Notre Dame – Madison Catholic Herald

On the morning of March 14, 2005, I was awakened with news that smoke was billowing out of the roof, spire, and bell tower of St. Raphael Cathedral in downtown Madison.

Our reporter then, Julianne Nornberg, traveled quickly to the scene of the fire, which had started at 5:31 a.m. Firefighters were on the scene at 5:39 a.m., and they worked to control the fire caused — we found out later — by an arsonist.

Destruction of cathedral

Unfortunately, the fire destroyed the roof of St. Raphael Cathedral, which collapsed into the church. The 150-year-old church was destroyed. A new spire, which had been raised to the top of the cathedral’s spire in 2014, was saved.

On January 23, 2013February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Opportunity knocking: Catholic school answers the call by recruiting Hispanic students

Although there are still many strong Catholic schools across the United States, trends show a continuing decline in the number of Catholic schools and students attending those schools.

According to data from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), in the past 10 years, the number of Catholic schools across the country has decreased by 23.8 percent from 8,114 to 6,841. The enrollment in Catholic schools has dropped by 23.4 percent from 2,320,651 to 2,031, 455.

Most of the enrollment decline has been experienced at the elementary school level. It is estimated that there are almost 700,000 empty seats existing in Catholic schools.

Number of Hispanic Catholics growing

The number of Hispanic Catholics in the United States is growing by leaps and bounds. Hispanics now comprise 35 percent of all Catholics and 67 percent of practicing Catholics aged 18 to 34, according to a Notre Dame report, To Nurture the Soul of a Nation: Latino Families, Catholic Schools, and Educational Opportunities (December 2009).

According to the report, only about three percent of Hispanic students currently attend Catholic schools. Many families would like to send their children to Catholic schools, but they think they can’t afford to do so.

On December 23, 2010

Sr. Margie Lavonis

Christ bids us to come – and go

I have a ritual I practice on New Year’s Eve or day, depending on what is going on in my life. I take some quiet time to review how God has worked in my life over the past year.

Last year I recalled a journal entry that summarized a talk I still remember. It was given during a day of prayer. The presenter, a wonderful Holy Cross priest, made a simple but profound statement. He said that Christian discipleship can be summed up by two words — “Come” and “Go.”

On September 23, 2009

Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Hablar y oír la verdad sobre la reforma de salud

Bajo el libro del evangelio por Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Esta columna está dirigida a los fieles de la Diócesis de Madison. Cualquier circulación más amplia transgrede la intención del Obispo.

Queridos amigos,

Hace dos semanas tuve la suerte de regresar al campus de la Universidad de Notre Dame. Mientras estuve allí saqué partido de este regreso al lugar en que pasé algunos años enseñando filosofía y sirviendo al personal del Seminario Moreau (siempre recuerdo con cariño los 11 años que pasé en campus universitarios, en Notre Dame y otros más).

Las siguientes son las palabras que escogí para esa ocasión, al celebrar la Liturgia de las 10:00 a.m. en la Basílica del Sagrado Corazón del campus:

On September 17, 2009May 10, 2021

Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Speaking, hearing truth in health care reform

Dear Friends,

Two weeks ago I was very fortunate to be back on campus at the University of Notre Dame. Once and a while I take advantage of returning to that campus, where I spent a few years teaching philosophy and serving on the staff at Moreau Seminary (I always recall so very fondly the 11 years I spent on the college campuses, at Notre Dame and elsewhere.)

The following are the words I chose for the occasion, in celebrating the 10 a.m. Liturgy at the Sacred Heart Basilica on campus:

On May 14, 2009May 10, 2021

Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Comments on Notre Dame and Obama

Dear Friends,

My great affection for the University of Notre Dame, growing out of the years that I spent there and my deep respect for the president, Father Jenkins, have, thus far, led me not to weigh in, in writing, on the whole matter of President Obama’s coming to speak and receiving an honorary degree at this year’s commencement. But, I think the time has come when I must, nonetheless, do so.

In the first place, let me say that were I the president of the University of Notre Dame, I would never have invited President Obama to speak at a commencement and to be honored with a Doctor of Laws Degree — I would simply never have done that and anyone who knows me would know that.