column – Page 12 – Madison Catholic Herald

The attacks, accusations, and demands fly in from every side. “You supported Trump in the election and are complicit in the attack on the Capitol.” “You are in the back pocket of the Democratic Party.” “You made abortion the only issue in the election.” “You were not vocal enough in defense of life.” “You need to help stop the steal.” “I demand that you publicly affirm that Biden is the legitimate president.” “I am leaving the Church because you are too (take your pick) . . . conservative, liberal, silent, vocal, weak, strong.”

These are all messages I and probably every bishop in the country have been inundated with these past months and it is actually getting worse.

The anger and vitriol is palpably toxic.

Our cultural, political, and social divisions, exacerbated by COVID; the elections; and the violence in our streets and cities have unfortunately entered into the Church and are seriously wounding our unity in Christ.

We now seem to have Biden Catholics and Trump Catholics, perhaps just the latest incarnation of traditional and progressive Catholics, but a division that is louder, angrier, and far less compromising than all the previous rifts in the Body of Christ.

On January 26, 2021May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

Celebrating Catholic schools

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, I offer profound gratitude and praise to Michael Lancaster and our diocesan Office of Schools staff, our pastors and principals, our teachers and school staff, our parents, benefactors, religious education directors and catechists, and ultimately the students who offer the best of themselves to create Catholic communities of learning and formation, so that our precious young people grow to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ as disciples of the Gospel and as practicing Catholics in love with the Lord.

This year especially, in light of the enormous challenges of COVID, I especially applaud our school and parish leaders who have had to plan, implement, adjust, sacrifice, and give the best they have, in order to continue the formation of our young people.

Combining in-person and virtual learning as needed and possible, our teachers and catechists have striven to keep teaching Christ to our students.

I applaud the generosity, flexibility, and commitment required of all in this enormous effort.

Importance of Catholic education

Perhaps these increased difficulties shine a needed spotlight on the absolute importance of Catholic education; everyone could have easily given up this year or at least have put in just a minimum of effort, given all of the roadblocks, but, in nobly rising to the occasion, the Catholic community has generously demonstrated the high priority we place on the formation of the next generation.

On January 13, 2021May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

Celebrating the Epiphany

The Solemnity of the Epiphany, which we honor on the Sunday after January 1, is older than the celebration of Christmas, going back to the very beginnings of the Church.

Early Christians found deep meaning and inspiration in the astounding truth that God has fully revealed Himself in an absolute and definitive way in Jesus Christ.

The Book of Hebrews tells us that God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways in the past, but now, in Christ, all has been spoken and revealed to us!

On December 29, 2020May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

Celebrating 75 years of the Diocese of Madison

On January 9, 1946, Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Madison, taking territory from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Diocese of La Crosse.

Created right at the end of World War II, our diocese was poised to grow dramatically in the ensuing decades of population boom and economic ascendancy.

Bishop William P. O’Connor, a priest from Milwaukee, became Madison’s first bishop and was immediately faced with the many challenges of shaping a brand new diocese.

On December 22, 2020May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

The fourth movement of the kerygma

The essence of evangelization is the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

In these past weeks, we have reflected on the fundamental components of the kerygma, the basic “elevator speech” that every Catholic should be able to share with both competence and confidence.

Why are you Catholic? How have you experienced God? What does faith in Jesus accomplish?

In an increasingly secular culture, fewer people grasp the meaning and purpose of Christian faith. How imperative that we be willing to give the reason for our hope.

On December 8, 2020October 25, 2022

Fr. Donald Lange

Mary helps to prepare us for Advent and Christmas

We have begun another Church year with the season of Advent. During the first part of Advent, the readings of the Mass prepare us for the second coming of Christ in his glory.

Then on December 17 to December 24, the readings focus upon preparing us for Christ’s coming at Christmas.

On December 8, 2020May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

The second movement of the kerygma

What a difference a year makes! Who could have imagined last Advent the place we would find ourselves in at this moment?

The COVID pandemic, the presidential election, and the ongoing violence in our cities have completely changed and challenged us in unimaginable ways. The entire human race is hurting. We can see the power of sin and death all around us.

This Advent, I have never felt the need for prayer more profoundly or heard the longings of the Old Testament prophets more keenly.

We seek liberation. We desire a savior. We need Jesus Christ and all that He has to give us.

On November 24, 2020May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

Understanding the kerygma

In the initial efforts to launch our Go Make Disciples evangelizing initiative, the word, “kerygma” comes up often.

Meaning “proclamation” in the original Greek, the kerygma is the essence of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ distilled to its shining essence.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Simon Peter stands up on Pentecost morning, addresses the assembled crowd, and proclaims that this Jesus, whom they crucified, God has made both Lord and Savior.

On November 17, 2020May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

Always be thankful

I speak often of gratitude as a foundation of the spiritual life; giving thanks to God and others for the remarkable gifts we receive is a hallmark of our fundamental posture of humility before the Lord.

When we acknowledge everything as a gracious gift, an undeserved grace, we can live in wonder, awe, and generosity as we contemplate the astonishing miracle of our existence.

For many, this Thanksgiving will be difficult because of COVID.

On November 10, 2020May 8, 2021

Bishop Donald J. Hying

An autumn reflection

The bare tree outside my office, which only days ago was laden with fiery red leaves, reminds me that autumn is rapidly moving us towards the snow and cold of winter, as nature falls asleep.

This fallow period of dormancy, rest, and apparent lifelessness we know well, both because we live in Wisconsin, where our trees are leafless six months out of the year and because we have tasted the cycles of the Paschal Mystery, the dying and rising of Christ.

The poignancy of these colder and darker November days speaks of the golden summer now past, the brevity of life as we pray for the dead and the cycle of the seasons of the heart.