• Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral
	News Briefs: Holy Week schedule at Sinsinawa Mound SINSINAWA -- The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters announce the schedule for prayer and the celebration of the Paschal Feast beginning with Palm Sunday, March 16. The Eucharist will be preceded by the procession with palms beginning at 10:30 a.m. All of the services for Holy Week will be in Queen of the Rosary Chapel. They include: Mass of the Lord's Supper, Holy Thursday, March 20, 6:15 p.m.; celebration of the Lord's Passion, Good Friday, March 21, 2 p.m.; meditative Evening Prayer, Good Friday, March 21, 7 p.m.; the Paschal Vigil, Holy Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m.; Eucharist, Easter Sunday, March 23, 10:30 a.m.; and Solemn Easter Vespers, Easter Sunday, March 23, 4:45 p.m. For more information, contact Sr. Mary Ellen Winston at 608-748-4411 or visit www.sinsinawa.org Sinsinawa Mound, the Motherhouse for the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, is located in southwest Wisconsin on Cty. Rd. Z, off Hwy. 11, about five miles northeast of Dubuque. St. Coletta hosts St. Patrick's dance JEFFERSON -- St. Coletta of Wisconsin will be hosting a St. Patrick's Day dance on Sunday, March 16, for adults with developmental disabilities. The dance will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Meadow Springs Country Club located at 424 S. Sanborn Ave., Jefferson. The entry fee is $7 and includes a festive hors d'oeuvres buffet. For more information or to RSVP contact Bethany Wollheim at St. Coletta at 920-674-8379 or bwollheim@stcolettawi.org  Note that space is limited and it is important to consider the support needs for those attending. Group on enhancing relationships STOUGHTON -- A couples group is starting for couples and individuals who are interested in enhancing and improving their relationship. The main focus will be on communication. Individuals and couples will get the opportunity to: increase knowledge of themselves and their partner, increase awareness on how their communication content and style impacts others and how other's impacts them, and enhance and improve satisfaction within their relationship. The group will meet weekly from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays at St. Ann Parish, 323 N. Van Buren St., in Stoughton. For more information, contact Elizabeth Ellison at 608-358-5111. Community roundtable on youth violence, juvenile justice BELOIT -- Justice Overcoming Borders (JOB) will sponsor a community roundtable on youth violence and juvenile justice on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Parish Center, 822 E. Grand Ave. Representatives from the juvenile justice system, law enforcement, and local schools will participate in the session to discuss these issues and put out a call for public action. Discussion topics will include: What can our community do to . . . make our streets safer? get guns out of the hands of our youth? keep our kids from dropping out or getting expelled? cut down on use of detention and other punitive measures? provide more opportunities for our young people to succeed? The public is invited to attend and to add their voices for change to these urgent questions. Program for Catholic women ARLINGTON, Va. -- National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) is sponsoring a one-day training program, "Leadership for Today's Catholic Women - Practical Skills for Council and for Life," on Saturday, April 5, at the Elizabeth Inn and Convention Center in Plover, Wis. Topics include building a strong council, leadership skills, membership, and communication. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m. followed by program at 9. There will be a luncheon, afternoon program, and wrap-up at 3:15 p.m. Reservations are due by March 15 to National Council of Catholic Women, ATTN: Carla Walsh, Program Director, 200 N. Glebe Rd. Su. 703, Arlington, VA 22203, or fax to Annette Perry at 703-224-0991. Cost is $20. A credit card may be used. Make overnight accommodations at 800-280-0778 or info@elizabethinn.com Living Stations in Tennyson, Sinsinawa TENNYSON/SINSINAWA -- The Young Christian Players will be presenting a living stations of the cross, a prayerful, inspiring, and spiritually moving meditation on the journey Jesus took to Calvary. This is a great opportunity for reflection during Holy Week. Presentations will be held: • Sunday, March 16, at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew-Thomas School, 100 Hwy. 61 N, Tennyson • Wednesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Sinsinawa Mound Chapel, Cty. Rd. Z, off Hwy. 11, about five miles northeast of Dubuque Many are moved to tears and are challenged to look at their lives in relation to how Jesus lived and how he asks us to live. Families, youth groups, religion classes, young, and old are encouraged to