Seminarian Gathering:
Delivers a week of fellowship

By Ben Emmel
CATHOLIC HERALD INTERN

	JOY IN THE HARVEST -- Twenty-six of the Diocese of Madison's 29 seminarians pose with Bishop Robert C. Morlino during their annual seminarian gathering at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison. From left, first row: Tristan Gardner, new seminarian Ben Emmel, Bishop Morlino, new seminarian Mario Antonetti, John Breunig, Erik Duhn; second row: Garret Kau, Matthew Wittlin, new seminarians Joe Johnson, Scott Jablonski, and John Paul Mitchell, Mitch Knutson, and Msgr. James Bartylla, director of vocations; third row: Chad Droessler, Jason Studnicka, James Leeser, Matthew Nicolai, Jorge Miramontes Medina, Justin Hall, David Johannes; fourth row: Mark Miller, David Carrano, Deacon Brian Dulli, Deacon Patrick Wendler, Deacon David Greenfield, Gregory Ihm, John Putzer, and Tim Renz. Not pictured are Deacon Lance Schneider, Tafadzwa Kushamba, and Alex Wolf. (Catholic Herald photo by Kat Wagner)

MADISON -- Forgiveness, faith, and fraternity. These three ideas were the focus of the annual Diocese of Madison Summer Seminarian Gathering.

Held at the Bishop O'Connor Center, the week-long gathering provided an opportunity for the 29 men studying for the priesthood to come together as a community, and take a needed break from school and parish assignments.

Building fraternity

Msgr. Jim Bartylla, director of vocations for the diocese, explained that the summer gathering is an integral component of the seminarians' studies and formation. "It's very important to bring them back, so they can have a fraternity and bond with each other."

	Forgiveness: Answer to peace in the heart By Ben Emmel CATHOLIC HERALD INTERN MADISON -- While at the Summer Seminarian Gathering, men studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Madison attended a three-part presentation on "The Gift of Forgiveness."   Full story ...

Because the diocese does not have its own seminary, men studying to become priests are sent to several different schools throughout the United States and Europe. As a result, the seminarians are away from each other during the school year, Monsignor Bartylla noted.

But calling them back in July allows them to build fraternity. "Everyone gets to know each other both socially, fraternally, [and] as brother seminarians. They leave with a great connection to the diocese," said Monsignor Bartylla.

The week provided time for prayer in the morning, with the seminarians attending Mass each day, and also praying at the daily Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations in the Bishop O'Donnell Memorial Chapel, sponsored by the Serra Club of Madison. Afternoons brought a formation conference for the seminarians.   Full story ...

Three in one: All Saints dedicates new church

By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

	Timeline • July 1, 2001: All Saints Parish was formed from the parishes of St. Joseph, St. Stanislaus, and St. Michael (linked in 1998) • January-February 2002: After a feasibility study was conducted, and 69 percent of respondents supported a new church, a Core Building Committee was formed • October 20, 2002: St. Joseph Church is closed due to a cracked boiler Full timeline ...

BERLIN -- The tower, with its three bells, one each from the former churches, stands tall over the countryside, marking the place the youngest parish in the diocese now calls its home.

All Saints Parish in Berlin, a small city in the northeasternmost part of the Diocese of Madison, recently dedicated their new church, which looks over the city of Berlin from one of the highest point in Green Lake County. The church is the most solid reminder yet of the merger of the three Berlin parishes of St. Joseph, St. Michael, and St. Stanislaus into one, united parish.

It was only fitting that Bishop William H. Bullock, bishop emeritus of the diocese, should have been present to dedicate the new church July 22. All Saints Parish had come into being under his tenure as bishop, and it was he who celebrated the votive Mass on July 8, 2001, to mark the beginning of the new parish.   Full story ...

After the flood: Comes the grace

By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

BAGLEY -- Beatrice Boyer, 85, has lived for about 12 years in a three-story house in Bagley, a small village on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi river.

But in the course of a night, she lost everything when her house was flooded after about seven inches of rain and plugged drainage ditches caused a flash flood in the village.

"I don't know what'll happen yet," she said.   Full story ...