Editorial
Jack McBride: A man of courage and conviction
In January of 2005, Jack McBride was diagnosed with stage four cancer discovered after a routine test. For a man of 51 years, this was indeed very bad news. It might have devastated many men.
But not Jack McBride.
Grabbed life. Jack was determined not to be defeated by cancer. He fought back. He grabbed life and held on as long as he could, trying every treatment and drug that the University of Wisconsin Cancer Center could find. I was on Jack's e-mail list of friends and family who were kept abreast of his health situation. Throughout all the ups and downs, Jack kept his sense of humor - and clung to his deep faith.
He wanted to make the best of each and every day. Even when the results of cancer treatments brought fatigue and pain, he had a smile or kind word for others. He was especially happy to be able to visit Ireland with his family in September of 2006.
 |
Previous article:
|
|
Kept working. He kept working as much as he could in the Diocese of Madison's Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, where he had served as associate director since 1986. When he felt up to it, he came down to lunch and chatted with co-workers. He was an especially good listener, but also a great storyteller in keeping with his Irish ancestry.
We would often walk back to work and stop to talk for another 10 or 15 minutes. Rarely did Jack talk about himself. He was more concerned about what was happening in the church and society.
Pioneer in adult education. Having worked with Jack for over 20 years, I knew of his commitment to life-long learning. He often reminded me that Jesus blessed children but taught adults. "Unfortunately, our emphasis in the Catholic Church has been on teaching children and blessing adults. We've got it backwards," he insisted.
Twenty years ago, there wasn't much adult education in the church. He was definitely a pioneer in this field. He pushed for more adult education programs in parishes and on the diocesan level. He ran the FOREM program for parish and catechetical leaders in our diocese for many years.
On the national level, he served as chair of the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership's Adult Formation Task Force and as a consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' National Advisory Committee on Adult Religious Education, a group he also chaired. He did this all very quietly. I'm sure many people here did not know about all the work he did on national and even international levels.
For many years, Jack also worked to encourage religious education for the disabled. He was involved with the Westside Special Religious Education Program and other efforts. Many students have since been mainstreamed into parish programs.
Inspiration to others. Jack's courage in facing his cancer was indeed an inspiration for his co-workers, friends, and family. It reminded many of us of Pope John Paul II's witness as he struggled with aging and poor health in his later years.
After Christmas, Jack came around to visit our Catholic Herald office. He thanked me for coming to his mother's funeral Mass on December 28. Little did we know that his own funeral would follow a little over a month later.
We will definitely miss Jack's wit and wisdom, his smile and his gentle ways. He often said, "Believe and lean into the mysteries of life." He taught us how to do that by his example of courage and conviction.
We offer our sympathy and prayers to his wife Mary, his children, and other family members, as well as to his co-workers throughout the diocese and country. We know that Jack is with us in spirit. May God hold him - and us - in the palm of His hand!
Mary C. Uhler
Mailbag
|
Mailbag policy
We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence.
Send letters to:
Mailbag
The Catholic Herald
P.O. Box 44985
Madison, WI 53744-4985
Fax: 608-821-3071
E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org
|
|
|
Questions household numbers
in Madison parish
To the editor:
I would like to call your attention to an error on page six of last week's issue (January 25, 2007 [print edition only]). In the list of parish cluster groups, you reported that Holy Redeemer Parish in Madison has 280 households.
According to our pastor, Fr. Kevin Holmes, this oft-cited number misleadingly counts only those households that receive contribution envelopes and the Catholic Herald; these families are mostly English-speaking. Not counted in that number are the roughly 700 registered households of Holy Redeemer, mostly Spanish-speaking, which do not receive envelopes or the English-language Catholic Herald.
A more accurate figure would report over 900 households belonging to Holy Redeemer.
Anders Hendrickson, Madison
Response:
To clarify the source of the reported households, that number is self-reported from the parish. By definition a household is counted once they have registered with the parish. This number should not have anything to do with envelopes or the Catholic Herald subscription and in fact, registering would likely drive the sending of envelopes or the Catholic Herald.
Of course, this begs the question: "Why aren't these 'roughly 700 registered households' being counted if they really are registered?" Well, they aren't counted because they aren't really registered, for both cultural and legal reasons. If they aren't registered, they shouldn't be counted as part of the community BUT they should be encouraged to register. What could be suggested is another category of counting parishioners. This is completely reasonable though logistically more difficult.
However, being a part of any community always requires some level of mutual commitment, honesty, and trust from the individual and the community, a kind of faith. This is true whether you are talking about a family, parish, or country. In this case, being part of a parish, a parish household, requires registering, that is, making a commitment to the parish community and having accountability to the parish community for all that you receive from, and because of, the parish.
Grant Emmel, Diocesan Planning Coordinator, Madison
Abortion called weightier moral issue than immigration
To the editor:
I was surprised to read Mr. Huebscher's column, "Welcoming Undocumented, Unborn" which attempted to draw moral parallels between abortion and illegal immigration.
