It’s that time of year when we celebrate graduations in schools around the country. This week’s Catholic Herald includes our annual Catholic school graduation section. We invite Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison to send information about their graduation ceremonies.
Category: Editorial
Following in St. Isidore’s footsteps
When I was growing up, I spent many weeks during the summer on my grandmother’s farm. I have good memories of those days spent outside in the fresh air, experiencing farm life.
My father, who was a teacher, helped out on the farm during the summer. I was able to help in small ways, too, such as gathering eggs in the hen house and pulling weeks in the garden.
Let’s restore courtesy and civility
Last year, I wrote an “Editor’s View” entitled “Where have courtesy and civility gone?”
I lamented the fact that lack of courtesy seems to be escalating in our country. I mentioned the fact that people rarely opened doors for my mother-in-law who used a walker.
This still seems to happen. There are a few nice people who will hold doors for persons with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. But many people just ignore these disabled and elderly persons and only pay attention to themselves.
A woman with compassion and courage
Sometimes we learn more about a person after he or she dies. That is the case for me of former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Although I knew about her as the wife of President George H.W. Bush and mother of President George W. Bush, I must admit that I didn’t know as much about her until after she died on April 17.
I learned that she took on a number of causes starting with her husband’s inauguration in 1989. These included homelessness, teenage pregnancy, children’s education, and AIDS.
Thank you, volunteers!
As a child, Rosie Arbittier participated in walkathons sponsored by her local synagogue and placed flags on soldiers’ graves on Veterans Day.
Rosie’s story is one of those shared on the Points of Light website (www.pointsoflight.org). This week (April 15-21) is National Volunteer Week.
Give the gift of life after your death
On the back of my driver’s license, I have signed an anatomical gift statement which says: “Upon my death, I wish to donate all organs, tissues, or eyes.”
I believe being an organ and tissue donor is one way that I can help save and heal other lives, even after I die. It is estimated that one donor can save up to eight lives.
April is designated as National Donate Life Month. This is a time to encourage people to consider being an organ, tissue, and eye donor.
Honoring Reverend King’s legacy
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been 50 years since the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
It was on April 4, 1968, that James Earl Ray killed the civil rights leader as he stood on the balcony of his hotel room in Memphis, Tenn. Reverend King, a Baptist minister, was only 39 years old.
It seems as if we have made progress in many areas of our society since his death, but we still have a long way to go in ensuring an end to racism in our country.
Help preserve the places where Jesus lived
Easter is early this year (Sunday, April 1), so we will soon be starting Holy Week on Palm Sunday, March 25.
At this time, our thoughts and prayers turn to what happened in Jerusalem during Our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection.
The enduring legacy of St. Patrick
As someone with Irish ancestors, I am proud to claim an Irish background, joining with over 34 million Americans who are apparently descended from Irish roots.
So celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 has a special significance for me and many others in our country. And in fact, we often say that everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!
However, it seems that with the wearing of the green, eating corned beef and cabbage, and singing Irish songs, many people don’t remember the religious significance of St. Patrick any longer.
Let’s get something done for Dreamers
When I think about the DACA program, Alan comes to my mind. His story was highlighted in an article published early this year in the Catholic Herald.
The article discussed immigrants who have received help at the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison.