Madison Vocations

Bishop Hying will celebrate a special Mass with Consecration of the Diocese of Madison to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 7:00 pm at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church (221 Columbus Street, Sun Prairie). We hope you can join us!

A number of Sacred Heart resources will be available before and after Mass, including Sacred Heart prayer cards, home enthronement booklets and certificates (prayer cards and enthronement materials are available for FREE in English and in Spanish), and a small quantity of 8x10" Sacred Heart images that you can display in your home and use for your family's home enthronement (for a suggested donation of $5 each).

If you are unable to join us in-person, you can visit madisondiocese.org/live to find live-streaming options available through Epiphany of the Lord Parish. Sacred Heart materials are available online at madisondiocese.org/sacredheart.

Our newly-ordained Fr. Mark Wagner was recently featured in a blog post for his anticipated service as a military chaplain! As a seminarian, Fr. Mark was part of the Archdiocese of Military Services' Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, meaning that, after at least three years of service to his home diocese as a priest, he will go on to serve as a U.S. military chaplain (Fr. Mark specifically hopes to serve as a chaplain to the US Air Force). We are grateful for Fr. Mark's vocation to the priesthood and his desire to serve our country!

You can read a bit more about Fr. Mark's story here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thepursuitofholiness/2026/06/newly-ordained-wisconsin-priest-seeks-air-force-chaplaincy/

(Photo: Fr. Mark Wagner with Bishop Gregg Caggianelli of the Archdiocese of Military Services and Bishop Donald Hying of the Diocese of Madison. Credit: Nick Sun)

Here's another round of ordination photos, this time from our priest ordinations! Congratulations to Fathers Casey Cooney, Barry Meinholz, Luis Reyes, and Mark Wagner!

Please enjoy these photos from Deacon Michael Hess' ordination on May 15! Congratulations, Deacon Hess!

Tonight's the night; Deacons Casey Cooney, Barry Meinholz, Luis Reyes, and Mark Wagner are being ordained to the priesthood tonight at 7:00 pm at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison! The public are welcome to attend, but general seating is limited, so plan to come early to save your seat. You can also watch a livestream at madisondiocese.org/live!

Please join us in praying for our soon-to-be priests!

Ordination Novena for Deacons Casey Cooney, Barry Meinholz, Luis Reyes, and Mark Wagner, Day 9: May our new priests find strength and consolation in times of weakness and temptation, especially through the love and prayers of Mary, the Mother of Priests.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus, We thank You for the gift of the priesthood and for calling our brothers Casey, Barry, Luis, and Mark to serve the Diocese of Madison as Your priests. May the graces of their ordination conform them ever more closely to You as they seek to imitate You, the Good Shepherd. Give them a tender love for all whom they serve, fervor in celebrating the Sacraments, compassion for sinners, and a deep desire to lead all people to the Heart of the Father. Give them the strength to live up to the dignity of their high calling. May the example of their lives reveal the love and mercy of Your Heart and inspire others to give themselves more fully to You and to the service of Your Church. Amen.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

(Good Shepherd window image from Holy Redeemer Church, Madison. Photo credit: Joe Ptak.)

Ordination Novena for Deacons Casey Cooney, Barry Meinholz, Luis Reyes, and Mark Wagner, Day 8: May our new priests be preserved from discouragement and loneliness through the love and friendship of their families, friends, and flocks.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus, We thank You for the gift of the priesthood and for calling our brothers Casey, Barry, Luis, and Mark to serve the Diocese of Madison as Your priests. May the graces of their ordination conform them ever more closely to You as they seek to imitate You, the Good Shepherd. Give them a tender love for all whom they serve, fervor in celebrating the Sacraments, compassion for sinners, and a deep desire to lead all people to the Heart of the Father. Give them the strength to live up to the dignity of their high calling. May the example of their lives reveal the love and mercy of Your Heart and inspire others to give themselves more fully to You and to the service of Your Church. Amen.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

(Good Shepherd window image from Holy Redeemer Church, Madison. Photo credit: Joe Ptak.)

Ordination Novena for Deacons Casey Cooney, Barry Meinholz, Luis Reyes, and Mark Wagner, Day 7: May our new priests be truly conformed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by radiating His mercy toward sinners and receiving all people with love.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus, We thank You for the gift of the priesthood and for calling our brothers Casey, Barry, Luis, and Mark to serve the Diocese of Madison as Your priests. May the graces of their ordination conform them ever more closely to You as they seek to imitate You, the Good Shepherd. Give them a tender love for all whom they serve, fervor in celebrating the Sacraments, compassion for sinners, and a deep desire to lead all people to the Heart of the Father. Give them the strength to live up to the dignity of their high calling. May the example of their lives reveal the love and mercy of Your Heart and inspire others to give themselves more fully to You and to the service of Your Church. Amen.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

(Good Shepherd window image from Holy Redeemer Church, Madison. Photo credit: Joe Ptak.)

Ordination Novena for Deacons Casey Cooney, Barry Meinholz, Luis Reyes, and Mark Wagner, Day 6: May our new priests be preserved in their mental and emotional well-being, and may they find healing and wholeness in Christ and through the support and counsel of others in their times of struggle.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus, We thank You for the gift of the priesthood and for calling our brothers Casey, Barry, Luis, and Mark to serve the Diocese of Madison as Your priests. May the graces of their ordination conform them ever more closely to You as they seek to imitate You, the Good Shepherd. Give them a tender love for all whom they serve, fervor in celebrating the Sacraments, compassion for sinners, and a deep desire to lead all people to the Heart of the Father. Give them the strength to live up to the dignity of their high calling. May the example of their lives reveal the love and mercy of Your Heart and inspire others to give themselves more fully to You and to the service of Your Church. Amen.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

This novena is also available online at madisondiocese.org/priestnovena!

(Good Shepherd window image from Holy Redeemer Church, Madison. Photo credit: Joe Ptak.)