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Diocese of
Madison
CATHOLIC
Contest winners The first round of winners in the Catholic Herald Holy Family Drawing and Writing Contest are featured in this edition. More winners will be published in future issues of the Catholic Herald.
HERALD December 25, 2014
www.madisoncatholicherald.org
Pages 2A-3A
Vol.144/No. 46, 16 Pages
Pope: Christmas is a reminder to heal wounds, defects BY CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christmas is the time to heal wounds and fix whatever defects still linger in one’s life and heart, Pope Francis told Vatican employees. And leading by example, the pope asked everyone for their forgiveness — for any errors or shortcomings he and his “colleagues” may be guilty of and “also for some scandals that cause so much harm. Forgive me.” The pope's comments came during a special audience with Vatican employees, their family members, and loved ones. “I did not want to spend my second Christmas in Rome” without meeting the people whose hard work and dedication often go unnoticed, those who are “ironically defined as ‘the unknown, the invisible,’” the pope said. The pope asked that they
use the Christmas season as an occasion “to heal every wound and to take care of every shortcoming,” including: • Spiritual life and relationship with God. • Care of families physically and emotionally. • Relationships with others. • Purify vocabulary of “offensive words, vulgarity, worldly decadence.” • Wounds of the heart. • Envy, lust, hatred, negative feelings. • For wisdom to refrain from saying insulting things that leave a bitter taste in the mouth. • Stop pointing fingers, which fuels pride and to stop complaining continuously, which leads to desperation. He asked that people look at others, especially those most in need, with God’s eyes — with “eyes of goodness and tenderness, the way God looks at us; he is waiting for us and he forgives us.”
St. Peter School celebrates the ‘Miracle at Midnight’ “Mary” and “Joseph” — St. Peter School, Ashton, students Stephanie Kalscheuer and Peter Volkman — smile with the student cast of “Miracle at Midnight,” at the conclusion of the school’s annual Christmas program. It was one of many Christmas programs presented in parishes and schools in the Diocese of Madison. To view or purchase photos, visit madisoncatholicherald.smugmug.com (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
D
‘Grand Mom’ writes her last column Editor’s note: For 23 years, Audrey Mettel Fixmer has written her “Grand Mom” column for the Catholic Herald. Her column has focused on aging gracefully and faithfully. This is her final column, and she explains why. Audrey is a member of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Atkinson. Please pray for Audrey and her family in her remaining time with us.
ear Friends, Yes, after 23 years of writing my “Grand Mom” column and getting so much feedback from my readers (emails, hand-written letters, conversations in grocery stores or churches), I feel deeply that I have developed friendships with you. I say that because it is with a touch of sadness that I tell you
this is my final column. A few weeks ago I learned that my lung cancer had crept into my bones and is likely to take my life within six months. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it qualifies me to be served by hospice and remain in my own home,
Grand Mom Audrey Mettel Fixmer
See Happy aging in faith Page 6
No issue January 1
Inside Cover
Facebook
There will be no January 1 issue of the Catholic Herald. The next issue will be January 8.
Over 700 supporters/friends attended St. Ambrose Academy benefit dinner. Page 2
Madison Catholic Herald Twitter
@chmadison
Madison
CATHOLIC
Contest winners The first round of winners in the Catholic Herald Holy Family Drawing and Writing Contest are featured in this edition. More winners will be published in future issues of the Catholic Herald.
HERALD December 25, 2014
www.madisoncatholicherald.org
Pages 2A-3A
Vol.144/No. 46, 16 Pages
Pope: Christmas is a reminder to heal wounds, defects BY CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christmas is the time to heal wounds and fix whatever defects still linger in one’s life and heart, Pope Francis told Vatican employees. And leading by example, the pope asked everyone for their forgiveness — for any errors or shortcomings he and his “colleagues” may be guilty of and “also for some scandals that cause so much harm. Forgive me.” The pope's comments came during a special audience with Vatican employees, their family members, and loved ones. “I did not want to spend my second Christmas in Rome” without meeting the people whose hard work and dedication often go unnoticed, those who are “ironically defined as ‘the unknown, the invisible,’” the pope said. The pope asked that they
use the Christmas season as an occasion “to heal every wound and to take care of every shortcoming,” including: • Spiritual life and relationship with God. • Care of families physically and emotionally. • Relationships with others. • Purify vocabulary of “offensive words, vulgarity, worldly decadence.” • Wounds of the heart. • Envy, lust, hatred, negative feelings. • For wisdom to refrain from saying insulting things that leave a bitter taste in the mouth. • Stop pointing fingers, which fuels pride and to stop complaining continuously, which leads to desperation. He asked that people look at others, especially those most in need, with God’s eyes — with “eyes of goodness and tenderness, the way God looks at us; he is waiting for us and he forgives us.”
St. Peter School celebrates the ‘Miracle at Midnight’ “Mary” and “Joseph” — St. Peter School, Ashton, students Stephanie Kalscheuer and Peter Volkman — smile with the student cast of “Miracle at Midnight,” at the conclusion of the school’s annual Christmas program. It was one of many Christmas programs presented in parishes and schools in the Diocese of Madison. To view or purchase photos, visit madisoncatholicherald.smugmug.com (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
D
‘Grand Mom’ writes her last column Editor’s note: For 23 years, Audrey Mettel Fixmer has written her “Grand Mom” column for the Catholic Herald. Her column has focused on aging gracefully and faithfully. This is her final column, and she explains why. Audrey is a member of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Atkinson. Please pray for Audrey and her family in her remaining time with us.
ear Friends, Yes, after 23 years of writing my “Grand Mom” column and getting so much feedback from my readers (emails, hand-written letters, conversations in grocery stores or churches), I feel deeply that I have developed friendships with you. I say that because it is with a touch of sadness that I tell you
this is my final column. A few weeks ago I learned that my lung cancer had crept into my bones and is likely to take my life within six months. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it qualifies me to be served by hospice and remain in my own home,
Grand Mom Audrey Mettel Fixmer
See Happy aging in faith Page 6
No issue January 1
Inside Cover
There will be no January 1 issue of the Catholic Herald. The next issue will be January 8.
Over 700 supporters/friends attended St. Ambrose Academy benefit dinner. Page 2
Madison Catholic Herald Twitter
@chmadison
