Thanking God for all his gifts:

'The Apple Story' shows meaning of stewardship

		Stewardship  Corner  Jay Conzemius

At a recent stewardship conference, I came across "The Apple Story" and thought it helps explain what true committed stewardship is all about. The following is the story.

In the beginning

In the beginning when God created Man and Woman, he gave them three apples. He said, "I'm giving you these three apples for your housing because I want you always to have protection from the wind and the cold."

Then God said, "That's not all I'm giving you. Because I'm generous, I'm going to give you three more apples. These three apples are for your clothing because I want you always to be warm and protected from the elements.

"But I'm a generous God and that's not all. I'm giving you three more apples and with these three apples, I want you to use them for your recreation and for your education and for your entertainment because I'm a good and generous God."

What do we give God?

But then there was one more apple that God gave them. And God said, "This is the most important apple of all. I give you this apple so that you can give back to me in gratitude for the other nine apples that I've given you."

And the Man and Woman looked at that one apple and it seemed to be the biggest, the reddest, and the juiciest of all the apples that God gave them. And they looked at the apple and then they both took and they ate the apple and then threw God back the core. They gave God the leftovers.

When it comes to our time, talent, and our treasure, we need to ask ourselves, "Are we giving back the whole apple or are we just throwing back the core?"

Jay Conzemius is director of stewardship and development for the Diocese of Madison. For further information on charitable gift annuities, contact him at 608-821-3040.

Religious exemption language:

Fails to respect Catholic identity

		Eye on the  Capitol  Kathy Markeland

An oft-quoted adage within Catholic service agencies is that we don't provide services to those in need because they are Catholic, but because we are.

That sense of our mission is currently being challenged in Madison with a proposal that threatens to undermine the values that have inspired Catholic agencies to provide services to the citizens of Wisconsin since the time of statehood.

Narrow religious exemption

Senate Bill 128 would mandate health insurance plans in the state to provide coverage for contraceptive articles and services. While Catholics object to mandated contraceptive coverage due to our moral objection to contraception generally and our concern regarding the potential abortifacient effect of certain oral contraceptives, the other significant concern with SB 128 is that the narrow religious exemption provided in the bill fails to exempt certain Catholic agencies.

In order to qualify for the exemption, Senate Bill 128 forces religious employers to pass the following four-pronged test that is remarkably chilling in its effect.

A "religious employer" is one for whom:

1. The inculcation of religious values is the purpose of the entity.

2. The entity employs primarily persons who share the religious tenets of the entity.

3. The entity serves primarily persons who share the religious tenets of the entity.

4. The entity is exempt from filing a federal annual information return under specified sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

Catholic health care institutions, universities, and even some Catholic Charities agencies would fail this test.

No one would question the religious nature of Mother Teresa's ministry to the dying. Yet such a ministry would fail the test proposed in SB 128, because such services would be provided to all those in need regardless of creed.

Under the bill, in order to be considered a "religious employer" and therefore qualify for an exemption from the mandated contraceptive coverage, an employer must essentially employ and serve only members of his or her own faith community. Period.

Contrary to our view

This is contrary to the Catholic view of our role in the world. The services that we provide are not tangential to our tradition, they are integral to fully living our faith. Our ministry cannot be limited to those who share our faith. That is not who we are.

Equally troubling is that the bill makes the state itself responsible for enforcing the criteria and identifying those individuals that "share the religious tenets of an entity" and those who do not. How will the state decide whether an employee shares our religious belief? How will it determine whether those we serve share our faith?

By applying the criteria outlined in SB 128, the state takes on a dangerous role, essentially establishing preferential treatment for religious traditions whose practice does not call them to bring their faith to the public square.

Rooted in values

Catholic institutions have a long history of public service in this state. In order to continue in our ministry, government must recognize that our mission to serve is rooted in values that cannot be compromised simply because the state deems that those we employ and those we serve are not "religious" enough.

Our commitment to serve all members of society regardless of their religion or creed is a vital part of what has enabled Catholic institutions to successfully partner with the state in so many areas. This is a partnership that enriches our Wisconsin community. Rather than foster that partnership, SB 128 would destroy it.

Kathy Markeland is associate director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.

Recruiting vocations:

With your help, we can do more

		Msgr. Paul J. Swain

Most studies show that the greatest influences on persons considering vocations to the priesthood and religious life are priests and religious themselves followed by family members. However, there is a role for everyone who loves the Church and cares about its future.

In an article in America last July, Bishop Roger Schweitz of Anchorage, Alaska, chairman of the U.S. Bishop's Committee on Vocations, posed the intriguing question in his title: Recruiting Vocations. It seems that we're doing a lot. But are we?

His concern is that there is a "scatter shot" approach to vocations, when there is need for a coordinated plan through which all the faithful can promote vocations. Among his suggestions:

Every diocese and religious order needs a multifaceted recruitment plan. Our usual approach to vocations awareness, such as this special section in The Catholic Herald, need to be supplemented. This includes better use of the Internet, where most young people receive information these days.

