MADISON — St. […]
Tag: Irish
Evening of Irish music at St. Peter, Madison
MADISON — St. […]
A reflection on the Irish referendum
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I will confess that as a person of Irish heritage on both sides of my family, I found the events in Ireland recently particularly dispiriting.
Not only did the nation vote, by a two-to-one margin, for the legal prerogative to kill their children in the womb, but they also welcomed and celebrated the vote with a frankly sickening note of gleeful triumph.
The enduring legacy of St. Patrick
As someone with Irish ancestors, I am proud to claim an Irish background, joining with over 34 million Americans who are apparently descended from Irish roots.
So celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 has a special significance for me and many others in our country. And in fact, we often say that everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!
However, it seems that with the wearing of the green, eating corned beef and cabbage, and singing Irish songs, many people don’t remember the religious significance of St. Patrick any longer.
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day
This Friday, March 17, we will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Although I am proud of my Irish heritage (I’m half Irish since my father was 100 percent Irish), this holiday is really for all of us. As they say, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Why is that? Perhaps people in the United States in particular share a sense of camaraderie with the Irish people.
Gala for the Glen features The Kells
BARABOO — The third annual Gala for the Glen, with Irish food, music, and fellowship, will be held at St. Joseph Catholic School gym, 300 Second St., on Saturday, May 30, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $50 and are available at Durward’s Glen or at the St. Joseph Parish office.
Following a dinner of shepherd‘s pie and Gaelic chicken catered by Claddagh Irish Pub from Middleton, The Kells, an international Irish band, will entertain with traditional Irish music.
Dane County Shamrock Club announces Irish Person of Year
MADISON — Ann Walsh was selected as the Irish Person of the Year by the Dane County Shamrock Club. She will be honored at the club’s Irish flag ceremony in the Capitol rotunda, 2 E. Main St., at 12 noon on Sunday, March 15; at the St. Patrick’s Day parade following the flag ceremony; and again at the club’s St. Patrick’s Day dinner on March 22. These events are open to the public.
Remembering the past: It is important to celebrate and to learn from history
Several articles in this week’s Catholic Herald made me think about the importance of history and why we should pay attention to it.
Many people today take life one day at a time. They don’t want to look back at the past or even think about the future. The here-and-now is all that counts.
The 18th century Anglo-Irish statesman Edmund Burke said, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” By learning about previous mistakes, we can try to avoid them.
However, I’m not sure I totally agree with Edmund Burke. Not all history is bad. There are many good things that happened in the past that are worth remembering and celebrating.
St. Dennis student to dance in world championships in London
MADISON — On Friday, April 11, 13-year-old Bridget Thompson and her family will be leaving for London as the seventh grader from St. Dennis School in Madison gets ready to take part in the World Championships of Irish Dance.
Bridget earned her spot in the championships at the 2013 Mid-America Oireachtas (pronounced “oh-rock-toose”) competition in Grand Rapids, Mich., this past December. She placed 15th out of more than 130 girls.
Dead Theologians Society follows blueprint of St. Patrick as it inspires youth to become saints
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| The original Dead Theologians Society (DTS) chapter in Ireland is pictured above. Several of the girls are now pursuing a religious vocation and the others are active in leading the DTS chapter. Also pictured are Eddie Cotter, third from left, and his son, Rory, right, who recently helped lead a Confirmation retreat in Ireland with the Antrim DTS Chapter. (Contributed photo) |
BLACK EARTH — In the fifth century, St. Patrick travelled throughout Ireland, where he established small communities of people of the Catholic faith which eventually spread across the country.
Today a Catholic apostolate is following the blueprint of St. Patrick in spreading the faith, not only in Ireland, but in the United States and other countries.
It is the Dead Theologians Society (DTS), a Catholic apostolate for high school teens and college-aged young adults. DTS has its headquarters in the Diocese of Madison in Black Earth.
Following St. Patrick’s blueprint
As we prepare to observe St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, it is appropriate to reflect on how DTS uses a similar approach to St. Patrick, said Eddie Cotter, co-founder and executive director of DTS.
“Our DTS efforts in Ireland (as well as here in the U.S. and other countries) really do follow the blueprint of St. Patrick, who traveled many miles establishing and strengthening small faith communities that produced disciples who converted an island and a race of people,” said Cotter.
Of DTS, he said, “It isn’t flashy, but it is real, and thank God it is truly effective! Young people in DTS are literally following in the footsteps of the saints. They are spreading the Gospel by their lives wherever they are.”
To help support this apostolate, an evening of Irish music, food, and fun will be held on Saturday, March 15, at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison with proceeds to help sponsor the work of DTS in poorer parishes in the U.S. and Ireland.