Forty-third in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Religious Orders of women and men have served in the Diocese of Madison area prior to its founding and continuing to this day.
As of 2021, there were nine Religious Order priests, six Brothers, and 233 Sisters serving in the Diocese of Madison.
Following is information on some with motherhouses and residences in the diocese.
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa — In 1844, Fr. (now Venerable) Samuel Mazzuchelli, an Italian missionary, bought 800 acres in Southwest Wisconsin. In 1847, he founded the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa Congregation with the motherhouse there. Four Sisters, known as the “cornerstones” of the congregation, made their profession in August of 1849. The women became teachers in area schools.
In 1881, a 55-acre estate in Madison was deeded to the Sisters by former Wisconsin Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. Regina Academy and later Sacred Heart Academy operated on the property. In 1927, Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart opened its doors and junior college courses were offered for women, the beginning of Edgewood College. Edgewood Campus Grade School was opened in 1953.
In 2000, the former St. Clara Academy in Sinsinawa was converted into apartments for senior citizens, known as the Academy Apartments. Another building houses many of the congregation offices and opens its doors to the public for retreats, conferences, and concerts as the Sinsinawa Mound Center.
Since 1847, over 3,200 women have taken their vows as Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Today, the Mound still serves as the Motherhouse for more than 300 Sisters. About 230 Associates are also committed to the Congregation’s ideals. Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters continue preaching and teaching the Gospel throughout the world.
In 2022, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters will celebrate their 175th anniversary.
Cistercian Sisters — The Cistercian Sisters at Valley of Our Lady Monastery in Prairie du Sac are members of the Cistercian Order whose roots go back to 1098.
Today, there is only one U.S. community of nuns of the ancient Cistercian Order, the one in the Diocese of Madison. Their community was founded in 1957 when Bishop William P. O’Connor invited six Cistercians from the Swiss abbey of Frauenthal to found a monastery in the Diocese of Madison.
Since then, there have been 23 professed Sisters, not counting the six foundresses, who were already professed.
The Sisters live a contemplative monastic life with a rhythm of prayer and work. At first, the Sisters farmed their 112-acre Prairie du Sac property to support themselves. But tending crops and animals didn’t mesh with their prayerful lifestyle.
In 1960, they leased the land and began baking altar bread. They make an average of about 12 to 13 million altar breads a year which are shipped to 519 customers in 34 states (plus Canada and Australia).
The cloistered women live a simple life. They talk only as necessary for their work or during a few periods of recreation each week.
The present buildings in which the Sisters live were never intended to be a permanent monastery. The condition of the buildings has deteriorated. Therefore, the nuns have a master plan for a new lasting monastery to be built on a secluded 229-acre property in rural Iowa County.
The goal is to raise $18.5 million for the project. The Sisters are close to reaching their goal and hope to start construction beginning in the summer or fall of 2022.
Schoenstatt Movement — The Schoenstatt Founder Shrine in Madison was dedicated on June 20, 1953, the first Schoenstatt Shrine to be built in the United States, a replica of the original shrine in Schoenstatt, Germany. The shrines are dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title Mother Thrice Admirable.
The movement includes Sisters, Brothers, priests, as well as individuals and families. Members dedicate themselves to God through a covenant of love with Mary.
The Founder Shrine in Madison is a place of prayer and other activities. It is open daily for private prayer from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Other Orders — Other Religious Orders with residences in the Diocese of Madison include Dominican men, Blessed Sacrament Priory, Madison; Legionaries of Christ, Oaklawn Academy, Edgerton; Auxiliaries of the Blessed Sacrament, Beloit; Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, Janesville; Sisters of Mary Morning Star, Monona; Sisters of the Divine Savior, Portage; and Society of Jesus Christ the Priest (women and men), Sauk City.
Permanent diaconate — In 1967, Pope Paul VI implemented a decree of the Second Vatican Council which re-established the permanent diaconate in the Church. Permanent deacons may witness marriages, conduct funeral services, baptize, and preach. Permanent deacons came individually to serve in the Diocese of Madison.
In 1999, Bishop William H. Bullock announced the establishment of a permanent diaconate formation program in the diocese. Classes in the Diocesan Institute for Lay and Diaconate Formation began in September of 2000 at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison. Twenty men were ordained on July 23, 2004, by Bishop Robert C. Morlino.
Since then, some men interested in the permanent diaconate have studied in formation programs outside the diocese. There are currently 28 permanent deacons in the Diocese of Madison.
In November of 2020, Deacon Christopher Schmelzer was named director of the diocesan Office of Permanent Diaconate and Deacon Jim Hoegemeier was named associate director. Fr. Michael Radowicz is the presbyteral advisor.
Source: Archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper and websites of Religious Orders.
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.