Mary C. Uhler

Every time I’ve had the privilege of visiting Valley of Our Lady Monastery in Prairie du Sac I’ve been impressed by the joy shining on the faces of the Cistercian Sisters.

These cloistered Sisters — who live in silence quite a bit of the day — have very warm smiles and cheerful dispositions. They make me want to smile, too!

The Sisters do not take a vow of silence, but they speak only during specific times of recreation or as necessary to accomplish their work in the monastery.

Perhaps it’s because they don’t speak all the time that they appreciate the opportunity to talk when they can. Or more importantly, it’s because of the joy they experience in their times of communal and personal prayer that brings them such happiness.

On October 3, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Babies are being saved by pro-life efforts

News from 40 Days for Life National revealed that less than a week into the vigil, which started on September 25, already 26 babies were known to be saved by the witness of pro-life volunteers.

In Madison, 40 Days for Life volunteers have seen many turn-aways (young women or couples who have left Planned Parenthood without going through with their appointment and have either gone across the street to the Women’s Care Center or just left the area).

This happened after volunteers were seen praying and peacefully witnessing for life and telling about the support and free services available at the Women’s Care Center near Planned Parenthood.

On September 26, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Why we should support Catholic Charities

When I started working for the Catholic Herald, we shared offices with Catholic Charities (then called Catholic Social Service) in the St. Patrick Parish rectory building in downtown Madison.

Of course, I quickly became acquainted with the work of Catholic Charities. I even helped out by holding babies when they needed some extra arms for a pending adoption. One of the foster mothers used to dress the babies in cute clothes, some of them seasonal. I still remember a baby dressed in a tiny witch costume.

Over the years, Catholic Charities has provided compassionate, caring services to help the poor and vulnerable in our communities in the 11-county Diocese of Madison area.

On September 19, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Prayer and dialogue needed for peace

Almost every day we hear about terrorist attacks, escalating violence, and wars throughout the world.

We wonder whether peace is even possible. And if it is, how do we achieve it?

We don’t build peace by weapons, but by prayer and dialogue, Pope Francis said in a message to a religious peace meeting which opened on September 15.

On September 12, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Let’s recover a sense of compassion

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines compassion as a “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”

Perhaps it’s the constant news of disasters deluging us these days, but it seems as if many people have lost a sense of compassion. We’ve almost become numb to the suffering of others, whether it be from mass shootings, natural disasters, immigrants’ distress, or wars.

On September 5, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Let’s live the Works of Mercy

Mother Teresa of Calcutta was declared a saint on September 4, 2016, and her feast day was designated on September 5, the day of her death in 1997.

St. Mother Teresa inspires us to live out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. That’s why the Diocese of Madison established the Saint Mother Teresa Mercy Endowment Fund in 2016 in honor of her canonization and the Church’s Jubilee Year of Mercy.

On August 29, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Teaching children the dignity of work

Having children and grandchildren pitch in with household chores is very important. It’s something we’ve always done in our family, and I think it’s important in teaching children the value of work.

As we’re approaching Labor Day on September 2, it might be a good time for families to take a look at how they’re encouraging kids to get involved in helping with household work.

On August 22, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

A dozen reasons to choose Catholic schools

This time of year always brings me a feeling of excitement, because school is starting again.

Even though I haven’t attended school for years, I still remember my own 12 years as a student in Catholic elementary and high schools in La Crosse, Wis. Those were happy years for me in so many ways.

Likewise, I enjoyed participating as a parent with our own children when they attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Elementary School and Edgewood High School in Madison. I know that they, too, appreciated their time at those schools.

On August 8, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Words can indeed hurt us

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is an old adage many of us have heard. It means that someone can hurt another by physical force, but not by insults.

In the Bible, we find Jesus encouraged his followers to “turn the other cheek.” In the Sermon on the Mount, he urged them to respond to injury without revenge and allowing more injury to occur.

Still, I don’t agree with the “sticks and stones” adage, because words can indeed hurt people. These days, many use words to bully others.

On July 25, 2019February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Continue to explore space

When I was in sixth grade, I remember writing a paper about why space exploration was important. I felt that it was essential to explore outer space, since it is part of God’s creation.

That’s why on July 20, 1969, while I was in college, my friend Ginny and I were glued to the television to watch Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong step onto the surface of the moon. He famously said, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”