 |
|
These past months have been long and difficult. I pray often for the victims of COVID-19 and those who mourn them, heroic health care workers who give their all, political leaders faced with difficult choices, those suffering economic hardship and unemployment, the elderly and isolated, those who daily die from violence of all kinds, victims of hatred and prejudice, our priests, deacons, Religious, lay leaders, and faithful who all face their own crosses at this time.
MONONA — Three men are set to be ordained to the permanent diaconate later this month.
Jeffrey Bond, Todd Burud, and Roger Scholbrock will be ordained on Sunday, July 26, at 3 p.m., at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona.
This will be a ticketed event and not open to the public.
MADISON — “One of the things right now, in terms of COVID, is people say to me something along the lines of ‘I think God has forgotten me.'” This is the observation of Fr. Pat Norris, OP, chaplain and ethicist at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.
Father Norris wears many hats. He is the prior of the Dominican Community at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison, where he was pastor for nine years prior to taking on the chaplaincy eight years ago. Before starting his priestly ministry, he was a chemist working for the University of New Mexico.To the editor:
Thank you for spreading the word abut the Memorial Statue in Resurrection Ceremony.
What a powerful, beautiful way to invite those who have lost unborn children in a variety of tragic manners to privately pray, grieve, and remember their children.
I would also like to salute Mary Mead who has spent several decades being a true ambassador of Christ’s love to these women and men. |
|
For those of you out there wanting to know more about the new guy, the above headline of my first official editorial may give you some hint as to my personality and interests — I’m an old movie fan.
In taking this position at the Catholic Herald, there was no way I was going to let an opportunity pass by to quote the line from Citizen Kane — “I think it would be fun to run a newspaper”.
Those that have seen the 1941 classic know the line, and I certainly hope my fate later in life is not isolation in my own “Xanadu”-like castle.
For those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet, you should.
SPRING GREEN — St. John the Evangelist School has sparkling new windows thanks to generous parish members who contributed to St. John’s Capital Campaign.
These beautiful eight foot tall windows are making the classrooms shine bright.
 |
|
| Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, center, lays hands on Transitional Deacon Luke Powers during his Ordination Mass on June 19 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Sun Prairie. He is assisted by Transitional Deacon Michael Wanta, left (Photo by Molly Sweeney) |
SUN PRAIRIE — “Tonight is a perfect convergence,” said Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison on June 19, the evening of Deacon Luke Powers’ ordination to the transitional diaconate.
“We’re in Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish,” the bishop said and added that “Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and this is the parish that Luke Powers was baptized in, made his First Communion, made his first Confession, and was confirmed.”
“So, this is perfect. God planned it,” Bishop Hying said.
Deacon Powers was scheduled to be ordained in the fall in Rome — where he attends major seminary at the Pontifical North American College.
Those plans had to be changed following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bishop Hying remarked that having the ordination at the Sun Prairie parish was “second best”. |
|
Note: Bishop Donald J. Hying is serializing his Pastoral Letter on the new Evangelization Initiative being launched in the Diocese of Madison. This is the fourth and last part of that letter. For the complete letter, go to the Diocese of Madison and Catholic Herald websites.
I know that many people in our diocese are already working so hard in these efforts. Some have devoted their entire lives to the Lord and to evangelization, and for that, I am very grateful. But the Lord is challenging all of us, especially me, in this crucial moment of history, to consider what we are doing and to set out afresh.
After 47 years on the Catholic Herald staff, including 34 years as editor, Mary C. Uhler will be retiring as of July 6.
SUN PRAIRIE — Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Sun Prairie is conducting a shoe collection drive.
Like many organizations, Sacred Hearts canceled its annual Rummage Sale fundraiser due to COVID-19. The shoe drive will help Sacred Hearts earn funds based on the number of pairs collected as Funds2Orgs will purchase all the donated goods.
Those dollars will benefit Sacred Hearts’ community outreach programs as well as parish ministries. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used, or new shoes. The campaign kick-off is Saturday, July 11, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., at the parish garage, 221 Columbus St. Anyone donating 10 pairs of gently used, worn, or new shoes (only one pair of shoes can be flip-flops) will receive a coupon for a FREE Culver’s sundae.
