On May 25, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona, Bishop Robert C. Morlino ordained Deacons Stephen Brunner and Lawrence Oparaji to the transitional diaconate.
Tag: Diocese of Madison
Diocese of Madison statement regarding retired priest’s arrest and court appearance; accusations of sexual abuse of a minor
For updates from the Diocese of Madison click here.Located under Press Releases |
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MADISON — The Diocese of Madison offers the following brief statement, regarding the recent arrest and initial appearance in court of a retired priest of the diocese, Fr. William Nolan:
The diocese recently learned that Fr. William Nolan (64) was arrested by the Fort Atkinson police, with charges pending. Today, we were informed that he has been charged with six counts of second-degree sexual assault of a minor (under the age of 16), as documented in the formal criminal complaint, filed today in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Upon learning of his arrest and pending charges a diocesan representative contacted the Fort Atkinson police assuring them of our full cooperation.
Simultaneously, and although Father Nolan has been retired since 2007 and does not hold any ecclesiastical office or function, Bishop Robert C. Morlino placed him on what is commonly called “administrative leave,” as required by the Essential Norms in force in the dioceses of the USA. This includes a total exclusion from any exercise of priestly ministry while the matter is pending. The diocese also began its own canonical process of investigating these allegations, and the diocesan Sexual Abuse Review Board was engaged.
Father Nolan retired from full-time ministry in the diocese in 2007, at his request. His last assignment was as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson, from 2002-2007. This is when and where the allegations being investigated are claimed to have taken place. They were brought directly to the civil authorities in Fort Atkinson and were only shared with Church officials as Father Nolan’s arrest was set in motion. This is the very first the diocese has heard of these accusations.
Blue Mass Celebrated in honor of first responders
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| Madison Fire Department Chief Steven Davis, left, and UW-Madison Police Chief Kristen Roman light memorial candles at the annual Blue Mass for first responders on May 10 at St. Bernard Church in Madison. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) | ||
MADISON — For the second straight year, St. Bernard Parish in Madison hosted the annual Blue Mass in honor of all first responders.
Fr. Michael Radowicz, pastor of St. Bernard, celebrated the Mass, along with several other priests from the Diocese of Madison.
In attendance were Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval, Madison Fire Department Chief Steven Davis, UW-Madison Police Chief Kristen Roman, members of their departments, and members of surrounding police, fire, and emergency worker agencies in Dane County.
Thanks for service
During his homily, Father Radowicz told those in attendance to “know there are a great many who appreciate the good work that you do, and we see that love and faithfulness in which you serve us every single day” and “the lord has endowed each of you with special gifts that allow you to be Christ for people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives”.
Later in the Mass, Chiefs Davis and Roman lit memorial candles in honor of those who have died in service to community.
Of special remembrance was Rick Garner, Jr., a 29-year-old Madison firefighter who recently died, shortly after finishing his shift.
Appointments 5-13-2018
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, effective Saturday, July 14, 2018, unless otherwise specifically stated, and announced at weekend Masses of Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and May 13, 2018.
What does courage look like today?
MADISON — Faces of courage and stories of faith took the spotlight during the St. Dennis Parish “Courage Through Faith” event that was held on the fourth Sunday of Easter.
Pastor Fr. Randy Timmerman welcomed about 400 believers from congregations throughout the city with the challenge to be bold and courageous in work and everyday life, much like the apostles were courageous in building the early Church after Christ rose from the dead.
Father Timmerman’s plea was to be a living example of Christian values and voices in a society that is often hostile toward faith.
SS. Andrew-Thomas School in Potosi observes 175 years
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| On June 5, 2017, the Little Saints Daycare was opened at SS. Andrew-Thomas School in Potosi. It currently serves 62 children from six weeks to 12 years old, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Here Jessica Welch, assistant director and lead preschool teacher, works with some of the children. (Contributed photo) | ||
POTOSI — SS. Andrew-Thomas School in Potosi — the oldest Catholic school in the Diocese of Madison and in Wisconsin — is celebrating 175 years of continuous Catholic school education in Potosi and Tennyson.
A special anniversary celebration will be held on Sunday, May 6, starting with a 10 a.m. Mass followed by a performance of an original SS. Andrew-Thomas play written by one of the parishioners.
Following the performance will be a free dinner for the public.
“We are excited,” said Principal Deb Pfab of the plans for the 175th anniversary celebration.
“A Catholic school has existed in this area continuously since 1843,” noted Michael Lancaster, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison. “2018 marks 175 years of continuous Catholic school education in the Tennyson/Potosi area (even though the school names and locations have changed over that time). That means that Catholic schools have been in the area longer than they have been anywhere else in the state.”
History of school
In sharing the school’s history, Pfab noted that although Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, founded the parish of St. Thomas in Potosi, it was his successor, Fr. James Causse, who established the first school in 1843.
Sinsinawa Mound site of women’s convention
SINSINAWA — All women of the Diocese of Madison are invited to attend the 64th annual convention of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) at the historic Sinsinawa Mound on Wednesday, June 13.
Grant Vicariate CCW President Janet Block, St. Clement Parish, Lancaster, chairs the convention and is working with fellow parishioner Bernadette Schaefer, who will assume the MDCCW presidency at the convention.
New developments at St. Ambrose Academy
MADISON — St. Ambrose Academy has recently announced two significant new initiatives that will position the school for future growth and success, including adding new members to its Board of Directors and kicking off a three-year plan to move into a new school building by September 7, 2021.
Since St. Ambrose Academy’s founding in 2003 as Madison’s first independent, classical, Catholic middle and high school, enrollment has grown tenfold. In its first 15 years, St. Ambrose has continually expanded its ability to deliver on its mission of providing Madison-area families with access to a classical education rooted in the Catholic faith.
Volunteers shine bright at The Beacon
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| Volunteers Darrell and Janie help out in the kitchen at The Beacon in Madison. (Contributed photo) | ||
MADISON — “There’s nothing better you can do with your time than to help people who are suffering, have a decent life, [and be] able to lead the life they want,” said volunteer coordinator Tami Fleming from The Beacon.
The Beacon is a comprehensive day resource center for people who are experiencing homelessness in Dane County.
It is a joint venture among Catholic Charities Madison, Dane County, the City of Madison, and United Way of Dane County.
In addition to its staff, The Beacon needs about 20 volunteers per day — half in a morning shift and half in an afternoon shift — to run the normal day-to-day operations. Shifts are about four hours long.
The Beacon is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has volunteer opportunities as a front desk greeter, laundry and shower manager, computer lab assistant, guest and child and family advocate, among many others.
Becoming a volunteer
“We need volunteers every day,” said Fleming.
The first step in becoming a volunteer at The Beacon is attending an orientation session. They are held at The Beacon (615 E. Washington Ave., Madison) Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 9 a.m.
Fleming said these two-hour sessions give prospective volunteers a chance to “get a real feel for it” and “hear what it’s about [and] see the place.”
She admitted she is “real frank with people” about the challenges they may face working with homeless people who need help.
St. Paul’s welcomes students on journey of faith
MADISON — On a windy April evening, the opening prayers of the 2018 Easter Vigil were heard for the first time since 2015 from the exterior of 723 State St., home of the beautiful new St. Paul’s Church and Student Center in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
And what an eagerly anticipated evening it was for those gathered to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection during this momentous first year in St. Paul’s new home!