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News Briefs:
Mass and Rosary March
MADISON -- The 60th consecutive International Rosary March will be combined with the Diocesan Respect Life Mass on Sunday, Oct. 1, at St. Patrick Church in Madison.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino will celebrate the Respect Life Mass at St. Patrick Church at 11 a.m. A light brunch will be served after the Mass.
The Rosary March will begin at 1 p.m. A 15-decade rosary will be prayed while processing with a statue of the Blessed Mother around the church block. The rosary will also be prayed inside the church for those who prefer not to walk.
There will be a special presentation of flowers by various people. Participants are encouraged to bring flowers. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will follow the rosary.
The theme for this Rosary March is "that our recitation of the rosary brings us closer to Jesus through Mary."
LAMP annual meeting
MADISON -- The annual meeting for the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) will be held on Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Multicultural Center (lower level, dining room), 1862 S. Park St., Madison.
The meeting will start at 12 noon with a potluck followed by election of new board members and summaries of the summer program. Bring a dish to pass.
All LAMP officers, board members, chairpersons, 2006 summer volunteers, and former volunteers are invited. Visitors from Mexico, including Fr. Carmelo Fonseca, are expected to be attending the meeting.
For more information call 608-845-7028.
Bereavement series
MADISON -- St. Dennis Parish invites people to attend a four-week bereavement video series, "No One Cries the Wrong Way."
It will be offered October 4, 11, 18, and 25 with a group reunion to be held on November 15. Sessions are held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the St. Dennis Chapel, 505 Dempsey Rd., Madison.
These sessions, facilitated by members of the St. Dennis Bereavement Ministry Team, include a series of videos narrated by Fr. Joe Kempf, a prayer service, group discussion, and refreshments.
There is no fee but attendance is limited. To register, contact the St. Dennis office at 608-246-5124 by Monday, Oct. 2. For more information, contact Kathy Saunders at 608-222-9558.
Cartoonist to speak
MADISON -- Speaker and cartoonist Jason Kotecki will present a program designed for parents at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish.
Most parents are struggling with busyness and a condition he calls "Adultitis." Kotecki will encourage parents to live a more fun and fulfilling life by embracing and renewing their childlike faith.
Open to the public, the program will be in the church auditorium on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 2 p.m. For questions, contact Mary Jo at 608-231-4610.
Retreat on the rosary
SINSINAWA -- A retreat to learn how to add movement to the praying of the rosary will be offered at Sinsinawa Mound October 6 to 8.
Leader Michele (White) Beaulieux will help participants develop their own moving meditations to the natural rhythms of the spoken rosary. Rosaries will be provided.
The retreat begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday and ends at 1 p.m. Sunday. There is a fee.
To register call guest services at 608-748-4411 or register online at www.sinsinawa.org. Deadline is Friday, Sept. 30.
Quiltfest: Hand-made
quilt raffled
BLOOMINGTON -- A hand-made quilt will be the raffle prize at the Quiltfest hosted by St. Mary's Council of Catholic Women to be held at St. Mary School gym in Bloomington on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7 and 8.
The top for this flannel quilt, in shades of blues and browns, was made by Jane Snitker of Country Stitchin of Waukon, Iowa, and quilted by Bloomington ladies. The quilt was donated by Terri Meister and Maryann Steiger.
The quilt show opens Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be a soup and sandwich bar luncheon served both days from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The winning ticket will be drawn before the close of the show on Sunday.
Area quilters are invited to exhibit and/or sell their quilts, wall hangings, or other quilted items. Contact Steiger, 608-994-2397, or Meister, 608-994-2933.
Video grief series
STOUGHTON -- The Grief Support Ministry of St. Ann Parish in Stoughton will be facilitating a video series entitled "No One Cries the Wrong Way."
These sessions will include a group discussion after each of eight videos and a prayer service. This video series is narrated by Fr. Joe Kempf.
The video series will be held at St. Ann Parish in the lower level on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 10, 17, and 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. The reunion or fifth session will be held on November 14.
There is no fee, but participants are asked to register by calling Rita Ihm at 608-873-3253.
Holy hour for peace
MADISON -- The Knights of Columbus Bishop O'Connor Assembly 1200 is having a holy hour to pray for world peace on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
It will be held at St. Dennis Parish, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, 409 Dempsey Rd., from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. The holy hour will include the Rosary, Benediction, homily by Capuchin Fr. Rupert Dorn, music, and prayer. A light potluck will follow in the parish center. Bring a salad, casserole, or dessert, plus place settings.
