Kevin Wondrash

From the Wisconsin Catholic Conference:

On September 27, 2020, the Church celebrates the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. In recognizing the unique contributions of immigrants and refugees, the Catholic bishops of Wisconsin have sent a letter to President Trump and other Administration officials acknowledging the special contribution of Hmong and Lao refugees. In a February 14, 2020, letter, the U.S. Department of State acknowledged ongoing negotiations with the government of Laos to accept deported Hmong and other Lao U.S. residents. The bishops of Wisconsin have asked the President to end these negotiations.

“We understand,” the bishops wrote, “that legal residents may be deported if they have committed certain crimes and that previous administrations have sent several hundred individuals back to Laos, but we urge you to limit, not amplify, such deportations.”

On September 23, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

Life changes, turning corners: an old normal

This month, I said goodbye to a labor of love of mine for the past several years.

Since 2013, I had been the coordinator of the young adult group (20s and 30s) — on a volunteer basis — at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison.

As I’ve gotten older, the new people have gotten “younger,” many of my longtime friends have moved on from the group or moved away, and myself having less time and energy to devote to the ministry, it was becoming obvious and apparent that it was time to move on and let others take over from here.

On September 16, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

Schools in Dane County fully open

MADISON — School parents and administrators, teachers, and staff in Dane County got a victory in their efforts to open Catholic schools to all students.

On September 10, the State Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the Dane County Order requiring all schools, public and private, in the county to open virtually for students in grades three through 12.

This meant Catholic schools in Dane County could hold in-person instruction for all students immediately.

Families take action

The county order, Emergency Order #9, was issued on August 21 just days before many Dane County schools in the Diocese of Madison were scheduled to open for full in-person instruction.

Schools had spent most of the summer making preparations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 16, 2020May 8, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Why attending Mass is important

Recently, the Catholic bishops of Wisconsin jointly decided to lift the suspension of the Sunday Mass obligation in all five dioceses in the Province during the month of September.

So, beginning the weekend of September 26 to 27, it will be once again obligatory for Catholics in our diocese to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.

I lifted the obligation six months ago, beginning on March 17 in the very beginning of the COVID pandemic.

These months have been long and difficult; the inability to go to Mass and receive the Eucharist has been a great hardship, but I made that decision out of concern for the public health and in union with my brother bishops in the state and the country.

On September 16, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

Monastery part of Fermentation Fest D’Tour

PRAIRIE DU SAC — During the upcoming Fermentation Fest D’Tour, you are invited by the Nuns of Valley of Our Lady Monastery in Prairie du Sac to visit their home on the edge of what was once the great Sauk Prairie to learn about their life of “ora et labora” (prayer and work) — from September 26 through October 4.

The Sisters serve God and the world by praying for those in need, singing psalms in Gregorian chant seven times each day, along with planting, harvesting, sewing, and baking altar breads in an enclosed environment of silence and sacrifice.

An onsite exhibit will share their story.

D’Tour is a diverse 50 plus mile self-guided, free family drive through the artistic, cultural, and natural highlights of southern Sauk County.

On September 16, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

Recognizing National Assisted Living Week

Dear Editor:

September 13 to 19 is National Assisted Living Week.

This annual observance was established by The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) as a way to celebrate those who choose this type of living option and the caring, dedicated staff members who serve them; and to educate the general public about the importance and benefits of this type of long term care.

This year’s theme is “Caring is Essential.”

On September 15, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

‘You can’t put your arms around a memory’

I took a couple of audio-visual trips down Memory Lane over Labor Day weekend.

My first trip consisted of dusting off two VHS tapes and watching some “home movies” of the high school band trip to Canada that I went on when I was a senior in high school back in the summer of 2002.

Although I and some of my peers may have rolled our eyes at the time, I’m very grateful that one of the parent chaperones on the trip was constantly using his camcorder and captured more than a dozen hours of memories as they were happening.

On September 10, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

Catholics invited back to weekly Sunday Mass; safety protocols remain in place

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.

On September 10, 2020

Kevin Wondrash

5 Door Recovery helps people with addictions during pandemic

HELP IS AVAILABLE

If you or someone you know are suffering from addictions, contact 5 Door Recovery at:

608-827-9170
help@5doorrecovery.org
http://5DoorRecovery.org

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.

On September 10, 2020May 8, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

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.