The Compass

This week (Sept. 3, 2010), my Foundations of Faith column in The Compass explores the IHS symbol as it relates to being a monogram for Christ. In doing my research, I found an interesting fact: on each pack of Pall Mall cigarettes can be found the words: In Hoc Signo Vinces. The words appear below the shield that is supported by two lions and topped with a knight’s helmet.  I could not find an explanation for the use of the motto which was first ascribed to the fourth century Emperor Constantine and soon after used as a monogram for Christ.

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Esto Vir, the Catholic men's group, is hosting Fr. Rick Heilman on Sept. 11 at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Ashwaubenon. Fr. Heilman is the pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Mount Horeb, Diocese of Madison, and founder and spiritual director of the Catholic men's apostolate Knights of Divine Mercy. It's fitting that Fr. Heilman will present "The Spirituality of Vince Lombardi" the day before the Packers' season opener. Jim ball will also discuss the 40 Days of Life campaign and other life topics at the gathering. The morning opens with the rosary at 6:35 a.m. Mass follows at 7 a.m. The presentation follow a short break for coffee, juice and sweet rolls. All men are invited.

I also noticed that St. James Parish, Cooperstown, will be hosting Red Batty, equipment manager for the Packers, on Oct. 2. Batty will share some stories about his work behind the scenes and take questions. The event begins at 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. There is no fee to attend, but donations will be accepted for the St. James Good Samaritan Fund. Refreshments will follow.

If I come across any other faith/football events, I will gladly share them.

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Think about going back to school without new underwear. Imagine changing your shoes in class and revealing the holes in your old socks.

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An update from last week's entry about the old church building of Our Lady of the Snows at Namur.
Bill Chaudoir of Namur Belgian Heritage Foundation, which had hoped to raise $20,000 in pledges by Aug. 17 to make an offer to save the church from demolition, reported on Aug. 18 that the money had indeed been raised. In fact, almost twice that amount had been raised.
While this is still a long way from the ultimate goal of $100,000 needed to repair the 100 year+ building, which immediately needs a new roof. Still, it is a major step, and plans to make the offer for the church building, with the intent to make it into a Belgian cultural center can now proceed.
The parish at Brussels, which currently owns the red brick church, has to approve the plans and the Green Bay Diocese as well, before the building could be sold to the Heritage Foundation.
A Labor Day event, complete with a Belgian Kermis, is planned.

 

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If you travel north along Wisconsin's old Door County Highway 57 (now County DK) heading toward Sturgeon Bay, you will encounter a small, red brick church in Namur, near Brussels. A group of headstones nestle together nearby.

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I really like visiting other parishes around the diocese, to experience the delightful variety of worship from place to place.  This weekend I was at St. Anne in Coleman.  Despite a small assembly, the music was especially good, wrapping up with a version of “Alleluia, Raise the Gospel” by Bernadette Farrell and Owen Alstott that just made me want to dance out of the building and on into the rest of my week. 

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Sr. Sean Marie Tobin, a Manitowoc Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity,  died on June 27 at age 71. In 2008, I had the pleasure to interview Sr. Sean Marie for a Compass story. She won an online essay contest to serve as an honorary captain for the Jan. 12, 2008 playoff game between the Packers and Seattle Seahawks. She joined Brett Favre, Nick Barnett and the other Packer captains for the coin toss. I laughed when Sr. Sean Marie told me that she had a few words for Matt Hasselbeck, who served as one of Seattle's captains that day. She also mentioned that Donald Driver was her favorite current Packer and Bart Starr was her all-time favorite.
When discussing her winning essay, Sr. Sean Marie, who served as a teacher and principal, shared how her love of football came from her father, Bernard, who died in 1985. She attended the famous"Ice Bowl" with her dad. Her day as a captain was a successful one. The Packers defeated the Seahwaks 42-20 to advance to the NFC Championship Game. That day, as she always did, Sr. Sean Marie prayed for the safety of the players. Remember this special Packer fan in your thoughts and prayers. 

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Move over Dante’s Inferno. Move over Gounod’s Faust.

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At a ceremony old in the church and new in our diocese, Shirley Farrell was consecrated as “a virgin living in the world” by Bishop David Ricken on June 26.

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Last Sunday I attended the final Mass celebrated at St. Joseph Church in Norman. Never having been to Norman, located on Highway G about 23 miles southwest of Green Bay, I relied on a GPS navigator to point me in the right direction.

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