Everyone who is interested in praying for world peace is invited, including family and friends.
Ambassador to speak
MADISON -- "The Pope, the President, and Changing the World," a talk by Frank Shakespeare, will be held Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. at Schoenstatt Heights, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison.
Shakespeare was ambassador to the Vatican under President Ronald Reagan and the first President George Bush. Shakespeare will present information, not covered by the secular media, that show how Pope John Paul II allowed God to use him and his papacy in a dramatic and pivotal manner as he lived the words, "Thy will be done."
Attorney to speak
on immigration issues
BELOIT -- In an effort to help people understand immigration issues, a second program is planned by the Hispanic committee of the three Beloit Catholic parishes. The public is invited to attend the presentation.
Madison Immigration Attorney Irene Wren will speak about "Legal and Illegal Immigration to the U. S. - An Overview of the Law" on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 7 until 8:30 p.m. at St. Jude Parish, 737 Hackett St.
Wren is the owner of Wren & Gateways Law Group, LLC, a law firm that handles primarily immigration law cases. She has provided legal services to various non-profit groups, including Jewish Social Services, Centro Hispano, and several domestic violence shelters.
Wren's presentation will include a short overview of current immigration law; how to be and remain legal in the United States; problems for immigrants who entered the U. S. without inspection; and possible congressional action.
Wren received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin -Madison.
KCs plan tour to outdoor shrine
MADISON -- Knights of Columbus Madison Council 531 and Lady of the Lakes Council 4527 are sponsoring a "Morning of Contemplation of the Passion of Jesus Christ through the Heart of His Mother" tour to the Kramer property near Dodgeville on Thursday, Oct. 5.
The tour will leave the K of C 4527 Clubhouse, 5256 Verona Rd., at 8 a.m. and return at noon for a lunch. Fr. Lawrence Kieffer will lead the tour reciting the rosary en route followed by the Stations of the Cross in a wooded setting and Mass in the Kramers' private chapel. The group will return about noon for a Romeo lunch put on by Council 4527 at their clubhouse.
The cost is $15 per person and includes transportation and lunch. To make a reservation, send a check to Bernard Stein, 48 Kessel Ct., #37, Madison, WI 53711. For details call Stein at 608-288-8321.
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Positive reactions to archbishop's talk
By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- A full house of about 1,000 people filled The Capital Theater at the Overture Center in downtown Madison on September 19 to hear a speech by Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Vatican agency, Cor Unum, which oversees the pope's ministry of charity.
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Archbishop Cordes was a close collaborator of Pope Benedict XVI in the preparation of his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love). The archbishop discussed the encyclical to encourage further study and reflection on what he called a "blueprint" or "inaugural address" for the Holy Father.
The address was the first of a three-city U.S. tour for the archbishop. He also spoke in Detroit, Mich., and Washington, D.C.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino introduced the archbishop and thanked all those who came to hear him. The audience included representatives from parishes and diocesan agencies and organizations from throughout the Diocese of Madison as well as priests, religious, deacons, and diocesan seminarians.
"What a great evening it is to be together in unity. It's a great moment in downtown Madison," said Bishop Morlino. He called Archbishop Cordes "one of the finest theologians in the world." He noted that he travels throughout the world to help victims of disasters.
Although the archbishop is from Germany and English is not his native language, he spoke fluently in English. After his talk, he participated in a brief question and answer session. One question focused on the roles of the deacon and the laity, the other on the difference between Muslim and Catholic concepts of charity. The archbishop said the Qur'an talks about a vision of God as a "legislator" but does not show God as a loving father.
Reaction to his talk was very positive. "I thought it was great," said Sr. Jacqueline Tierney, Madison, principal at St. Michael School in Dane. "This merits a lot of reflection. It was really good to have his perspective." She spent an entire week studying Deus Caritas Est on a retreat, but Archbishop Cordes gave her even more insights.
Deacon Richard Martin of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison said, "The whole concept of bringing eros and agape together was touching. It makes us whole and holy. There is no division in our minds.We look out for ourselves and our brothers and sisters." Deacon Martin added, "Our service at the altar is an extension of our service to the poor. The community that comes together to pray serves."
Deacon Joe Stafford of St. Albert the Great Parish in Sun Prairie said the encyclical indeed reminds us that "God is love." He noted that deacons reach out to help the poor and disenfranchised, including people in hospitals and nursing homes.
Ralph Middlecamp, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Society in Madison, said,"Pope Benedict's encyclical letter has already been a wonderful document for study and inspiration for our St. Vincent de Paul members. Hearing Archbishop Cordes certainly provided a richer understanding of how this letter was developed and of the major themes the pope wished to communicate."
