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August 23, 2007 Edition

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This week:
Diocesan Family Picnic
New staff members: For Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew"
News Briefs

Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral


News Briefs:
Mass for cause
of sainthood
of Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli

BENTON -- Due to the current restoration work being done on St. Augustine Church in New Diggings, the annual Mass for the cause of sainthood of Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, as well as the raffle and steak or chicken breast dinner, will be held at St. Patrick Church and hall in Benton on Sunday, Aug. 26, beginning at 3 p.m.

All proceeds from the raffle and dinner will be used for the restoration and preservation of St. Augustine Church, New Diggings.

Programs, screenings
on prostate health

FREEPORT, Ill./MONROE -- Monroe Clinic and Dr. Kenneth Sparr are presenting "Prostate Health" on Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library, and on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. at Founders Hall of Monroe Clinic.

In addition, Monroe Clinic will offer free prostate cancer screenings on Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Monroe Clinic Urology Department. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 608-324-1303 to register.

Prayer support sought

MADISON -- A support group to focus on prayers for leaders and participants of the Theology of the Body diocesan marriage preparation program is being organized.

People interested in devoting daily prayer to support this catechetical outreach are asked to e-mail Emily Seyfert at eseyfert@straphael.org or call 608-798-0829.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal plans conference in Green Lake

GREEN LAKE -- The sixth Wisconsin Catholic Charismatic Conference will be held at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake on September 14 to 16. The theme of the adult conference is "Out of the desert . . . Into the water."

This family conference includes special sessions for adults, teens, and children. Speakers David Mangan and Patti Gallagher Mansfield are authors, conference leaders, and were participants at the 1967 Duquesne retreat that marked the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan will celebrate the Sunday liturgy.

All are invited to attend this retreat-like conference sponsored by the Charismatic Renewal of the five dioceses in Wisconsin. Contact Catholic Charismatic Renewal at 414-482-1727 or e-mail ccr@archmil.org for information and registration materials.

ConQuest Boys Club
of Madison informational parents' meeting

MADISON -- The ConQuest Boys Club of Madison is holding a parent orientation meeting Wednesday, Aug. 29, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.

Any interested family with a son between the ages of five and 16 is welcome to attend to discover more about the club and meet club leaders and members.

ConQuest is a national network of leadership clubs for boys ages five to 16. Clubs are led by fathers who train the boys to become self-disciplined and confident Catholic leaders who possess moral integrity and are committed to improving the communities in which they live. Boys grow in virtue and holiness while having lots of fun. In short, the program is designed to produce mature young men who live their Catholic faith authentically.

The orientation is a family event - Bible stories and games will be provided for all ages so that moms and dads can be treated to hor d'oeuvres and an informative presentation on what ConQuest is all about. For questions, contact Andy Galvin, 608-821-4517, or conquestmadison@yahoo.com

Theology on Tap
in Madison

MADISON -- Jeremy Rivera, Fellowship of Catholic University Students campus minister, former evangelical pastor, and fellow young adult, will speak on "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" at the next Theology on Tap (TOT), Thursday, Aug. 30, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Essen Haus in downtown Madison.

The talk, open to young adults in their 20s and 30s, will look at the subject of truth. Come listen to Jeremy Rivera, a man who has wrestled with these questions throughout his life, as he invites us to contemplate if we will really ever find what we're looking for.

Contact Marc Laudonio for more information: 608-257-5000 or marc.laudonio@gmail.com, or visit www.isthmuscatholic.org


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Diocesan Family Picnic

MADISON -- The weather was warm, but that didn't dampen the spirits of those who gathered for the second annual Diocesan Family Picnic, sponsored by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

An estimated 400 people - about the same number as at last year's event - spread out under the tents set up on the fields at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center July 26. People of all ages, including many priests and those in religious life, enjoyed the potluck dinner, games and activities, music, and socializing during the afternoon picnic.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino gave a talk at the close of the event on the three greatest women in his life, a portion of which was published in the August 16 issue of the Catholic Herald and can be heard online at www.madisondiocese.org

Eric Schiedermayer, who heads up the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis which sponsors the annual event, says the picnic is like a big family reunion.

