The cheerful smiles and “hellos” of the Schoenstatt Sisters greeted everyone as they entered the air-conditioned chapel and hall on Madison’s east side.
Author: Kevin Wondrash
‘Fire On the Hill’ for teens at Holy Hill
HUBERTUS — On Saturday, Oct. 4, come out for the 14th annual “Fire On the Hill!” Find out why it’s the single largest youth event in the state.
Last year, 1,800 youth poured onto the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, popularly known as “Holy Hill.”
This beautiful fall event includes bonfire, speakers, sports, and sacraments.
Is artificial insemination wrong? Even among married couples?
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Editor’s note: This column contains some information that might not be suitable for younger readers.
Artificial insemination introduces sperm into a woman’s body by use of a thin tube (cannula) or other instrument to bring about a pregnancy.
Artificial insemination can be either homologous (using sperm from a woman’s husband) or heterologous (using sperm from a man she is not married to). Both forms of artificial insemination raise significant moral concerns.
Treating people as objects
Bringing about a pregnancy by introducing a cannula through the reproductive tract of a woman and injecting sperm into her body raises concerns about reducing her to a kind of conduit for the purposes of obtaining a child.
These actions fail to respect the most personal and intimate aspects of a woman’s relational femininity and her sexuality. She ends up being treated or treating herself as an “object” for the pursuit of ulterior ends.
St. Paul’s celebrates Masses for Facebook followers
MADISON — On Monday, July 21, the St. Paul University Catholic Center Facebook page was sitting with a strong following of 900 followers.
After the page’s administrator had a short conversation with Fr. Mark Miller — the recently arrived new director of student ministries at St. Paul’s — the following was posted on the page:
“If we reach 1,000 Facebook page ‘likes’ by the end of the week, Fr. Mark will say a Mass for just our Facebook followers:) Please click on our page and on the left hand side, click to invite your friends to like our page!”
Faculty lecture open to public
MADISON — “Not One Iota! Why We Say ‘Consubstantial’ in the Creed” is the topic of a St. Ambrose Faculty Lecture to be presented at the Cathedral Parish (St. Patrick Church) on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. by Dr. Constance Nielsen.
Nielsen has taught extensively on the ecumenical councils in Church history in her religion classes at St. Ambrose Academy in Madison, where she is the director of classical education. She received a doctorate in religious studies from Marquette University.
Workshops help adults with chronic health conditions
JANESVILLE — Rock County Council on Aging will be offering a six-week LIVING WELL workshop series Tuesdays, Sept. 16 through Oct. 21 at the Rock County Council on Aging office, 3328 Hwy. 51 North, Janesville, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
LIVING WELL is a program for people with chronic diseases and their caregivers. Chronic diseases are ongoing health conditions and include diabetes, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.
Pregnancy Helpline promotes diaper collection
MADISON — Through the effort of Pregnancy Helpline of Madison and the National Diaper Bank Network, the week of September 8 to 14 has been proclaimed Diaper Need Awareness Week in Wisconsin as a result of the great amount of needed support.
People are encouraged to aid this critical issue by donating funds or diapers during Diaper Need Awareness Week. Diapers can be dropped off at three Madison Shopko stores September 8 to 14. Diapers can also be brought to the Lil Badger Consignment Sale in Monona September 11 to 13.
Donations can be made online at www.pregnancyhelpline.net
Hundreds of guests enjoy annual event at Day at the Dells
With the summer months winding down, hundreds of disabled and elderly guests took part in their own fun in the sun at one of Wisconsin’s most historic attractions.
Style show to benefit St. Vincent de Paul
MADISON — The Madison Catholic Woman’s Club (MCWC) cordially invites all the women of the Diocese of Madison and friends to a benefit dessert and fashion show.
The “Autumn’s in the Air” style show will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church’s social center at 5001 N. Sherman. Ave in Madison on Monday, Sept. 8. Seating is at 11:30 a.m., dessert is at 12 noon, and the fashion show is at 12:30 p.m. The facility is barrier free.
POLST: A Catholic moral dilemma (part two)
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Author’s note: “God is the foundation of hope: not any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end, each one of us and humanity in its entirety. His Kingdom is not an imaginary hereafter, situated in a future that will never arrive; his Kingdom is present wherever he is loved and wherever his love reaches us. His love alone gives us the possibility of soberly persevering day by day, without ceasing to be spurred on by hope, in a world which by its very nature is imperfect” (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Spei Salvi).
The words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI articulate the unique aspect of hope in the Catholic paradigm. In Part II of POLST: A Catholic Moral Dilemma, Dr. Franklin Smith contrasts POLST to the Catholic approach to end-of-life decision-making.