Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

Staying connected in a time of ‘social distancing’

Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

Several years ago, a summer heat wave of historic proportions settled over Europe, leading to the death of over 14,000 people in France alone.

Many of the victims were elderly citizens who were left behind in major cities as their families and neighbors enjoyed their summer holidays far from the country’s urban areas.

The memory of this tragedy has been very present to me as we hunker down, close our doors and try our best to isolate our elderly residents from the coronavirus for as long as it takes to protect them from danger.

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Kevin Wondrash

Madison parish helps support Cambria mission

CAMBRIA — Over the last two years, St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison has taken an active role in supporting the Queen of Americas Mission in Cambria and its community members.

These members are seasonal employees at the food processing plants in Cambria and are the latest in a long line of seasonal employees for the agricultural industry in Wisconsin.

Prior to the onset of the Second World War, agricultural work was generally handled by the local population.

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Kevin Wondrash

Bishop Hying speaks on suspension of public Masses

Bishop Hying
Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison addresses the media on March 17 after his decision to suspend public celebration of Masses in response to guidelines to stop the spread of the coronavirus. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

MADISON — Speaking about his March 16 decision to suspend the celebration of public Masses in the Diocese of Madison, as a result of guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Bishop Donald J. Hying told the media, “As a Catholic bishop, that’s the hardest thing that I could possibly do, because for us as Catholics, Mass is everything.”

Bishop Hying addressed the media at a press conference on March 17 at Holy Name Heights in Madison.

The day before, in a letter to priests and faithful of the Diocese of Madison, the bishop suspended the Mass through Friday, April 3.

The suspension includes Sunday and weekday Masses at all parish churches, oratories, and chapels.

He asked priests to still celebrate Masses in their parishes, but privately, without an assembly.

The bishop said the decision was made “in tandem” with his fellow bishops in Wisconsin “in light of our concern and in light of the government’s regulations regarding public gatherings.”

Bishop Hying said following the lifting of the suspension on April 3, the Diocese of Madison will reassess the situation in the week before Holy Week.

“It’s hard to say what will come,” Bishop Hying said.

Profound solidarity

Bishop Hying reiterated many times that the diocese is in “solidarity” with all those who are suffering because of the coronavirus.

“We think of those who have already died. We think of those who are ill with the virus. We think of their family and friends. We think all of us who, in one way or another, have been profoundly affected by this pandemic,” he said.

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Kevin Wondrash

Culinary Creations Catering participants with a criminal record face significant barriers to finding employment

MADISON — Culinary Creations Catering (CCC) serves individuals facing barriers to employment and offers them the tools they need to build a brighter future and success in the workplace.

These barriers can be anything from housing instability, physical or mental health issues, lack of meaningful educational or career opportunities, or even racial discrimination (one recent study in Milwaukee found that black men received significantly fewer interview callbacks than white men, even though the study subjects had equal qualifications).

Past criminal record

Here we explore one of these barriers, which is reported by one-third of Culinary Creations participants: a past criminal record.

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Kevin Wondrash

St. John’s buries the ‘Alleluia’

JEFFERSON — Students and staff at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson have begun their Lenten journey to “Follow Me, the Lord”.

The school community has committed to walking with Jesus in daily prayer and reflection. On Thursday, Feb. 27, Coordinator of Religious Education Jodi El-Beri guided the students and staff through a prayer service to “bury the Alleluia” in preparation for Easter.

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Kevin Wondrash

Bishop Hying suspends celebration of public Masses through April 3

From Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison

March 16, 2020

Dear Priests and Faithful of the Diocese of Madison,

Lenten blessings and prayers to you in this time of challenge for our diocese, the state, the country, and the entire world, in regards to COVID-19, a strain of the coronavirus.

After having conferred with the Most Reverend Jerome Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee and the provincial for the bishops of the State of Wisconsin, and, mindful of the latest restrictions and recommendations announced today from our national, state, and local health authorities, which require that public gatherings be limited to fewer than 50 people, I am providing you the latest directives with regard to the celebration of Mass and other sacraments in the Diocese of Madison.

Effective tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th, at 12:01 am, I am suspending the public celebration of Masses throughout the Diocese of Madison. This is effective through Friday, April 3rd. This includes both Sunday and weekday Masses at all parish churches, oratories, and chapels. I ask that priests still celebrate the Holy Mass in their parishes, but without an assembly (i.e., “privately”). This request for priests to celebrate private Masses especially includes the Sunday and holy day of obligation “pro populo” (i.e., “for the people”) Masses as required by canon law.

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Kevin Wondrash

Bishop Donald Hying temporarily lifts obligation to attend Sunday Mass

To diminish the spread of the COVID-19 virus, or the Coronavirus, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison is issuing a decree, dispensing everyone in the Diocese of Madison from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation until further notice from the bishop.

This means that all Catholics are permitted to miss Mass on Sundays for the foreseeable future, without being concerned that they are neglecting their minimal duties to assist at Mass.

In a statement, Bishop Hying said, “This is not to say that the faithful are prohibited from attending Mass — no one is obligated to use this dispensation. However, it is encouraged that everyone takes seriously this dispensation and take liberal advantage of it, keeping in mind also the recommendation from the Wisconsin Department of Health to avoid large community gatherings — particularly large intergenerational gatherings — at this time. In a particular way, we encourage the elderly and those who are immunocompromised not to attend Mass.

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Kevin Wondrash

Diocese announces second credible allegation against Rev. Patrick Doherty

Statement from the Diocese of Madison:

MADISON — Having reviewed the findings of a preliminary investigation and received the input of the Diocesan Sexual Abuse Review Board, Bishop Donald Hying has determined that a second allegation of sexual abuse brought against Rev. Patrick Doherty has the semblance of truth. This determination follows upon an initial credible finding on another allegation, which was announced this January 17.

The individual making the present allegation came forward following the January announcement and the addition of Rev. Doherty’s name to the list of those priests (or former priests) determined to have been credibly accused of acts of sexual abuse against minors. His allegation dates from the time that Rev. Doherty was pastor in Boscobel, WI, some 45 years ago.

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Kevin Wondrash

‘Great moment of joy in our Church,’ says Bishop Hying

WAUNAKEE — Bishop Donald J. Hying said it is a “great moment of joy in our Church” as he welcomed those attending the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion held on Sunday, March 1, at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee.

“We lift all catechumens and candidates up in prayer,” said Bishop Hying.

Catechumens, candidates

This year there are 36 catechumens (those seeking the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist) and 107 candidates (those who were baptized in another Christian denomination and wish to be welcomed into the Catholic Church) in the Diocese of Madison, a total of 143.

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