On Wednesday, June 5, at 7 p.m., St. Joseph Parish, at 1660 Endl Blvd, Fort Atkinson, will host Immaculée Ilibagiza. She is a renowned Rwandan genocide survivor, faithful Catholic, and keynote speaker at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this July.
Tag: Fort Atkinson
Making disciples in Fort Atkinson
In a recent Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing” (Luke 12: 49).
Go Make Disciples Live
It could have been called Go Make Disciples Alive for the presence of the combined witness of hundreds of Catholics in the Diocese of Madison engaging in their faith and being primed to spread the Good News to others.
Catholic Schools Week celebrated in diocese
Catholic Schools Week (CSW) was such a special week for St. Joseph School (SJS) in Fort Atkinson.
Diocese of Madison statement regarding retired priest’s arrest and court appearance; accusations of sexual abuse of a minor
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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.
Thanks for participating in crusade
To the editor:
We want to sincerely thank all of the wonderful participants in the Rosary Crusade held at St. Joseph Church on Sunday, Oct. 15, in Fort Atkinson, as well as those who attended the movie The 13th Day.
Diocesan women meet; discuss leadership, service
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Members of the “M&Ms of Council” team appeared at the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) annual convention held in Fort Atkinson on June 14. The group used the M&M theme to talk about mentoring other women and encouraging them to become active in the CCW councils in their own parishes. Pictured are, front, from left: Carol Brennan and Julie Ottoman, back, from left: Donna Schroeder, Jane Munro, Mary Stasek, and Louise Urmanski.(Catholic Herald photo/Fr. Peter Auer) |
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FORT ATKINSON — With the theme of “Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way,” Co-Presidents Ellen Martin, Westfield, and Sue Koch, Berlin, opened the 63rd annual convention of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) at St. Joseph Parish Hall here on June 14.
Interrupting their welcome, President-Elect Bernadette Shaefer, Lancaster, came running in with other MDCCW leaders and led a cheer which she wrote for the convention: “Here’s to the women we hold dear. We all come together year after year. Sharing ideas too many to mention. We learn and laugh at our annual convention . . .”
The fun mixed with the seriousness continued throughout the day.
In his opening comments, Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, pastor of Sacred Hearts Parish, Sun Prairie, and MDCCW spiritual advisor, gave thanks for the women of the council who provide services to the diocese.
“One of the tasks of this council is to help us support one another on our journey of faith. So, first of all, we are helping each other and then, second, we are working through the Catholic Church to share the Good News of the Gospel message of Jesus with others of our own faith and far beyond the borders of Catholicism . . . how blessed we are to be able to share in the ministry of the Lord which He has entrusted us.”
Diocesan women invited to attend annual MDCCW convention
FORT ATKINSON — Women of the diocese are invited to attend the 63rd annual convention of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) to be held Wednesday, June 14, at St. Joseph Parish Hall and Church, 1660 Endl Blvd., here.
The Jefferson and Rock-Green Vicariates are hosting the one-day gathering, which begins with registration and continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. The day includes a keynote speaker, Mass, catered lunch, “shareshop,” patriotic Rosary, and silent auction.
Fort Atkinson teacher retires after 42 years
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| Pat Bries, fifth grade teacher at St. Joseph School in Fort Atkinson, hands out Turkish Delights to some of her students. Bries is retiring after 42 years at the school. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
FORT ATKINSON — As Pat Bries completed her fourth, and final, decade teaching fifth graders — bringing the total to more than 600 — her classroom displayed her career, both the past and the present.
A Smartboard has long replaced the chalkboard, but signs with the cursive alphabet still adorned the classroom.
Bries said the handwriting style is still needed in the real world, “I don’t think it’s on the way out yet.”
Her desk displayed small school pictures of every student she taught since the school started having the photos taken more than 20 years ago, while her current students listened to her read to them from an eBook reader.
The book was Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, a book she has read to all of her classes toward the end of the school year.
Bries reads it because one of the book’s main characters has a “strong sense of right and wrong” and her soon-to-be-departing fifth graders are “going into middle school now and they realize that life is not all black and white — there are a lot of shades of gray.”
Despite the school year and a teaching career of 42 years coming to an end, it was just a normal day in Pat Bries’ classroom located at the end of the hallway at St. Joseph School in Fort Atkinson.
Public Square Rosary Crusades being held
In Green Lake
GREEN LAKE — The second annual Public Rosary Rally will be held at Deacon Mills Park, 550 Mill St., on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 12 noon.
An invitation to pray the Rosary publicly is extended to all who love our country and are concerned about the direction in which it is going. Handouts with prayers and free rosaries will be available.
America is at a historic crossroads. Secularists are trying to push God from the public square. They reject His beneficial action upon society. But without God, where will our leaders get the wisdom to solve the problems we face?