Library’s Lenten lecture series returns

Salzmann Selections — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:37:12 +0100

Mark your calendars…events are happening with the library in March!

Last year we ran a two-part “Soup and Substance Lenten Lecture Series,” and we are bringing it back again. These are presentations, with a soup and salad luncheon provided beforehand, given here at the semi...

The books are ready!

Salzmann Selections — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:59:32 +0100

Back in May of 2011, when the weather was much nicer, I applied for the ISSR Library grant for Salzmann Library from the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR). Last month we were extremely excited to be informed that we had received it! It was a grant given to only 150...

Stand up for faith; stand up for freedom

Brian Olszewski — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:18:40 +0100

After Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced Jan. 20 that the mandate for non-profit groups to provide health care that violates its conscience would not be rescinded, Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan said President Obama "has drawn a line in the sand." Here's the archbishop's complete statement http://bcove.me/ob5itz9v

The president considers himself a shrewd politician, but I wouldn't bet against Cardinal-designate Dolan on this one. Notice in his s...

When the snow falls, Salzmann is here

Salzmann Selections — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:36:05 +0100

Finally, snow (and winter) has come to Wisconsin. We all knew it was coming, so I do not think complaining i...

Life after -- and before -- Packer football

Brian Olszewski — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:52:16 +0100

Grief counselors and bartenders must have been doing a great business yesterday and today throughout Wisconsin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNnurmyiv7E

Speaking of football, interesting email from Wisconsin Right to Life last week in which they provided recipients with a website http://www.wrtl.org/mask/index.aspx from which one could download a Tim Tebow mask to show support for the pro-life advocate.

Oh, regarding the QB whose success annoys John Elway, it might have be...

Salzmann receives grant of 250 books

Salzmann Selections — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:47:33 +0100

First off, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our Salzmann fans and readers. I hope that your holidays were filled with family and cheer. As we look forward to this new year of 2012, I want to make a small mention of, and look ahead at, what’s happening at the library.

It's the season of ... of ... of...

Brian Olszewski — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:05:20 +0100

Christmas. Yes, it's still the Christmas season, which goes through the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord on Jan. 9. The church makes this season last while retailers can't end it soon enough. Although meteorologists might talk about unseasonable weather, it is still seasonably Christmas.

Who'd have thought we'd go through one season (Advent) and into another (Christmas), and still not have snow? I'm not complaining; I'm just saying it doesn't happen too often. Can you imag...

A Catholic Christmas gift guide

Salzmann Selections — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:07:16 +0100

I know this is a little late for many of you Christmas shoppers, but for those who are still thinking of the perfect gift, here are some ideas. Kathy, the director here, compiled this list of books. All are available through Amazon.com if not your local bookstore, and they will be abl...

Local 'celebs' visit Salzmann, closed Dec. 18 to Jan. 2

Salzmann Selections — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:09:49 +0100

First off, administrative information: With the Christmas holiday approaching, we will be closed starting Sunday, Dec. 18 through Monday, Jan. 2. You can still drop off books in the drop box, and Kathy or I will be here during certain points throughout those weeks (if you really need ...

Bimonthly book club

Salzmann Selections — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:50:44 +0100

I don’t know if many of you are aware of this, but we do a bimonthly book club here at the Salzmann Library, directed by Kathy. I forgot to put the last one in the blogs, and it is a shame, because we had the author of the book here to discuss. However, the next one coming up is on Th...

And with your spirit

Brian Olszewski — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:58:31 +0100

The introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal didn't prove as traumatic as some predicted and as some have reported. Yes, a lot of mixed responses from congregants as they learn to say “And with your spirit” instead of “And also with you.” Celebrants and worshipers will adapt. At least it’s English to English.

Full-course, pre-Thanksgiving liturgy: Every celebration of the Mass should evoke a "wow" from us, but never have I experien...

Retired, fired and mired

Brian Olszewski — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:18:33 +0100

The Holy See announced Nov. 21 that Cardinal Bernard F. Law, former archbishop of Boston, has been replaced as archpriest of the Rome Basilica of St. Mary Major, by Spanish Archbishop Santos Abril Castello. Cardinal Law turned 80 Nov. 4, at which time he stopped being a member of Roman Curia agencies and is no longer eligible to attend the conclaves that elect popes. Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Law to the position in May 2004, about two years after he resigned as Boston's archbishop ...

Solving the commenting issue, observing holy days

Salzmann Selections — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:41:01 +0100

So, this blog is going to have several administrative items (I guess blogs are supposed to do this sporadically as well). Several of you have contacted me saying that you were not able to leave comments on my blogs. Tracy at the Catholic Herald took a look at this and gave me this advi...

Eight more and they'll have a decade

Brian Olszewski — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:44:14 +0100

If the rash of "Hail Mary pass" references wasn't bad enough after the Wisconsin-Michigan State game, the litany following the Badgers' loss to Ohio State means sports writers and announcers are either full of faith or out of clichés. If Wisconsin loses the same way to Purdue Saturday, will a writer or announcer term the Badgers' streak the start of a sorrowful mystery?

Clarification: In my last posting, I noted that the "Hail Mary pass" reference dates to Nov. 23, 1984 when...

Featuring more than religious books

Salzmann Selections — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:45:33 +0100

As I have mentioned previously on this blog, we do have some books that are not strictly religious. Many of these deal with Wisconsin and our Wisconsin collection (mentioned in a previous blog). We also have a decent amount of historical books, many dealing with the Holy Land and...

Cure still sought for 'Hail Mary pass' cliché

Brian Olszewski — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:42:57 +0100

The Center for Sports Cliché Control reported an outbreak of "Hail Mary pass" this past weekend following the Wisconsin-Michigan State game. Writers and sportscasters, locally and nationwide, overwhelmed readers and audiences with the most offensive, religion-related sports cliché ever as they described the conclusion of the Badgers-Spartans contest.

The CSCC noted that the sight and sound of the "Hail Mary pass" cliché follows no pattern other than to be written o...

Wanted: Lists of favorite Christian books

Salzmann Selections — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:46:03 +0100

We recently purchased, and it is now circulating, a book entitled, "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." The book has the list; and then several pages on each book. Another nice point in the back of the book is a list of who they consider the best contemporary authors. Some of these ...

A Sunday near heaven

Brian Olszewski — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:55:38 +0100

This past Sunday, the only thing I heard people say more than "Peace be with you" was "Go, Brewers!" Combine sunshine with colorful leaves, add three Bob Uecker home run calls, two Wayne Larrivee touchdown calls, and Brewer and Packer victories, and one just experienced some heaven. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjb_6Yo1z-U&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL75B745B947DCC1D2.

New package, same message: The U.S. bishops issued their quadrennial political responsibil...

Coming soon to Salzmann: 'Catholicism,' a 10-part documentary

Salzmann Selections — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:12:59 +0100

Fr. Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire, www.wordonfire.org, has done it again. Known for his website, where he regularly blogs to more than 1 million people per year and posts weekly homilies and sermons, his YouTube video commentaries, programs on EWTN, Relevant Radio, and WGN, Fr...

'The Real Jesus'

Salzmann Selections — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:34:50 +0100

I’m going to continue the book reviews for one more week, at least for a little while (book reviews will continue to be a major part of the blog) with a book written in the mid-1990s. This book’s title is "The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of th...

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