Pontifical Mass: Bishop celebrates Gaudete Sunday, Dec. 16

By Jacek Cianciara
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

Tridentine Masses in Madison Holy Redeemer Church in Madison has been designated as the Tridentine Mass church for the Madison area. Following the bishop's celebration of the Pontifical Mass, weekly Masses are scheduled to begin at Holy Redeemer with a Missa Cantata on January 1, 2008, at 2 p.m. In 2008, the Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 7 a.m. at Holy Redeemer. Schola Cantorum is practicing every Monday at 6 p.m. and server training for the Tridentine Mass is on Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. at Holy Redeemer.

MADISON -- On Sunday, Dec. 16, Gaudete Sunday, Bishop Robert C. Morlino will be celebrating a Pontifical Mass at the Throne, according to the Roman Missal of 1962 or the Missal of Blessed John XXIII.

This Mass, commonly known as the Tridentine Mass, will be celebrated at Holy Redeemer Church in downtown Madison, at 2 p.m.

For many churchgoers such an announcement sounds unfamiliar, with a perplexing and "cryptic" message, bringing several questions to mind. What is Gaudete Sunday, what is a Pontifical Mass at the Throne, and what is the Roman Missal of 1962 or the Missal of Blessed John XXIII? We will briefly elaborate on these questions.   Full story ...

St. Mary's hospital:
Ushers in new era while retaining old

By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- The community open house December 1 at St. Mary's Hospital, with the glitz and glamour of its Hollywood-style theme, offered a behind-the-scenes look at the new building. It is set to completely open to patients in the New Year, ushering a new era for the health care facility which has been open since 1912.

The hospital highlighted the larger operating rooms, the new cardiac rehabilitation center, the helipad that will help bring heart attack patients to care faster, and the family-friendly inpatient rooms and nearby screened porch and rooftop garden.

But the hospital has not forgotten its heritage. Amid the new technology, equipment, and look, the hospital has retained many pieces of the old to celebrate its 95 years of healing while looking to the future.   Full story ...

Celebrating CONNECTIONS:
Journey of faith in small groups

By Michael Havercamp
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

Mass, reception The CONNECTIONS Mass and reception with Bishop Robert C. Morlino will be held Friday, Dec. 14, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. Mass is at 6 p.m. followed by a reception at 7 p.m. All participants, facilitators, and their spouses are invited to this evening of celebration. Childcare will be provided. Register at www.madisondiocese.org (click Ministry, Evangelization and Catechesis, Programs & Events, and then CONNECTIONS), or contact Michael Havercamp, 608-821-3166 or mhavercamp@evangelicalcatholic.org

MADISON -- "Faith is a journey led by the Holy Spirit that can be summed up in two words: conversion and discipleship."

These words fell from the lips of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, earlier this year and now find resonance with Catholics all across the diocese who participated in CONNECTIONS, a small group initiative sponsored by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and run by The Evangelical Catholic.

CONNECTIONS participants and facilitators will gather for Mass and a reception with Bishop Robert C. Morlino on Friday, Dec. 14, to celebrate the journey of faith their small groups have taken during the six-week series this fall.

The reception will include food, competitive fun, and reflections from participants and facilitators about their CONNECTIONS experience (see box for details).   Full story ...