attend. A free will offering will be taken. Nominate someone for a profile Do you know a person to nominate for a profile? This could be someone in a paid or volunteer position in the Catholic Church. It could be someone working outside the Church who lives his or her faith in ordinary or extraordinary ways in daily life. Send nominations with information about the nominee to: Catholic Herald, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719, or e-mail info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Mark third anniversary of cathedral fire quietly with prayer; have great hope for the future -- Posted: 3/14/2008, 6:25 p.m. Central Time • More articles on St. Raphael Cathedral MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison will quietly mark the third anniversary of the arson fire that destroyed St. Raphael Cathedral in downtown Madison on March 14, 2005. In a memo distributed to the diocese's 133 area churches earlier this week, parishioners have been asked to "pray for the continued healing of the wounds caused by this destructive act; wisdom for the bishop and those charged with making important decisions regarding the future of the Cathedral Church; and for an increased spirit of generosity in the diocese, that all may see and support the Diocese of Madison's need for a Mother Church, for the greater glory of God and for the service to His people." Demolition at Cathedral Site Planned Last year on the Feast of Corpus Christi, Bishop Morlino announced that a new cathedral will be built on the site of the former, therefore the diocese will be proceeding with the demolition of the remaining ruins. "We acknowledge and thank the City of Madison for being very understanding in giving us time to determine how we want to proceed, prior to doing anything with the ruins of the cathedral," remarked Monsignor Kevin Holmes, Rector of St. Raphael Cathedral and Pastor of Holy Redeemer and St. Patrick Parishes in Madison. Moreover, "a committee of cathedral parishioners has been meeting to discuss which elements of the fabric of the cathedral can be realistically salvaged for future use," commented Msgr. Holmes. The elements of the destroyed Cathedral that have been, or will be, removed for reuse include:     • the cathedral spire - newly constructed in 2004,     • three bells from the steeple,     • three mosaics from the sanctuary,     • marble sanctuary furnishings,     • at least one large stained glass window that was not damaged by the fire,     • three smaller semi-circular windows from above the front doors of the church,     • ornamental stone work around the three front doorways of the cathedral, and     • a limited amount of the stone of the cathedral. Since the design for the new cathedral has not yet been developed, it is not known exactly how or where these elements will be used in the new cathedral or on its grounds. It is anticipated that the salvage operation and the demolition of the remaining ruins of the cathedral will begin in April, after the plan is approved by the City of Madison. It is hoped that the work will be completed by the end of June 2008. Landgraf Construction, Inc has been hired as the Construction Manager for the demolition phase of the project. Future of the Cathedral -- still a dateless timeline Over the course of recent months, the Diocese of Madison has undertaken an in-depth-feasibility study for a Diocesan Capital Campaign. The information collected will be crucial in guiding the diocese toward a vision for the future; a vision that includes a newly constructed Cathedral Church; and a vision rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, who will not and cannot disappoint. The information collected will assist the bishop to make a reasonable and responsible judgment about the plans for upcoming diocesan projects. If the study indicates that sufficient resources will be available, a concrete plan for a new Cathedral, including a specific timeline, will be developed. Regardless of these specifics, Bishop Morlino has stated repeatedly that the new Cathedral space and adjoining facilities will accommodate:     • the spiritual need of the people of the diocese to have a worthy cathedral for diocesan celebrations;     • the spiritual and temporal needs of the Cathedral Parish Community, estranged by this tragic event, who seek a return to the ordinary life as a parish;     • the physical needs of those less fortunate in the Madison area, who will be served through charitable activities;     • the need for dialogue with the political and other civil authorities of the State of Wisconsin and City of Madison, to assure that we serve the truth and the common good of all people; and     • the need for dialogue with the Wisconsin academic system, because of the influence that our educational institutions have on forming young minds and thereby shaping the future, here in Madison and beyond.

