Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, December 6, 2001 9:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Friday, December 7, 2001 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Guest Speaker, Serra Club of Madison, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 9:00 p.m. -- Attend National Catholic Youth Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday, December 8 through Sunday, December 9, 2001 Attend National Catholic Youth Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana Wednesday, December 12, 2001 7:00 p.m. -- Preside at Advent Parish Penance Service, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison Thursday, December 13 10:00 a.m. -- Preside at Advent School Penance Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, December 6, 2001 9:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Wednesday, December 12, 2001 6:30 p.m. -- Preside at Advent Parish Penance Service, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison Thursday, December 13, 2001 10:00 a.m. -- Participate at Advent School Penance Service, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison

In Advent for what
do you wait?

Advent is a time in which we wait, and not just waiting which means treading water or shifting into neutral, but waiting in joyful hope, for waiting is doing, but in a different way.

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

Waiting at airports has become normal to air travelers. T.V. cameras picture long waiting lines with people chatting together while they stand in line. Slowing down to a more normal pace has become part of our American way of life. I think we are the better for it.

Wait or rush?

Is the opposite of waiting a kind of rushing, moving quickly, busily doing more things rapidly? Being "busy" in America can be a sign of feeling important.

If someone phones you and asks, "are you busy?" and you say "no", they might think you are not very important.

The virtue of waiting

On the other hand you could answer their question by saying, "I am not busy, I am waiting this Advent in joyful hope for the world to become a safer place in which to live. I also wait in prayer and joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

"'Deliver us Lord from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.'"

If you did, may I say you offered the caller a beautiful answer. The answer goes to the heart of the Advent season.

What is it you most wait for in your life this Advent? Let me help you by offering an analysis of the prayer, which follows the Lord's Prayer at Mass.

Deliver us Lord

"Deliver us Lord from every evil . . . In your mercy keep us free from sin."

What evil do you wish to be delivered from, what hangs on as a lurking evil that could be the destructive force in your life? Is the evil more terrorism, anthrax, continued sinfulness in your life, drug addiction, alcoholism, your own or in your family?

Name the evil and ask God to deliver and keep you from your sins.

Grant us peace

"Grant us peace in our day."

What peace do you most wish for: world peace, peace in Afghanistan, some unresolved conflict in your heart, an unresolved situation in your family or at work, or a personal relationship?

Name the peace in your prayer before God. Remember as you do that, if you wish peace, you must be willing to work for justice -- be willing to straighten out the inequalities that cause the evil.

Protect us, O God

"Protect us from all anxiety."

About what worries are you most anxious? Are you anxious about your job, the economy, your children, your health, your spiritual soundness before God? What most threatens your well being?

Ask God in prayer to protect you from all that makes you anxious and to help you trust Him, no matter how you feel.

The full prayer reads: "Deliver us Lord from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

"Deliver us" is a beautiful and powerful prayer that captures our attention as we pray, as we wait, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Is everything in order in your life?

Is everything in good order between yourself and God? If death were suddenly to finalize your relationship with God, would everything be in good order between the two of you -- your state of rightness before God?

Have you left your matters of estate here on earth in good order, your last will and testament?

If so, you are very probably waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, this Christmas and at the end of time.

Put confession back in Christmas

I have been reading the sign: "Put Christ back in Christmas." I decided this year to put confession back in Christmas.

If you make a good, honest, full confession to a priest before Christmas, you will indeed live in joyful hope this Advent.

Bishop's Letter

Dear Friends in Christ:

Share in the Care. This is the theme for the 14th annual collection to support our retired Religious Sisters, Brothers, and Priests who seek our help in their need. Sharing and caring has always been the response of those who strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

We can look to the example of our retired religious who shared their lives as caring workers in schools, hospitals, orphanages, and parishes. Just as they served others, this is now our opportunity to serve them.

Religious communities have been doing their part to care for over 40,000 religious women and men who require a range of services from skilled care to assisted living. However, with limited Social Security benefits and rising costs, they cannot do it alone.

Many of us can think of a religious who helped us along the way. They allowed God to use their talents, which generously supported young and old and people of all walks of life. Now, our prayerful and financial support will help them. They received little by way of a stipend. They had no health or insurance plans. So, our generous contributions to this appeal will now help them along their way. We can share in meeting their health care and living expenses even as they continue to return this blessing to you and me through their prayers and caring.

I thank you and the people of our Diocese for showing appreciation year after year to our retired religious through your financial support for the Retirement Fund. Let us make our best effort to ensure the success of this important annual appeal for a most worthy cause.

May God in His goodness bless and keep you in His love.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

Most Reverend William H. Bullock
Bishop of Madison

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison, wishes to announce the following appointments:

To the Presbyteral Council for terms ending November 30, 2004:

• Rev. Msgr. Michael L. Burke
• Rev. Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert
• Rev. Msgr. Joseph P. Higgins
• Rev. Msgr. Paul J. Swain
• Rev. John G. Stillmank
• Rev. Todd R. Van Natta

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General