Bishops' Schedules: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Monday, Aug. 28, to Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006 Visit the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, Fort Benning, Ga. Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006 7:00 p.m. -- Cathedral Town Hall Meeting, St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006 1:30 p.m. -- Dedicate Garden of Innocence, Mt. Thabor Cemetery, Beloit 3:30 p.m. -- Rededicate Little Chapel, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Janesville Bishop George O. Wirz Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006 12:00 noon -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino There is no column by Bishop Robert C. Morlino this week.

New Since the Print Edition ... Bishop's Letter

-- Posted: 8/31/2006, 2:16 p.m. Central Time
(en Español)

Dear Friends:

	Related items: • Pope Benedict XVI Names Msgr. Paul J. Swain Eighth Bishop of Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Bishop Paul Swain statement • Bishop Paul Swain background

By the laying on of hands and the following prayer, the Order of Bishop is conferred:

"So now, Father, pour out upon this chosen one that power which is from You, the Spirit of Governance, Whom You gave to Your beloved son Jesus Christ, the Spirit given by Him to the Holy Apostles who founded the Church in every place to be a temple for the unceasing glory and praise of Your name."

This beautiful prayer will be offered for Bishop Paul J. Swain, the Eighth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the coming months.  What a blessing and joy this is for the Universal Church, for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and for Bishop Swain!  Our Holy Father's appointment of Bishop Swain brings great honor on the Diocese of Madison, on our fine priests, and our wonderful lay faithful who have, over the years, faithfully loved the very best out of Bishop Swain.  You have been the Lord's instruments in preparing him to receive the call from Jesus Christ to His High Priesthood.

With all of you I offer my most warm, prayerful, and sincere congratulations to Bishop Swain.  At the same time I must express that all of us will miss the new bishop very deeply.  This is especially true in my own case because I could not be more appreciative of, or grateful for his close and faithful collaboration as my Vicar General.  His fortitude in facing his own loss and helping his people face the loss of our cathedral church is something that I will never forget.  Those who regularly approached him for the Sacrament of Penance (and there are very many) and who were spiritually nourished by his consistently fine and succinct homilies are among those who will miss him most.  Providing for the downtown parishes, the St. Raphael Cathedral, Holy Redeemer Parish, and St. Patrick Parish, will be a challenge in the days ahead, and I ask for your generous prayers as I confront these decisions as well as the decision regarding the future of the Cathedral Church of St. Raphael. Most of all I ask your prayers for Bishop Swain that the Lord will make all of his human and spiritual gifts flourish to the full, for the good of the Church and the people of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.  When I was consecrated a bishop myself, my own diocesan bishop from Kalamazoo, Bishop James Murray, said to me smilingly, "this is the only way to lose a good priest."  I have repeated that powerful statement many times since I first learned of the Holy Father's plan for Bishop Swain.

It is good for us to reflect on the words of the beautiful prayer with which I began this column.  The fullness of the priesthood which God the Father gave Jesus Christ, the same high priesthood which Jesus handed on to the Apostles at the Last Supper - that same high priesthood is now to be conferred upon Bishop Swain.  What a wondrous mystery!  And the Father's purpose in pouring forth the Spirit of Governance on Bishop Swain is very simple to express but also utterly awesome - so that he might build up the Church, the Church of Sioux Falls and the Universal Church into a "temple for the unceasing glory and praise of God's name."  Bishop Swain has called this new vocation of his "daunting" many times in recent days, and so it is.  But all things are possible simply because God Who gives the call gives the grace.

Let us take every opportunity in the coming weeks to express our loving support and prayers for Bishop Swain, thanking God for this wonderful gift of a new bishop whom He has given the Church, and begging the Lord to bless Bishop Swain's future and the future of our diocese and Cathedral church in every way.

Thank you for reading this, God bless each one of you and your loved ones! Praised be Jesus Christ!

The Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison