There is a common, and I’ll admit somewhat understandable, interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy that sees the great work as a celebration of the virtues of the Shire, that little town where the hobbits dwell in quiet domesticity.
Year: 2018
Deacon William Van Wagner is ordained
During his homily, Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki of Milwaukee told Transitional Deacon William Van Wagner to ponder three things on the night of his ordination to the transitional diaconate.
A Christmas message from the heavens
Fifty years ago on Christmas Eve (December 24, 1968), the crew of Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit and began circling the moon — the first time in history for humans to visit another world.
That evening, the crew’s astronauts Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman, transmitted a live television broadcast including spectacular pictures of the moon just 60 miles below them, and of the Earth — a quarter of a million miles away.
Catholic Charities to distribute financial assistance to residents in Reedsburg/Sauk County area
Catholic Charities Madison will distribute financial assistance to residents in the Reedsburg/Sauk County area devastated by floods.
Christmas news in brief
Apostolate Christmas Mass airs December 25
MADISON — The hour-long Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities-Diocese of Madison Christmas Day Mass will air on December 25 at 6 a.m. on WISC Channel 3 and at 7 a.m. on TVW and Direct TV 14. Msgr. Larry Bakke, director of the Apostolate, will preside; Deacon Jim Hoegemeier, associate director, is the homilist; and the Madison Diocesan Choir will provide music.Holy Family Homeschoolers to present double feature high school drama
WAUNAKEE — The public is invited to join the Holy Family Homeschoolers for a “double feature” high school drama production on Friday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Waunakee High School Theater.
The first play is The Adventures of Nate the Great, a legendary boy who is the sharpest kid detective ever to solve his neighborhood’s mysteries. The second play is Little Scrooge, a comedy that is an extremely creative, kid-friendly adaption of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol.Prepare for the second coming of Jesus
To the editor:
What does the Bible tell us are the four spirits which will be governing the hearts of men at the second coming of Jesus Christ? Zechariah 6:1-5 provides an account of four chariots pulled by red, black, white, and pale green horses. Revelation 6:1-17 provides a similar account.
If we look at these colors as “isms,” what would they be? Let’s take red first. Do you know an “ism” depicted as red? Sure, communism; Red Russia, China, Korea, Cuba, Vietnam; very active in our lifetimes.
Urge Congress to take action on climate change
To the editor:
The most recent National Climate Assessment found that “People who are already vulnerable, including lower-income and other marginalized communities, have lower capacity to prepare for and cope with extreme weather and climate-related events and are expected to experience greater impacts.”
TEC weekends scheduled in diocese
MADISON — TEC (Together Encountering Christ) is an intergenerational movement of the Catholic Church designed to help meet the spiritual needs of Catholic Christians and people of other Christian faiths to experience a TEC weekend.
TEC is a weekend experience that is scriptural, gives a well-defined outline of doctrine, presents liturgy in attractive forms, and brings the Gospel message alive through the witness of a community of adults and young people centered around Christ.
Seminarians plan Caroling Tour
MADISON — Seminarians of the Diocese of Madison are planning their annual Caroling Tour at parishes and health care facilities on Friday, Dec. 21, and Saturday, Dec. 22. Locations and times include:
• Friday, Dec. 21
8 to 8:30 a.m. — Sing for diocesan staff at Holy Name Heights, Madison.
9:35 to 10:10 a.m. — Sacred Hearts School, Sun Prairie.
10:45 to 11:15 a.m. — St. Jerome School, Columbus.