St. Aloysius Church and School at Divine Mercy Parish are joining pro-life efforts in Madison and around the world this fall.
Year: 2016
Watching for the Risen Lord together
Dear Friends,
As autumn approaches as well as the start of the new school year, I hope and pray that the summer has been good to you, each in accord with your needs and the Lord’s Providence.
The summer (though too short, of course) has finished with a great flourish of late, as I’ve been able to bless or consecrate a number of new altars around the diocese.
Parish renovations
In the first place, a few parishes have recently completed renovation projects — some minor but beautiful, some more involved — in order to enhance their sanctuaries and especially to have a fitting place for the tabernacle in the middle of the sanctuary.
Thank you to all the pastors and people who have worked hard on these projects to date. (And thanks to all those who are working on projects for the future.)
In addition, two weeks ago I blessed the lovely chapel built into the tremendous new development at the Catholic Charities’ All Saints Community. It is a fitting centerpiece for that growing retirement community and assisted living facility. Jackson Fonder and his team, along with the All Saints Board, should be proud.
Statue of Our Lady visits diocese
We living in the Diocese of Madison have a unique opportunity to view the world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
The statue will be visiting four cities in our diocese (see schedule) and will be displayed outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in Madison on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m.
I did some research on this statue, and it has a remarkable story.
‘Our Faith Stories’ at St. Ann Parish
STOUGHTON — The September “Our Faith Stories” at St. Ann Catholic Church will feature Dan Schultz and Marie Powers. They will share their stories Sunday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in Healy Hall.
Dan said about his talk, “My story is a collection of rambling thoughts from a guy on the older side of middle-aged, shaped by his experiences of being a son, brother, friend, husband, and father.
Priests for Our Future campaign update
MADISON — Due to the success of the Priests for Our Future capital campaign, the future of the Diocese of Madison seminarian program continues to be strong.
This is thanks in part to the generous donors to the Priests for Our Future campaign and most importantly the Holy Spirit working through your continued prayers.
Priests for Our Future campaign update
MADISON — Due to the success of the Priests for Our Future capital campaign, the future of the Diocese of Madison seminarian program continues to be strong.
This is thanks in part to the generous donors to the Priests for Our Future campaign and most importantly the Holy Spirit working through your continued prayers.
Andrew Showers to be ordained in Rome
ROME — Andrew Showers, a seminarian of the Diocese of Madison, will be ordained as a transitional deacon on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 9:30 a.m. at the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston will ordain Showers and 29 other men from around the United States. A transitional deacon has completed his third year of theology studies and intends to be ordained as a priest.
Catholic Charities to operate new homeless day resource center
MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino called it a way to “deepen our effort to be good neighbors, one to another in these days.”
On September 7, the bishop, along with city and county leaders, leaders with Catholic Charities Madison, and other organizations that help the area homeless announced and praised a new partnership during a press conference at Holy Name Heights in Madison.
The partnership is between Catholic Charities and Dane County to operate a homeless day resource center to be housed at 615 East Washington Ave. in Madison, near the downtown area.
Solving challenges
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said the county has been committed to solving the challenge of helping the homeless in the area.
Parisi called it the “ideal location to help our homeless friends in need” and decided to partner with Catholic Charities because “we want to do this right and we want to do this right the first time.”
Catholic Charities Madison was selected as the center operator of the new facility by Dane County through a request for proposals submission process.
The goals for the new partnership include support for those suffering from poverty; refuge from the elements; offering referrals to appropriate services as needed by each individual; providing direct services such as a computer lab, laundry, showers, and storage; and building trusting relationships.
A ‘how-to’ for closing Planned Parenthood
Fr. Richard Heilman |
On Friday morning, August 26, at 6:45 a.m., I read an article about the miraculous closing of the Appleton, Wis., Planned Parenthood.
I say “miraculous” because “exactly to the day” one year prior, Bishop David L. Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the specific intention to close that Planned Parenthood, and then proceeded to the Planned Parenthood site with many other prayer warriors to offer special prayers for its closing.
That’s right . . . one year. To. The. Day. And, it happened on the memorial of the Queenship of Mary (August 22). WOW!!
Catholic Charities brings experience to the table
MADISON — A recent report shows that 3,370 people need homeless services in Dane County. The survey included 473 families with 946 children under the age of 18.
“These are disturbing numbers,” said Jackson Fonder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Madison in an interview. “It catches us in Madison off guard.”