Following are summer assignments for seminarians in the Diocese of Madison:
• Andrew Showers — St. Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells
• Daniel Button — St. Francis Xavier Parish, Cross Plains
• David Keyes — St. Bernard Parish, Madison
Tag: seminarian
2015 Annual Catholic Appeal: ‘Living Our Mission of Charity’
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MADISON — Have you ever modeled your charitable life around the Holy Family?
You may not give of yourselves the same way as Mary and Joseph did, but modeling your charitable giving through your time, talent, and treasure is your way of giving back.
One way to live your mission of charity is through giving to the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Each year, the ACA asks each parishioner in the Diocese of Madison to prayerfully consider what they are able to give back to their diocesan Church.The Diocese of Madison lives on your generosity to support its missions — missions that are critical in helping our neighbors in need, teaching those that need education and training on our faith.
The Annual Catholic Appeal reaches every corner of our diocese in some way, here are just a few.
Marriage Preparation — Does your parish offer marriage preparation classes to those seeking the sacrament Sacrament of Marriage? The ACA funds the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, which oversees the training and materials needed for marriage preparation classes around the diocese.
Catholic schools — Do you know of a child that attends a Catholic school? Just like every school district in the state, the Office of Catholic Schools is directed by the superintendent of Catholic schools. This office oversees all of the administrative functions supporting the Catholic school system in our diocese.
Catholic Charities — Has your parish community benefited from the Mobile Food Pantry? It travels around the diocese helping those that need that extra assistance at difficult times. This is just one mission that Catholic Charities does for our neighbors in need.2014 Annual Catholic Appeal: ‘Beacon of Faith, Fire of Charity’
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MADISON — As we prepare for Lent as a Catholic community, we prepare to give alms. What does it mean to give alms? The definition includes the charitable giving of money, food, or goods to people in need. It is one form of sacrifice we as Catholics are asked to perform during the season of Lent, just as Christ sacrificed himself for each of us.
This year’s theme for the 2014 Annual Catholic Appeal is “Beacon of Faith, Fire of Charity.” The focus this year is on evangelization and the Corporal Works of Mercy. The Annual Catholic Appeal funds both of those ministries, plus many others. Here are a few examples:
• Evangelization and Catechesis — Each of us as Catholics is asked to share Christ’s message through evangelization. The Church catechizes the young through religious education classes and adults through RCIA, retreats, and classes.
• Catholic Charities — As the Corporal Works of Mercy arm of the Diocese of Madison, Catholic Charities touches so many lives. They visit the sick through the Respite Care Program; feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty through the Mobile Food Pantry and the Catholic Multicultural Center. These are just a few of the programs supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal and provided through Catholic Charities.
Seminarian reflects on the final days of Benedict XVI
Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of reflections on recent events happening at the Vatican by Diocese of Madison seminarians studying in Rome.
As a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison, studying in Rome, the unexpected news of the pope’s resignation has dramatically impacted the life of the seminary and the spiritual life of each seminarian as we pray for His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman pontiff emeritus, and the cardinals as they prepare to enter conclave.
From the moment we heard the announcement, the North American College seminarians were in abuzz talking about the Holy Father’s decision while trying to concentrate on studying and completing final exams which we were in the midst of taking.
The vision will not disappoint
Visus Non Mentietur — “The vision will not disappoint”— is taken from the book of the prophet Habakkuk 2:3.
This scriptural text, which happens to be the Episcopal Motto of His Excellency the Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, in a way captures his vision for priestly vocations in the Diocese of Madison.
The Almighty has done great things for us
On behalf of Bishop Robert C. Morlino and all our seminarians, I would like to congratulate Deacons David Johannes and Mark Miller on their upcoming ordinations to the priesthood.
The entire Diocese of Madison rejoices because the Lord has shown us great favor in calling these two men to be numbered amongst the Levites. I also want to extend our congratulations to Deacons Vince Brewer and Garrett Kau who were ordained to the transitional diaconate in May. We wish you all fruitful ministry in the Lord’s vineyard.
God works in our midst
Ordination of men to the priesthood is a good reminder to us of how God continues to work in our midst. The Holy Spirit working through the bishop, by his imposition of hands and prayer of ordination, raises these men to become in effect “Alter Christus.”
Summer seminarian assignments
Following are the 2012 summer assignments of Diocese of Madison seminarians for all or part of the summer:
Mark Miller is ordained to transitional diaconate
On October 6, Mark Miller of the Diocese of Madison was one of 35 seminarians of the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) ordained to the transitional diaconate during a Mass at the Altar of the Chair in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter at the Vatican.
Mark Miller looks forward to ordination as deacon
MADISON — Mark Miller is looking forward to being ordained to the transitional diaconate on October 6 in Rome. God willing, both he and Deacon David Johannes will be ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 2012, in Madison.
Miller’s path to ordination has been different than most Catholic seminarians. He was raised as a Lutheran, the son of Deborah and Rev. Jeffrey Miller (his father is a Lutheran pastor). He grew up in Blanchardville; when he was 16, his family moved to Sparta.
Led to Catholic faith
While he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he began his own personal study of the Scriptures and theology. That study led him away from his Protestant roots.
He explained, “With Scripture, I found that the impression it left on me seemed closer to a Catholic reading or interpretation. As I learned more and more, many aspects of the Catholic Church seemed to make more sense as organic development of the faith.
Ten new seminarians point to Church’s hopeful future
As the fall season rolls in and many students are headed back to school, the seminarians for the diocese are all heading back to school to continue with their seminary formation after a much deserved summer break.
Starting this fall, we will have seminarians in seminaries in Detroit, Mich.; Denver, Colo.; Washington, D.C.; Winona and St. Paul, Minn.; Seward,
Neb.; South Orange, N.J.; and Rome, Italy. Their years of seminary formation range from freshmen in college to the final year of theology.