"This picnic highlights the fact that as members of the diocesan church, we are part of a common family, the family of the people of God," he said. "We hope that all members of that family join us in this annual opportunity to gather with our spiritual father, Bishop Morlino, in a day of fun and fellowship. The food was great, the activities and games were a blast, and Bishop Morlino's talk was thought-provoking."


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New staff members:
For Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison's Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) has two new staff members, announced Eric Schiedermayer, OEC executive secretary.

"Please join us in welcoming two new staff members to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis," said Schiedermayer. "Many of you may already know them, as they are both natives of the diocese and have been actively serving our local church in many capacities."

Patrick Delaney joins the office as an associate director with responsibility for catechist formation and the FOREM program. He has most recently been teaching at St. Ambrose Academy, a new Catholic high school being hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

Ron Garcia, who served most recently as youth minister at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee, takes on the role of coordinating youth and young adult ministries in the diocese.

"We are very excited about the faith, energy, enthusiasm, fidelity, and knowledge that these two men bring to the office," said Schiedermayer.

Patrick Delaney

"With great excitement I look forward to serving the church in the Diocese of Madison as an associate director in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis," said Delaney.

"After a period of discerning a vocation to the priesthood, I was privileged to complete a Master's of Divinity from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and an additional M.A. -- with an emphasis in moral theology -- from the same institution.

"Following a brief involvement in politics, I turned to apply my generous training to the area of public human rights advocacy with American Life League, Stafford, Va. As an assistant director of public policy, I addressed many diverse groups on the church's moral teaching, wrote articles, emceed conferences, interfaced with the media, and lobbied legislators at the state, national, and international levels," explained Delaney.

"Recognizing the fundamental necessity of Jesus Christ and his grace in restoring a culture of love, peace, justice, and life, I was drawn toward the broad field of education, and particularly, evangelization, landing at the new Madison venture, St. Ambrose Academy, in January of 2004. This apostolate provided valuable experience in designing and implementing a variety of history and religious education curriculums and hopefully bringing some excellent young people to a deeper understanding of what the Father has done for us 'in the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ, a plan to be carried out in the fullness of time, to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on earth' (Eph 1).

"As a native Madisonian and graduate of Our Lady Queen of Peace Grade School and Edgewood High School, I look forward to reconnecting with many old friends and making new ones as well," said Delaney.

He can be reached at 608-821-3161 or pdelaney@straphael.org

Ron Garcia

Garcia grew up in the Janesville area, the oldest of three children. For 10 years he was a police officer, spending seven years in Beloit and over three years in Roanoke, Va.

"Most of my life I had no interest in being Catholic, much less what the church taught on major issues of the culture," he said. "I felt they had no right to impose their views on me.

"Then, in 2001, I experienced the heartbreak of a failed marriage. It was perhaps one of the most emotionally difficult periods of my life. Yet in that period of suffering, I was prompted to begin a life of prayer and to search for the truth about Christ in sacred Scripture," said Garcia.

"I realized when I read Mt 19:16-30 (the rich young man) that Christ and his mystical bride the church were never trying to impose the truth on me. It was simply an offer made in love for me to experience a more joyful life filled with love.

"Just like the rich young man, it was up to me whether I was going to accept his love or reject it. It was the decision to accept the offer that set into motion a series of events that is on its surface inexplicable. But it was that period of sadness that led me back to the Catholic Church and the Eucharist," he explained.

Through adoration and devotion to the Rosary he was brought to a position as youth minister at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee. He is currently working on a certification in youth ministry and a Master's Degree in Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University.

"I have always had a great passion for working with young people, but nothing compares to the experiences that I have had helping them come to know Christ and his bride better. I am grateful for and humbled by the new life that has come as a result of accepting Christ's offer, and I look forward to serving the diocese as we move forward together," said Garcia.

He can be reached at 608-821-3164 or rgarcia@straphael.org


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Diocese of Madison, The Catholic Herald
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