Holy Week

Check with your parish for local Holy Week Mass times and see the Arts Page and next week's Easter special section for information on televised coverage of Holy Week Masses.

Palm Sunday, March 16

	Related articles: March 13, 2008 edition: • Holy Week schedule at Sinsinawa Mound • Living Stations in Tennyson, Sinsinawa • Propagation of the Faith -- Reminding our Good Friday world of God's abiding love March 6, 2008 edition: • Bishop's column -- Reflections leading up to Holy Week (en Español)

Palm Sunday (also called Passion Sunday) is the sixth and last Sunday during the season of Lent, marking the beginning of Holy Week. Several traditions for this day include the blessing of palm branches and a procession (a reminder of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem), as well as the Passion reading according to St. Matthew.

• Diocese of Madison: 11 a.m., St. Patrick Church, 404 E. Main St., Madison. Bishop Robert C. Morlino presides.
  
  
• Rome: 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. CST), blessing of palms, procession, Mass. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates.

Monday-Wednesday

In the Diocese of Madison, the Chrism Mass is celebrated on Holy Tuesday. At the Mass, the oils that will be used during the coming year are blessed. These oils include the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of Chrism. Chrism is a mixture of oil of olives and balsam specially blessed by the bishop, to be used in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, as well as the consecration of churches and particular items and vessels. Also at the Mass, the priests renew their bonds of service to the Church.

• Diocese of Madison: Tuesday, March 18, 7:30 p.m., St. Maria Goretti Church, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison. Bishop Morlino presides.
  
  
• Rome: Thursday, March 20, 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. CST), Vatican Basilica. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates.

Tenebrae, which means "darkness" in Latin, is traditionally celebrated on Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday. In the service the flames of a 15-candle stand, or hearse, are gradually extinguished after readings and solemn hymns until left with only the Christ candle, which is then hidden. After a great noise (often produced by prayer books or hymnals struck on pews), the Christ candle returns.

• Diocese of Madison: Wednesday, March 19, 7:30 p.m., St. Patrick Church, 404 E. Main St., Madison. Bishop Morlino presides.

Holy Thursday, March 20

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) commemorates the Last Supper, which often includes the washing of the feet. After the Mass, the host is borne to the altar of repose for veneration.

• Diocese of Madison: 7:30 p.m., St. Patrick Church, 404 E. Main St., Madison. Bishop Morlino presides.
  
  
• Rome: 5:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. CST), Basilica of St. John Lateran. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates.

Good Friday, March 21

Good Friday is the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus. The service held on this day often includes veneration of the crucifix. This day also commonly includes passion plays and a memorial to Our Lady of Dolours.

• Diocese of Madison: 3 p.m., St. Patrick Church, Madison. Bishop Morlino presides.
  
  
• Rome: 5 p.m. (11 a.m. CST). Pope Benedict XVI presides. (Way of the Cross, 9:15 p.m. [3:15 p.m. CST])

Holy Saturday, March 22

The Easter Vigil, which begins after dusk on Holy Saturday, officially marks the beginning of the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. The vigil opens with the blessing of the fire followed by the lighting and benediction of the paschal candle. Up to seven readings from the Old Testament are read, each with a psalm and prayer, followed by a reading from Romans. The "Alleluia" is then heard for the first time since Lent began, and the Gospel is read. After the homily the catechumen and candidates are baptized and/or confirmed. The Mass of the Eucharist concludes the vigil.

• Diocese of Madison: 8 p.m., St. Patrick Church, Madison. Bishop Morlino presides.
  
  
• Rome: 9 p.m. (3 p.m. CST), Vatican Basilica. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates.

Easter Sunday, March 23

Celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord!

• Diocese of Madison: 11 a.m., St. Patrick Church, Madison. Bishop Morlino presides.
  
  
• Rome: 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. CST), St. Peter's Square. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates. (Urbi et Orbi follows)

Christian presence in Holy Land
is endangered
Israeli-Palestinian conflict has impacted Christian minority, Church shrines

MADISON -- "If nothing is done, within 60 years Christianity will disappear in the Holy Land," a Franciscan priest working in the Holy Land told a Madison audience recently.

	Related article: • Editorial -- Safeguarding a Christian presence in the places where Jesus walked

"We are the Church and that Church is dying," Fr. Peter F. Vasko emphasized in his talk here. "Today more than ever peace is needed in the Holy Land."

