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Articles by Julia Kloess
Teen creates painting based on the Shroud of Turin
A local young artist has been sharing his stunning portrait of Jesus, based on the Shroud of Turin, on social media. Anthony Miller, a graduating senior from Memorial High School in Madison, has always been interested in art. “Art has been something I’ve always just been kind of naturally drawn to, ever since I can remember, really.
Four men ordained priests for the Diocese of Madison
Fr. Casey Cooney, Fr. Barry Meinholz, Fr. Luis Reyes, and Fr. Mark Wagner were ordained by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison. The Ordination Mass was concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Gregg M. Caggianelli for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Father Wagner plans to become a chaplain for the U.S. Air Force.
Parent volunteers reflect on being a part of Love Begins Here
Love Begins Here (LBH) is a diocesan program designed to give teens the opportunity to be local missionaries. But teens aren’t the only ones being transformed. Every LBH mission depends on parents and other adult volunteers to transport and lead the teens. For the parents, that experience often ends up being far more than they expected. “I will be honest, I grudgingly went that first summer.
St. Joseph School unveils new mosaic
FORT ATKINSON — St. Joseph School in Fort Atkinson recently celebrated the completion of a new mosaic, made by the students and community members. The mosaic, an image of St. Francis of Assisi, is part of a partnership with Josh Winer, an artist who was invited to orchestrate the design and to guide students through the process of making a mosaic.
‘Blessed are the peacekeepers’
MADISON — The ninth annual Blue Mass was celebrated on May 7. This beautiful yearly tradition honors first responders and gives the faithful a chance to pray with and for them. The Mass was held at the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux campus in their gymnasium. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, with several priests of the diocese concelebrating, including Fr. Michael Radowicz, pastor of the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
UW-Madison students serve Sisters, school on mission trip in Arizona
BAPCHULE, Ariz. — Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center in Madison had almost 30 students join their winter break service trip to Arizona. The students served kids in need on the Gila River Indian Reservation, working alongside the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit and the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity.
Church undergoes repairs after storm damage
EAST BRISTOL — St. Joseph Church in East Bristol suffered serious storm damage on Tuesday, April 14. Around 1 a.m., high winds tore off a portion of the church roof, allowing water inside the building. No one was injured, but the wind and water damage was substantial. After the storm ended, part of the church’s roof was resting on top of the rectory building, and debris was scattered around the property.
93-year-old enters the Church
MADISON — “It was a joyful, joyful night. A joyful morning.” Belle Goebel spoke these words, referring to the Easter Vigil, when she entered the Catholic Church. At 93 years old, she was Baptized during the Easter Vigil Mass on April 4 at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison, part of Divine Mercy Parish. Belle has a lot of practice listening to the voice of God. “When there is a serious time in my life, of course, I read the Gospels,” Belle said.
Diocese celebrates Chrism Mass
MADISON — On the morning of Holy Thursday, April 2, the Diocese of Madison held its annual Chrism Mass. This Mass is a unique liturgy where the diocese comes together to celebrate the gift of the priesthood, commemorate the unity of the priests with the bishop, and witness the bishop bless the holy oils that will be used to celebrate the sacraments throughout the diocese during the year. Oil has a history in the Church that stretches back to the early centuries.
St. Thérèse School enjoys ‘Bagels with the Bishop’
WATERTOWN — St. Thérèse School in Watertown recently celebrated “Bagels with the Bishop.” The event was a prize for being one of two winners of the Diocese of Madison’s Giving Tuesday campaign for Catholic schools. St. Thérèse School was the school with the highest participation (based on the number of people who gave compared to the number of students). They celebrated their victory on March 24. The event began with a school Mass celebrated by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison.
Thomistic Institute on UW campus
MADISON — UW-Madison students who are seeking the answers to deep questions have a fantastic resource available to them. The Thomistic Institute, founded at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., has a chapter on campus at UW-Madison. The Thomistic Institute was founded in 2009.
Local teen pursues Eagle Scout rank
OREGON —Seth Baertlein, a member of Scout Troop 168 from Oregon, has completed his Eagle Scout project, a part of the process for obtaining his Eagle Scout rank. This rank is a substantial accomplishment for members of Scouting America. It must be completed before the scout turns 18, and there is a significant list of requirements. Over the first century of the Scouts, from 1912 to 2012, typically less than 5 percent of Scouts earned the honor each year.
Perseverance in our faith
At this point of Lent, I usually need a little (or a lot) of encouragement to keep faithful to my commitments in this holy season, and so I am thinking that a reflection on perseverance is opportune, maybe for all of us. When we think of New Year’s resolutions, Lenten practices, desires to eat healthier, lose weight, or spend more time with family, we know how difficult it is to follow through on such good intentions.
