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The Catholic Herald: Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Madison

May 1, 2008 Edition   •   Volume 138, No. 17   •   Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

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The Catholic Herald
Mission Statement:


The Catholic Herald is the official newspaper of the Diocese of Madison. Its purpose is to inform and educate people of the Diocese through communications that proclaim Gospel values, report the news, and comment on issues as they pertain to the mission of the Catholic Church, which is to bring all in Jesus Christ to the Father.
map showing Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin in gold-orange

Awards:

Web edition:
• Catholic Press Association Best Web Site: Third Place, 2005

Award of Distinction, The Communicator Awards 2002 Print Media competition

Print edition: Award winner, Catholic Press Association, 2007 awards competition:

• First place for best single ad (black and white)

• Third place for best single ad (color);

2006 awards competition:

• First place for best editorial on a local issue

• First place for best news writing on a local/regional event

• First place for best general news photo

Ethical stem cell research
Wisconsin Catholic bishops issue letter

MADISON -- Wisconsin's Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral letter strongly affirming the value of scientific research and endorsing the practice of stem cell research when it does not involve the destruction of human embryos.

For more information

The Diocese of Madison's Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach will send a DVD on the state Catholic bishops' pastoral letter on stem cell research to all parishes. To obtain a copy of the DVD, contact the Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach at 608-821-3086 or e-mail: justiceandpeace@straphael.org

The text of the bishops' letter and a Question and Answer resource are posted on the Web site of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference at www.wisconsincatholic.org or click on the links below to view the PDF files:
Bishops' stem cell letter -- April 2008 (222 KB PDF)
Bishops' stem cell Q&A -- April 2008 (234 KB PDF).

John Huebscher, executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), explained that this educational effort is not tied to any pending legislation or policy proposal. Rather, it reflects the bishops' commitment to advancing science wherever it upholds human life and dignity.

Respect dignity of all human life

The letter reminds Catholics that "we are called to harness new developments at the cutting edge of science in ways that respect the dignity of all human life, especially in its most vulnerable stages."

"Today, when the marvels of science and technology present choices and questions never previously faced, [Christ's] example and message are as relevant as they were in the time of the Apostles," say the bishops.   Full story ...


Only in the print edition ...
News & Features:

Rising food prices: May be permanent, help urged for the poor

Diocese of Madison Parish Festivals: Clip and save calendar

Columns:

• Question Corner
by Fr. John Dietzen --
Distinction between mortal
and venial sins


• Your Family
by Monica and Bill Dodds --
Healthy pride vs. pompous ego

Subscribe to print edition

Future special sections:

Retirement Living, Mother's Day:
May 8, 2008

Graduation/Vocation/Career, Senior Focus: May 15, 2008

Funeral Planning/Memorial Day: May 22, 2008

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or subscribe.

Diocesan Choir to perform Fauré's Requiem




Diocesan Choir Spring Concert

Where: Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison

When: Saturday, May 3, 7:30 p.m.

How much: Free admission. Freewill offering to support the choir taken.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Large-print programs available.

Who: The Madison Diocesan Choir has been traveling throughout the diocese and the world since 1973, fostering and encouraging full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy through its music ministry. Members come from parishes throughout the Diocese of Madison.

MADISON -- Spring may seem like a strange time to hold a concert to perform a Requiem, the music for a Mass for the Dead. But, then again, perhaps the time of budding flowers and greening grass is indeed a perfect reminder of the new and eternal life that springs from Christ.

Certainly, with its intimate structure and gentle melodies, Gabriel Fauré's Requiem aids in thoughts of the hope of the resurrection.

In a concert dedicated in a special way to deceased children and siblings, the Madison Diocesan Choir, directed by Dr. Patrick Gorman, will present this moving work by the 19th-century French composer for their annual spring concert Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bishop O'Connor Center in Madison.

The mainly choral piece will be performed with the accompaniment of the organ, played by assistant director and organist Glenn Schuster, and a small orchestra. The soprano solo "Pie Jesu" will be performed by Pat Paska and the bass solos performed by Michael Flotmeyer and Tom Eichmann.   Full story ...


Cloistered Cistercian nuns




PRAIRIE SU SAC -- Shortly after founding the Diocese of Madison in 1946, Bishop William P. O'Connor was conscious of the need for prayerful support for the new diocese.

Rare open house

The Cistercian nuns at Valley of our Lady Monastery near Prairie du Sac will hold a rare open house on Saturday, May 17, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Directions to the monastery: Take Highway 12 north out of Sauk City. Turn left onto Waterbury Rd until it deadends. Turn right onto Old Bluff Tr. There will be a sign for the monastery. Turn left onto Yanke Dr. The monastery is the first place to turn on the right. The address is E11096 Yanke Dr., Prairie du Sac.

He petitioned the Vatican to help find a group of contemplative Sisters to create a monastery to pray for the needs of the diocese. Bishop O'Connor said this was to be a "powerhouse of prayer" for the welfare of the diocese and for all humanity.

Nuns respond to invitation

In 1957, six Cistercian nuns from the abbey of Frauenthal in central Switzerland responded to the bishop's invitation. The nuns live the contemplative monastic life, following the Rule for Monasteries written by St. Benedict in the sixth century and the traditions of the Cistercian Order, founded in France in 1098.

The Cistercian nuns settled in a "temporary" makeshift monastery in a rural setting seven miles north of Sauk City. In 2008, they still live at that temporary Valley of Our Lady Monastery, leading a balanced life of liturgical prayer, meditative reading, and work.   Full story ...


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Offices and mailing address: Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719
Phone: 608-821-3070     Fax: 608-821-3071     E-Mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

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