News Briefs: Madison Diocesan Choir has calendar openings MADISON -- The Madison Diocesan Choir is working on its calendar for Fall 2002 and Spring 2003. There still are some open dates to fill. Each year, the choir prepares an extensive repertoire of music for liturgies as well as for concert presentation. Those interested in hosting the Diocesan Choir at their parish or organization are asked to extend the invitation. The choir is particularly interested in singing with parish choirs as part of their ministry of encouraging full, conscious, and active participation in liturgy. For more information, call 608-821-3080 or e-mail: diocesanchoir@straphael.org. Romilia Schlueter given Christian Achievement Award MADISON -- The Madison Catholic Woman's Club presented its annual Christian Achievement Award recently to Romilia Schlueter, pastoral minister at Centro Pastoral Guadalupano, Madison. In presenting the award, Joyce Budnar, the club's Spiritual Committee chairman, cited Schlueter's outreach to Latino people in the Madison area. "We thank you for the many ways you help the Hispanic community," said Budnar. Support groups for divorced, separated MADISON -- New Directions is a peer support group providing support to those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship. The next meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 505 Dempsey Rd., top floor. This is open to all ages and faiths. For more information, call Ron at 609-835-2907. Friends on a Journey is a peer support group for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship. The next meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Center, 401 S. Owen Dr. This is open to all ages and faiths. For more information, call Paul at 608-862-3613.

Bishop names administrator of Catholic Multicultural Center

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- This week Bishop William H. Bullock announced that J. Mark Brinkmoeller from the Diocese of Madison's Office for Justice and Peace will also be the administrator of the Catholic Multicultural Center, effective July 1.

The ever-expanding population of immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Africa (such as Nigeria) calls for a new distinct approach, said the bishop, pointing out that the European immigrants of years ago have settled and become part of our American culture.

"We now wish to have a Board of Directors for the Catholic Multicultural Center and an administrator for the center," he said. "I feel confident that Mark Brinkmoeller has the knowledge, expertise, and skills to be an administrator. He will be guided by a Board of Directors, and all staff to the Catholic Multicultural Center report to him."

As the administrator, Brinkmoeller will organize and convene a board of directors to oversee, support, and guide the mission of the Catholic Multicultural Center; facilitate relationships and cooperation among its users; plan and prepare for the opening (and beyond); coordinate with appropriate diocesan officers and personnel for its effective operation; provide for continuing coordination of space use relating to current and future programs and operations; oversee the development of new programming at the Catholic Multicultural Center; and establish benchmarks to gauge success or failure in accomplishing its mission.

Coordinator of
vocations office

MADISON -- Bishop William H. Bullock has appointed Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert as coordinator of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Vocations, effective June 24.

Ganshert will be assisted on a part-time basis by lay men and women and other priests.

As the church continues to experience a shortage of priests throughout the U.S. and in the Diocese of Madison, lay persons along with priests will be invited to address ways to recruit new seminarians and to care for current seminarians.

Bullock expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Vocation Team of Msgr. Paul J. Swain, Fr. John G. Stillmank, and Kate Wiskus for their work in the past several years.

Bullock now looks forward to new collaborative ways of fostering vocations to ordained and consecrated life. He is especially grateful to Ganshert for taking on the role of coordinator of the Office of Vocations in addition to his duties as chancellor, rector of St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison, and director of the Office of Planning.

Review Board
for Abuse Cases

MADISON -- Bishop William H. Bullock reports the nature, composition, and number of members of The Independent Review Board for Sexual Abuse Cases.

The board is an independent board asked to review the diocese's sexual misconduct policy and help make decisions about the future of the priests or church personnel accused of sexual misconduct.

The composition will be mostly laypersons, men and women. One member is a priest and one is knowledgeable of sexual abuse therapy. The number of members, including the chair, will be five to seven.

The bishop also reports invitations to a priest and laymen and women are now in the process of being made. "We plan to be thorough in our search as well as move forward with alacrity," he said.

The bishop repeated that no priest who has a proven allegation of sexually abusing a minor will be in priestly ministry in the Diocese of Madison.