February 8, 2017 – Madison Catholic Herald


	St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson teacher Margie Schels, middle, stands with eighth graders Josie Peterson, left, and Karsen Powell, right, during a recent celebration honoring Schels’ 40 years as a Catholic school teacher and more than 20 years teaching at St. John the Baptist. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

JEFFERSON — As the annual observance of Catholic Schools Week came to a close at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson, Principal Susan Loof made a bold, but appropriate statement to a teacher sitting in the front row of church.

“You are Catholic education . . . Today is your day to be appreciated in a very public way.”

The teacher was Margie Schels, who was being recognized in that public way for her 40 years as a Catholic school teacher.

Schels teaches religion and math to seventh and eighth graders and is the eighth grade homeroom teacher.

“She touched so many lives,” said eighth grader Josie Peterson. “She cares for other students and she’s very kind and she helps people grow a lot in their faith.”

“She has so many amazing features about herself and she’s just a really amazing person,” said eighth grader Karsen Powell. “I look up to her — she’s just a great teacher.”

On February 8, 2017

Chris Lee

State Catholic Conference urges action on refugees

MADISON — The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, issued an action alert on February 3 calling on concerned citizens to take action in solidarity with refugees.

The WCC said that President Donald Trump has issued an Executive Order with “devastating impacts on refugee resettlement in the United States.”

On February 8, 2017

Susanna Herro, Blessed Sacrament Parishioner

Blessed Sacrament Parish Diaper Drive

MADISON — Fr. Andy McAlpin, OP, pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish, challenged parishioners to donate a month’s supply of diapers to Pregnancy Helpline.

The parishioners blew past the goal of 6,000 diapers and collected a total of 8,942, nearly a month and a half of diapers.

On February 8, 2017February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Continue to welcome immigrants

In the 1970s, I remember going to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin to do a story on refugees from Vietnam who were settling in the Diocese of Madison.

One of our parishes — St. Joseph Parish in Dodgeville — helped sponsor a number of these Vietnamese refugees.

Over the years, refugees from other countries received assistance settling in our diocese through the Catholic Charities resettlement program.

Programs such as this continue throughout the United States through Catholic Charities and other religious-based agencies.

On February 8, 2017

Chris Lee

Parish mission features Jon Leonetti

MONONA — Immaculate […]

On February 8, 2017

Chris Lee

Lenten retreat for Latino families

“To become saints only one thing is necessary: to accept the grace that the Father gives us in Jesus Christ. There, this grace changes our heart.” — Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy

MADISON — St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is hosting a Lenten retreat for Latino families, “Encounter Jesus,” on Sunday, March 5, from 1 to 7:30 p.m.

On February 8, 2017

Chris Lee

Diocese offers ‘Protecting God’s Children for Parents’

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison’s Office of Safe Environment is offering a special session of “Protecting God’s Children for Parents.” This session will be held Tuesday, March 21, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Bishop O’Connor Center Auditorium Conference Room.

While this session is geared toward parents/guardians, it also satisfies the compliance requirement for employees and volunteers.