It is ironic that he noted the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade but chose to address a topic that does not represent an intrinsic evil, as abortion does. I hope that when bills relating to abortion or contraception come before the legislature, he gives due priority to these issues, rather than switching focus to immigration reform.
Though it may be a trendier cause met with less resistance in our state, immigration issues do not reach the moral relevance of the direct killing of young, innocent human beings. Both may be "worthy causes," but my understanding is that the Church teaches abortion to be a far weightier moral cause.
When we use our voices to demand justice, we must remember that it begins with the right to life. Without this right, neither we, the unborn, nor immigrants (documented or undocumented) have any other rights to protect.
Jennifer Wagner, Madison
Legalization of abortion damaged ethics in all fields
To the editor:
The passage of Roe vs. Wade on January 22, 1973, did more than legally permit a woman to hire an expert, shrouded in clinical responsibility, to kill her unborn baby. The passage affected every household and person in the nation by issuing in an era of permissiveness previously unheard of in decent societies.
It blew such a damaging blow to ethics everywhere in all fields that our country is still reeling from the effects. Divisiveness in our nation? Blame Roe vs. Wade and the underlying thinking and demands that led to it.
Roe vs. Wade law is based on hedonistic selfishness and materialism! It was achieved by little more than infantile foot stomping cloaked in academic elitism.
Prior to 1973, American scientists were among the best. Their quest for knowledge was always within the framework of ethical constitutional protection. Now, due to Roe vs. Wade, scientists can logically and legally expand their research into areas previously out of bounds.
With no reasonable ethics not even the sky is the limit. Making human embryos for research purposes originated with Roe vs. Wade.
For myself, I think we, as people of a still great nation, can no longer trust our scientists and the politicians influenced by them to do what is right. Scientists who don't know the difference between right and wrong would mortally wound any nation in which they are allowed to work as they wish.
Theresa Mangold, Monona
Abortion is dangerous to babies, mothers, society
To the editor:
Is the unborn child human? Let's review the facts: Abortion is ethically wrong. The world's major religions which teach, "Thou shalt not kill," condemn abortion.
Abortion violates the doctor's Hippocratic Oath and the original Declaration of Geneva which states: "I will have the utmost respect for human life from the moment of conception."
Abortion is unnecessary. Abortion cures no disease. When a baby is "wanted," doctors will support the woman through any medical condition.
Our present abortion "epidemic" resulting in the deaths of over 1.5 million babies each year has resulted in virtual drying up of adoption services in the United States.
The abortifacient pill once known as the "morning-after-pill," Depo Provera, IUDs, and other fatal chemicals and devices add millions of deaths to the toll.
Abortion is dangerous: besides deliberately killing the pre-born baby, the abortion procedure can endanger the mother's health or life. Some mothers following an abortion find out that they are sterile and cannot conceive another baby. Statistics show that cancer of the breast is more prevalent following an abortion.
Society suffers when people can, for their convenience, kill others. Will we soon see the day when too few workers are available to care for the needs of society, including the disabled, the elderly, the sick, and the infirm?
Since the fateful Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973, over 47 million of our brothers and sisters have lost their lives, "their right to life," which means that they have lost their civil rights, their ability to choose their profession. Most importantly, they and we have lost the opportunity to love and to be loved.
Marie Gestrich, Beloit
The joy of 'life-saving': pro-lifers bring hope, love
To the editor:
The Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion occurred in 1973. But presently occurrences are noted that give hope for life from conception to natural death.
Visualize the following scenes:
A pregnant young woman approaches an abortion clinic with the intent of having an abortion. A member of the assembled group of prayerful people counsels the woman about the value of every life from the moment of conception to natural death. The counselor assures the woman that help, both material and spiritual, will be available for her and the baby. The young woman accepts the advice and decides to save the child growing inside her womb.
Several months later this young woman and the baby's father are guests at a baby shower sponsored by various youth and adult pro-life groups. Graciously and thankfully the young couple accepts the great number of gifts presented to them. The ensuing scene is filled with genuine love for the baby, soon to be born. The father shares that he will make every effort to be the best father to the child.
As the scene ends the guests are reminded that the young couple has pledged their love for each other and will be married before the child's birth.
An occurrence such as this brings hope, love, and respect for generations to come.
Support pro-life projects and activities in your community and witness the joy of "life-saving."
C. Landry, Beloit
Kudos to staff of paper for vocations section
To the editor:
Just wanted to send kudos to you and your staff for the excellent vocations section in the Catholic Herald (January 11, 2007 [print edition only]) to coincide with national Vocations Awareness Week. You really covered the subject very well and highlighted the many activities going on in the diocese.
Special thanks for your coverage of Serra events and activities, including the Janesville "Celebration of Vocations" and 50th Anniversary and the start-up of the Vocations Chalice program.
Dave Mumma, Vice President
Serra Club, Janesville
|
