madisondiocese.org

The Diocese of Madison offers faith formation and ministry programs across every stage of life: adults can explore OCIA (becoming Catholic), young adult formation and retreats, and the Mazzuchelli Institute of Mission & Leadership; children and teens have catechesis, Camp Gray, Catholic schools, and youth events like Frassati Fest and Totus Tuus; and married and engaged couples can access marriage preparation, enrichment retreats, and natural family planning. Most of these are listed under the "Catholic Life" and "Marriage & Family" sections of madisondiocese.org, so the practical first step is to browse those menus or use the site's "How Can We Help You?" entry point to jump to the right area.

Adult faith formation

The diocese groups its adult offerings under Catholic Life, with several distinct paths depending on where you are in your faith journey.

Becoming Catholic (OCIA)

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process for adults who want to learn about the Catholic faith, prepare for baptism or reception into the Church, or complete their sacraments. On the website it sits under Catholic Life → Adults → Become Catholic (OCIA). In practice, OCIA is normally run through your local parish rather than the diocesan office, so the diocesan page is a starting point for understanding the process before you contact a parish.

Young adult formation and retreats

For adults roughly in their 20s and 30s, the diocese lists Young Adult Formation and Young Adult Retreats, along with named programs such as Kairos and TEC (Together Encounter Christ). These are retreat-based experiences rather than weekly classes, which makes them a good fit if you want an intensive, short-term format instead of an ongoing commitment.

Leadership and ministry training

If you are already active in a parish and want deeper formation, the Mazzuchelli Institute of Mission & Leadership and the Called and Gifted Workshop are the two most visible options. The Mazzuchelli Institute is the more substantial, structured track; Called and Gifted is a shorter workshop aimed at helping people identify their gifts for ministry. The Franciscan at Home listing and Extraordinary Ministers page round out this category for people in specific liturgical or catechetical roles.

Ongoing devotional and study initiatives

The diocese also runs recurring formation initiatives that function more like seasonal or thematic programs than courses: Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Faithful Citizenship, Fullness of Time, an Advent Study, and material on Indulgences. The St. Therese of Lisieux Lecture Series is a recurring event format rather than a class. These are worth checking if you want something you can drop into for a season rather than commit to long-term.

Children, teens, and schools

Catechesis for children

Under Children & Teens, the diocese lists Children and Family Catechesis and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach to religious formation for young children. Both are typically delivered at the parish level, with the diocesan site providing the framework and directory rather than the classes themselves.

Camp Gray and youth events

Camp Gray is the diocese's camp and retreat center, serving children and teens. Alongside it, the site lists youth events including Frassati Fest, Love Begins Here, and Totus Tuus — a summer program that brings young adult missionaries to parishes for a week of catechesis and activities. These are event-based, so timing matters: check the Upcoming Events section or the individual program pages for current dates.

Catholic schools

The diocese maintains a Catholic Schools section with an Information for Parents page, an Online Catholic School option, and a Teach In Our Schools page for prospective teachers. If your question is which school serves your area, the Directory and Interactive Map (under Locations) let you filter by churches and schools.

Marriage and family

Preparation for engaged couples

The diocese lists Marriage Preparation, Online Witness to Love Retreat and Retreat Registration, and an Online Witness to Love Retreat Weekend. For couples in particular circumstances, there are also pages on the Civil Marriage Initiative and Interfaith Marriage. Marriage preparation in a diocese is normally arranged through the parish where the wedding will take place, so treat the diocesan pages as the requirements-and-options layer before you contact that parish.

Enrichment and ongoing support

For married couples past the wedding, the site offers Marriage Enrichment, an Anniversary Celebration, Building a Eucharistic Marriage, and Natural Family Planning. Separated Catholics, Marriage Nullity & Tribunal, Divorce Support Ministry, and Rachel's Vineyard & Project Rachel cover the harder situations — separation, annulment questions, and post-abortion healing. These are sensitive areas where the diocesan office, not a general web page, is usually the right first contact.

How to find the right program

Two practical notes. First, the site's Upcoming Events and News from the Diocese sections are where time-sensitive programs (retreats, festivals, lecture series) actually appear — the menu pages describe programs, but the calendar tells you when they run. Second, many of these programs are administered by parishes rather than by the diocesan office, so the website is best used to identify what exists and what the requirements are, then to contact the specific parish or diocesan office listed.

The Diocese of Madison carries out mission, charity, and outreach through three connected channels: mission partnerships and evangelization (including its sister diocese in Jacmel, Haiti, and the Go Make Disciples initiative), practical services (Catholic Charities and Catholic Cemeteries), and ministries focused on human life and dignity (respect life, rural life, mental health, and support for people with disabilities). If you are looking for a way to give, volunteer, or receive help, the diocesan website organizes these under Mission & Outreach, Catholic Charities, Cemeteries, and Human Life & Dignity.

