Category: Guest column

On
Fr. Richard Heilman

A ‘how-to’ for closing Planned Parenthood

Fr. Richard Heilman

On Friday morning, August 26, at 6:45 a.m., I read an article about the miraculous closing of the Appleton, Wis., Planned Parenthood.

I say “miraculous” because “exactly to the day” one year prior, Bishop David L. Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the specific intention to close that Planned Parenthood, and then proceeded to the Planned Parenthood site with many other prayer warriors to offer special prayers for its closing.

That’s right . . . one year. To. The. Day. And, it happened on the memorial of the Queenship of Mary (August 22). WOW!!

Read More
On
Lindsay Becher

Reflections on the life, work, and canonization of St. Teresa

Lindsay Becher

“God thirsts that we may thirst for him.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2560

I thirst.

These words spoken from Jesus on the cross were also imprinted on the heart of St. Teresa of Kolkata (Mother Teresa) on September 10, 1946, and every day forward.

These words, and what Jesus revealed to her about them on a train ride that “Inspiration Day,” changed her life. Through the Church’s newest saint, they have also changed mine.

Read More
On
Veronica Arntz

Answering the question: ‘What is marriage?’

Veronica Arntz

Marriage and family are clearly under attack in many forms in our secular society.

Thus, as Catholics, we must clearly understand the Church’s teaching on marriage and family.

Yet, even in the Church, there is disagreement surrounding marriage and family (including how to help the divorced and remarried), especially since the publication of Pope Francis’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia.

Read More
On
Sr. Constance Veit

Keeping elders socially connected is a Work of Mercy

Guest Column

During a recent family reunion, my elderly mother and I were the only ones at the table without smartphones. We felt left out.

A few days later I read that Pope Francis advised parents to ban mobile devices from the dinner table to help restore the quality of family relationships.

These two occurrences reminded me of the life of our foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan.

Read More
On
Fr. David Carrano

Jesus the Good Shepherd is the model for all priests

Fr. David Carrano

Following is the homily given at Fr. Joseph Baker’s First Mass of Thanksgiving on June 25, 2016, at Holy Redeemer Church in Madison by Fr. David Carrano, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Reedsburg.

Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Readings: Dt 10:12-22 and Jn 10:11-18

“I came that they might have life, and have it in abundance.”

Reverend Fathers, Father Joe’s parents Mark and Kay, Fr. Joe’s family, friends, and faithful of the Diocese of Madison, it is a great joy to be here. It is truly life-giving to be present as Father Joe Baker offers his first Mass in Thanksgiving to God.

Though persevering through many years of seminary studies is a great accomplishment, we are not here to celebrate the achievement of Father Joe. Moses told the people today: “God is your praise . . . He who has done for you those great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen.”

Read More
On
William McKenna

Is gratitude an antidote to depression?

Guest Column

Question: How does gratitude help me day to day? I have heard a lot about how practicing gratitude helps with depression but I don’t know how to practice it in an effective way.

Response: by William McKenna, M.S. Clinical Psychology Extern at Catholic Charities

Great question! Gratitude is a powerful antidote to depressive thoughts and feelings for a number of reasons, many of which I am sure you know.

Possessing only an abstract understanding of gratitude makes putting it into practice difficult.

Read More
On
Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

In this month of mothers

Guest Column

On May 8 we celebrate Mother’s Day, and as Catholics we dedicate the whole month to our heavenly mother, Mary.

And so, May is a natural time to reflect on the irreplaceable role of mothers and all women in our lives.

Prophetic words

In the weeks following our appearance at the Supreme Court, several women who write about Catholic spirituality mentioned prophetic words of Blessed Paul VI to women in reference to our case — words uttered over 50 years ago, but which are, perhaps, more relevant today than ever.

“At this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women impregnated with the spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid mankind in not falling,” Paul VI said at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council.

He continued with this urgent plea: “Women of the entire universe, whether Christian or non-believing, you to whom life is entrusted at this grave moment in history, it is for you to save the peace of the world.”

Read More
On
Ask IPS

Should we push our children to aim for perfection?

Ask IPS

QUESTION: “I was wondering about the balance of aiming for perfection. As a parent, I want my children to do well in life, and especially in school, but I also do not want to push my child too far. Is working for perfection with your children a positive thing?”

RESPONSE: William McKenna, M.S. Clinical Psychology Extern at Catholic Charities

Excellent question! Before answering, however, I would like to present to you a quote from Coach John Wooden, the famous UCLA basketball coach who led his team to 10 championship victories in 12 years. He said, “Perfection is what you are striving for, but perfection is an impossibility.”

Read More
On
John Bohn, M.D.

What’s POLST? Another medical decision tool . . . with big problems

John Bohn, M.D.

Medical care decisions can be difficult, emotional, and often very confusing. And adding more forms to fill out can make it seem overwhelming. This is especially true for serious medical decisions involving end-of-life issues or other situations that may call for life- sustaining treatments.

In recent years, a new form has been heavily promoted as a “tool” to deal with such matters in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics across the country. It is called the POLST form. POLST stands for “Physician’s Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment.”

Think twice about POLST

But should you have a POLST form on file? Promotors see it as a tool to effectively translate patient wishes about life-sustaining treatment into medical orders that is easily accessed from their medical record.

Read More