Consecrated life: Mosaic of unity
in diversity, says Mother Assumpta Long

	Meeting Mother Assumpta Long, right, after her lecture are Sr. John Rose Acker, pastoral minister at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Cross Plains, and nine-year-old Bridget Ruhle of Madison. (Catholic Herald photo by Mary C. Uhler)
	Future lectures in series Future speakers in the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series held at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison include: • Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Philadelphia, Pa.,Thursday, March 30, 2006, at 7 p.m. on "Stem Cells and Cloning: Understanding the Scientific Issues and the Moral Objections." • George Weigel, author and director of the Catholic studies program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C., in fall of 2006.

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Consecrated life is truly a "mosaic of unity in diversity," Mother Assumpta Long revealed in her recent talk as part of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.

"Over the centuries the church has raised up different individuals and communities," she said, before reviewing 2,000 years of church history pertaining to religious life.

God-given gift

Mother Assumpta emphasized that consecrated life is a "God-given gift." While there is a certain mystery about a religious vocation, she said it is not "frightening or distant." She compared it with a beautiful rose: strong and delicate, lovely to look at but difficult to describe. "It takes a lot of care, pruning, and protection - and a lot of nourishing."

She added, "It's been my gift for many years and I'm still astounded. I don't understand it. But we accept it with humility and gratitude."

In her talk she used the term "consecrated life" since it embraces secular institutes as well as religious orders. Church documents in the 20th Century refined a theology of consecrated life rooted in Jesus' teaching and church history.

Following Jesus

"It all began when Our Lord said, 'Follow me.' The disciples asked, 'Where do you live?' And Jesus said, 'Come and see.' It's all about following Jesus," said Mother Assumpta. "It's the call to perfection."

Some people wanted to follow the Lord more closely in their homes by living a secluded life. "That didn't work," noted Mother Assumpta.   Full story ...

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Whatever you do:
Be proud of your faith

By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- "When we go out, let's be proud of our Catholic faith." That's what Eric Sova, a singer-songwriter who has worked in youth ministry for over 10 years, told young people gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church here November 19.

	Doing good: Make it a habit By Kathleen Bushman CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF MADISON -- "He makes it look so easy," Bishop Robert C. Morlino said of Brett Favre in his homily addressing about 360 young people gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for the 2005 Diocesan High School Youth Rally on Christ the King Sunday, Nov. 19. Full story ...

About 360 high school students from 27 different parishes around the diocese came together for the 2005 Diocesan Youth Rally on Christ the King Sunday. The theme was "Whatever you do," taken from the day's Gospel reading from Matthew: "Whatever you do for one of these least brothers of mine, you do for me."

Be proud of faith

Sova was the first speaker to address the students in the event that featured speakers, discussion time, Adoration with the Monstrance for Vocations blessed by Pope John Paul II, and Mass with Bishop Robert C. Morlino.

Full story ...