Church personnel need to recruit for one another. Diocesan priests, religious priests and sisters, lay ministers, and teachers in our schools should encourage all church vocations, not just their own. We are not in competition, we are one Church. A response to God's call strengthens us all.

"No one can attest to the fulfilling gift of service in Christ's church better than those who are experiencing it. I would add that every Catholic should promote vocations as well, remembering and in thanksgiving for those priests and religious who have touched your lives." -- Msgr. Paul J. Swain Vicar General and Director of Vocations, Diocese of Madison

Every priest and religious must personally promote vocations. No one can attest to the fulfilling gift of service in Christ's church better than those who are experiencing it. I would add that every Catholic should promote vocations as well, remembering and in thanksgiving for those priests and religious who have touched your lives.

Catholic schools should be promoted. This should be done for many reasons. Catholic education is a great gift. It is also true that outside of the family, Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to foster vocations. Although limited by time, religious education programs do as well.

Children of every age should hear about vocations. Bishop Schweitz notes that 10-year-olds know what doctors and firemen do, but do they know what priests and religious do? Church presence on college campuses and among young adults also should have a vocations focus.

We must target special groups. With the tremendous growth in the Hispanic population, vocations awareness should be a priority among Latinos who are bringing such vitality and devotion to the Church in our diocese.

Young people must know that this is their church. We must be welcoming and involving of youth and young adults so that they feel a part of the Church and want to be a part of the future of their Church. This includes practical opportunities to participate in ministries and social outreach programs.

We should increase devotional life in our parishes. The revered rosary and Eucharistic adoration with a vocations focus can be supplemented with retreats and other opportunities for spiritual reflection on what God is asking of us no matter what our age.

We need research and lay advisors in areas such as marketing. Modern techniques and resources can be used to help identify what attracts people to commit their lives to public witness of faith and how to better get the message out in an ever changing communications environment.

We need to pray and take hope. The power of prayer is awesome. We pray knowing that Christ instituted the Church and in him is our hope.

Surely, among these suggestions, there is one or more to which you can relate. Your parish Vocations Committee and the diocesan Office of Vocations are ready to help you become part of the Vocations Team.

We are doing a lot, but we can do more, with your commitment and your prayers.

To contact the Diocese of Madison's Vocation Team, write: Vocations Office, P.O. Box 44983, Madison, WI 53744-4983; call 608-821-3088; or e-mail: vocations@straphael.org.

Msgr. Paul J. Swain is vicar general and director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison. Other members of the Vocation Team are Fr. John G. Stillmank and Mrs. Kate Wiskus.

God's call often comes through other persons and events

Bishop Bullock regularly hosts evenings called Project Andrew. Project Andrew takes its name from the account in the Gospel of John highlighting the special manner in which God's Call came to Andrew the Apostle through John the Baptist (Jn: 1, 24).

"The events of these first years of the new millennium highlight the challenge to become people of greater love and service to God and neighbor." -- Bishop George O. Wirz

This week of Vocation Awareness appropriately comes during the week following the Solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus. The choosing of the first disciples immediately follows the passage about the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (Jn: 1, 29). Andrew was not only called through John; Andrew himself called his brother Simon.

"He first found his own brother Simon and told him, 'We have found the Messiah.' Then he brought him to Jesus" (Jn. 1:41).

Chain of calls

This noteworthy chain of calls from one human being to another does not diminish the absolute validity of "Called by God." God's call often comes through human instruments, persons, and events. Men and women must not wait to have God shout in their ears or tap them on the shoulder to call them to follow Jesus. At any age the call comes in subtle ways.

Many young people may feel they are unworthy or unlikely candidates for priesthood or consecrated life, so they wait or pass over the call. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: "Undoubtedly God calls sufficient numbers of candidates for every age. The reality may be that many do not respond."

Who receives call?

There are popular misrepresentations of the sort of persons who receive a call to follow "religious vocations." Are they loners or even antisocial or pietistic? The 12 Apostles themselves were at times all too human and seemed to be unlikely choices.

The kind of men and women who will make good "religious" are those who would make good husbands or wives, good parents. They live and breathe and love! They are people of faith and prayer who enjoy life. St. Francis de Sales said: "A saint who is sad is a sorry saint."

Can we hear the call?

The events of these first years of the new millennium highlight the challenge to become people of greater love and service to God and neighbor. Many of the things we sought are turning to ashes. The call of John the Baptist was described as "a voice crying in the desert." At last, can we hear him calling?

Can we be like Andrew who transmitted God's call to his brother Simon, who became Peter, the Rock? Do we ever say to others: "You would make a good priest, a good sister, a good lay apostle?" Even if nothing happens, most will always feel honored that you asked.

Along with prayers for vocations, can we add the personal consciousness that we are Called by God to others Called by God?