Walter Michael Heilman, age 83, father of Fr. Richard Heilman, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff, St. Ignatius Parish in Mt. Horeb, and Holy Redeemer Parish in Perry, died on Saturday, Dec. 1, surrounded by his family at St. Mary’s Care Center.
Tag: Madison
St. Ambrose Academy hosts its annual benefit dinner
MADISON — On Saturday, Dec. 15, St. Ambrose Academy in Madison will host its sixth annual benefit dinner, gathering people from around the Diocese of Madison to highlight the importance of Catholic education and to celebrate the December 7 feast day of its patron, St. Ambrose.
Catholic Come Home founder speaks on evangelization
MADISON — There is a math puzzle commonly put before young students in which they are offered $10,000 right now or one penny that doubles every day for the next 30 days.
Those who take the upfront cash miss out on more than five million dollars.
Standing up for freedom
A rally was held at the steps of the Capitol on October 20 to protest the intrusion of the federal government into religious freedom through a recent mandate by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Tom Moreland brings Catholic values to his work at Saint Jude Hospice
MADISON — “It was a defining moment of my life. God was leading me to care of the dying,” said Tom Moreland, founder and CEO of Saint Jude Hospice, in a recent interview.
Moreland was talking about his work with the Missionaries of Charity at an AIDS Hospice in San Francisco, Calif. He served there for two summers while he was an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas.
Vicariates Forane created in the Madison Diocese
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What is a Vicar Forane?
A vicar forane, sometimes called a dean, is a priest appointed by the bishop in order to promote a common pastoral activity in a region of the diocese and to provide spiritual and pastoral counsel to the other priests in that region.
History of Vicars Forane
The term “vicar forane” comes from Latin, meaning a representative (vicarius) who is outside (foras), because these priests were considered representatives of the bishop outside of the cathedral city. The office of vicar forane probably dates back to the fourth century when Christianity began to spread beyond the major cities to rural areas. Seeing the need to send representatives to these communities which had embraced the faith, bishops would send an “archpriest” with special delegation and responsibilities to act as a kind of overseer in the region who also was in charge of communication between the bishop and the local priests.
The 1917 Code of Canon Law mandated the establishment of vicars forane in every diocese. However, the understanding of this office experienced a pastoral renewal in the period following the Second Vatican Council. The fathers of the Second Vatican Council saw the vicar forane as a preeminently pastoral office, as a way to bring presbyters together in order to promote and direct a common pastoral activity in their territory. The 1973 directory for bishops likewise affirms the pastoral nature of the office and speaks of the vicar forane as one who animates and enlivens the local presbytery in pastoral action.
Join the worldwide prayer for an end to abortion
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| Coordinators discuss the “rules of the road” for the Madison 40 Days for Life vigil at the kick-off celebration in Pine Bluff on September 26. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner) |
PINE BLUFF — On September 26 in cities across the globe, people began to pray earnestly for an end to abortion. This prayer, along with fasting and community outreach, will be constant for the next 40 days.
At 316 locations in 49 states and the District of Columbia, in seven Canadian provinces, and in four countries including Uganda, people will hold vigil for the 40 Days for Life through November 4. Forty-six of these campaigns are being held for the first time.
Here in the Diocese of Madison, a kickoff celebration was held at St. Mary Church in Pine Bluff, nine hours after the campaign officially began at the Planned Parenthood location on Madison’s east side.
The local campaign, organized by Madison Vigil for Life, has been ongoing since 2005. This year is the first in the leadership role for volunteer president Bette Weisshaar, but she said that though there have been worries and concerns, volunteers are coming forward, more parishes are getting involved, and hours are getting filled, even if they are filled sometimes last-minute.
Beauty and the Mass
A reverent silence is difficult for anyone to achieve, but with more than 3,000 students from middle school and high school filling the seats and stands in the vast Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall in Madison, it was something extraordinary.
Bishop blesses new Stations at Cathedral site
On the Feast of the Exaltation (Triumph) of the Cross, September 14, Bishop Robert C. Morlino prayed and blessed the new Way of the Cross at the site of St. Raphael Cathedral, which was destroyed by arson seven years ago.
Vatican II and the Year of Faith
MADISON — Pope Benedict has declared a Year of Faith from October 11, 2012, to November 24, 2013, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.