BY WKC STAFF Besides his ad limina obligations, Bishop William F. Medley had the opportunity to visit the Vatican’s annual exhibit of nativity scenes, known as the 100 Presepi (or “cribs,” translated from Italian).
Around the Diocese
Vocations Column: An invitation to pray for vocations
By Fr. Jason McClure, Office of Vocations “One of the reasons we have a shortage of vocations is we have stopped believing that priesthood is for real. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth sacrificing for… I am not a dreamer. I am a man of faith.”
‘It makes you feel more united’ – The man who named ‘The Western Kentucky Catholic’ looks back on 35 years of his diocese’s paper
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Thirty-five years after giving The Western Kentucky Catholic its name in 1985, Robert “Bob” Devine has kept up with the diocesan newspaper, and says “it’s really been good.”
A Word From Bishop Medley: Like biblical writers, modern communicators seek to preach the Good News
Though the Diocese of Owensboro was established by a decree of Pope Pius XI in 1937, it was not until 1985 that a diocesan newspaper was created.
Celebrating 35 years of The Western Kentucky Catholic, continuing the legacy of diocesan communications in 2020
In January 1985, the Diocese of Owensboro published the inaugural issue of the newspaper you are reading right now. While a newsletter had been printed since 1974, founding editor, Mel Howard, and Bishop John J. McRaith, determined that the diocese needed to take the next step and have its own newspaper. On page 2 of…
‘We’re all working together in this’ – Bishop Medley feels blessed to meet with pope, Vatican offices
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC When Bishop William F. Medley was in Rome for his ad limina Apostolorum visit from Dec. 1-8, his favorite part was getting to be in the presence of Pope Francis – the successor of St. Peter.
NCYC 2019 celebrates young people – ‘the now of the Church’
BY WKC STAFF Referencing Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on young people, “Christus Vivit,” the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, proclaimed that young people “are the now of the Church.”
Sharing the joy of the priesthood: Two priests to join vocation-promoting team in ‘bold new approach’ from vocations office
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Pope Francis has spoken frequently on the necessity of Christians to have joy, and two priests from the Diocese of Owensboro are joyfully accepting new roles to promote a greater awareness of vocations.
Love for Latin –and science – led to OCHS alumnus’ membership with Vatican Observatory
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC As a teenager taking Latin classes for fun at Owensboro Catholic High School in the 1980s, Christopher Graney did not expect to one day become a member of the Vatican’s own astronomical institute.
For diocesan music director, proudest moment is when assembly is singing ‘praise and thanks’ to God
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Editor’s note:The following is the second in a two-part series about the diocese’s Office of Worship and Office of Music, which assist the bishop in coordinating and overseeing diocesan liturgies and other functions. For this second installment, we spoke with Mike Bogdan, the director of the Office…
Middle schoolers brought to ‘intentional encounter’ with Jesus through witness, adoration
BY WKC STAFF On Saturday, Oct. 26, around 80 middle school youth and adults from the Diocese of Owensboro joined 1,600 middle school youth and adults from surrounding dioceses for Holy Fire Nashville 2019.
Preserving history by sharing history: Ursuline Sisters’ archives help fill in missing pieces of Louisville’s Catholic past
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC On the windy but sunny morning of Nov. 4, 2019, several figures could be seen carefully carrying boxes from the archives office of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, into a truck parked outside.
A Word From Bishop Medley: To the threshold of the apostles
Canon law (the law of the Roman Catholic Church) requires that every five years a diocesan bishop is bound to make a written report to the Holy Father on the state of the diocese entrusted to him. Canon 400 stipulates that the bishop is to go to Rome to present this report and while there…
more: A Word From Bishop Medley: To the threshold of the apostles
Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations 2019
Horarios de las Celebraciones de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe 2019
Worship office plans liturgies, supports parishes
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Editor’s note: The following is the first in a two-part series about the diocese’s Office of Worship and Office of Music, which assist the bishop in coordinating and overseeing diocesan liturgies and other functions. For this first installment, we spoke with Lauren Johnson, who with Fr. Brandon…
A Word From Bishop Medley: November a special time to remember, pray for the deceased
In our Catholic tradition we observe the month of November as a special time of remembrance and prayer for the dead.
Holy Toledo, and much more: Trinity students visit Spain and Portugal for Traveling Classroom 2019
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC From Oct. 3-12, 2019, 12 students and three teachers from Trinity High School in Whitesville traveled to Spain and Portugal as part of the school’s Traveling Classroom program, which takes a select number of students to countries outside of the United States every other fall break. The…
Sisters honored at 2019 celebration for women religious
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC On Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, women religious from around the Diocese of Owensboro gathered with Bishop William F. Medley at St. Martin Parish in Rome to honor several of their own who were celebrating jubilees of religious life. Those honored that day were Sr. Cecelia Joseph Olinger,…
more: Sisters honored at 2019 celebration for women religious
Five new permanent deacons have ‘a great heart for service’
Diocese makes history with its first ordination of primarily Spanish-speaking deacons BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Several years ago, Bishop William F. Medley received what he called a “daring request” – to ordain to the permanent diaconate a group of men exclusively from the Hispanic community.
Catholic schools gather for Mass with bishop at Owensboro Sportscenter
BY WKC STAFF Every other year, all of the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Owensboro gather at Owensboro Sportscenter to have Mass with Bishop William F. Medley.