Last week’s article addressed the Catholic belief of Christ’s presence in the celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) and in the Body and Blood of Christ that we receive. This week we look at other ways we can encounter Christ in the Mass.
Year: 2020
Catholics invited back to weekly Sunday Mass; safety protocols remain in place
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Statement from the Diocese of Madison:
MADISON — As has been circulated in recent days, the five Wisconsin bishops jointly decided to lift the suspension of the Sunday Mass obligation in their respective dioceses this month. For the Diocese of Madison, this suspension will be lifted beginning on Sunday, September 27th.
As Bishop Hying wrote to the priests of the diocese, “We have been living with the obligation suspended for almost six months and we rightly chose to be cautious, concerned for the safety and health of our people, especially at the beginning of the pandemic.”
Since late May, diocesan guidelines, observing all state and local orders for safe reopening of our 134 churches have been in place throughout the 11-county Diocese of Madison. These measures have proven effective. Our churches were reopened for public worship with limited capacity, distancing, and great caution for the public health, without any known spread of COVID-19.
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MADISON — March and April of this year was a time to adjust to life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many people were affected by quarantines, the state’s “Safer at Home” order, and other measures taken to try and “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus numbers.
Reducing stress can help us survive the pandemic
Stress seems a unique modern problem; but, it is not. In Mark 6:31, Jesus said to the apostles,”Come away to a deserted place by yourselves and rest a while. For many were coming and going in such great numbers that it was impossible for Jesus and his apostles to even eat.”
God can shape us into who we are called to be, no matter the challenge
A startling truth that struck me as a young priest was the number of people I encountered in the parish who struggled with chronic depression, anxiety, chemical imbalances, a borderline personality, or other forms of psychological and mental challenges.
Many of them were married, held jobs, volunteered in the parish, and were remarkably productive but suffered profound anguish in their minds and hearts.
Sadly, a taboo still clings to psychological illness.
Most people can talk about cancer, heart conditions, and medical treatments of all kinds, but problems of the mind are often feared and denied.
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Beloit to hold ‘retooled’ Fall Festival
BELOIT — Change seems to be one word often used when dealing with events during pandemic in 2020.
At Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Parish, the annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27, was retooled by committee members to conform with safety protocols that have been put into practice on the entire church campus.
Knowing the meaning of ‘yes’
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During what might be my 378th attempt to devote myself to praying the Rosary every day, I’m reading a book that contains meditations on each Mystery of the Rosary.
It’s no surprise that the first chapter is on the First Joyful Mystery — the Annunciation.
Here we find the Blessed Virgin Mary saying “yes” to the Archangel Gabriel to be the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Words in the chapter go on to describe how Mary’s “yes” literally transformed the world.
Sr. Baptist Stohrer, OP, dies
Sr. Baptist Stohrer, OP, died Aug. 31, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. The funeral Mass was held at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Sept. 4, followed by burial of the cremains in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Wisconsin bishops to announce end of dispensation from Sunday Mass
In March, as communities responded to the growing coronavirus outbreak, the bishops of Wisconsin’s five Roman Catholic dioceses each granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. As the outbreak grew into a pandemic, all dioceses suspended the public celebration of Mass until it was safe to resume in-person worship.
In recent months, dioceses and parishes throughout the state have been able to resume public worship by adhering to strict safety standards and by restricting access to services for those who are symptomatic, sick, or at risk of serious illness. Throughout this time, the faithful have not been required to attend Mass on Sundays.
Safe openings for students and teachers
FORT ATKINSON — While headlines and social media chatter make many mentions of the Dane County order limiting most public and private education to virtual learning, along with the lawsuits in-progress to attempt to get that order overturned, many schools in the Diocese of Madison have opened their doors for in-person instruction this school year and have done so safely.
Working together
One example is St. Joseph School in Fort Atkinson, in Jefferson County, east of Dane County.
Its first day of school was on August 24.
Since June, the reopening committee met each week to follow the CDC and Jefferson County Health Department recommendations to make sure the school could open safely for students and staff.