Carmelites to honor mystic
The Carmelite nuns of Hudson are joining the entire Carmelite Order in celebrating the 450th anniversary of the birth of St. Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi, the Carmelite mystic.
The celebration at the Carmelite Monastery in Hudson, is Wednesday, May 25, 10:45 a.m. and is open to the public.
Born in Florence, Catarina de’Pazzi was strongly attracted to prayer, and entered the monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli in her native city, where she lived until her death in 1607. She was canonized a saint in 1669.
St. Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi was known for her mystical experiences, spiritual writings describing those experiences, and devotion to the church. She delighted in helping members of her community in their many tasks, and became known among the sisters as the “mother of charity.”
Further information about the is Mass available at 715-386-2156 or .
Two win K of C contest
Two students from the Diocese of Superior were winners in the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus’ 2016 Knowledge Contest.
Sixth-grader Abby Dykstra, Rice Lake, took first place in the spelling contest at her grade level, as did Jake Cipar, a seventh-grade speller from Medford.
The contest, which tested finalists’ math and spelling skills, was held in March at Assumption High School, Wisconsin Rapids.
Thirty-eight students competed in math; thirty-five competed in spelling.
KC councils were invited to hold local contests, with local winners proceeding to diocesan contests. First- and second-place winners from each diocese competed at state.
“It’s quite a process. Just to make it to the state is quite an accomplishment,” said Randy DeMars, Eau Claire, coordinator of the state contest.
Cipar’s local council is #1744. Dykstra’s is #2137.
Siblings celebrating jubilees
A pair of siblings native to the Diocese of Superior are celebrating jubilees this year.
Fr. John Izral and Servite Sr. Mary Catherine Izral, both from Catawba, are celebrating their 60th and 75th jubilees, respectively.
Sr. Mary Catherine entered religious life Sept. 15, 1939, and professed first vows Aug. 16, 1941. She received a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Catherine and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. She taught for more than 30 years in Catholic elementary schools in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.
She is retired and resides at Regina Senior Living, Hastings, Minnesota.
Fr. Izral, who assisted at St. Anthony Parish, Park Falls, in 2004, attended the Salvatorian Seminary at St. Nazianz and the Pontifical College Josephinum of Columbus, Ohio.
Ordained in 1956, he served in the Diocese of Natchez (later the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, then the Diocese of Jackson), Miss. When the Diocese of Biloxi was established in 1977, he was a priest of that diocese, from which he is retired.
As priest and pastor, Fr. Izral had permission from the bishop to be his own contractor in building churches, which he did in Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Pennsylvania. In 1999, Fr. Izral received biritual faculties from the Holy See in order to serve in Eastern Rite parishes. He retired from active ministry in 2012. He resides at Notre Dame de lar Mer Home, Room 302, 292 Hwy 90 Bay, St. Louis, MS 39520.
‘PHJC Coming Home,’ June 16
The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are holding two “PHJC Coming Home” events in the Diocese of Superior in order to reconnect with people in areas where the sisters served.
The Poor Handmaids served at St. Joseph Hospital, Ashland, 1884-1967; St. Francis Hospital, Superior, 1890-1952; and St. Mary Hospital/Holy Family Hospital, West Superior, 1894-1971.
A prayer service honoring Poor Handmaids who served in Wisconsin will be held Thursday, June 16, 10 a.m., at St. Agnes Cemetery, 106 N. 2nd Avenue East, Ashland. At 4 p.m. that day, another prayer service will be held at St. Francis Cemetery, 2316 E. 4th Street, Superior. Both services are open to the public.
For more information, visit www.poorhandmaids.org/cominghome or call Julie Dowd, at 574-935-1768.
