An estimated 400 people - about the same number as at last year's event - spread out under the tents set up on the fields at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center July 26. People of all ages, including many priests and those in religious life, enjoyed the potluck dinner, games and activities, music, and socializing during the afternoon picnic.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino gave a talk at the close of the event on the three greatest women in his life, a portion of which was published in the August 16 issue of the Catholic Herald and can be heard online at www.madisondiocese.org
Eric Schiedermayer, who heads up the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis which sponsors the annual event, says the picnic is like a big family reunion. Full story ...
New staff members:
For Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison's Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) has two new staff members, announced Eric Schiedermayer, OEC executive secretary.
"Please join us in welcoming two new staff members to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis," said Schiedermayer. "Many of you may already know them, as they are both natives of the diocese and have been actively serving our local church in many capacities."
Patrick Delaney joins the office as an associate director with responsibility for catechist formation and the FOREM program. He has most recently been teaching at St. Ambrose Academy, a new Catholic high school being hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
Ron Garcia, who served most recently as youth minister at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee, takes on the role of coordinating youth and young adult ministries in the diocese.
"We are very excited about the faith, energy, enthusiasm, fidelity, and knowledge that these two men bring to the office," said Schiedermayer.
Patrick Delaney
"With great excitement I look forward to serving the church in the Diocese of Madison as an associate director in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis," said Delaney.
"After a period of discerning a vocation to the priesthood, I was privileged to complete a
Master's of Divinity from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and an additional M.A. -- with an emphasis in moral theology -- from the same institution.
"Following a brief involvement in politics, I turned to apply my generous training to the area of public human rights advocacy with American Life League, Stafford, Va. As an assistant director of public policy, I addressed many diverse groups on the church's moral teaching, wrote articles, emceed conferences, interfaced with the media, and lobbied legislators at the state, national, and international levels," explained Delaney.
"Recognizing the fundamental necessity of Jesus Christ and his grace in restoring a culture of love, peace, justice, and life, I was drawn toward the broad field of education, and particularly, evangelization, landing at the new Madison venture, St. Ambrose Academy, in January of 2004. This apostolate provided valuable experience in designing and implementing a variety of history and religious education curriculums and hopefully bringing some excellent young people to a deeper understanding of what the Father has done for us 'in the
plan he was pleased to decree in Christ, a plan to be carried out in the fullness of time, to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on earth' (Eph 1).
"As a native Madisonian and graduate of Our Lady Queen of Peace Grade School and Edgewood High School, I look forward to reconnecting with many old friends and making new ones as well," said Delaney.
He can be reached at 608-821-3161 or pdelaney@straphael.org
Ron Garcia
Garcia grew up in the Janesville area, the oldest of three children. For 10 years he was a police officer, spending seven years in Beloit and over three years in Roanoke, Va. Full story ...
