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By Todd Richmond — MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Exemptions that allow religious organizations to avoid paying Wisconsin’s unemployment tax don’t apply to a Catholic charitable organization because its on-the-ground operations aren’t primarily religious, a divided state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The outcome of the case, which drew attention and concern from religious groups around the country, raises the bar for all religions to show that their charity arms deserve such exemptions in the state. The Catholic organization’s attorneys immediately promised to appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. If that court agrees to hear the case, any ruling could have…

By Kyle Pozorsky – News 3 Now — It was on March 14, 2005 when Madison’s Catholic community was left in shock. The historic St. Raphael’s Cathedral burned to the ground in horrifying fashion, just months after a new million-dollar spire was placed on top the 150 year old building. This past January, the Diocese of Madison finally announced their intentions to name a new cathedral, putting to rest the question of whether to rebuild or replace. On this anniversary, News 3 Now is looking back into the past and forward into the future of Madison’s cathedrals. Read more of…

By Jamie Langrehr- Channel 3000.com – MADISON, Wis. — Madison private school St. Ambrose Academy is relocating to inside the Diocese of Madison’s Holy Name Heights building, the school and Diocese announced Monday. St. Ambrose Academy, a 6th-12th grade school first founded in 2003, will move from its current location at 3 Point Place next to the Beltline to the space formerly occupied by Catholic Charities at Holy Name Heights off of S. High Point Road. Read more of this story.

By Barry Adams – Wisconsin State Journal – The pews are gone. So, too, are the altars, baptismal font and the pipe organ. The concrete floor will soon be removed in favor of a thicker slab and the roof replaced with thousands of imported Luigi Italian tiles. Two pre-World War I pipe organs are being readied in Missouri, new pews are being built in Rochester, New York, while the furnishings — like ornate railings, the sprawling and towering high altar, and the bishop’s chair, referred to as the “cathedra,” will be hand-crafted from oak in a garage on Madison’s East…

By Barry Adams – Wisconsin State Journal – A void created by an arsonist nearly two decades ago is finally being filled. St. Bernard Catholic Church, long considered the “Mother Church of Madison’s East Side,” will become the cathedral for the Diocese of Madison after being approved by the Holy See, the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome. Read more of this story.

By Gayle Worland – Wisconsin State Journal – On Christmas Eve the church was filled with candlelight, carols and the sound of a brass quartet. On Friday, members of Luther Memorial made their way past the soaring stone arches and ornamental windows to celebrate Twelfth Night Epiphany Eve, the 12th and final night of the Christmas season, with Holy Communion. A cheery reception would follow. It’s been a festive year at Luther Memorial, the elegant, towering neo-Gothic church at 1021 University Ave. that has just marked a century in Madison. Read more of this story.

By Phoebe Murray – WESTFIELD, Wis. (WMTV) -At Stone Chapel in Westfield, it’s lights, camera, action for 83-year-old Father Dale Grubba. “We have the best little chapel by a dam site and it’s true,” Grubba laughed. “God bless you and thanks for being here,” addressing the close friends attending mass. After nearly 60 years of priesthood Father Grubba is turning the page. Some would call it retirement, but for Father Grubba, the work of the Lord continues. “In fact, I read an obituary in the Milwaukee Journal, of a priest who retired, and he was retired for 30 years,” Grubba…

YADA is a store, and also a ministry, working with women and their children who are in need of love and support following deep trauma. “We are clear that although we can provide for some of their physical needs, it is Jesus who can bring the love and hope they are searching for. “We have prayed with many of the women…the response to a sincere prayer moves most of them to tears and many have asked to be prayed for again. A few have been open to going to church with us. This has led to deeper spiritual conversations. “We…

By David Dahmer – Madison 365 – Some amazing Gospel artists will be performing at Mount Zion Baptist Church on Madison’s South Side on Friday, Dec. 8, as PeBoGa Productions hosts the 19th Annual Fall Gospel Fest. “Year 19. That’s amazing, isn’t it?” says Clyde Gaines, the organizer of the 19th annual Fall Gospel Fest. “It’s amazing to be around that long because when we first started, we were just doing this event to bring Gospel music at that level to Madison and not really thinking we would be doing it for 19 years. It’s been an incredible run.” Read…

By David Dahmer – Madison 365 – Mt. Zion Baptist Church, the largest African-American congregation in Madison, is an important institution on Madison’s South Side. Over the years, Mt. Zion has provided numerous important programs and services to support people in the greater Madison community. Much of that community work that they do now is under the MTZ Charitable Organization, established in 2021, which operates programs for underprivileged and impoverished youth in Madison to advance equity and accelerate their academic achievement. In an effort to let the community know more about MTZ, Mt. Zion will host “Building Hope Together: Introducing…