Month: November 2015

On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

There are many reasons to thank God

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving is at the heart of what we do and who we are as a faithful Catholic people.

And so, while there is a great deal to be terribly concerned about in our world, in our nation, and in our own part of the country, there is also a great deal for which we each can offer our thanks to God — which is the origin and the reason for the holiday that is upon us.

On a personal level, I have a great deal for which to be thankful.

In terms of my friends and those with whom I am blessed to serve, I am just that — terribly blessed. Thanks be to God, it’s been another year of good health, and for that too, I cannot fail to be thankful.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Sharing our blessings at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day when we gather with family and friends to share a meal, reconnect as family, and thank God for our cornucopias of blessings.

The roots of Thanksgiving Day began with the pilgrims. Despite a long, hard winter during which half of them died from scurvy and exposure to the elements, the pilgrims were so thankful some of them survived that they invited their Indian friends to share a three day feast of thanksgiving.

H.U. Westermayer wrote that the pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts during that first hard year, yet they set aside a day to thank God through prayer and through sharing their blessings with Indian friends.

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On
Chris Lee

Wisconsin bishops issue statement on terrorists, refugees

The Catholic bishops of Wisconsin through the Wisconsin Catholic Conference have issued the following statement on the terrorist attacks and the refugee situation in Syria.

The Catholic bishops of Wisconsin join bishops across the United States in expressing our deepest condolences to the French people for the horrific loss of life at the hands of ISIS terrorists. There is no justification for such barbarism, especially when done in the name of God.

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On
John Huebscher

In past debates, leaders appealed to ideals, not fears

The current debate over whether to welcome refugees fleeing the carnage in Syria reminded me of how one leader spoke to a similar situation some years ago.

Clifford “Tiny” Krueger represented much of northern Wisconsin in the State Senate for 34 years from the mid-1940s until 1983.

Conscience of common man

First a Progressive, then a Republican, Krueger was the GOP Senate floor leader from 1975 to 1981. When he retired, a veteran observer of the Capitol scene described him as “the conscience of the common man.”

That conscience was very evident in May of 1980. Tiny was asked to offer a few remarks at the Memorial Day observance in Rhinelander. Then as now, the issue of whether to accept refugees from another country was a hot topic.

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On
Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Catholic Charities holds 20th annual awards ceremony

MIDDLETON — On November 12, hundreds of supporters of Catholic Charities Madison (CC) came together to honor those who have been great examples of its mission.

The 20th annual Faith in Action Celebration was held at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton. The event honors those who put their faith in action and provides financial support for Catholic Charities’ many programs.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

‘Bridge of Spies’ and the path to virtue

My great mentor Msgr. Robert Sokolowski told a class of eager philosophy students many years ago that we should read Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics every year of our lives. As we grew older, he explained, new dimensions of the book would continually present themselves.

I can’t say that I’ve followed Sokolowski’s advice perfectly, but I have indeed returned often to Aristotle’s great text for inspiration and clarification.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Edgewood Campus School to offer education and global courses

MADISON — Edgewood Campus School has partnered with Level Up Village (LUV) to offer pioneering global STEAM (STEM + arts) courses as part of an enrichment activity for students in grades four and five.

This fall, the school is offering Global Inventors/3D Printing and Global Video Game Design. Throughout the courses, students are collaborating one-on-one with partners in a developing country via video message exchange. The ECS students are working with partners in Nicaragua and Ghana.

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On
Margie Schels, For the Catholic Herald

Students and staff in Jefferson present tribute to veterans

JEFFERSON — On Wednesday, Nov. 11, students and staff at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson presented their annual tribute to veterans in the parish church.

The eighth grade students escorted guests to their seats after presenting them with flags and patriotic wristbands.

Principal Mrs. Susan Loof formally welcomed veterans and thanked them for their service to our country. She then offered a prayer for the veterans and their families.

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On
Andy Galvin

Theme seven: Light in a Dark World

Guest Column logo
Andy Galvin

In conjunction with the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this past September, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Diocese of Madison is providing a monthly series on a particular theme on marriage and family. Each theme is a chapter in the preparatory catechesis developed for the event entitled Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive, available in paperback from www.osvparish.com or for free online at www.worldmeeting2015.org

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