Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Our suffering brings us closer to Christ

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear friends,

You’ve been right at the heart of my prayers in the recent days and weeks. In addition to my usual prayers for your growth in the virtues of faith, hope, and love have been prayers for your warmth and safety, as well as for your joy in these frigid days!

I have been very fortunate to take some time for rest and renewal in warmer climes, as I’m blessed most always to do in January. (There are a number of things for which I am grateful to my predecessor, Bishop Bullock, but on a personal level, I’ll always remain grateful for his wise advice — and precedent — that I take my time for vacation in January, and not in the summer!)

I don’t take for granted for a moment the blessings that I’ve received. I’m grateful and I’m hopeful that such moments of leisure can prepare me all the more for my service.

And so it is with only the slightest sense of irony that the Lord has drawn to my mind the following three words and phrases from our readings this past Sunday: purification, suffering, and a sign of contradiction. And each of those words accompanies the readings, in order. Purification is spoken of in the first reading — Mal 3:1-4; suffering in the second reading — Heb 2:14-18, and a “sign of contradiction” in the Gospel reading — Lk 2:22-40.

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Kevin Wondrash

Workshops for extraordinary ministers of Communion

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison’s Office of Worship will hold Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Workshops at two locations in the coming weeks.

  • At Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 2222 Shopiere Rd., Beloit, on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
  • At St. Joseph Church, 405 S. Dacotah St., Dodgeville, on Saturday, March 1, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

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Kevin Wondrash

Day of prayer and formation in Watertown

WATERTOWN — St. Henry Parish, 300 E. Cady St., Watertown, is hosting a day of prayer and formation for all lectors, musicians, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, catechists, greeters, altar servers, ushers, and art and environment committees on Saturday, March 1, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB, will be the keynote speaker. Abbot Rooney is a dynamic speaker who has consulted on the liturgy with Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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Kevin Wondrash

Evening of reflection for extraordinary ministers

MADISON — Join Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB, and other Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) on Wednesday, March 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. for a mini-Lenten retreat at St. Maria Goretti Church, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison.

This evening is intended as an enrichment opportunity for veteran eucharistic ministers and does not fulfill the requirement of training at one of the regularly-scheduled workshops for EMHC.

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Kevin Wondrash

Debating birth control in the public square: use of contraceptives is not just a ‘personal matter’

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, in his December 13, 2012 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, argues that the cost of birth control could be reduced by eliminating the required doctor’s visit to get a prescription — making contraception available “over the counter.”

If it were made available this way, it would no longer be reimbursable by health insurance, and people could simply purchase it on their own.

Jindal posits that this approach would result in “the end of birth control politics.” He relies on several simplistic assumptions and inadequate moral judgments, however, as he tries to advance this argument.

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Kevin Wondrash

State proposals would curb human trafficking

MADISON — The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) is supporting two bills that would strengthen Wisconsin’s human trafficking laws.

The proposals — Senate Bill 492 and Assembly Bill 620 — were considered in separate legislative hearings.

Constitutes grave offense

WCC Associate Director Barbara Sella offered written testimony in support of SB 492 to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs on January 21 and to the Assembly Committee on Corrections on January 23.

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Kevin Wondrash

St. Francis Xavier to hold fifth annual Casino Night

CROSS PLAINS — The St. Francis Xavier Endowment Committee will be hosting the parish’s fifth annual Casino Night on Saturday, March 1, in the parish fellowship hall at 6 p.m.

This year’s Mardi Gras-style Casino Night is an opportunity for parishioners — and all friends of St. Francis Parish — to get together for a fun-filled evening that includes food, beverages, entertainment, and prizes galore.

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Kevin Wondrash

Liturgy and social doctrine courses offered

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison is offering two series of courses on both the liturgical year and the Social Doctrine of the Church in the coming months.

Study of liturgical year

A comprehensive study on the liturgical year is being offered by Abbot Marcel Rooney through the Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute.

Remaining sessions are open to everyone and will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., on the following Saturday mornings.

 

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Kevin Wondrash

Society of St. Vincent de Paul forming new Youth Service Council

MADISON — The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) has long been involved with charitable works in the Madison area. Following in its founder’s footsteps, the society is now looking to expand opportunities for youth to take the reins in planning some local service events.

“Blessed Frederic Ozanam and his friends started the society when they were college students, and they named it after St. Vincent de Paul,” explained Gayle Westfahl, member services coordinator for the local council of the society. “We all know there are very talented high school students here in Madison, and many people could be served well through their creativity, passion, and desire to be of service.”

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