Category: Around the Diocese

News from around the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Catholic Woman’s Club presents Christian Achievement Award to Madison nurse

MADISON — The Madison Catholic Woman’s Club held its 104th annual Spring Celebration recently at the Blackhawk County Club.

The club honored a Madison nurse who has established support groups for cancer patients and watched a performance bringing Mary Todd Lincoln to life.

The luncheon began with an invocation by Msgr. O. Charles Schluter, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Madison and the club’s spiritual director. The club’s Co-Presidents, Susanna Herro and Carol Strmiska, made introductions, including many of the club’s 22 new members.

Christian Achievement Award

Each year the club recognizes an individual or group of individuals who perform charitable works in the community with its Christian Achievement Award.

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Julie Allington, Christ the King Parish, McFarland

Helping a sister parish in the storms of life

MCFARLAND — In Mark 4:35-39, Jesus calmed the storm by rebuking the wind and waves with His words, “Peace! Be Still!”

Today many people live in the storm of poverty, be it material or spiritual. They may be terrified. They may experience physical hardships. They may have lost all hope.

Who will be Jesus to these people? Who will be the voice that speaks “Peace! Be Still!” to their storm of poverty?

As Catholics, we are the Mystical Body of Christ. We are to be His hands and feet and voice to our underprivileged and hurting brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Pat Casucci, Catholic Herald Correspondent

Historic Beloit church is renovated

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St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Beloit recently completed a renovation of its historic church, which was dedicated in 1886. The renovation included cleaning and painting of all church walls and repainting of statues and the corpus on the crucifix (above). A stylized tree of life design was created as a background for the crucifix. The tabernacle, formerly on a side altar, was moved to the center of the altar area and placed on a custom-made table. (Catholic Herald photo/Pat Casucci)

BELOIT — The rejoicing, joy, and peace of Easter Sunday was enhanced for St. Thomas the Apostle parishioners.

After a major $335,000 renovation of the church interior, it was the first time in almost three months that a Mass was celebrated by Pastor Fr. John Hedrick in the historic church built in 1885.

The church had been closed since January 8, 2018.

The regularly scheduled weekend Masses for St. Thomas were held at St. Jude Church. Father Hedrick is pastor of both parishes.

In a recent interview, Father Hedrick said, “We have had lots of positive comments about the renovation. On Easter Sunday, there was a sense of awe as parishioners looked around the church, seeing how beautiful it is.”

Necessary renovation

Father Hedrick said the renovation was necessary after significant plaster repair was needed on a church wall and part of the ceiling. “The church walls also looked in need of cleaning, and it was decided to not just paint them,” he said.

“After a couple pieces of plaster fell, we knew we had to take care of this 133-year-old building, not let it deteriorate,” he explained. The last time the walls were painted was in 1975.

Extensive planning for the project included a fund drive with parishioners contributing about $175,000. In addition, Father Hedrick said two memorial bequests and parish funds made the extensive renovation possible.

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Kevin Wondrash

Memorial Day Masses in the Diocese of Madison

Memorial Day Masses will be held in the Diocese of Madison. Besides the Masses indicated here, check with local parishes for Masses being celebrated on Monday, May 28.

Madison
Madison Memorial Day Mass change
Please note: Because of the heat, the Memorial Day Mass will be held in the chapel at Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, at 10 a.m., not at Resurrection Cemetery.

In Madison, because of the heat, the Memorial Day Mass will be held at the chapel at Holy Name Heights at 10 a.m., and not at Resurrection Cemetery.  Bishop Robert C. Morlino will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Area priests will serve as concelebrants. Knights of Columbus will serve as an honor guard. In case of rain, Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 405 S. Owen Dr. Refreshments will follow Mass.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Blue Mass Celebrated in honor of first responders

blue mass
Madison Fire Department Chief Steven Davis, left, and UW-Madison Police Chief Kristen Roman light memorial candles at the annual Blue Mass for first responders on May 10 at St. Bernard Church in Madison. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

MADISON — For the second straight year, St. Bernard Parish in Madison hosted the annual Blue Mass in honor of all first responders.

Fr. Michael Radowicz, pastor of St. Bernard, celebrated the Mass, along with several other priests from the Diocese of Madison.

In attendance were Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval, Madison Fire Department Chief Steven Davis, UW-Madison Police Chief Kristen Roman, members of their departments, and members of surrounding police, fire, and emergency worker agencies in Dane County.

Thanks for service

During his homily, Father Radowicz told those in attendance to “know there are a great many who appreciate the good work that you do, and we see that love and faithfulness in which you serve us every single day” and “the lord has endowed each of you with special gifts that allow you to be Christ for people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives”.

Later in the Mass, Chiefs Davis and Roman lit memorial candles in honor of those who have died in service to community.

Of special remembrance was Rick Garner, Jr., a 29-year-old Madison firefighter who recently died, shortly after finishing his shift.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

The Beacon has new shuttle for guests

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At a recent recognition event, donors, along with staff members of Catholic Charities Madison, stand by The Beacon’s new 14-passenger shuttle, which is used to transport guests between the homeless day resource center and overnight shelters. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

MADISON — “To have this in service for our homeless men, women, and children to be picked up at shelters in the morning and dropped off in the afternoon is unbelievable,” said Catholic Charities Madison CEO and President Jackson Fonder during a recent event thanking donors for their help in supporting the purchase of a 14-passenger shuttle for The Beacon.

The Beacon is the comprehensive day resource center in Madison for people experiencing homelessness in Dane County, which is operated, in part, by Catholic Charities Madison, along with Dane County, the City of Madison, and United Way of Dane County.

The 2017 Ford Transport replaces an older shuttle that Fonder described as being “on its last leg,” and he told the donors, “you guys came to the rescue”.

The more than $60,000 raised for the transport came from a lead donation from Caritas Foundation, a major donation from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, and additional support from the Eric D. and Steven D. Hovde Foundation, the Fiore Companies, MGE Foundation, Steve Brown Apartments, and Urban Land Interests.

Helping the homeless

“Transportation is one of the largest issues than inhibits our folks from getting help,” said Fonder.

He added when people experiencing homelessness can’t get adequate transportation, they “give up,” and the new shuttle “prevents them from giving up.”

The Beacon shuttle transports about 100 people per day from their overnight shelters in the morning to The Beacon, and then back to those shelters in the evening when the center closes for the day.

In the future, The Beacon will be evaluating other uses for the shuttle based on guest needs.

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Dick Jones, For the Catholic Herald

Diocesan Choir concert is ‘For All the Saints’

MADISON — Poll the faithful on the most famous saints, and Augustine, Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, and of course St. Patrick are sure to follow Peter and Paul on any top 10 list.

But what about St. Bede the Venerable, St. Columba, St. Niceta, or Blessed John Henry Newman, among others?

Under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman, the Madison Diocesan Choir offers an introduction to the saints, the familiar and those not so well known, with a spring concert, “For All the Saints,” Friday, May 18, at the Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd., in Madison.

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Kelly Cheramy, For the Catholic Herald

What does courage look like today?

MADISON — Faces of courage and stories of faith took the spotlight during the St. Dennis Parish “Courage Through Faith” event that was held on the fourth Sunday of Easter.

Pastor Fr. Randy Timmerman welcomed about 400 believers from congregations throughout the city with the challenge to be bold and courageous in work and everyday life, much like the apostles were courageous in building the early Church after Christ rose from the dead.

Father Timmerman’s plea was to be a living example of Christian values and voices in a society that is often hostile toward faith.

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