Crowning Mary May is observed as a special month of celebration, reverence, and observance for the mother of Jesus in Catholic tradition. During this month dedicated to Mary, many parishes and schools in the Diocese of Madison have had May crowning ceremonies. At left, Sydney Rabata places a flower in a vase at the foot of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue during a Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo. Rabata and 20 other second graders who recently celebrated their First Communion each put a flower in the vase as part of the annual May crowning ceremony. Fr. Larry Bakke, pastor, then set the crown of flowers on the statue's head. (Photo by Tom Michele, Baraboo News Republic)

	Clergy changes: New assignments of priests in parishes throughout the Diocese of Madison effective noon, June 15, 2005 are listed here (5/5 edition).
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By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Approximately 130 members of St. Raphael Cathedral Parish here gathered for meetings held May 3 and 4 at Meriter Hospital.

• Prayer on loss of St. Raphael Cathedral • Links to articles on Cathedral fire

The meetings were a chance for parishioners to pray together and discuss what they can do to preserve parish identity since the March 14 fire that damaged the cathedral. A question-and-answer session with Msgr. Paul Swain, cathedral rector, was also included in the meetings.

The parishioner meetings were brought together by pastoral council members and members involved in Dane County United efforts, explained Mary Lestina, pastoral associate, who helped facilitate the meetings. Those on the committee facilitating the meetings include: Lestina, Charles and Ann Scott, Margaret Bomber, Robin Day Laporte, Julia Johnson, Dan Gibbons, and Mary Wrzesinski.

The committee met twice together and once with Monsignor Swain to discuss efforts in helping St. Raphael Cathedral parishioners stay connected.

What we're doing in these meetings is getting together and saying how can we deal with this difficult situation - how can we stay together as family, Monsignor Swain told Relevant Radio.

Positive experience

At the May 3 and 4 parishioner meetings, to see that people wanted to reconnect as a parish was a deeply moving experience, said Lestina.

People have suffered, but the meetings were a positive experience, said Lestina. It showed people coming together, wishing to be connected, bringing positive out of a negative situation.

One parishioner mentioned that even though they no longer have a building, God has given them a chance to form community, Lestina said.   Full story ...