Mission and evangelization

The diocese describes its purpose as “building mission-driven communities of faith to share the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ,” serving Southern Wisconsin from the Driftless Area to the communities around the state capital region.

Two named efforts sit under Mission & Outreach:

• Sister Diocese of Jacmel, Haiti — a diocesan-to-diocese partnership linking Madison with the Church in Jacmel.
• Go Make Disciples — a mission and outreach initiative listed alongside the Haiti partnership.

Related formation offerings that support this missionary focus include the Mazzuchelli Institute of Mission & Leadership and the Called and Gifted Workshop, both listed under Catholic Life.

Practical charity and services

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities appears in the site navigation as a distinct service area, positioned with cemeteries under the diocese’s charitable and burial services.

Catholic Cemeteries

The Cemeteries section covers both practical and charitable functions:

• Find a Loved One — locating a burial site.
• Preplanning — arranging cemetery services in advance.
• Products and Services — cemetery goods and options.
• Cemetery Contract Payment — paying for cemetery contracts.
• Make a Gift, Legacy Gifts, Memorial Gifts — donation pathways.
• Special Care Fund and Cemetery Angels — ongoing support programs.
• Christmas Wreaths and Give a Tree — seasonal remembrance and giving.
• Statue to Commemorate the Unborn — a memorial project.
• Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery — a named diocesan cemetery.
• Catholic Cemeteries Week and the Lay Them to Rest and Catholic Cemeteries Week Photo Contest items — awareness and community engagement.

Human life, dignity, and social care

The Human Life & Dignity section gathers ministries that address people at the margins:

• Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities — including Deaf Ministry, Prenatal Diagnosis support, Sacramental Life access, Catholic School Accessibility, Accessibility and Accommodations, and Grants.
• Mental Health — resources for yourself or a loved one, a Referral Network of Catholic Providers, Mental Health Ministry Support, Support Groups, and Mental Health Topics.
• Respect Life — the diocese’s pro-life ministry.
• Rural Life — ministry attuned to the diocese’s rural communities.
• End of Life — resources listed under Human Life & Dignity.
• The Pontifical Mission Societies — the Church’s universal mission fundraising network.
• Theology of the Body — formation in the Church’s teaching on the human person.

Additional support ministries include Rachel’s Vineyard & Project Rachel (post-abortion healing), Separated Catholics, Divorce Support Ministry, and Marriage Nullity & Tribunal under Marriage & Family.

How to get involved or get help

1. To give or volunteer — start with Mission & Outreach (Haiti sister diocese, Go Make Disciples) or Catholic Cemeteries giving options (Make a Gift, Legacy Gifts, Memorial Gifts, Special Care Fund).
2. To receive services — look under Catholic Charities, Human Life & Dignity (disabilities, mental health, end of life), or Marriage & Family support ministries.
3. To find a parish, school, or office — use the Directory and Interactive Map, which list churches, Catholic schools, and diocesan locations.
4. To report or seek assistance related to abuse — the diocese maintains a Response to the Sexual Abuse of Minors section with Safe Environment and Victim Assistance resources.

For current program details, registration forms, and event dates, check the specific ministry page on madisondiocese.org, since offerings such as retreats, workshops, and Mass registrations are updated on an ongoing basis.

madisondiocese.org is the official website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison, a Catholic diocese serving Southern Wisconsin. It functions as both an information hub and a directory of ministries, offices, and services for Catholics in the region. Use it if you want to find a parish or school, follow diocesan news and events, access daily Mass readings, or connect with formation programs and outreach ministries.

Who the site is for

The site serves anyone connected to or curious about the Catholic community in Southern Wisconsin, including:

• Catholics looking for a parish, Mass times, or a school
• Adults interested in becoming Catholic (OCIA) or deepening their faith
• Parents seeking catechesis, camps, or school information
• People needing marriage preparation, annulment, or divorce support resources
• Those seeking mental health, disability, or end-of-life support
• Anyone wanting diocesan news, statements, or event listings

The diocese describes its territory as stretching from the Mississippi and Wisconsin river confluence in the Driftless Area to the glacial plains, bluffs, and lakes around the state capital region, covering a mix of rural communities and cities.

What you can find on the site

How to use it

1. Start from the main navigation if you know what you need — for example, "Catholic Life" for formation or "Marriage & Family" for preparation resources.
2. Use the Directory or interactive map to locate a church or Catholic school near you.
3. Check "Upcoming Events" and "Today's Mass Readings" on the homepage for time-sensitive content.
4. Follow the News section for official announcements, press releases, and statements from the diocese.

Expected result: you either reach the specific office, program, or location page you need, or you find contact information for diocesan staff who can help directly.

Common points to keep in mind

• The site is a diocesan-level resource, not a single parish site. For local Mass times and sacramental schedules, you will usually need the individual parish's own page or contact.
• Some programs (marriage preparation retreats, camps, cemetery services) involve registration forms or payments handled through their own pages — check the specific program page for details rather than assuming terms.
• Content is published in English.

