Eucharistic Revival, thereby discovering the spiritual power and rich graces that flow from the Mass.
Here in the Diocese of Madison, we have launched Into the Deep, our strategic reorganization process which challenges us to think of the Church and our life within Her in broader and deeper ways than simply our parish.
Feeling grateful
When I think of the new initiatives our diocese has embraced, I am grateful to the Holy Spirit for such an outpouring of dynamic energy, as well as the thousands of people in our communities who generously live out their discipleship in the power of the Gospel.
In light of the mental health crisis afflicting millions of people, we are about to launch a comprehensive mental health ministry, to both offer individual counseling grounded in Christian anthropology, as well as presenters, programs, and support groups in our parishes to help those struggling with anxiety, grief, stress, and depression.
Helpful themes, such as forgiveness, communication, and building a healthy marriage will also be offered.
We are in the midst of renovating St. Bernard Church in Madison as our new cathedral.
Having received the formal approbation from the Holy See, we will soon enjoy once again the spiritual benefits of having a cathedral in the city, as the seat of the bishop, the site of diocesan celebrations, such as ordinations, the Chrism Mass, and the Sacred Triduum.
Theologically, the cathedral stands as a symbol of the local Church’s unity, gathered around the bishop in faith and charity.
We hope to dedicate the new cathedral in the latter half of 2025.
In September, we held our first Diocesan Eucharistic Congress. Thirteen-hundred people gathered for three days at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee to celebrate Masses, learn more about the Faith — especially the Mass and the Eucharist — through inspiring speakers, share in Adoration, go to Confession, and share fun and fellowship as members of the Body of Christ.
This year, our 103 parishes will begin the process of canonical mergers, which will result in 30 parishes with multiple churches.
This unification process has been daunting, as our priests begin to work as teams, parish staff members begin to create common programs and events, we move to centralized accounting, and our people begin to build relationships within the pastorate.
In the midst of all this change, Mass attendance has increased by more than four percent, parishioners are enjoying fuller Masses and more robust worship, and our priests appreciate the common support of a team approach.
This unified approach will better utilize our resources for the sake of the Church’s mission, not simply maintenance of the status quo. It would be naïve to think we would not have problems and difficulties with such an enormous shift, but I remain firmly confident that this endeavor is of the Holy Spirit.
Supporting others
Various diocesan offices offered this year new and effective support to call, form, and send missionary disciples to continue our evangelizing initiative. The Marriage and Family office continues to develop new approaches to marriage preparation and enrichment, and we created support groups for divorced Catholics, those suffering grief from the suicide of a loved one, and we continue the excellent ministry of Camp Gray, Love Begins Here, and Frassati Fest for our youth.
Hispanic Ministry continues to grow, as we seek to better integrate the parish-based Hispanic communities, serve their needs, and receive their cultural and spiritual richness.
Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Madison Catholic Foundation have fundamentally realigned their operations and outreach to more effectively live the mission of the Church, supporting the many educational, charitable, and formational activities which represent an essential part of the Church’s activity, both within our parishes and the broader community.
This year, we have deepened our relationship with the Diocese of Jacmel in Haiti.
In a country terribly afflicted by violence, gangs, inflation, poverty, and governmental collapse, our partnership has launched the hiring of two midwives to help women safely birth their children, the rebuilding of their diocesan radio station which is the only way to communicate and evangelize the people, and we are currently raising funds to build a new school in Jacmel.
Through prayer, ecclesial communion, fraternal support, and charitable action, we Catholics in Madison are enriched by the brave, holy, and resilient people of Haiti, even in the midst of their terrible crises.
All of this reflection demonstrates the spiritual energy, dynamic outreach, and effective action of our local Church here in the Diocese of Madison.
Once again, we turn to all of you, our diocesan faithful, in these days of Lent, for your financial support.
The ACA is to the diocese what your Sunday envelope is to your parish. Your generosity to this campaign enables all of this pastoral activity to not only continue but to flourish in its transformative effect in the lives of tens of thousands of people.
Your sacrificial contribution is putting money in Jesus’ pocket so that His life, ministry, and salvation can continue to flow through us to the world.
Thank you for your past goodness and I prayerfully rely on your present kindness, so that this bracing mission to Go and Make Disciples will only gain power and momentum, as we live as One Body in Christ.