Trusting the power
of prayer

MADISON -- Jets and helicopters flew overhead, traffic roared past on Stoughton Rd., a city worker trimmed weeds in the road, and car stereos blared out snippets of song.

But through all of these distracting sounds of summer, the prayer continued: sometimes silent, sometimes aloud, sometimes in song, but always toward the goal of ending abortion.

Despite the hectic summer, with World Youth Day, the seminarian gathering, and all the other activities between school sessions, the seminarians from the Diocese of Madison held their annual Pro-Life Vigil August 14 and 15 outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic on Madison's east side.

Many came to pray outside Planned Parenthood, including Bishop Robert C. Morlino, who came for an hour in the afternoon on August 14. Others attended the Eucharistic Adoration set up at nearby St. Peter Church, Madison.   Full story ...

Taking religious education door to door
Directors bring registration, welcome to parishioners' homes

JEFFERSON -- Julie Endl and Tiffany Topel are taking a different approach to the beginning of the new year of religious education.

In an effort to get more in touch with the students and their families at St. John the Baptist Parish in Jefferson, Endl, coordinator of religious education, and Topel, director of religious education and youth ministry, are bringing the discussion of family faith into the home.

Beginning in June, the two have been meeting with the religious education families by going out to their homes or bringing them into the parish offices, combining registration with an opportunity to get to know them, evangelize, and bring about greater unity of student families and the parish as a whole.

It all started with an idea, inspired by Bishop Robert C. Morlino's talks with catechists, talks at the Evangelical Catholic Institute, Madison Diocese Religious Educators' Organization days, and a yearning to renew the hope of a true parish community.   Full story ...