MADISON — Each year, parishes take up a special collection, in November, for the Catholic Campaign Human Development (CCHD). CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic bishops.
Month: August 2011
Staying young through laughter
I learned about God’s humor from Sister Gregory, a delightful Franciscan nun who was staff advisor for my high school newspaper.
As editor, I had to “put the paper to bed,” meaning write the last headlines, cross all the t’s, and dot the i’s before going to press.
One night we had to work right through dinner time and both confessed we were hungry.
Sister excused herself and returned after a moment with a heaping, fragrant bowl of popcorn.
Pope Benedict XVI on Europe’s future
World Youth Day 2011, being held in Madrid from August 16 to 21, will be an important moment in Pope Benedict XVI’s campaign to remind Europe of its Christian roots and to call Europe to a nobler understanding of democracy.
As the Holy Father demonstrated in an address in Zagreb, Croatia, in early June, the two parts of that campaign — the recovery of Christian roots and the deepening of 21st-century Europe’s idea of democracy — go together.
Stop complaining and thank God for all he has given us
To the editor:
I complained that the path of my life was not always smooth, that there were difficulties and obstacles along the way that made the journey through life tough . . . Then I remembered that there are people out there who had no feet and could never even make a journey . . . and I felt ashamed!
I complained that the things that I asked for were not always given to me, that I could not be understood when I spoke, or even heard . . . Then I remembered that there are people out there who were born mute and will never be heard by anyone . . . and I felt ashamed!
Faith is strong in parishes in our diocese
Recently I had the privilege of attending the 150th anniversary Mass at Holy Redeemer Parish in Perry.
This is a small country parish located about 28 miles from my home in Madison. I especially enjoyed driving through the beautiful countryside to get to Holy Redeemer Church, which is located up a hill in the middle of a farming area. There is no town around this church, just fields of corn and other crops, mixed in with some cows and sheep.
Fr. Larry Bakke to take on new challenges
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| Fr. Larry Bakke |
MONROE — Fr. Larry Bakke says he is “always excited about new possibilities.”
He definitely has much to be excited about in taking on his new roles as director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped of the Diocese of Madison along with serving as pastor of the newly named St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Monroe.
“I’ve done many new ministries in my 36 years as a priest,” he said in an interview. “This is what God wants to do now.”
Stepping into big shoes
When Bishop Robert C. Morlino asked him to take on the position held for 44 years by Msgr. Thomas Campion, Father Bakke saw it as a “new adventure” in his life as a priest.
He will be stepping into big shoes as director of the apostolate, founded by the late Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell in 1967.
At that time, Bishop O’Donnell asked then Father Campion to direct the new diocesan outreach program for the disabled and elderly. He held the position until his death in 2010.
Shrine linked with Rome; gain plenary indulgences
LA CROSSE — Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, announced on July 31 that Pope Benedict XVI has affiliated the shrine in La Crosse to his Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
Speaker calls Catholics to be witnesses of God’s love
MADISON — John Rick Miller will be bringing his worldwide mission to the Madison area, calling upon Catholics to become examples and witnesses of God and His love through their daily lives. He has devoted himself to working for the spread and renewal of the Catholic faith throughout the world.
Mary’s Assumption inspires us to follow her example
On November 1, 1950, more than 500,000 joyful people packed St. Peter’s Square to hear Pope Pius XII proclaim the dogma of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
In Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that “the “Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into Heavenly glory.”
In no. 59 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council affirmed this dogma of the Church.
God’s children in need
Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption to counter the loss of reverence and respect for the God-given identity of every human being.
WYD 2011: Pray for our youth and follow their pilgrimage in Spain
Nearly 80 young people from the Diocese of Madison are traveling this month to Spain for World Youth Day (WYD) 2011.
Pope John Paul II started World Youth Day in 1985 as a gathering of youth and young adults for prayer, worship, and celebration of the Catholic faith. The event is observed every three years at an international level.
For those who can’t attend WYD in person, there are other ways to participate and stay in touch with our pilgrims. One way is to join the Virtual Pilgrimage on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VirtualWorldYouthDay