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

Bishop Hying will lead pilgrimage to France

Lourdes Pilgrimage
Caregivers push pilgrims in wheelchairs at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southwestern France. Lourdes is one of the places to be visited on a pilgrimage to France led by Bishop Donald Hying October 5 to 15, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

MADISON — Bishop Donald J. Hying will be leading a pilgrimage to France October 5 to 15, 2020.

He invited people to join him on the 11-day pilgrimage.

“I joyfully invite everyone to join me on a pilgrimage to France this October. A sacred journey to discover the treasures of the French saints, this trip will unfold the lives and sanctity of Saints Bernadette, John Vianney, Francis de Sales, Jane Frances de Chantal, Margaret Mary, Joan of Arc, Thérèse of Lisieux, Vincent de Paul, Catherine Laboure, and Louise de Marillac.

“We will visit Lourdes, Paris, and the Normandy beaches. We will see the glory of cathedrals, the beauty of the French countryside, and the treasures of our Catholic Faith. We will celebrate Mass every day, pray the Rosary on the bus, enjoy impeccable food and lodgings.”

Highlights of the pilgrimage include a visit to the small town of Ars to see the incorrupt St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests. Pilgrims will visit the Basilica of Ars, the former home of the Curé, the underground church, and the St. John Vianney Wax Museum.

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Diocese of Madison

Diocese determines allegation against Rev. Patrick Doherty credible

MADISON — Agreeing with the findings of Diocesan Sexual Abuse Review Board, Bishop Donald Hying has determined that an allegation of sexual abuse brought against Rev. Patrick Doherty has the semblance of truth. As such, Rev. Doherty (85), who has been out of ministry since 1993, will be placed on the diocese’s list of those priests (or former priests), determined to have been credibly accused of acts of sexual abuse against minors.

The allegation against Rev. Doherty arose after a full diocesan review of all clergy personnel files was announced last year. Rev. Doherty’s accuser, who does not wish to be named, asserts that the abuse occurred over forty years ago.

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John Joy, For the Catholic Herald

Equipping the family: Having critical conversations

We all know it’s there and probably have some idea of how we could access it. Pornography affects some of us more directly than others, but there’s no doubt that porn is a problem impacting all of us, and regrettably, it’s not going away anytime soon.

Porn has created a culture of its own, and this culture is influencing each one of us spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally to a greater or lesser extent depending on if we directly participate in the use of pornography. There are immense moral, social, and spiritual dangers for us and even for our children.

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Kevin Wondrash

Society of St. Vincent de Paul holds 28th annual Recycle the Warmth blanket drive

MADISON — For good health, school or work success, and general well-being, the warmth and comfort of a good night’s sleep matters to everyone.

But not everyone in our community has a clean, warm blanket to call his or her own this winter, so the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Madison is holding its 28th annual Recycle the Warmth blanket drive to collect thousands of donated new and gently used clean blankets and other bedding.

The blankets and bedding will be given away to families or individuals living in low-income households in Dane County.

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Kevin Wondrash

All Saints Parish in Berlin to host Night to Shine event

BERLIN — The Tim Tebow Foundation is committed to celebrating people with special needs and in February, thanks to a grant from the foundation, All Saints Catholic Parish has been selected to host a Night to Shine.

The event will take place Friday, Feb. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the church social hall.

A special night

Night to Shine is a worldwide movement, taking the Valentine’s Day weekend from a simple celebration of love to a celebration of God’s love for people with special needs.

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Julie Allington, For the Catholic Herald

Tanzanian Night at McFarland parish to support St. Benedict Parish in Illungu, Tanzania

Tanzanian Chicken
Christ the King Parish in McFarland has a sister parish relationship with St. Benedict Parish in Tanzania in East Africa. Pictured above, a St. Benedict parishioner gives Julie Allington of Christ the King a live chicken on a 2019 trip to Tanzania. (Contributed photo)

MCFARLAND — Christ the King (CTK) Parish, McFarland is planning a fun and lively “Tanzanian Night” on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. to support its Sister Parish in Illungu, Tanzania, in East Africa.

All are welcome to come and enjoy authentic Tanzanian foods, a silent auction of Tanzanian items such as baskets and cloths, 50/50 raffles, informational booths, games, videos, songs by CTK children, and much more. Learn about another culture, while you help a mission and truly make a difference in people’s lives.

Helping parishioners in Tanzania

This fundraiser is to help the parishioners of St. Benedict Parish, who live in abject poverty in the remote and mountainous region of Ilungu.

The primary occupation is subsistence farming of maize, beans, and potatoes on small plots of land. Although most of the parishioners are not starving, they are poorly nourished, and there is little or no income for basic necessities.

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