The Page 1 […]
Author: Kevin Wondrash
The coronavirus and sitting quietly in a room alone
 |
|
Blaise Pascal said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
The great 17th Century philosopher thought that most of us, most of the time, distract ourselves from what truly matters through a series of divertissements (diversions).
He was speaking from experience. Though one of the brightest men of his age and one of the pioneers of the modern physical sciences and of computer technology, Pascal frittered away a good deal of his time through gambling and other trivial pursuits.Apostolate gives retreat at St. Coletta
JEFFERSON — Earlier this month was a special time for 45 individuals served at St. Coletta of Wisconsin.
A Lenten retreat was planned and facilitated by the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities-Diocese of Madison (Msgr. Larry Bakke, Deacon Jim Hoegemeier, Kayla Schiesser, and Kellie O’Brien).
The theme of the retreat was “Jesus Comes to You,” and is part of our Lenten preparation looking forward to Easter.
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.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.
Bishop Hying speaks on suspension of public Masses
 |
|
| 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.
Fr. Lawrence Oparaji is ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ
Jesus sought out Peter and other disciples on the Sea of Galilee and made then”fishers of men.”
Likewise the Church has looked throughout the world for priests.
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.
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.
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.