L e n t
	• Lenten regulations (2/3 edition) • Holy Week schedule (at Holy Redeemer, Madison) • Msgr. Swain's column: Moving forward ... • Holy Week readings (3/17 edition) • Services at Sinsinawa (3/17 edition) • Labyrinth at parish (3/17 edition) • Holy Week/Easter TV, radio programs of note Lent articles from previous issues: • Mar. 17, 2005 edition • Mar. 10, 2005 edition • Mar. 3, 2005 edition • Feb. 24, 2005 edition • Feb. 17, 2005 edition • Feb. 10, 2005 edition • Feb. 3, 2005 edition
	E a s t e r
	• Easter Sunday schedule (at Holy Redeemer, Madison) • Bishop's column:     At Easter: With eyes of hope • Living the Scriptures • Faith Alive! • Easter hope: Death is not the end • Readings for week of Easter • Easter TV, radio programs of note News Briefs: East Dane Deanery to meet April 7 SUN PRAIRIE -- "The Eucharist Given for Us" is the theme of the East Dane Deanery spring meeting Thursday, April 7. Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish will host the event. Registration is at 5 p.m. followed by the recitation of the rosary at 5:40. A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 6 with Bishop William H. Bullock as homilist. Dinner will be served at 6:45. Guest speaker will be Bishop Bullock, who will speak on the theme. Offertory collection supports the deanery but donations are being accepted for Our Lady Monastery Campaign with the deanery matching funds. Reservations are due March 29 to Barbara Darcey, 819 Barbara St., Sun Prairie, WI 53590. The cost is $7. All Saints Retirement Center activities MADISON -- The public is welcome to participate in the following activities at All Saints Retirement Center. Call 608-827-2222 to make a reservation. All Saints is located off Watts Rd. across from the Princeton Club-West. Turn south onto Commerce Dr. and enter the driveway. • A "Reminiscence Writing Class" is being held Mondays through April 11 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The $15 cost includes writing materials. Instructor is Karen Waggoner, retired English teacher. • "Prepare Because You Care" will be held Wednesday, April 6, at 2 p.m. Participants will gain knowledge at this informational seminar presented by Roman Ryan, president of Ryan & Joyce-Ryan Funeral Homes. The topic will be discussed in a positive, lighthearted manner. There will be refreshments and door prizes. All are welcome to this free seminar. Life Line Screening event in Green Lake GREEN LAKE -- On Friday, April 8, Our Lady of Lake Parish in Green Lake will be the site of a Life Line Screening event. Three primary health screenings to detect the risk of stroke and vascular disease will be offered: Carotid Artery Screening Test, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) test, and an Ankle Brachial Index (ABI). A bone density screening for detection of osteoporosis will also be offered. These fast, painless, and low cost tests use ultrasound technology and are conducted by ultrasound technologists. A physician reviews the results of each test before findings are mailed to each individual. Individuals whose screenings suggest further evaluation are encouraged to seek appropriate follow-up care with their own physician. Those interested in either the vascular or osteoporosis screenings must register in advance. Call 1-800-643-6075 to schedule an appointment. St. Coletta hosts Bucks game April 3 JEFFERSON -- St. Coletta of Wisconsin, a provider of services for adults with developmental challenges, will host the 29th annual St. Coletta Bucks Game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee Sunday, April 3, with hoop time at 1 p.m. as the Bucks take on the New York Knicks. The St. Coletta NOVA Choir opens the game with the "National Anthem." NOVA is part of the Music Therapy Program at St. Coletta. The game is open to the public, with tickets available at a cost of $55 each. This includes a seat at the game and a post-game social and dinner at the Wisconsin Club. To register or volunteer, contact Linda Witucki at 920-674-8308, or send payment and registration information to: Linda Witucki, Development Office, St. Coletta of Wisconsin, W4955 Hwy. 18, Jefferson, WI 53549. Moving through Grief MADISON -- A "Moving through Grief" series will be held Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20, and 27, with a group reunion on May 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the St. Dennis Chapel, 505 Dempsey Rd. Sessions facilitated by members of the St. Dennis Bereavement Ministry Team include team presentations, prayer, group discussion, and refreshments. There is no fee but attendance is limited. To register, contact the St. Dennis office, 608-246-5124, by Monday, April 4. For information, contact Kathy Saunders, 608-222-9558, or Darlene/Duane Woldt, 608-222-2125.
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Cathedral fire:
Result of arson

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- The March 14 fire at St. Raphael Cathedral was the result of arson.

That was what the Madison Fire Department's joint Fire/Police Investigation Team, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire Arms, and Explosives and the Division of Criminal Investigation Arson Bureau has determined, according to Fire Chief Debra Amesqua at a press conference March 18.

• More articles on St. Raphael Cathedral

Police apprehended a suspect in the arson: a 41-year-old Lodi man, William J. Connell. He faced charges of arson, burglary, and bail jumping at an initial appearance in Dane County Circuit Court March 18.

'It was me'

"It was me," Connell allegedly told City of Madison Police Officer Mindy Winter at the eastside Woodman's March 15 after police received a phone call saying someone there had information about the fire.

According to the criminal complaint filed March 18, Connell allegedly said, "I broke into the church with a crowbar and stole a bottle of wine and messed around with some stuff."

The complaint says Connell asked whether it was a bad fire and when Winter said it was, he said, "That's bad. That's really bad."

