Columns – Page 153 – Madison Catholic Herald

Haven’t you always wanted to visit the Holy Land? To see for yourself where Jesus was born and died? And Cana where he turned water into wine? And the upper room where the apostles received the Holy Spirit in fiery tongues? And the Jordan where Jesus was baptized? And all of those places from Scripture?

Well, yes, you say, BUT: I am not wealthy enough to afford a trip like that, and, besides, I am too old and crippled up now to do all that walking.

Well, guess what! I am doing it now . . . every day!

On May 14, 2009May 19, 2021

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

Learning from parables about money

Money, money, money — it’s a rich man’s world. After the past year, let’s think again. Even the rich have been swept up in the chaos of the worldwide economic downturn.

Read all about it wherever you look. Read all about it in Sacred Scripture. Parables are a good source. Jesus uses them to instruct us. They are meant to turn us upside down, make us think in a new way; make us ask, what is Jesus talking about? Guess what?

On May 14, 2009

Michael Lancaster

Solutions for the future of Catholic schools

This is the second in a series of articles that answers questions about Catholic schools.

The primary mission of Catholic schools is to teach the faith through proclaiming, living, and witnessing the Gospel message. In this way they participate in the evangelical mission of the Church. A secondary mission of Catholic schools is to help parents fulfill the promise that all parents make when their children are baptized — to educate and raise their children in the faith.

These are the two main reasons that we have Catholic schools. Catholic schools are important to the life of the Church because they teach children about their faith and assist in the education of the next generation of Catholics.

On May 14, 2009

Grant Emmel

Trusting in the Spirit — one year later

Well, it’s been a little over a year and a half since the bishop started Trusting in the Spirit with the publication of his directives to clusters.

Trusting in the Spirit is a program created to increase collaboration and connectedness among and between parishes and the Diocese of Madison. It’s based on the planning done in Guided by the Spirit as one response to the declining number of priests in our diocese.

An important moment when planning, and we should always be planning, is our look back in time to measure how we did in comparison to our original plan. Consequently, it’s the annual time for parishes and clusters to evaluate their ministry progress (reports due May 15th!) so everyone can see how we’re doing to build up the Church in the Diocese of Madison.

On May 14, 2009

John Huebscher

Budget woes and ripple effects

Last fall, I mentioned that the principle of solidarity is one theme of Catholic social teaching that has special relevance in tough economic times.

Solidarity is the recognition that all human life is social and that we are connected to each other. Solidarity reminds us, as Pope John Paul II once wrote, “all are responsible for all.”

Just as people are connected, so too are the issues and public policies that reflect our way of life. A number of issues currently being discussed at the State Capitol drive this reality home.

On May 7, 2009

Fr. Donald Lange

Mom helped make our house a home

The storm’s thunder and lightning frightened Danny, a five-year-old boy. He fled to the safety of his parent’s bedroom.

”Mommy, Daddy,” Danny begged, “Can I sleep in your room tonight? I’m scared of the thunder and lightning.”

His mom hugged him. “Honey, don’t be afraid. God will protect you. Now go back to your room,” she gently ordered her son.

Danny cried, “Mommy, I know that God will protect me. But right now, I need someone whom I can see. I need someone who can hold me and pray for me like you do, so I won’t be afraid.”

On May 7, 2009May 20, 2021

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

The Obama stem cell darkness

President Obama, on March 9, 2009, signed an important executive order that vastly expanded federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research and crossed a significant and troubling ethical line.

This decision, and the rhetoric during the signing, encouraged scientists and researchers to enter the moral quagmire of taking some human lives in order to benefit others. During his signing speech, in order to support his decision, the president invoked the name of Christopher Reeve and other patients desperate to find cures for their ailments.

Desperation, however, rarely makes for good ethics.

I once heard a true story that brought this point home for me in a dramatic way. The story involved a father and his two young sons.

On April 30, 2009May 19, 2021

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert

The flock of the Lord

World Day of Prayer for Vocations this weekend along with the Holy Father’s recent announcement of the Jubilee Year of the Priest to begin on June 19 both coincide nicely with ordination anniversaries this time of year.

As we priests reflect on the privilege and joy of our vocations, the countless people who have been Christ to us come to mind. Celebrating God’s love in our various parish communities is key for making us feel like we belong.

On April 30, 2009

Michael Lancaster

Catholic schools: Solutions for the future

“Why do Catholic schools exist?” “Why do we have Catholic schools?”

“Aren’t the public schools just as good academically?” “Don’t Catholic schools just teach more religion?”

“Why do we have a Catholic school when our parish already offers excellent religious education?”

These are questions that, over my short tenure as superintendent, I have heard uttered by parishioners, my colleagues in public schools, and many others. As a matter of course, I have discussed these questions with colleagues, parents, teachers, and, most recently, the many volunteers from throughout the diocese who served as members of Core Teams for Catholic Schools Planning.

On April 30, 2009

Fr. Brian Dulli

How Paul’s conversion is relevant today

Note from Bishop Morlino: Dear Friends, As we come to the close of this year of St. Paul, let us refocus our minds and hearts on the life and works of this great Apostle. One of our newly ordained priests, Fr. Brian Dulli, parochial vicar of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Sun Prairie, has been kind enough to offer some excellent reflections on St. Paul to help us along the way. — Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Third and last in a series

How is Paul’s conversion relevant to today? Paul was a religious zealot, whereas many of the people we would like to evangelize have a casual approach to religion.

The Lord intervened and saved Paul from egotism. God saved Paul from becoming a law unto himself as Saul.