Thirty-eighth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison.
Bishop Donald J. Hying started out his time as shepherd of the Diocese of Madison energetically with visits to parishes, diocesan schools, gathering with youth at Camp Gray and Love Begins Here sites, and serving meals at The Beacon day resource center for the homeless run by Catholic Charities in Madison, and at the Catholic Multicultural Center, to name a few.
Feels welcome in diocese
In his column in the Catholic Herald on August 22, 2019, Bishop Hying said that in his short time in the diocese, people have asked him how things are going so far. “I always say that I feel like I have died and gone to heaven!”
He added, “Everyone has been so welcoming, kind, warm, generous, and faith-filled. I immediately felt at home here because of your remarkable goodness. Thank you for such a precious gift.”
Devotion to Father Mazzuchelli
As one of his first activities, Bishop Hying offered Mass at St. Patrick Church in Benton, where Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli is buried. He blessed the recently renovated rectory which serves as a museum to Father Mazzuchelli.
In his column, Bishop Hying discussed his devotion to the Dominican priest who established parishes in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa and founded the order of the Dominican Sisters at Sinsinawa.
“I have always had a strong devotion to him ever since I was a child and my family visited the Sinsinawa motherhouse and I learned about his remarkable life,” said Bishop Hying.
He said that the “evangelizing fire burned in the heart of Samuel Mazzuchelli, inspiring him to embrace a difficult life of great sacrifice to plant the Gospel and the Church in the rich soil of our Diocese.”
Carries on pro-life work
Bishop Hying carried on the pro-life work of his predecessors. In September of 2019, he led a Respect Life Retreat at Durward’s Glen Retreat Center in Baraboo sponsored by Madison Vigil for Life.
Also in September, he led a prayer service for the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Dane and attended the 40 Days for Life kickoff event at Holy Name Heights. In addition, he visited the pro-life Our Lady of Hope Clinic in Madison.
In October of 2019, he celebrated Mass at the Women’s Care Center in Madison, attended the dedication of the Care Net mobile clinic, and attended a Celebration of Life Dinner for the Women’s Care Center and Our Lady of Hope Clinic.
Latino community
Primarily because of his experience serving in the Dominican Republic, Bishop Hying is fluent in Spanish. “I love saying the Mass in Spanish,” he has said. “I love the Latino cultures.”
On November 24, 2019, Bishop Hying celebrated the Feast of Christ the King at a Spanish Mass held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Madison and attended by people from other parishes.
Bishop Hying made his Ad Limina visit to the Vatican in December of 2019. He met with Pope Francis and celebrated a Mass in Spanish with the Holy Father on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Bishop’s involvement with USCCB
Bishop Hying is active in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He is the episcopal liaison for the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
He has served as episcopal advisor to the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) since 2017 and attends their National Assemblies, participates in discussions, and provides spiritual guidance to members. He was involved for over 20 years as an SVdP chaplain. “I am blessed to be a Vincentian, to serve this Society which is dedicated to giving glory to God, growing in personal holiness, and serving the needs of the poor and suffering,” he wrote in his column in February of 2020.
He has been a member of the Subcommittee to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe since 2015. In 2019, he visited the countries of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan for a week-long trip, observing that the Catholic Church is making “remarkable progress” in the countries under the former Iron Curtain.
Bishop Hying is also a member of the USCCB Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the Committee on Catholic Education.
Other news
In July of 2019, Bishop Hying appointed Msgr. James Bartylla as Vicar General and confirmed Fr. Gabi Lopez-Betanzos, JCL, as Judicial Vicar for the diocese.
Source: Archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper.
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.