Bishop William H. Bullock, bishop emeritus, said the talk reminded him of the importance of development and sharing wealth among industrialized nations and Third World countries. "It is always easy to raise money to help victims of disaster, but very difficult to recruit funds for development of nations," said Bishop Bullock. "I believe Archbishop Cordes makes clear the difference between what is remedia (the response to victims of disaster) and what is developmental (education of nations, offering them the 'know how' to be on their own)."
Jim Becker, member of St. Dennis Parish in Madison said, "His message was good, especially our obligations as people to charity." Becker said he read the Qur'an when his family hosted students from Saudi Arabia. "They read the Bible and I read the Qur'an," he said, noting that it helped build understanding about the Muslim and Catholic faiths.
Charitable Gift Annuity: First gift
in diocesan program
By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
SUN PRAIRIE -- In fairy tales, it would be a mysterious bequest from a rich uncle or aunt.
But a Charitable Gift Annuity is more than the proverbial inheritance from an unknown benefactor. It embodies one of the characteristics of a good steward: sharing one's treasure.
Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary School in Sun Prairie recently became the first organization in the diocese to benefit from the Diocesan Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) program. The money provided through a gift annuity set up by one of the founding members of the school endowment fund has now gone to that same fund.
"Through his good stewardship of resources, this gift will live on at Sacred Hearts," said Daun Maier, associate director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development.
The office operates the CGA program, which has established annuities of nearly $800,000. The diocese has secured over $350,000 in gifts to be distributed to diocesan parishes, schools, and Catholic entities.
"People realize that everything they've been given is a gift from God," said Maier. "When they realize this, it's a natural inclination to give back. This program provides a wonderful way to do just that while responsibly planning for the future."
Charitable gift annuity
The CGA program offers people a way to ensure they will leave a gift to their choice of Catholic institutions when they are gone while still receiving an income for the rest of their lifetime.
Using appreciated securities held for at least one year is one way to create a diocesan charitable gift annuity. By using such securities to fund the annuity, the donor will avoid significant capital gains tax and spread the remaining gains over several years. Combined with the charitable deduction opportunity, this provides an effective way to make a gift.
The donor - and others, if desired- then receives a fixed income for life, based on rates approved by the American Council of Gift Annuities. Including the tax savings this type of program will provide an even higher effective rate of return.
For some, this can increase their income, compared with CD rates or savings accounts. And the rate is secure, set when the annuity is started. Donors are often able to give a larger gift than they felt possible.
Lasting gift
After death, the donor may continue to give by endowing the gift to a parish, parish school, or other Catholic entity. A donor can even split the gift between several organizations. The diocese at the end of the annuity retains 20 percent of each gift while the remaining 80 percent is distributed as directed by the donor in the annuity agreement.
For example, John, 75, decides to donate several appreciated stocks, purchased for $20,000 and now worth $50,000, to the diocese. He would like to leave a gift to his parish school alma mater, but would like to minimize his capital gains tax if he sold the stock.
By setting up a CGA, John can avoid a larger part of capital gains, receive immediate tax deductions for a charitable gift, and receive fixed income at a 7.1 percent rate of return and effective rate of over 10 percent.
But most importantly, John will give back to the diocese, as well as over $21,000 directly to his parish school at the end of the annuity.
Unique program
In addition to offering safe, competitive rates for its annuities, the diocese offers the unique ability to allow the donor to choose his or her beneficiary organization.
Essentially, this means a gift annuity is available for all parishes, which otherwise couldn't maintain a program of this nature.
This unique aspect of choosing a beneficiary is how Sacred Hearts, Sun Prairie, was gifted with nearly $125,000 to support its parish school endowment.
The gift will continue to provide solid education for the students at the school, said pastor Msgr. Duane R. Moellenberndt. It also helps the school to keep what parents pay for education as reasonable as possible.
"The more money that can be received through gift annuities and the like, the greater gift to keep down the rising costs of education," Monsignor Moellenberndt said."To help keep Catholic education affordable for everyone - this helps make that possible."
When a person chooses to share their treasure, said Maier, who works with individuals to open CGAs, "that is a special moment for me. Sometimes these decisions have taken a lifetime to make. Being a part of that is a privilege.
"I think there are a lot of people who could benefit from this program," she said. "They just don't know about it yet."
To learn more about Charitable Gift Annuities through the Stewardship and Development Office, contact Daun Maier at 608-821-3040.
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