Columns – Page 152 – Madison Catholic Herald

Independence Day offers us an opportunity to thank God for our country’s blessings. Some visitors from poorer countries express amazement at the cornucopia of blessings that we Americans enjoy and sometimes take for granted.

We celebrate some of our blessings when we sing “America the Beautiful.” The words “God, mend thine every flaw” from this song can also invite us as responsible Catholics and citizens to try to help make America even more beautiful.

Independence Day is a federal holiday when we celebrate the anniversary of the day that the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On this day we can also thank God for the brave men who risked their lives and fortunes to eventually sign this great document.

On June 25, 2009

Vicky Skilondz

A different type of Catholic conversion

Part one of a two-part series.

You often see articles from Grant Emmel describing the Trusting in the Spirit process but this is the first time I’ve been asked to write a column for the Herald.

My function at the diocese is to fulfill Bishop Morlino’s directive of all parishes converting to and using ParishSOFT and QuickBooks software. As a reminder, ParishSOFT is the program used for parish census data and offertory postings and QuickBooks is the complete financial software for all postings, tax reporting, payroll, and parish monetary activity.

On June 25, 2009May 20, 2021

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

What should we do with frozen embryos?

When I give talks on stem cell research or in vitro fertilization, people invariably ask, “What should be done with all the frozen embryos?”

It is usually asked with a sense of urgency, even desperation, as they reflect on the fate of the hundreds of thousands of human embryos cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen at fertility clinics.

On June 25, 2009May 20, 2021

Audrey Mettel Fixmer

On ‘losing’ my spouse

I am losing my husband of 62 years. But I think that I am one of the lucky ones. Little by little he is slipping away into a dark place in his mind to what I hope will be a place of peace and light. I feel blessed to have that “Long Goodbye” that the Alzheimer studies talk about and the opportunity to learn to live alone.

There is so much irony in all of this. The man who made his living as a speaker and teacher, a national consultant to a textbook publisher, can now barely finish a sentence.

And I, who griped all those years that with 10 kids at home I could barely finish a thought, now have hours on end of time to think . . . and remember wistfully those glorious days of noise and confusion.

On June 11, 2009May 19, 2021

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

Year for Priests begins on June 19

St. John Mary Vianney once said, “All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, because they are the works of men, but the Mass is the work of God. Even martyrdom is nothing in comparison, for it is but the sacrifice of man to God, but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.”

Marking the 150th anniversary of St. John Vianney’s death, Pope Benedict XVI has announced a “Year for Priests” beginning this June 19th. It is meant to be, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.

On June 11, 2009

Fr. Donald Lange

Good fathers are needed more than ever

Harmon Killebrew, the Hall of Fame former major league baseball player for the Minnesota Twins, admires his father. His dad spent hours playing baseball with Harmon on their big farmhouse lawn. As he taught Harmon how to play baseball, he also taught him how to be a good father. Harmon fondly remembers when his mother complained that this nonsense of playing baseball was ruining the lawn. What would the neighbors think?

His dad replied, “Dear, we are not raising grass. We are raising children.” His words reflect Pope John Paul II’s words, “Children are the hope of the future.”

Harmon Killebrew’s dad knew how to raise farm crops. Better yet, he knew how to raise children by sharing the gift of quality time.

On May 28, 2009

Susanna Herro

Justice in medical treatment for people with disabilities

Justice can be an elusive concept, changing from century to century. What was accepted in one era, like slavery, can be unthinkable in another.

The biblical test of a just society was based on how people treated the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. These people were the underdogs of society, having no immediate family to protect them.

Who are the underdogs in our era? Who are the people most deserving of protection?

One group is clearly people with disabilities. They frequently have less education, less opportunity for fruitful jobs, and they face a society that is ambivalent about them.

On May 28, 2009May 19, 2021

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

Calling on God’s power in the Holy Spirit

Pentecost. “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Those familiar words from the Mass accompany the action called the epiclesis, Greek for “to call forth.” The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says more about the understanding of these words, which, by the way, are spoken as the priest extends his hands over the bread and wine being offered.

On May 28, 2009

Michael Lancaster

Catholic schools: Challenges and opportunities

This is the third and final in a series of articles that answer questions about Catholic schools.

Over the past few weeks I have written about the purpose of Catholic schools and their function in Church and in society.

I have also discussed the work of our Core Teams in identifying the challenges we face, and must answer, if our schools are to thrive into the future.

Today I would like to give you a glimpse of our schools and the great diversity that exists across them as each day the teachers, staff, and principals strive to witness the Gospel Truth and place our children firmly on the path to heaven.

On May 21, 2009

Brent King

Catholic vs. Catholic: Why are we fighting? Is it worth it?

Catholics are attacking our apostles and priests. Bishops, priests, and faithful lay people are challenging colleges, universities, hospitals, and other Catholic institutions to be just that — Catholic.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is formally assessing the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, on very important issues. Bishops have defined that Catholic institutions cannot perform new-age-energy-healing rituals.

And bishops, priests, and lay faithful are increasingly challenging prominent Catholic politicians, like the vice president, the speaker of the house, numerous governors and officials, at every level throughout the country, to be Catholic.