Wisconsin Rapids Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse

The Wisconsin Rapids Deanery consists of 12 parishes in south Wood County and Adams County in central Wisconsin.

The 19-county Diocese of La Crosse is organized into 14 deaneries.

Bishop Jerome Listecki named Archbishop of Milwaukee

Bishop Jerome Listecki The appointment by Pope Benedict XVI was made public by the Vatican on Saturday, November 14.

Bishop Listecki remains with the Diocese of La Crosse until his installation as Archbishop of Milwaukee in the early part of January 2010. Announcement of the exact installation date will be forthcoming from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

More information on the Diocese of La Crosse web site

More information on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee web site

Video: Milwaukee news conference - from WTMJ-TV

Other news coverage: Milwaukee Catholic Herald, La Crosse Tribune, Wausau Daily Herald, S tevens Point Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. WISN-TV, Catholic News Service

Statements from other bishops

Click here for readings

November 22: Solemnity of Christ the King

Report from the annual Deanery Youth Rally

The Assumption High School gym held a packed house of youth and adults from all over the 12 deanery parishes for the annual Deanery Youth Rally on November 11, 2009. There were over 500 in attendance. Where could young people hear “off-the-cuff” answers from a bishop who kept the crowd under a spell for over an hour with his stories, humor, teaching and witnessing his faith?

Click here to read Sister Catherine Kaiser's full report on Bishop Jerome Listecki's visit with the youth

Click here for USCCB information on health care reform

What the bishops say about health care Hospital_sign

ACTION ALERT FROM THE USCCB

UPDATE: November 7 letter from the USCCB after the House vote:

"The Catholic Bishops of the United States have supported adequate and affordable health care for decades. Our Bishops’ conference has been working with Members of Congress, the Administration and others to help fashion health care reform legislation that truly protects the life, dignity, health and consciences of all.

We are very pleased that the House leadership has agreed to allow the essential Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment to be considered by the House.

This amendment will add to the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) crucial provisions that maintain the current protections against abortion funding and mandates. ..." CLICK HERE FOR FULL LETTER

UPDATE: On October 8, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a letter from the three chairmen of the bishops' committees working on health care reform, urging Congress to improve current health care reform legislation and expressing their "disappointment that progress has not been made on the three priority criteria for health care reform" cited in their previous letters.

Bishop William Murphy, Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop John Wester reiterated the U.S. bishops' main concerns: 1) that no one should be forced to pay for, or participate in, an abortion; 2) that health care should be affordable and available to the poor and vulnerable; and 3) that the needs of legal immigrants be met. ~ Wisconsin Catholic Conference

Click here for the letter

OVERVIEW: The bishops have been consistent advocates for comprehensive, life-affirming reform to the nation’s health care system. Health care reform needs to reflect basic moral principles. The bishops believe access to basic, quality health care is a universal human right, not a privilege.

In this light, they offer four criteria to guide the process: a truly universal health policy that respects all human life and dignity, from conception to natural death; access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants; pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options; and restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers. ~ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Wisconsin Catholic Conference action alert on health care

Wisconsin bishops issue joint letter on insurance mandate for contraceptive services

Looking ahead

Marriage preparation program -- February 20, April 17. Click here for details

2010 liturgical calendar (The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent.)

First Sunday of Advent -- November 29

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary -- Tuesday, December 8 (Holy Day of Obligation)

"Evening for Couples" -- Saturday, February 27, at the Hotel Mead. More details to come.

Year for Priests

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010.

With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has resources to aid your parish’s celebration of the Year for Priests.

How to celebrate the Year for Priests ~ Diocese of La Crosse

Diocesan web page for the Year for Priests

Diocesan prayer calendar

Click here for the full schedule from the Diocese of La Crosse

Please take five minutes a day and pray for the priests listed each week.

November 15-21, 2009

· REV. RICHARD J. HERRMANN, retired

· VERY REV. CHARLES J. HIEBL, ST. ANTHONY PARISH

· VERY REV. JOSEPH W. HIRSCH, OFFICE OF VOCATIONS

· REV. HENRY R. HOERBURGER, ST JOSEPH PARISH

· REV. JEROME G. HOESER, ST. HENRY PARISH

Caritas in Veritate

In "Charity in Truth" (Caritas in Veritate), Pope Benedict XVI offers an ethical analysis of the global economic crisis and a moral framework on how to move forward as one human family. He challenges each of us to put charity and truth, justice and the common good at the heart of our economic choices and everyday lives. ~ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Order a printed copy from the USCCB

Read a copy online from the Vatican

Study guide and action guide from the USCCB

Reaction to the encyclical

Reflections from Bolivia

Fr. John Swing, dean of the Wisconsin Rapids Deanery and pastor of Sacred Heart in Nekoosa and St. Alexander in Port Edwards, accompanied Bishop Jerome Listecki and others from the Diocese of La Crosse on a pastoral visit to Bolivia and Peru in January.