Day: November 1, 2018

On
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

National Vocation Awareness Week is November 4-10

seminarians
Seminarians from the Diocese of Madison are pictured with Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison and Fr. Gregory Ihm, vocations director for the diocese, right. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, November 4-10.

This annual event is a special time for parishes in the U.S. to foster a culture of vocations for the priesthood, diaconate, and Consecrated Life.

Pope Francis, in his message for the 2018 World Day of Vocations, emphasized that it is at the loving initiative of God, and by His personal encounter with each of us, that one is called.

National Vocation Awareness Week, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, is designed to help promote vocation awareness and to encourage young people to ask the question: “To what vocation in life is God calling me?”

Parish and school communities across the nation are encouraged to include, during the first week in November, special activities that focus on vocation awareness and provide opportunities for prayerful discernment.

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On
Fr. Gregory Ihm

Helping people encounter God’s Glory

“Those who want to work for moral reform in the world must seek the glory of God before all else.” — St. John Leonardi, Feast Day October 9

As I prayed this passage from the Liturgy of the Hours, I recognized the importance of vocation work and what a privilege it is to help people seek the Glory of God but then respond to it in the way that He is inviting them to it.

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On
Julianne Nornberg

A matter of perspective: Passing on faith through subtleties of our actions

Everyday Faith column by Julianne Nornberg

In a classroom recently, I told the following true story to a few young children.

“A long time ago, my husband and I were roasting marshmallows over a campfire with some friends,” I said, my eyes wide as I told the story.

“Our friend’s marshmallow caught on fire, and instead of blowing it out, he waved his stick back and forth quickly, trying to put the fire out,” I said, waving my hands dramatically to illustrate our friend’s actions. “But the burning marshmallow flew off the stick and landed as a mound of flaming goo onto my husband’s leg!”

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Information about Catholic funerals

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison’s Office of Worship is hosting a workshop about Catholic funerals on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd.

Patrick Gorman, director of the Office of Worship, will lead this session. November is the month in which we offer fervent prayers for the dead. It is also a time to consider our own mortality.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

New chapter of EnCourage forming in Diocese of Madison

MADISON — In order to provide more help and support for the friends and family members of those who experience same-sex attractions, the Diocese of Madison has recently established a local chapter of EnCourage, which is a ministry within the Courage Apostolate.

What are Courage and EnCourage?

Courage is a Catholic apostolate that provides pastoral support for those who experience same-sex attraction, through spiritual guidance, community prayer support, and Christian fellowship.

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On
Paul Richgels

The real truth is to keep your focus on Jesus

To the editor:

As we deal with the horrors of the shootings over this past weekend, the result of which will certainly be the demand to rid ourselves of firearms, I would like to focus on the real truth, which is, the prince of this world is Satan (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8, Rev 12:9). We are dealing with the agents of Satan and the people under his influence. He will not be restrained until Jesus returns (Rev 19:11-20:3).

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