The Franciscan priest has served in the Holy Land for 23 years. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he was ordained to the priesthood in 1987 after a 10-year career in marketing and public relations.

He is currently president of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, whose primary goal is to safeguard the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The foundation provides a worldwide voice for Christians living in the Holy Land and to ensure the continued Christian presence in the area.

Guide for Madison pilgrims

In 2006, Father Vasko was the tour guide for a group of members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem from the Diocese of Madison. The group invited Father Vasko to speak in Madison.

Charles Scott of Madison introduced Father Vasko, pointing out that the priest was named one of the top 10 most influential people in the Catholic Church in the January 2006 issue of Inside the Vatican magazine.

Palestinian people lost homes

Father Vasko noted that many Palestinian families lost their homes when the nation of Israel was "carved out" in the Holy Land in 1947 after World War II.

"The Palestinian people feel they haven't been able to tell their side of the story," said Father Vasko.

The issue of land ownership has remained the "crux of the problem" in the Holy Land, he said. "This has led to acts of violence."

He admits there is "lack of empathy on all sides, anger, and despair."

Collective punishment

But he emphasized, "The use of violence against innocent civilians can never be justified."

He said that Israel has often resorted to "collective punishment" of the Palestinians. If there is a terrorist act, sometimes a whole community suffers.

"Over 1,000 shells were fired into a neighborhood. What good did it all serve?" asked Father Vasko.

"Military victories by themselves do not bring about security," he insisted. "Only peace built on justice brings security."

Christians are a small minority

Christians have inhabited the Holy Land for centuries, but they have always been a small minority of the population, noted Father Vasko.

Today there are only about 150,000 Christians out of nine million people there. A high percent of them are unemployed and living below the poverty level. He noted that the United States has given Israel billions of dollars in foreign aid since 2003, yet "none of it has trickled down to the Christian Palestinians," said the priest.

Wall of separation

Many of the major Israeli cities are closed to Palestinians. "No one goes in and no one goes out," noted Father Vasko.

A 480-mile separation wall has been erected between Israel and the Palestinian territories. "It's 24 feet high, twice as high as the Berlin wall," said Father Vasko.

This situation has had tragic consequences. Father Peter told of a 78-year-old parishioner from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. "He had a heart attack and his son and daughter drove him to Jerusalem to go to the hospital. He was not allowed into the city and died in the back seat of the car."

Said Father Vasko, "We're speaking about universal rights: to mobility, health care, and education. The Israelis punish an entire group of people for a few terrorists."

He admits that the terrorists should be punished and that extremists on both sides have exploited others.

Above all, he said the Palestinians need to be able to control their lives and their lands. And Christians should be able to protect their holy sites.

Custody of the Christian shrines

The Franciscans were given custody of the Christian shrines 11 years ago by the Holy Father. Funds from a Good Friday collection held in Catholic parishes around the world help maintain these sites.

The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land also provides college scholarships for young people, the majority of whom are Christians. Students are given funding for four years of college and are asked to stay in the Holy Land for at least three years.

Although young people had been leaving the Holy Land in droves, more seem to be staying. "We see light at the end of the tunnel," said Father Vasko.

The foundation also has a Child Sponsorship Program for elementary students as well as other programs to provide housing and help in seeking jobs.

Help rebuild the Holy Land

Father Vasko said people throughout the world can help rebuild the Holy Land. "A great challenge awaits us. We can't sit back and watch these guardians of Christianity disappear. Let us pray for that day when peace and justice will prevail," said Father Vasko.

He encouraged Americans to visit the Holy Land. Despite what we hear on the news, it is safe for tourists, he said.

He also urged people to continue their financial support for the Christian presence in the Holy Land through the Good Friday collection and contributions to the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land. More information is available on the foundation's Web site at ffhl.org

Giving Camp Gray new direction

BARABOO -- For Rebecca and Jeff Hoeben, becoming co-directors at Camp Gray was a perfect fit.

The two, former Camp Gray staff members and volunteers, are huge nature lovers, strong in their faith, and love working in the family atmosphere at the camp, which is owned and operated by the Diocese of Madison.

