Fifth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Following is a timeline of key events in the 75-year history of the Diocese of Madison under each of the diocese’s bishops.
Fifth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Following is a timeline of key events in the 75-year history of the Diocese of Madison under each of the diocese’s bishops.
When he named me editor of the Catholic Herald in 1986, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell expressed his confidence in me and encouraged me to write “one solid editorial” every week.
I’ve lived up to his request. In these 34 years, I estimate I’ve written almost 1,600 editorials.
In June of 1986, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell announced that Msgr. Andrew R. Breines was retiring as editor of the Catholic Herald and he named me as the new editor. I am only the second editor in the 63-year history of the Diocese of Madison’s official newspaper, since Monsignor Breines served in that capacity for 38 years. I might not match his longevity!
My first editorial thanked my predecessor for his many years of faithful service. I said Monsignor Breines “was always cautious to avoid the easy labels of ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ often used in the secular media. His writing illuminated without polarizing and attempted to show various sides of complex issues while remaining true to those Church teachings which are clear and unambiguous.”
I pledged that our paper would continue “to enlighten and educate as it has done under his leadership.” Hopefully I have done that over the past 25 years in a time of continuing change in the Church, world, and publishing business.
It brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it. And I probably had to rub my eyes on subsequent times. It always amazed me.
What I’m talking about is the Offertory procession at the Christmas and Easter Masses for the handicapped held for many years at Monroe High School. What happens is about two dozen young men — many of them large football and basketball players — each come up paired with a disabled or elderly person.