January 10, 2018 – Madison Catholic Herald


	Marlene and Ray help in the food pantry at the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison. They have volunteered at the center for many years. Ray came to the United States from Mexico when he was 16 years old and later married Marlene. They raised a family of nine children. Ray became a citizen of the U.S. in the fall of 2017 with the help of CMC staff. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison has an extensive history working to welcome the stranger, actively serving immigrants from countries all over the world and all walks of life for the last three decades.

In 2017, CMC English as a Second Language classes served 163 students from 34 different countries who spoke 17 different languages.

Whether coming to the CMC seeking services, support, a sense of community, or to help out, each immigrant has their own story. Three immigrants at the CMC offered to share their stories.

Long journey to citizenship

Marlene and Ray have been volunteering at the CMC food pantry every week since 1995 and were actively involved with the CMC in different capacities even before that.

The CMC was recently blessed to experience a major milestone in the couple’s life: After being in the U.S. for 40 years, Ray became a U.S. citizen this past fall.

On January 10, 2018

Laura Green, For the Catholic Herald

Center welcomes immigrants, and they give back


	Marlene and Ray help in the food pantry at the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison. They have volunteered at the center for many years. Ray came to the United States from Mexico when he was 16 years old and later married Marlene. They raised a family of nine children. Ray became a citizen of the U.S. in the fall of 2017 with the help of CMC staff. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison has an extensive history working to welcome the stranger, actively serving immigrants from countries all over the world and all walks of life for the last three decades.

In 2017, CMC English as a Second Language classes served 163 students from 34 different countries who spoke 17 different languages.

Whether coming to the CMC seeking services, support, a sense of community, or to help out, each immigrant has their own story. Three immigrants at the CMC offered to share their stories.

Long journey to citizenship

Marlene and Ray have been volunteering at the CMC food pantry every week since 1995 and were actively involved with the CMC in different capacities even before that.

The CMC was recently blessed to experience a major milestone in the couple’s life: After being in the U.S. for 40 years, Ray became a U.S. citizen this past fall.

On January 10, 2018

Chris Lee

SSM Health and CSA complete sponsorship transfer of Agnesian HealthCare, Monroe Clinic

MADISON — The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) and SSM Health have successfully completed a transfer of sponsorship of CSA’s health care ministries.

Agnesian HealthCare, based in Fond du Lac, and Monroe Clinic, based in Monroe, are now part of SSM Health.

Patients and residents will continue to receive the high-quality compassionate care they’ve come to know and expect from Agnesian HealthCare and Monroe Clinic, but also benefit from the additional expertise, resources, and extensive network of specialists provided by SSM Health.

SSM Health and CSA complete sponsorship transfer of Agnesian HealthCare, Monroe Clinic

MADISON — The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) and SSM Health have successfully completed a transfer of sponsorship of CSA’s health care ministries.

Agnesian HealthCare, based in Fond du Lac, and Monroe Clinic, based in Monroe, are now part of SSM Health.

Patients and residents will continue to receive the high-quality compassionate care they’ve come to know and expect from Agnesian HealthCare and Monroe Clinic, but also benefit from the additional expertise, resources, and extensive network of specialists provided by SSM Health.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspires us to work for equality

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an American federal holiday that marks his birthday, observed this year on January 15.

In his speech to Congress in September of 2015, Pope Francis lifted up four Americans who worked for social justice. Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton were Catholics. Abraham Lincoln and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were not Catholics.

Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

On January 10, 2018

Fr. Donald Lange

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspires us to work for equality

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an American federal holiday that marks his birthday, observed this year on January 15.

In his speech to Congress in September of 2015, Pope Francis lifted up four Americans who worked for social justice. Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton were Catholics. Abraham Lincoln and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were not Catholics.

Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

On January 10, 2018February 15, 2022

Julianne Nornberg

‘Make a joyful noise to the Lord’ in the new year

My five-year-old son is a budding pianist.

Day after day he sits at the piano and plunks away at the keys, often producing beautiful songs from his lessons as well as composing his own.

But sometimes, he doesn’t. Like I said, he’s five.

On January 10, 2018February 15, 2022

Julianne Nornberg

‘Make a joyful noise to the Lord’ in the new year

My five-year-old son is a budding pianist.

Day after day he sits at the piano and plunks away at the keys, often producing beautiful songs from his lessons as well as composing his own.

But sometimes, he doesn’t. Like I said, he’s five.

On January 10, 2018

Bishop Robert Barron

Downsizing and bigger matters of faith

Spoiler Alert! This column reveals details of a newly released film.

When I saw the trailer for Alexander Payne’s new film, Downsizing, I thought the movie would be a light-hearted farce, relying principally on visual gags.

In point of fact, the jokes based on the contrast between regular-size people and their five-inch tall counterparts are surprisingly rare. Most of the film deals with events within the world of the downsized — so everything seems more or less normal.

On January 10, 2018

Kathy Wehrle

Consider donation to the BSP free clinic

To the editor:

There have been news articles published recently about the problems faced by the BSP clinic (Benevolent Specialists Project) in Madison due to lack of reliable funding.

I have been a volunteer at this free clinic since 2011. While other free clinics offer preventive and routine medical care needed by many, the BSP clinic gives adult patients access to: cardiac care, arthritis management, eye and foot care for the diabetic patient, diagnosis of skin problems, plus blood work and X-rays and MRIs for diagnosis through the support of local hospitals.