Letting go and letting God
Autumn is my favorite season of the year. The frosty temperatures, the blazing color of the trees, the smell of wood smoke, and the crunch of leaves underfoot are all expressions of beauty and peace. Nature teaches us at this time the gift of surrender as we savor the sweet melancholy of another summer gone and watch the leaves tumble down in a shower of bright hues.
The mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul falls on September 27. Born in France in 1581, Vincent was ordained a priest in 1600 and committed his life to the formation of the clergy and the service of the poor. To these ends, he founded two religious orders: The Congregation of the Mission (more commonly know as the Vincentians) and the Daughters of Charity to serve the sick and the needy. An astute businessman, Vincent marshalled vast resources to fuel his works of charity. He died in Paris in 1660.
Growing in our holiness
Trust is the pivotal spiritual stance we must embrace before the Lord if we seek to grow in holiness. All of the saints speak and write about the absolute need to have confidence and faith in God, if we seek to be in relationship with Him. The need to control everything, over-confidence in our own abilities, complacent self-sufficiency, and prideful hubris can come to us naturally in our fallen state, but these self-centered attitudes war against the soul.
Journey through the spiritual wonders of Italy
For 12 days, I was blessed to journey with 83 pilgrims through the spiritual wonders of Italy! Beginning in Venice; on to Florence, Siena, and Assisi; stopping in Orvieto; and ending in Rome, this pilgrimage brought us face to face with remarkable saints from every age, the astounding beauty of the Renaissance, the transcendent grandeur of famous churches, and the innate goodness of the Italian people.
Approaching Holy Week
As we approach Holy Week, we have spiritually moved through Lent, seeking to empty ourselves of egoism, complacency, distraction, and self-seeking, so that the Lord finds greater space and capacity within us to receive His divine grace. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have opened us up to deeper and fuller relationships with God and others. Our reflection on the Scriptures has expanded our experience of the Lord’s love for us, made manifest in Christ Jesus.
Fr. Roger Nilles dies
Fr. Roger Gabriel Nilles died on August 4, 2023, at the age of 90 at St. John’s on the Lake in Milwaukee. He was born on June 9, 1933, in Madison. Father Nilles is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews and predeceased by his parents, Mathias John and Anna Marie, née Omson, and his siblings: Ruth (Nilles) Dollhausen, James E. Nilles, and Joan (Nilles) Gebhardt.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish named shrine of Our Lady of the Green Scapular
MONONA — Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona was recently declared a diocesan shrine by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison. This step is based on an extraordinary history of Marian devotion at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, formerly known as the World Shrine of Our Lady of the Green Scapular from 1950 to 1968. History of the shrine The parish was established in 1950 with Fr. Jerome Mersberger as pastor.
Commissioning Mass calls all to ‘Go Make Disciples’
MONONA — The Go Make Disciples Commissioning Mass was celebrated on May 20 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona. After three years of implementing the Go Make Disciples evangelization initiative, the Diocese of Madison officially sent out participants as missionary disciples. Answering the call The day began with a workshop led by Jason Simon of The Evangelical Catholic. The workshop focused on discerning your personal apostolate: Who is God calling you to evangelize, and how?
Bishop Hying ordains two transitional deacons
MONONA — May 12 saw two transitional deacons ordained for the Diocese of Madison. Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona hosted as David Drefcinski and Anthony Kersting become deacons, en route to being priests. The beautiful ordination Mass was celebrated by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, and attended by dozens of deacons and priests of the Diocese of Madison. The Sisters of Mary Morning Star were in attendance, and the Madison Diocesan Choir made the singing at the event lovely.
Abschied vom Nanny State?
Kommentar 22.05.2023 6min Lesezeit Magnus Brunner spricht sich in Reden gegen einen „Nanny-Staat“ aus. Zweifel an den Ankündigungen des Finanzministers sind angebracht – das zeigt ein Blick auf die Entwicklung der öffentlichen Finanzen. Der Finanzminister spricht seit einiger Zeit gern davon, dass wir „das Geld des Steuerzahlers wieder schätzen lernen“ müssen. Und: „Wir müssen aufhören, Millionen mit Milliarden zu verwechseln“, der Staat könne nicht zu 100 Prozent die Krise kompensieren.
A time of leadership transition at Camp Gray
REEDSBURG — There is a new executive director at Camp Gray. Jeff Hoeben, longtime leader, has stepped down and Tim Chaptman, former camp director, has stepped up to be executive director. Both had positive commentary on the transition. Hoeben said, “Camp is in such a great place right now. We have had such a tremendous network of supporters. This is our 70th year and it is amazing to see where this place has come since Msgr.
Sainthood cause for man with Wisconsin ties
The cause for the canonization of Brother Joseph Dutton was recently opened. An area Civil War history enthusiast, Pete Skelly, has collected considerable knowledge of his life and was happy to share. Brother Joseph Dutton (then called Ira Dutton) was born in 1843 and grew up in Janesville. He was a busy kid and teenager, eager to learn, participated in gymnastics, was an assistant editor for a local newspaper, worked at a bookstore, volunteered as a fireman and militiaman — the list goes on.
