Over the past five years, so much has changed in the Diocese of Madison. 

Aside from the Into the Deep strategic planning process, we have realigned all of the efforts of our parishes to the mission of the Church through Go Make Disciples.  

One of the fruits of both Go Make Disciples and Into the Deep is the need for leaders to be formed intentionally to mentor others into the life of discipleship.  

Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison saw the need and responded.

Launching the institute

This past fall, the diocese launched the Mazzuchelli Institute, which is a new initiative of the Diocese of Madison that was designed to form faithful Catholics in their Baptismal call to be missionary disciples.

It has a threefold structure: Encountering Christ (theological and catechetical formation), Embodying the Faith (spiritual and personal formation), and Equipping for Mission (tools, skills, and charisms). 

There are two tracks of the first cohort that began in September: An English-speaking track and a Spanish-speaking track.

The goal of the Mazzuchelli Institute is to form individuals to be competent and confident as they discern and live out the call of a missionary disciple.  

There are 75 individuals committed to this formation in the first cohort. 

As part of the formation for the first cohort of the Mazzuchelli Institute, the participants attended a pre-Advent retreat at St. Bernard Church in Middleton.  

Fr. Brad Grobbel and Fr. David Jaramillo helped to lead the day on the topics of the Kerygma and Mary and the saints as witnesses of missionary discipleship.  

Included in the day was a memorial prayer service called an “Ofrenda,” which featured pictures of beloved family members who have died and who were influential in sharing the Gospel in the lives of those present.  

For the rest of this winter and spring, those involved in the Mazzuchelli Institute will continue to do intensive study on Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church along with personal spiritual growth as they equip themselves to go deeper into the heart of Christ and the Church, which in turn prepares them for their own personal apostolates.  

Participants are already beginning to discern and seek out ways to serve in their parishes and make disciples. 

For more information

If you would like to learn more about the Mazzuchelli Institute, contact the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at oec@madisondiocese.org or visit madisondiocese.org/institute