We’ve been inundated with presidential election news for many months, but most of the activity has been happening in other states.
Soon the election process will get underway in Wisconsin. In our state, the spring primary election will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 16. This primary is for nonpartisan state and local candidates.
The spring election and presidential preference vote (presidential primary) will be held on Tuesday, April 5.
These days, people get their news from many sources. Much of what we read and hear is biased opinions, conjecture, or hearsay. It may be difficult to get to the truth of a matter.
When it comes to news about the Catholic Church and its teachings, Catholics also need sources that they can trust. That’s why the Catholic press is more important than ever today.
There has been so much senseless violence in our country and throughout the world, but the shooting of a five-year-old boy in Beloit, Wis., on January 22 brought tears to my eyes.
Austin Ramos, Jr., was riding in the back seat of his father’s car when an SUV pulled up alongside the car and someone opened fire. The boy was shot and died at a local hospital. So far, there have been no arrests. Authorities are still looking for the perpetrator.
It may not be a coincidence that two significant dates in history occurred in our country within a few days of each other in January, albeit in different years.
Not too long before his death, I received a hand-written letter from Msgr. Monte Robinson.
Even though he was dealing with serious health issues, he took the time to write to thank me — among other things — “for all the kind articles about the Southwest. They have gotten people to read.”
As the pastor of small, rural parishes in the southwest corner of the Diocese of Madison, Monsignor Monte had been making an effort to send in information and photos about what was happening in these parishes. We were happy to include them in the Catholic Herald.
One New Year’s resolution often heard is: “I will cultivate a sense of humor.” Maybe we say this because we feel we’re too serious much of the time.
One of my favorite books is Blessed Are You: Mother Teresa and the Beatitudes, by Eileen Egan and Kathleen Egan, OSB (1992). When Pope Francis announced that Blessed Teresa would be canonized in 2016, I took the book out again.
Each chapter of the book offers a short meditation on one of the Beatitudes, Blessed Teresa’s own reflections on that Beatitude, and how she and her order – the Missionaries of Charity — lived that Beatitude.
We know the familiar story of Jesus’ birth. Mary and Joseph could find no room at an inn in Bethlehem, so Jesus — the son of God — was born in a humble stable.
We realize that the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, had decreed that a census should be taken, so that’s perhaps why the inns were full.
But the apparent lack of hospitality shown to a pregnant mother and father still should bother us. Why didn’t someone else give up their room for this expectant mother?
In the wake of terrorist attacks and violence happening in the United States and other parts of the world, Americans find themselves fearful and wary about what might happen next.
The recent events in San Bernardino, Calif., where a married couple killed 14 people at a holiday party, have especially left us shaken and wondering how to deal with the possibility of terrorists living within our own communities.
It is no coincidence that Pope Francis designated that the Year of Mercy should begin on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8.
In his announcement of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said, “I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time.
“From this moment, we entrust this Holy Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey.”