Statement from Bishop Hying on the ‘Synodal Way’ process from bishops in Germany
For three years, the leaders of the Catholic Church in Germany have been involved in their “Synodal Way,” a process of conversation and decisions among the bishops and laity, regarding Church doctrine and practice, which culminated recently in three days of voting on particular issues.
Fr. Thomas Doheny dies
Fr. Thomas Richard Doheny entered eternal life on March 1, 2023, at the age of 91 years at All Saints Neighborhood in Madison. He was born on February 5, 1932 in Janesville, Wisconsin. Father Doheny is survived by his nieces and nephews and many other friends. He is predeceased by his parents, Charles and Genevieve (McGinnity) Doheny, three brothers, Charles, Msgr. James, and John “Jack”, and two sisters, Anne Marie Kressin and Kathleen Burg.
Perez, Bennett join Catholic Charities Board of Directors
MADISON — Catholic Charities of Madison, the charitable arm of the Diocese of Madison, recently announced the appointment of Rosario “Rosie” Perez and Richard “Dick” Bennett to its board of directors. Perez serves as vice president of mission integration for the Wisconsin region of SSM Health, providing strategic direction on mission-related issues for the health care organization.
Verona parish ‘Reveals the Mystery’ of Christian art with the help of St. John Paul II
VERONA — January 16 saw St. Christopher Parish in Verona host the first of a new series: “Revealing the Mystery”. Beth Ptak, artist and art teacher, and Susan Swanke, coordinator of adult formation at St. Christopher and student of the Theology of the Body, are heading up the series. It combines St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body with meditations on art, particularly in light of the pope’s “Letter to Artists”.
St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison holds Advent Lessons and Carols
MADISON — December 11 saw St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison swell with Advent music and prayerful Advent readings. The St. Maria Goretti Choir presented an Advent Lessons and Carols to help parishioners in their spiritual preparation for Christmas. Celebrating the season The choir was directed by Marco Melendez and welcomed guest organist Michael Mills to support the singing.
A great turnout for the diocese’s Hispanic Ministry Fair
MADISON — The Diocese of Madison hosted its first ever Hispanic Ministry Fair at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison on November 12. “It was the first of its kind,” said Lorianne Aubut, the diocesan coordinator of the Office of Hispanic Ministry. “It was an exclusive event for priests who [serve the] Hispanic community in our diocese. They were invited to attend this fair with five of their leaders.” She said the turnout was great.
Eddie’s Hour provides students with a much-needed break
MADISON — Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart in Madison introduced an uplifting new initiative this year. Taking into account the challenges students face, the school introduced the concept of “Eddie’s Hour.” This space of time in the school day was instituted to give students a break from their busy schedules. Jerry Zander, principal of Edgewood, described how Eddie’s Hour — named for the school’s mascot — started as a response to parental concern and student need.
Schools in the diocese consecrated to Our Lady of Good Help
MONONA — The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7 saw 800 of her children gathered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona. These children — students representing nearly every Catholic school in the Diocese of Madison — were there to participate in Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison’s consecration of all the diocese’s schools to Our Lady of Good Help during a Mass.
Diocese of Madison celebrates longtime married couples, newlyweds
The Diocese of Madison rejoiced in the anniversaries of many couples on August 14. St. Francis Xavier Church in Cross Plains was packed with couples who were celebrating 50, 55, 60, and beyond years of marriage this year. Several newly-married couples in the diocese also attended, to soak in the advice and joy of those couples being honored and to receive a blessing from Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison.
Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities sponsors day retreat for Catholic Charities staff
MADISON — On August 5, staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities of Madison gathered for an exceptional “staff in-service” retreat. Titled the Aging Services Mental Health Retreat, the day was designed for the staff and volunteers of the Adult Day Center, Companion Care, and Care Team Ministries in order to help them better serve their clients. It began with coffee, as all good things do, and proceeded through multiple excellent talks and explanations of resources.
Totus Tuus completes another summer
MCFARLAND — If you strolled up to Christ the King Parish in McFarland on Thursday, July 21, the sidewalk would give you a hint of what you’d find inside. Colorful chalk images with messages like “God Loves you!” hinted at both the faith and fun that had happened during that week. The Diocese of Madison Totus Tuus team wrapped up its summer at Christ the King with the parish hosting the fifth session held in the diocese by that team.
Two permanent deacons ordained
MONONA — On Sunday, July 24, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison and the Diocese of Madison were blessed to ordain two men to the order of the Diaconate: Deacons Lee Gerard Eggers and Craig Michael Wood. Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona generously hosted the ceremony. The beautiful Ordination Mass began with a long procession, as many deacons showed up to honor and welcome their two new brothers.
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