Author: Kevin Wondrash

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Kevin Wondrash

International Vincentian leader visits Madison

MADISON — “Spirituality, friendship, and service,” the essential elements of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, clearly exuded from Renato Lima de Oliveira, the international president general of the society during an interview at the Middlecamp Center for Vincentian Charity here.

The first Brazilian to hold the high office was warm and friendly and full of gratitude for the work of the society volunteers in the Diocese of Madison.

Holding a copy of the February 6 Catholic Herald with Bishop Donald J. Hying’s column on the “Life and Legacy of Blessed Frederic Ozanam,” Lima de Oliveira said he was grateful to the bishop, who has been a Vincentian for 20 years and is advocating for the sainthood of the founder.

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Kevin Wondrash

St. Ambrose Academy presents Singin’ in the Rain

MADISON — Producer Diane Marsland and Director Angela Hineline have earned reputations for making magic with St. Ambrose Academy’s musical productions by drawing greatness out of their student actors — nearly 40 percent of the entire student body — through a strong work ethic and an infectious enthusiasm.

Packed house crowds have roared with laughter and wiped away wistful tears, entirely delighted.

However, this year’s Singin’ in the Rain centers on 1920’s Hollywood stars Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont as silent films give way to “talkies.”

Essential to the musical are Hollywood sets for the footage of a silent film, a “talkie” flop, and a musical rewrite.

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Kevin Wondrash

Coronavirus and the Liturgy

Following is a document sent out by the Diocese of Madison Office of Worship to priests of the diocese on March 3, 2020.

The Office of Worship has received calls expressing concern about the transmission of the Coronavirus at Mass. Please remind parishioners that there is no need to panic. Early indications show it is transmitted similar to influenza.

Below are mandatory requirements, effective immediately, within the Diocese of Madison:

1. Parishioners should refrain from touching others during the Mass (e.g., the Sign of Peace and the Our Father). The Sign of Peace may be: 1) omitted, or 2) retained if there is instruction in the use of non-contact gestures.

2. As is the current policy, the Precious Blood should not be distributed, with due exception for celiac communicants, who for medical reasons receive from an independent chalice.

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Kevin Wondrash

Obedience to Christ, Church will always be a blessing

Bishop Donald J. Hying's column

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus steadfastly reiterates a central theme of his mission: He has come to earth to do the will of His heavenly Father.

His long nights of intimate prayer, the extended days of ministering to the crowds, His fasts and feasts, His tears and laughter all express Jesus’ fundamental desire to fulfill what the Father has asked of Him. This radical obedience to the Divine Will culminates in the events of Holy Week.

Jesus is faithful to will of God

After the Transfiguration, Jesus resolutely sets His sights on Jerusalem, journeying up to the sacred city to intentionally embrace His Passion and death. Along the way, He speaks movingly of the destiny that awaits Him, warning His followers of future persecutions and suffering, but also assuring them that glorious resurrection waits just on the other side.

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Kevin Wondrash

She sent a hundred love letters

In a recent essay in the Wall Street Journal, Kimberly Cutter chronicled the death of her father by suicide. As he struggled with rapidly progressing prostate cancer, he lost more than 30 pounds, becoming gaunt and emaciated. Back pain and nausea forced him to spend much of his time in bed.

A few days before Christmas, he shared with Kimberly that he was thinking about shooting himself. Kimberly argued with him, stressing that she and her sisters couldn’t accept a violent ending: “If he shot himself, my father would die alone. Someone in our family would have to find him,” she wrote.

Looking into options

His daughters convinced him to look into other options. When he started investigating lethal drugs, he ran into questions of reliability. He encountered horror stories about “wrong dosages and unreliable contents, painful, drawn-out demises.”

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Kevin Wondrash

Seminar ‘Now and at the Hour of Our Death’ offered

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison will offer a free seminar on the Catholic approach to funerals, burial, and estate planning on Tuesday, March 31, at 1 p.m. at Holy Name Heights. The Office of Worship led similar seminars periodically over the last five years. This time, personnel from the Office of Stewardship and Development and the Department of Cemeteries will present and answer questions as well.

“These seminars have always been popular,” said Dr. Pat Gorman, director of the Office of Worship. When the seminar was held last November, about 60 people from all over the diocese attended. “I especially focus on the liturgical rites — vigil, funeral, and committal, and what can be done now to plan them. With this new format, we have a chance to address a broader range of topics,” said Gorman.

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Kevin Wondrash

Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage coming to Diocese of Madison

PRINCETON/NESKORO — Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers, LTD, will lead a Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Madison.

They will be visiting St. John Catholic School in Princeton and St. James Catholic Church in Neshkoro on Thursday, March 19. The scheduled presenters are Pamela and James Barton from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

The Volunteers were founded in the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y., on July 16, 2002. In 2012, to honor the association’s 10th anniversary, Pope Benedict granted a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, to those who attend the Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience. Since so many responded to this grace, in 2013, Pope Francis granted a second plenary indulgence extending through 2020.

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Kevin Wondrash

Montello/Westfield parishes to host Lenten Mission

MONTELLO/WESTFIELD — St. John the Baptist Parish in Montello and Good Shepherd Parish in Westfield will host a Lenten Mission from Monday to Wednesday, March 16 to 18.

The mission is being led by Deacon Ralph Poyo of the New Evangelization Ministries. The event is a way to help people “set their faith lives on fire” and move from a boring, obligation faith to a life-giving, healing faith centered on a relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Deacon Poyo is no stranger to the Diocese of Madison. He has previously led missions at St. Dennis in Madison and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Sun Prairie.

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Kevin Wondrash

Our Lady Queen of Peace students raise money for Australia in online art auction

MADISON — Third to eighth graders at Our Lady Queen of Peace School have been busy creating art in hopes of raising money to help the Australian community recover from the devastating bushfires.

For the past few months students have been painting, drawing, sketching, coloring, and creating art pieces that they will auction off in an online auction. Each class chose their favorite pieces to give to the auction.

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