St. Mary Parish in Briggsville:
Celebrates 150th anniversary

By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

BRIGGSVILLE -- People filled the pews at St. Mary Help of Christians Church September 8 for a Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino and a dinner following, carrying on the 150-year tradition of parish life.

Fr. James Murphy, pastor at St. Mary Parish, linked with St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Portage, as well as former pastor Fr. George W. Fox, retired, concelebrated the Mass. Deacon Dennis Sutter served as deacon.

The parish was founded in 1851, originally in what would become the Diocese of Green Bay before the Diocese of Madison was founded in 1946. The church building to house the congregation was not built until 1857. Some of the family names listed in the early history of the parish are still on the roster today, 150 years later.

Grasping the truth

"That's a long time, "Bishop Morlino said of the history. "Just think about the graces and the strengths that those people needed - all of your loved ones. And think about how the Holy Spirit gave them the grace."

But the bishop didn't dwell on the past during his homily, instead looking at the mission for the future.   Full story ...

Lecture series:
Resumes at center in Montello

MONTELLO -- St. John the Baptist Parish in Montello and Good Shepherd Parish in Westfield announce the resumption of the monthly Father Marquette Lecture Series.

This year the cluster parishes of St. John the Baptist in Princeton and St. James in Neshkoro join them in sponsoring the series.

The lecture series is designed to provide spiritual formation and continuing education for the wider area of the northern region of the Diocese of Madison as well as the other three dioceses that border that area.

Since the parishes are located a distance from the hub of their respective dioceses, the lecture series seeks to bring speakers and workshops into this area rather than asking people to travel long distances to their respective diocesan centers.   Full story ...

Guided by the Spirit: Regional meetings
on parish cemeteries

By Grant Emmel
VICE-CHANCELLOR

Throughout the Catholic Church's history there has been a great affinity for the places of rest of our deceased brethren.

From the catacombs of early martyrs to the parish cemeteries of the present day, these places should evoke the image of God's great gift to us, the resurrection to eternal glory of our temporal bodies and the unification of that body to our soul.

The Diocese of Madison is continuing that long Catholic tradition in our sacred parish cemeteries with a long-term program for support and assistance as part of the diocesan-wide strategic planning going on with Guided by the Spirit.

In July of 2006, the diocese contracted with Joseph B. Sankovich & Associates to conduct a comprehensive survey of all 111 parish cemeteries in the diocese. That survey was followed up by regional meetings to discuss the results of the survey and to outline the course of action over the next months and years.   Full story ...