To the editor:
More than 20 years ago, my new friend at our parish would take time to explain the Catholic Church’s teachings on pro-life to me. That led to meeting the pro-life prayer warriors outside the Madison Abortion Clinic across from St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison.
We were rejecting the politically correct mantra that promiscuity, contraception, and abortion are good for us. We were praying and witnessing for God’s plan for marriage and family.
PINE BLUFF — On Friday, Oct, 13, at 6 p.m. at St. Mary of Pine Bluff Church, His Excellency Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, will celebrate a Pontifical Mass at the Throne for the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima and the Miracle of the Sun.
There’s no greater gift to give to a mother than to listen to her and to do as we are told — such as praying the Rosary.
PINE BLUFF — I’ve come to know Fr. Donald Calloway over the course of the past few years. His conversion story is amazing, and not unlike many of us priests today, in that our worldly lives were, by the grace of God, completely transformed into a life totally dedicated to God.
The similarities come, especially, as his mother never gave up on him; trusting in Our Lord and Our Lady that her son would turn his life around some day. Now, Fr. Donald Calloway and I serve on the Board of the Holy League together, with Cardinal Raymond Burke as our spiritual adviser.
It was the inaugural event for the Ladies of Divine Mercy on January 9 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Pine Bluff.
MADISON — Women of the diocese are invited to fall vicariate meetings scheduled at parishes in Spring Green and Jefferson, Sept. 18; Berlin, Oct. 14; Bloomington, Oct. 16; and Pine Bluff, Oct. 22.
Rosa Roper, president of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) encourages women to take advantage of these meetings to connect with other Catholic women in their area. The half-day meetings offer prayer, socializing, and service and fit into her theme as president: “Live, Learn, Love, and Share Our Catholic Faith.”
PINE BLUFF — On Sunday, Aug. 4, Catholics around the world celebrated the feast day of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests and tireless confessor. In Pine Bluff, just west of Madison, the day took on some extra meaning.
Fr. Rick Heilman, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff, dedicated a 24-hour confessional and related smartphone app, asking for intercessory prayers from the saint.
PINE BLUFF — The small farming community of Pine Bluff sits at the cross roads halfway between Cross Plains and Mt. Horeb.
In 2005, Pine Bluff was at a different crossroads. A local tavern was planning to rent out a portion of its establishment to a strip club and would place this sleepy little town between its traditional values and the forces of immorality and indecency.
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| Sheri Miglio and her son Will find the balloon Rosary which traveled 354 miles from the Rosary Rally held at the state Capitol in Madison to their farm in North Branch, Mich. (Contributed photo) |
MADISON — On Thursday, June 21, the first weekly Rosary Rally was held at the state Capitol in Madison. At that rally, a large helium balloon Rosary was released.
The 40-foot Rosary made up of a cluster of yellow balloons had been assembled by youth at St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff under the direction of Beth Ptak, coordinator of religious education.
The next day, Sheri Miglio in North Branch, Mich., looked out in her backyard and saw a huge cluster of yellow balloons snagged on a tree just inside their property line. She and her family live on a 10-acre farm.
It was the fifth birthday of Miglio’s son, Will. She said jokingly, “Will, someone sent you a bunch of balloons for your birthday.”
They walked over to the balloons and cut the string holding them to the tree. With the balloons they noticed a cardboard crucifix and found out that the cluster of balloons was a Rosary. On the crucifix they found a message from Fr. Rick Heilman, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff and one of the leaders of the Rosary Rally at the Capitol.
“Love is what it’s all about,” Msgr. Felix Oehrlein told high school youth attending the Resurrection 2004 rally in Wisconsin Dells. “Jesus reminds us to keep his commandments. Jesus came here and lived among us and lives with us today. He lives in the Church and you and I are that Church.”
