Dear Friends,
For this week’s column, allow me to pose the question, “Does any civil government have the authority to change the definition of marriage, either directly or indirectly?”
Year: 2011
Holy Redeemer Parish marks 150 years
As I drove through the rolling hills, passing by neat fields of corn waving gently in the breeze and cows resting in the fields, I could envision the early settlers of the Perry area as they arrived in the 1800s.
Westfield parish celebrates 50th anniversary
WESTFIELD — Good Shepherd Parish in Westfield will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 21. A special Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated by Fr. Michael C. Richel, pastor. Former pastors and priest-friends of the parish have been invited to concelebrate the liturgy.
Bishop designates local CCHD grants
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.
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.