When the officer asked him what he used to start the fire, he did not give an answer. When Winter asked why he chose this church, he allegedly said, "I will save those details for a lawyer."

Among the items found on Connell's person were eight matchbooks and six Swiss Miss hot chocolate powder packages with the same lot number as packages found inside St. Raphael Cathedral.

A crowbar was found inside a small storage room on the balcony level of the cathedral. Fire investigators also pinpointed this storage room as the location of the origin of the fire.

According to District Attorney Brian Blanchard, Connell was in custody since March 15.

During Connell's initial court appearance, his attorney Rhoda Ricciardi said, "I have reason to believe he does not have a rational understanding of why these charges are brought against him."

State attorney Jac Heitz described Connell as a transient who was arrested in Oregon in 2003 and Iowa and Illinois in 2005. He was also charged with defrauding an innkeeper in Madison, a case that is still pending.

Connell's bond was set at $222,000 and Chief Commissioner Todd Meurer ordered a mental competency evaluation from the Department of Health and Family Services. The court hearing will resume upon return of the evaluation or in two weeks.

Tragedy, test of faith

"Finding the St. Ray's fire to be the result of arson will test the faith of many in our community," said Amesqua. "But this is a week during which we have come together as a community and when we have all been strengthened by the quiet courage and deep faith of Monsignor Swain.

"I can't tell you how many people have approached me and our firefighters to tell us they were baptized at St. Ray's, or married there, or took First Communion there, or simply admired the graceful architecture that stood at the heart of the Catholic diocese," said Amesqua.

In a March 18 release, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said, "This fire was a tragedy not only for the members of St. Raphael's Cathedral, but for the entire community. Today's arrest will not bring St. Raphael's back, but it is an important step towards closing the book on this unhappy chapter in our city's history."

He expressed gratitude to the police and fire departments, a sentiment also stressed by Bishop Robert C. Morlino and Msgr. Paul Swain, cathedral rector, at a press conference March 18.

'Somewhat shocked'

Bishop Morlino and Monsignor Swain said they were somewhat shocked when they heard that the probable cause was arson.

"All of the details of this are in God's hands. He'll lead us through this the way He wants to and He'll bring tremendous good out of it," said Bishop Morlino. Regarding Connell, Bishop Morlino said, "I forgive him and I'm praying for him and at the appropriate moment I'd want to visit him."

Our religion is based on the belief that we are all sinners, said Monsignor Swain. "I will pray for this gentleman who seems to be a troubled soul" and it is important for us to move from our natural reaction and be what we are really about - to share the love of Christ and be a forgiving people, he said.

"Whatever is put forward must be proved in court," he noted.

When asked whether he knew if Connell had had contact with St. Raphael Cathedral before, Monsignor Swain said he understood that Connell had stayed at homeless shelters before, but he didn't know if he had stayed at the cathedral's overflow shelter in particular.

Don't harbor ill feelings

When asked what he would tell those who are angry as a result of the arson, Bishop Morlino said any feeling of hurt or anger is normal and that it should be expressed.

"Talk it out. Don't deny it," he said. "Don't do any harm, but give into it in the sense of talking it through. Talk to God about your feeling and ask him to heal it. Feelings are not wrong. It's best to admit them, talk to God or Christ about it, then ask Christ to heal it."

We should not harbor ill feelings or allow ourselves to go deeper into them, he said.

"The light will come and we are a hopeful people," said Monsignor Swain. Our main focus must be on the people, he said.

Future of cathedral:
To be determined

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Now that the investigation of the cause of the fire at St. Raphael Cathedral has been completed, cleanup of the cathedral structure can occur, Msgr. Paul Swain said at a press conference March 18.

• More articles on St. Raphael Cathedral

In addition to the Blessed Sacrament, some sacred items have been recovered. These include the processional cross, pictures, paintings, and the eighth Station of the Cross. Some of the other Stations of the Cross remain on the walls. The crucifix from the front of the church also was recovered in two pieces, and the arm of Jesus was broken off. Vestments and chalices were stored in the sacristy, which was not damaged. The silver statue of Mary still has not been discovered. Stained glass windows are still up, although one on one side was damaged, said Monsignor Swain.

We are still grieving and far from having to report on future decisions on the cathedral, said Bishop Robert C. Morlino. "The status of the structure will be the data for the initial starting point before we take the first step to first base," he said. Then we have to look at options, concerns, and what is best. "We're grieving and praying and hoping the Holy Spirit shows us the right steps."

At a March 15 press conference, the bishop noted that this is a situation in which he has to have all the facts and listen carefully.

We have to look at the whole picture, the needs of the diocese, and the status of St. Raphael Cathedral in the community, he said.

He noted two situations in which the cathedral had been damaged: one in Los Angeles and the other in Oakland.

"We will be consulting people outside the diocese," the bishop said. He mentioned that he will look at all reasonable ideas.

Bishop Morlino said the fire had come as a big surprise. "I'd just been there day before and the place was alive with faith," he said, noting that to see it reduced to its current state was "very much like going to a funeral home and seeing a dead body for the first time."

Insofar as a building goes, the cathedral is a sign of unity for the diocese, he said. This is people's spiritual home where their grandparents were buried and their children were married, where bishops are installed and priests are ordained, he said.

"God has his own ways of dealing with all of this," he said. "This is a burden God allowed to come into the community and we want to endure. We're confident good will come out of it. I'm very interested to see how. We'll take it one day at a time."