Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Sunday, March 16, 2003 1:00 p.m. -- Preside at Lenten Communal Penance Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison Wednesday, March 19, 2003 2:00 p.m. -- Concelebrate at Liturgy of Episcopal Ordination of Most Reverend Francis J. Kane, Most Reverend Thomas J. Paprocki, and Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S., Cathedral of the Holy Name, Chicago, Illinois Thursday, March 20, 2003 6:30 p.m. -- Preside at Lenten Communal Penance Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Sunday, March 16, 2003 1:00 p.m. -- Participate at Lenten Communal Penance Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison Tuesday, March 18, 2003 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Attend Luncheon, Madison Catholic Women's Club Priest and Religious Recognition Day, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison Wednesday, March 19, 2003 2:00 p.m. -- Concelebrate at Liturgy of Episcopal Ordination of Most Reverend Francis J. Kane, Most Reverend Thomas J. Paprocki, and Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S., Cathedral of the Holy Name, Chicago, Illinois Thursday, March 20, 2003 6:30 p.m. -- Participate at Lenten Communal Penance Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison

Catechumens and Candidates: RCIA

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

My column this week is devoted to a summary of my remarks to 250 persons who wish either Baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church.

The non-baptized, called catechumens, receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. The candidates already baptized in a Christian church receive Confirmation and First Eucharist.

"We remind ourselves of God's word, 'Go teach all nations - bring the Gospel to all people, of all lands, of all colors, of all cultures.'"

Rite of Election

It was heartening to see all catechumens and candidates with their families and friends gathered at St. Albert's Church in Sun Prairie for what we call the Rite of Election.

This Rite comes from the earliest moments of our Church in answer to how did those non-baptized get catechized, instructed, formed in a committed way of life common to all Christians?

Well, the beauty of their early formation was that they moved gradually by instruction, by prayer, and by service to be Christians.

Church prepares you

They didn't "sneak" into the Church by private instructions; they worked with catechists, priests, and Bishops to get ready for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. It is basically what we now do today - the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RCIA. What follows are my remarks to them from Sunday's Rite of Election.

My dear catechumens, candidates, my brother priests, and friends in Jesus Christ:

Thank you for making the sacrifice to come to St. Albert's today. Special thanks to Father Michael Richel, his staff, and the Office of Worship for their efforts in making this a real gathering and celebration.

The Rite of Election is clear. It walks us forward in our commitment to journey to the Easter Vigil and the celebration of the Lord Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension.

The Church universal

The large gathering of persons from many of our 135 parishes in the Diocese of Madison announces that we are bigger than our particular RCIA parish group. We belong to a larger group in our state, nation, and continent - yes we are part of the whole Catholic Church, one billion, 200 million Catholics; 70 percent are from the Third World countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Having quickly traced the origin and numbers of Catholics, which announces the universality of the Church, we remind ourselves of God's word, "Go teach all nations - bring the Gospel to all people, of all lands, of all colors, of all cultures."

Job description for a Catholic

Let me speak briefly today about the job description for a Catholic in our day, about the Christian practices and characteristics that should mark us as a People of God.

The first and best way in which to build any job description is to ask: what do we do and why do we do it?

We belong to God, to the Church he created. We are called to convert from our sinful ways to follow closely in the footsteps of Jesus - "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He sets the norms, the conditions.

Conversion to holiness

The path of conversion leads to holiness; it's a full-time life-long work. We cannot compartmentalize the secular and the sacred - we must live in the world but not be of the world. The path is narrow; the life is long and difficult and calls forth the very best from us.

Know

Let me look at three words that depict ongoing conversion. The first word is knowledge. We should have a good hold on the major teachings from three books: the Bible; The Catechism of the Catholic Church; and the Documents of the Second Vatican Council. Like the American Express Card - don't leave home without them!

Knowledge of all major teachings is key - from where we derive that teaching is very important. For example, do you know the principles of a just war? Have you formed your conscience with regard to the impending war with Iraq? Do you know what constitutes a just wage? Do you understand our consistent life ethic, that life must be protected and promoted from conception in the womb of the mother to natural death?

Be faithful

The second word is fidelity. Fidelity - be a believer and acceptor of truth, faithful in our belief and faithful in practicing our faith.

Perseverance

The third word is perseverance. The currents of the secular, the pleasures, the easy way of life are strong, ever present and swirling about us - ever enticing, alluring, and coaxing us to buy into what the world offers us.

The truth unites us

Ultimately only truth unites us. What we truly believe in unites us in common purpose. It is for these truths that we are willing to die.

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison, wishes to announce the following appointments:

Reverend Steven G. Steele, at his request, from Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Bloomington, linked with St. John Parish, Patch Grove, to leave of absence, effective noon, March 12, 2003.

Reverend James R. Bartylla, from Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish, Kieler, linked with St. Joseph Parish, Sinsinawa, to Administrator, St. Mary Parish, Bloomington, linked with St. John Parish, Patch Grove, effective noon, March 12, 2003.

Reverend David A. Wanish, from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison, to Parochial Vicar, St. Paul University Catholic Center, Madison, effective noon, June 11, 2003.

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General