JANESVILLE — Fr. Thomas Otanga, OCD, will talk about Carmelite spirituality on Sunday, March 11, at 11 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church, 1250 E. Racine St.
He will discuss the spirituality of such Carmelite saints as St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
The Order of Carmelite Discalced Seculars (OCDS) in Janesville is the only one in the Diocese of Madison. OCDS members are men, women, married, and single from all walks of life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 9, for Fr. William Joseph Seipp, 80, who died on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.
JANESVILLE — As we enter into the season of Lent, many Catholics consider how to deepen their spiritual journey and go beyond simply “giving something up.”
To aid parishioners — and Catholics in the Diocese of Madison — St. John Vianney Parish in Janesville has invited Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, better known as “Dr. Italy,” to come and speak for a one-night mission on Thursday, Feb. 22.
Dr. D’Ambrosio is a well-respected Catholic professor and speaker who has had several books on the New York Times best-seller list, hosted multiple TV series on EWTN, and been a frequent guest on a variety of Catholic radio shows, including Catholic Answers and The Catholic Connection.
JANESVILLE — St. Patrick School in Janesville will be closing at the end of the current school year, it was announced at Masses on the weekend of January 27 and 28.
Currently, the school has an enrollment of 11 students in grades kindergarten through eight, in addition to 11 students in the public partnership 4K program.
This enrollment, a continued projected decline, and the fact that the operational cost of the school is over $200,000 per year led both the parish pastoral council and finance council to recommend the school’s closure to Pastor Fr. Tim Renz.
Father Renz contacted Bishop Robert C. Morlino notifying him of the recommendations being made by his parish councils. In a statement, the Diocese of Madison said that there has been ongoing conversation among the four Catholic parishes in Janesville about their schools “and the diocese anticipates the results of that collaboration with optimism.”
St. Patrick Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Janesville. Catholic families have been praying together in the fourth ward of Janesville for over 170 years. In 1844, they learned that they would be getting a priest of their own. In 1845, the first Mass was celebrated in the church they built.
JANESVILLE — The annual Women’s Retreat Day, cosponsored by the Janesville Cluster Spirituality Group and the Janesville Catholic Women’s Club, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Speaker will be Juliana Rudnick, author and creator of the Sacred Intercession Prayer Journal and founder of Interceding Life Ministries. Her topic is “‘I am the Vine, you are the branches,’ An Invitation to Intimacy and Intercession.”
All women are invited to refresh their prayer lives, deepen their connection to God, and learn to pray more effectively for loved ones. Rudnick will have her prayer journal available for sale.
JANESVILLE — Students and staff at St. John Vianney (SJV) School in Janesville recently got a chance to hear stories of the recent storm damage in the southern U.S. and how their donations helped out other schoolchildren there.
Eleven students from Houston recently came to Janesville to run in the Midwest Invitational Cross Country Meet.
During that time, those students visited the school and shared with SJV students and staff firsthand what it was like in Houston during, and after, Hurricane Harvey.
“To each of our residents, those still with us this afternoon and those who celebrate with us from their place of eternity, we who have served here owe our profound thanks for trusting us with your care — with your very lives — permitting us to see the face of God in each of you.”
JANESVILLE — St. Patrick Parish, Janesville’s oldest Catholic parish, is hosting open houses in August to introduce the wide variety of educational options open to area parents, including a new homeschool ministry.
Located at 305 Lincoln St. in Janesville, the parish school will offer tours and information about available programs to area families after all weekend Masses the weekend of August 5 to 6.
Memorial Day Masses will be held in the Diocese of Madison. Besides the Masses indicated here, check with local parishes for Masses being celebrated on Monday, May 29.
In Madison, a Memorial Day Mass will be held at Resurrection Cemetery, 2705 Regent St., at 10 a.m. Bishop Robert C. Morlino will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Area priests will serve as concelebrants. Knights of Columbus will serve as an honor guard. The Mass will be held outdoors, but in case of rain, Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 405 S. Owen Dr. Refreshments will follow Mass.
Editor’s note: Fr. Paul Arinze, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Janesville, gave the prayer before the opening of the 115th Congress on January 3. Following are his reflections on the experience.
I was really surprised when Speaker Paul Ryan asked me if I would be available to give the opening benediction at his swearing-in ceremony and the opening of the 115th Congress.