Former director accepts new challenges By Kat Wagner Catholic Herald Staff Former Camp Gray director Phil DeLong, who had for a decade invested time, effort, and love into the camp, said that he is leaving the camp in capable hands. "It was time for a new challenge," DeLong said. "Camp was our family and life, and we invested a lot in it - we still do. But it was time for me to step aside and allow someone else" to lead, he said. On the staff at Camp Gray for 14 years, and director for 10 of those, DeLong had announced his resignation in May 2007, effective at the end of that year. He has since accepted a position with a private boarding high school in Land O Lakes, Wis. After a nationwide search for a replacement director, the board selected Rebecca and Jeff Hoeben. DeLong had known the couple some years through the camp. The Hoebens will bring a lot to the camp in their positions as co-directors, he said. "What I really like is that Jeff and Rebecca are very connected to what makes Camp Gray what it is," said DeLong. "Yet, at the same time, I think they'll bring new vision and energy to the ministry at Camp Gray that we need to be rooted in." DeLong said that he will miss the camp, especially the people and the relationships as well as the atmosphere and vitality. "For me and for my family - and this will sound somewhat clichéd - it truly wasn't just a job; it was a vocation," he said.

Special place

They even were married in the camp's newly built St. Francis of Assisi chapel after meeting at the camp on a trip into the Porcupine Mountains.

"Camp Gray is a special place for both of us, and it's a place where we had grown a lot in our faith lives, together and separately," said Rebecca. "It's common ground for us."

"It's the place that feels most like home for either one of us," Jeff agreed.

So now together they head up the Catholic camp located in Lake Delton, which offers summer sessions for youth and many other programs year-round. They replaced former camp director Phil De Long (see right), with whom they had worked for years.

Camping experience

The Hoebens are both outdoors-types, enjoying backpacking, kayaking, camping, and other activities. Jeff holds the rank of Eagle Scout and once volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity in Kathmandu, Nepal. Rebecca once spent time building a cabin in Denali National Park in Alaska.

In high school, Rebecca, originally from Black River Falls, was a camper at Camp Gray, going on the camp's first Voyageur trip. She received a degree in psychology from UW-Stevens Point with a minor in adventure education and camp administration.

Over the years at Camp Gray, she has been a kitchen assistant, a counselor in several areas of camp, and the year-round program director.

Jeff, originally from Seattle, is a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati with a degree in organizational communication. He joined Camp Gray in 2003 to 2004 as volunteer program specialist and met Rebecca.

Good fit

They were married in 2005, after which they lived at the camp, Rebecca working as program director and Jeff helping out generally. When the position opened up for camp director, they felt it was a good fit for the two of them.

"It was the next natural step," said Jeff. "All along God has just been grooming us for this kind of work. It's a place both of us love and its a mission we both believe in to bring faith into the outdoors, in just such a beautiful setting.

"Camp Gray is just such a solid place, in terms of the way they run things and the people here, and we wanted to be a part of that, and to do it as a married couple," he said.

Looking ahead

In addition to their love of nature and their experience at Camp Gray, they bring to their position as co-directors the experience gained in seeing other camps and how they operate, as well as their leadership skills, Jeff said.

"Our faith, too" he said. "As a married couple, we are strong in our faith and I think we need to set that faith-filled example here at camp." "I would add also our love for Camp Gray," Rebecca said.

Their love for Camp Gray is apparent in the way they talk about their favorite activities at camp: for Rebecca, watching the Wilderness program grow and working with the high schoolers and watching their awe and wonder at being in God's creation; for Jeff, the retreat components and seeing the campers be so on fire for God, deepening their faith.

"We're really excited to get this first summer under our belts, to let people know what we look like, our style," Jeff said.

The transition will be the toughest part, but Jeff said he's looking forward to watching the bonds among staff grow and letting people know where Camp Gray stands. "I think a lot of it is just turning it over to God," Rebecca said.

"We're both realizing that, as in everything with life, we've gotta have faith that God brought us this far and isn't going to just abandon us now," Jeff said.

"God is certainly visible at camp and we just need to keep being his hands and doing his work."