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Chris Lee

Making things new: Chapel, student center plans advance

This is an architect’s rendering of the proposed new chapel and student center at St. Paul University Catholic Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Contributed graphic)

MADISON — In May 2012, the St. Paul University Catholic Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was granted approval by the City of Madison to build a new chapel and student center at 723 State St.

“After four years of conversations with the City of Madison, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, our neighbors, and many key benefactors and supporters of St. Paul’s, we are very happy to have a building design that we know both meets city approval and most of our needs,” said Fr. Eric Nielsen, director of the center.

Ministry dates back to 1883

The ministry at St. Paul’s began in 1883, when John and Frances Melvin, a Catholic family living on University Ave., opened their home to UW-Madison students to discuss their Catholic faith. At the time it was the first and only Catholic campus ministry at a public university in the United States and would eventually become the inspiration for the Newman Movement.

As the ministry grew, a parcel of land was purchased on State St. and in 1909 the present chapel was erected with Fr. Henry Hengell installed as its chaplain. Father Hengell later purchased the house next door to the church to serve as a rectory and club house for the students to meet.

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Chris Lee

Jeff Karls joins marriage preparation team

MADISON — The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis has welcomed Jeffrey Karls to the staff as coordinator of Marriage Preparation for the Diocese of Madison.

Karls spent much of his life in the academic field of education and formation of young people. The father of nine children, he was president of the College of St. Mary Magdalen in Warner, NH, from 1998 to 2011. Before that he served 12 years as executive vice-president and treasurer of the same college.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Balloon Rosary travels from Madison to Michigan

Sheri Miglio and her son Will find the balloon Rosary which traveled 354 miles from the Rosary Rally held at the state Capitol in Madison to their farm in North Branch, Mich. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — On Thursday, June 21, the first weekly Rosary Rally was held at the state Capitol in Madison. At that rally, a large helium balloon Rosary was released.

The 40-foot Rosary made up of a cluster of yellow balloons had been assembled by youth at St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff under the direction of Beth Ptak, coordinator of religious education.

The next day, Sheri Miglio in North Branch, Mich., looked out in her backyard and saw a huge cluster of yellow balloons snagged on a tree just inside their property line. She and her family live on a 10-acre farm.

It was the fifth birthday of Miglio’s son, Will. She said jokingly, “Will, someone sent you a bunch of balloons for your birthday.”

Finding the Rosary

They walked over to the balloons and cut the string holding them to the tree. With the balloons they noticed a cardboard crucifix and found out that the cluster of balloons was a Rosary. On the crucifix they found a message from Fr. Rick Heilman, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff and one of the leaders of the Rosary Rally at the Capitol.

 

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