MADISON — The Madison Area Chapter of The Compassionate Friends is having their 17th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting Service on Sunday, Dec. 8, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 5001 N. Sherman Ave. (across from Cherokee Country Club), at 6 p.m. The Compassionate Friends is a support group for parents who have lost a child/children.
Author: Kevin Wondrash
Honoring veterans: Janesville school observes Veterans Day
It’s not uncommon for a pastor to greet parishioners in a gathering space prior to Mass or a prayer service. On this particular day, the pastor’s presence took on a special meeting.
Church living in midst of confrontation
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| 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,
Last week at the meeting of the Bishops’ Conference in Baltimore, our Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who serves as the personal representative of Pope Francis in the United States, addressed us bishops on behalf of Pope Francis.
In the first place, I thought it was interesting that a great deal of his address to us was focused on quotations from Pope Paul VI and Blessed John Paul the Great.
This is a sure sign that Pope Francis wishes to be seen in continuity with his venerable predecessors, a fact which he made clear recently as he affirmed Archbishop Agostino Marchetto’s account of the hermeneutic of continuity as a proper interpretive key for the Second Vatican Council.
But, I want to focus on one particular thought that Archbishop Viganò raised.
Students in Jefferson learn about icons
JEFFERSON — Seventh and eighth graders at St. John the Baptist (SJB) School in Jefferson were recently able to catch a glimpse of heaven thanks to the work of Madison-based iconographer, Drazen Dupor.
Students had been studying religious icons in religion classes. In collaboration with art teacher Sally Koehler and with the support of the SJB Home and School Association, students began their first steps on the journey to understanding and appreciating this cherished liturgical art form.
A gift that will last a lifetime
KIELER — The fourth graders at Holy Ghost-Immaculate Conception School in Kieler each received their own Bible. The Bibles were a very generous gift from the Knights of Columbus Cuba City Council. The students were very excited to receive a gift that will be used throughout their life.
Sex, truth, and the illumination of our guilt
Guilt has gotten a lot of bad press recently. We live in an age where guilt is practically always something bad, something to get past with the help of a shrink.
Particularly when discussing sex, people will declare that religion and morality do nothing more than make people feel guilty.
Andrew Aaron, a sex and marriage therapist in New Bedford, Mass., seems to subscribe to this view: “Through centuries,” he writes, “religious education has associated sex with what is wrong and sinful rather than what is sacred. Instead of an expression of the divine, sex is suspiciously regarded as weakness of the flesh. The result of this influence is that sexuality, a natural part of being human, is tainted with shame, guilt, and ambivalence.”
Bishop to celebrate White Mass on November 23
MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino will celebrate the annual White Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, at St. Patrick Church in Madison.
Members of the Madison Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) will be attending the Mass with the bishop, asking God’s blessing upon doctors, nurses, caregivers, and patients under the patronage of St. Luke.
All those involved in the medical profession are invited to join Bishop Morlino for this “White Mass,” so named from the traditional color of lab coats and nurses’ uniforms.
Thanksgiving Day community meal
MADISON — First United Methodist Church (FUMC) will sponsor a holiday meal on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, at 203 Wisconsin Ave., from 12 noon to 2 p.m. for those who are not be able to partake in a holiday meal. The meal is free and no reservation is required.
Donations are needed. Contact Karen Andro at 608-256-4646, ext. 16, or by email at kandro@fumc.org to make a monetary contribution or donate a needed food item. To volunteer, contact Andro by Monday, Nov. 25.
Grandparents honored at All Saints School in Berlin
BERLIN — The grandparents of students visited All Saints School in Berlin on October 30 for the morning. The day together began with Mass prepared by students from all grades. Grandparents and students then toured the classrooms and enjoyed a delicious lunch.
They also made ornaments for the All Saints Christmas tree in Nathan Strong Park. The grandparents enjoyed seeing what is going on at school and their grandchildren had fun showing off their classrooms and schoolwork.
Gracyalny family shares musical talents
BELOIT — It’s a spirited group when three generations of the Gracyalny family gather to share their significant musical talents.
In appreciation for their faith and sharing their musical gifts, they will present “The Gracyalny Family Concert” featuring top hits of the 1950s and 1960s on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in Assumption Hall at Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Church.
They promise an evening of vocal and instrumental music, goodwill, and a variety of homemade desserts.