If your goal is simply to confirm what the site is: it is the official online presence of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison, covering Southern Wisconsin, and it exists to share diocesan news, faith formation, ministries, schools, and community resources.

The Diocese of Madison lists Safe Environment, Victim Assistance, and Response to the Sexual Abuse of Minors as resources on madisondiocese.org, grouped under the site's Resources section alongside policies and contact information. These pages are the starting points if you want to understand diocesan safeguarding requirements, report a concern, or find support as someone affected by abuse. The site does not publish eligibility rules, response timelines, or program details in the material available here, so treat the linked pages and diocesan staff contacts as the authoritative source for specifics.

What the site lists under Resources

The main navigation on madisondiocese.org places three related items together:

• Response to the Sexual Abuse of Minors — the diocesan framework for addressing abuse allegations and prevention.
• Safe Environment — the ongoing effort to keep parishes, schools, and ministries safe for children and vulnerable adults.
• Victim Assistance — support directed to people who have been affected by abuse.

Alongside these, the site also lists Policies and Contact / Diocesan Staff, which matter because safeguarding questions usually end with a policy document or a named person to call.

How to use these pages

1. Start at the Resources menu on madisondiocese.org and open the item that matches your situation — prevention and training questions go to Safe Environment; a report or a personal need goes to Response to the Sexual Abuse of Minors or Victim Assistance.
2. Read the policy page if you need the formal rules rather than a summary. The site separates Policies from the resource pages, so the two are meant to be read together.
3. Use the contact page to reach diocesan staff when a page does not answer your question. The site lists Diocesan Offices and Diocesan Staff as contact routes.
4. Check the wider directory if your question is local — the site also provides a Directory, Locations, an Interactive Map, Churches, and Catholic Schools, so you can identify the parish or school connected to a concern.

Expected result: you either find the relevant policy or program description, or you reach a named office that can take the matter further.

What to expect and what is not stated

The available site material confirms that these resources exist and are organized under Resources, but it does not state reporting procedures, training requirements, response times, or who is eligible for victim assistance. If you need those details, they have to come from the individual pages or from diocesan staff directly — do not assume a process from the menu labels alone.

A practical example: a parent who wants to know what safeguarding training is required for volunteers at their parish would open Safe Environment first, then check Policies, and finally contact the relevant diocesan office if the requirement is still unclear.

Related areas on the same site

Because safeguarding overlaps with other diocesan work, a few neighboring sections may also be relevant:

If your question is about a specific parish or school rather than the diocese as a whole, use the directory and map first so you are asking the right office.

The Diocese of Madison website (madisondiocese.org) organizes its offices, parishes, and schools under a few main navigation areas: About, Directory, and Locations. If you want to reach a specific diocesan office, find a nearby parish, or locate a Catholic school, start with the Directory or Locations sections rather than scrolling the homepage. The homepage is built around a "How Can We Help You?" entry point, upcoming events, daily Mass readings, and diocesan news, so it works best as a starting point rather than a full index.

Finding Diocesan Offices and Staff

The site lists diocesan offices and staff in two connected places:

• Diocesan Offices – an overview of the departments and ministries that make up the diocese.
• Contact / Diocesan Staff – a contact area for reaching specific people or offices.

Use this path when you have a question that belongs to a particular ministry (for example, marriage preparation, safe environment, or Catholic schools) rather than to a parish. The About section also covers diocesan structure, the bishop, and the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, which helps you confirm you are contacting the right office.

Common office-related entries you can expect to see

Finding Parishes and Churches

To locate a parish, go to the Directory or Locations section and use the Interactive Map or the Churches listing. These tools let you browse by location instead of by name, which is useful if you know the town but not the parish.

The diocese serves Southern Wisconsin, spanning rural communities and cities from the Driftless Area to the area around the state capital, so a map-based search is usually faster than a text list when you are looking for the closest church.

Finding Catholic Schools

Catholic schools are grouped under Catholic Schools in the navigation, with separate entries for:

• Information for Parents
• Online Catholic School
• Teach In Our Schools

If you are a parent comparing options, start with the schools listing and then check the parent information page. If you are interested in employment, the Teach In Our Schools and Careers pages are the relevant entries.

Locating Events and Other Resources

Beyond offices, parishes, and schools, the site also surfaces:

• Upcoming Events – a calendar of diocesan events.
• Today's Mass Readings – daily readings.
• News from the Diocese – announcements, press releases, and statements.

These appear directly on the homepage, so you do not need to dig through menus to reach them.

Quick Path Summary

1. Diocesan office or staff contact → About / Diocesan Offices / Contact.
2. Parish or church near you → Directory or Locations → Interactive Map or Churches.
3. Catholic school → Catholic Schools → school listing, then Information for Parents.
4. Events, readings, news → homepage sections.

If a page does not load or a listing looks incomplete, the Contact page is the reliable fallback for reaching the diocesan staff who can point you to the right office.