Category: News

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Kevin Wondrash

Rosary Rallies for Religious Liberty to be held at McFarland parish

MCFARLAND — Our religious freedoms have come under attack. What is the Catholic response to hostilities, political agendas, and perhaps unjust laws?

The most important response is to pray, support one another, and reflect on how to bring love and peace to often difficult and emotional situations.

For the fourth year, Christ the King Parish will be holding weekly Rosary Rallies for Religious Liberty. The kickoff is Tuesday, June 23, at which Fr. Steve Smith, pastor, will present a short overview of the issues and our role as Catholics in bringing light and truth to the challenges we are facing.

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Kevin Wondrash

Abbot Marcel Rooney to lead retreats at Durward’s Glen

BARABOO — Two different retreat weekends are planned for Durward’s Glen Retreat and Conference Center in Baraboo featuring Abbot Marcel Rooney, who has extensive knowledge of sacred liturgy, music, and art.

The theme for his talks will be “Making Holy Mass a Dynamic Force in Our Christian Lives.” During three talks at the two retreats, Abbot Rooney will focus on the components of the liturgy of the Mass and its relationship to our spiritual life and growth.

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Kevin Wondrash

Biker on mission to visit Portage parish

PORTAGE — A young man on a spiritual mission, biking across the state of Wisconsin for a higher cause, is undeterred by his cerebral palsy.

Christopher Pundzak is biking from the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill near Milwaukee to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, a distance of over 190 miles. He is on a mission is to raise awareness that the soul is stronger than the body and that we can do great things for God and others when motivated by love.

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Mary Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Jeff Allen is retiring after 40 years spent in Catholic education

Principal Jeff Allen “photobombs” a picture of some students at St. Bernard School in Watertown at the start of the 2014 to 2015 school year. It was the first day of his last year as principal at St. Bernard School, where he has served as principal for 34 years. (Photo by Maria Gracia)

WATERTOWN — You might have seen him doing playground duty . . . or dressed as the Cookie Monster . . . or directing a musical production . . . or working with the Camera Club.

As a Catholic school principal, Jeff Allen hasn’t sat in his office all day. “I spend a lot of time with kids,” said Allen in an interview as he retires from 40 years spent in Catholic education.

For the past 34 years, he has been principal at St. Bernard School in Watertown. Prior to that, he taught at St. Coletta School in Jefferson for six years.

A retirement party will be held on Sunday, June 7, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. in the St. Bernard School gymnasium, 111 S. Montgomery St. All are invited to attend and wish Allen well as he begins a new phase of his life.

Much of Allen’s life has been dedicated to Catholic education. The oldest of seven children born to Shirley and Don Allen, Jeff Allen attended St. Agnes Grade School in Butler.

He graduated from Brookfield East High School and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he majored in special education.

Started at St. Coletta

After graduation, he started teaching at St. Coletta School, which served students with developmental disabilities.

Sr. Sheila Haskett, the school administrator, encouraged Allen to consider a career in school administration. He attended UW-Whitewater while he was teaching and earned a master’s degree in school administration.

 

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