Msgr. James Bartylla, […]
Category: Bishop
Understanding the kerygma
In the initial efforts to launch our Go Make Disciples evangelizing initiative, the word, “kerygma” comes up often.
Meaning “proclamation” in the original Greek, the kerygma is the essence of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ distilled to its shining essence.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Simon Peter stands up on Pentecost morning, addresses the assembled crowd, and proclaims that this Jesus, whom they crucified, God has made both Lord and Savior.
Appointments (11-20-2020)
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointment and deacon assignments made by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, effective Friday, November 20, 2020
• Rev. Fr. Michael Radowicz, to Presbyteral Advisor to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, from Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, and remaining as pastor, St. Bernard Parish, Madison.
• Deacon Christopher Schmelzer, to Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, with any parish deacon assignment remaining.
Always be thankful
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I speak often of gratitude as a foundation of the spiritual life; giving thanks to God and others for the remarkable gifts we receive is a hallmark of our fundamental posture of humility before the Lord.
When we acknowledge everything as a gracious gift, an undeserved grace, we can live in wonder, awe, and generosity as we contemplate the astonishing miracle of our existence.
For many, this Thanksgiving will be difficult because of COVID.
An autumn reflection
The bare tree outside my office, which only days ago was laden with fiery red leaves, reminds me that autumn is rapidly moving us towards the snow and cold of winter, as nature falls asleep.
This fallow period of dormancy, rest, and apparent lifelessness we know well, both because we live in Wisconsin, where our trees are leafless six months out of the year and because we have tasted the cycles of the Paschal Mystery, the dying and rising of Christ.
The poignancy of these colder and darker November days speaks of the golden summer now past, the brevity of life as we pray for the dead and the cycle of the seasons of the heart.
Letter from Bishop Hying concerning Pope Francis’ comments on the topic of ‘civil unions’
On October 21, news of Pope Francis’ comments from a 2019 interview included in a new documentary film, which seem to signal his private and personal support for civil unions of homosexuals, made world headlines.
The truth and the divinity of Christ
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I recently read a survey of Catholics which indicated a significant number of the respondents did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is not divine.
We may rightfully distrust the full accuracy of surveys, yet this data point troubles me greatly.
If one does not affirm the divinity of Jesus, our entire Catholic faith is deceptive and illusory.
Making Mary a bigger part of our lives
In this month of October, we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Rosary; we celebrated this feast on October 7.
All of the saints and indeed the Church herself encourage us to pray the Rosary on a daily basis.
We find in this simple and repetitive prayer a profound meditation on the Gospel, as we ponder the mystery of the Incarnation in the Joyful Mysteries, the revealed grace of the Lord’s ministry in the Luminous Mysteries, the overwhelming suffering of Christ’s Passion in the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the triumph of the Resurrection in the Glorious Mysteries.
Priest appointments 10-18-2020
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, effective Saturday, October 24, 2020, and announced at weekend Masses of Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, 2020.
• Rev. Fr. D. Stephen Smith, resignation from pastor, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, in accordance with canon 538 §1, to pastor emeritus.
• Rev. Fr. Steven Brunner, to parochial administrator, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, per canon 539, from parochial vicar, St. Dennis Parish, Madison.
‘Christianity is for losers!’
Ted Turner, the famous media mogul, once memorably said that Christianity is for losers.
In his opinion, religious faith is a crutch for those who are too weak to stand on their own two feet and simply acknowledge that we are alone in the universe.
What he hurls at us as an insult, we should actually wear as an epithet of honor. Christianity is for losers!
Our faith is custom-designed by God for those who are humble enough to acknowledge that they are sinners in need of a savior, those who do not have it all put together, those who need Christ’s help.