At the halfway point of the 40 Days for Life vigil to end abortion, prayer warriors in Madison got a chance to unite themselves to pro-life efforts across the country.
Month: October 2016
Who we are and what role we play
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This is the first in a two-part series on the five “acts” in the drama of salvation history.
This fall, I am giving presentations to all of the high school teachers, staff, and administrators in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. These talks take place on an annual basis, and they are dedicated to a regular cycle of topics. This year, the theme is morality. Lucky me!
My guess is that disquisitions on doctrine or Church history or pastoral practice wouldn’t raise too many hackles, but ethics is practically guaranteed to rile people up, especially now when issues of same-sex marriage, transgenderism, and assisted suicide are so present to the public consciousness.
Who we are as Christians
I am not sure whether I’m delighting or disappointing my audiences, but I am not ordering my talks to address these hot-button questions. Indeed, it is my conviction that a good deal of mischief and confusion is caused precisely by characterizing Catholic morality primarily as a matrix for adjudicating such matters.
Catholic Charities sponsors sixth annual Aging Conference
MADISON — “Positive Healthy Aging!” was the theme of the sixth annual Aging Conference sponsored by Catholic Charities Madison.
This year it was held on October 13 at the new All Saints Neighborhood Main Street and featured a keynote address, two panel discussions, breakout sessions, and exhibits.
Divorce, remarriage, and Communion
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| Veronica Arntz |
Part three of a four-part series
Having established a clear understanding of the Church’s teaching on marriage and family, let us now turn to the situation of the divorced and remarried.
St. John Paul II recognized the difficult situations that arise from divorce: “Loneliness and other difficulties are often the lot of separated spouses, especially when they are innocent parties” (Familiaris Consortio, 83).
Divorced and remarried
Yet, both St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 29) affirm that those who have been divorced and remarried without receiving a declaration of nullity cannot receive Communion.
Madison Area Food Pantry marks 17th season
First in a series on the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens.
MADISON — Every Saturday during the growing season, they would meet on the Capital Square in downtown Madison before 12 noon, farmers’ market gleaners seeking fresh produce the vendors didn’t sell: some fruit but mostly vegetables for food pantries serving the poor.
First in a series on the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens.
Consider party platforms when voting
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| Jeff Davis and Greg Wagner |
As Catholic voters, what are we to do when neither presidential candidate seems to share our beliefs and values? Some may opt to sit out this election and not vote, others may vote for a third party candidate, and others may write in a candidate.
We feel there is a better option, and that is to look at the party platforms. The party platforms between the Republicans and the Democrats represent two diametrically opposed world views.
Diocese encourages collection for hurricane relief
MADISON — The Diocese of Madison has encouraged parishes, at the discretion of the pastor, to take up a special collection beginning the weekend of October 29 for the relief of Hurricane Matthew victims in the United States and Caribbean countries, especially in Haiti.
“There is no requirement from the Diocese of Madison that a parish perform a special collection for Hurricane Matthew victims, although it is generally encouraged, per the discretion of the pastor, as a Corporal Work of Mercy during the Jubilee Year of Mercy,” said Vicar General Msgr. James Bartylla.
Let’s promote eschatological awareness
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| 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,
The word “eschatology” points to the last things — death, judgment, heaven, and hell. In a certain sense, it’s the most important part of our faith.
Why did God make us? God made us to know, love, and serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next! And of course, what is seen in this world passes away, but what is unseen in the next world is eternal. And what is eternal obviously takes priority over what is temporal, what is time-bound.
Most important part of our faith
So the eschatological dimension of our faith is most important, and yet most Catholics don’t consider it very often. Recent surveys reveal that most Catholics are unsure as to whether there is life after death. Many Catholics think that it’s all over with our bodily death here.
That’s terribly sad, and troubling, and it’s partly why I’ve been focusing on eschatology of late. Lacking a proper understanding of eschatology skews our entire perspective on life and reality.
One tendency for those who lack a proper perspective vis-à-vis eschatology is to be completely wrapped up in improving things in this world, without reference to the things of eternity. Of course we want to improve things in this world and, in fact, we need to work hard to improve them — that’s part and parcel of knowing, loving, and serving God in this world.
Students in Monona collect art supplies for flood affected schools
MONONA — The third and fourth graders at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School in Monona started the year with a service project to help people affected by the flood in Louisiana.
Sr. Sue Keim, second grade teacher at IHM, has a sister, Judy, and nieces and nephews who live in one of the hardest hit areas of Louisiana.
Judy is a member of Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Denham Springs, La., which sustained considerable damage in the floods
Barn Dance to be held for young adults
DEERFIELD — St. Vincent de Paul Young Adults are sponsoring a Barn Dance on Friday, Oct. 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Badger Farms, 1682 CR BB.
Young adults are invited to enjoy a live string band, dancing, games, live and silent auctions, card tournament, costume contest, snacks, and beverages.