Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, February 7, 2002 9:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, February 9, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Concelebrate the Dedication of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee Sunday, February 10, 2002 12:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Bernard Parish, Middleton Monday, February 11, 2002 11:15 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Nazareth House, Stoughton Wednesday, February 13, 2002 12:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist and Distribution of Ashes, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Thursday, February 14, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Preside at Morning Prayer, Parish Staff Day, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 6:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Annual Knights of Columbus Clergy Appreciation Banquet/Memorial Mass, St. Mary Parish, Platteville Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, February 7, 2002 9:00 a.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, February 9, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Concelebrate the Dedication of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee Sunday, February 10, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. William Parish, Janesville Thursday, February 14, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Attend Parish Staff Day, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Remember You are Dust and Unto Dust You will Return (Gen. 3:19)

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

For many years the Church provided but one phrase to be used at the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday: "Remember, man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

It carries a clear, unequivocal message about our human mortality.

The ashes show that we are dust and, by their imposition on our foreheads in the form of a cross, they also become a sign that we accept the discipline of Lent in all its rigors.

With smudges of black ashes on our foreheads, we emerge after Mass to go back on the street and workplace or home bearing this sign of penance and death. It is very unique and many, many people receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is a special day of grace.

Lent remains a time of renewal. Lent is that time for a reality check, a time when each of us, as sons and daughters of God, as stewards of God's creation, can say honestly in our hearts that we accept death, our death in Christ which began with our Baptism.

"I pray that together we can pray, fast and give alms, come to grips with our own death, and reach out in big ways to help God's poor."

The secular world is able to solve most things for us, except to conquer death. Death is inevitable even for the most hardened non-believer. Yet for the Christian, once we accept death we can get on with a full life.

By our faith we know that death does not end life; it merely changes into a new form of life in heaven.

Rigors of Lent

As we begin the rigors of Lent once again this year, the primary message of the Gospel is "Do penance, for the Kingdom of God is accessible, nearby." (Matt. 4:17)

Do penance means "be converted" or "have a change of heart." It does not mean do this series of religious exercises, endure this series of trials and tribulations, fasting, abstinence - no, it means allow your inner heart to be changed, changed from all its inordinate clinging to things of this world to a longing for the things of heaven.

In Lent we die little deaths to show our willingness to detach ourselves from the security of the secular world.

If I were an artist

If I were an artist, this year I would show some person receiving ashes on his/her forehead with a large smudge in the form of a cross. I would print up the phrase, "Remember, you are dust and unto dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19). In the background of the same picture or photo, I would show the ashes of the World Trade Center after September 11, 2001, with the phrase, "Remember September 11, 2001."

How quickly life goes

How quickly life and possessions can be taken from us. But death comes to all people. I believe this is the time to reflect on the phrase, "We will never be the same again." After September 11, 2001, America spoke with a clear, steady, and patriotic voice. We will rebuild our lives as Americans into a stronger more purposeful life.

We will never let the dust and ashes of the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001, in New York City ever daunt our spirit. We will build a new America, strong, significant, and on values of peace. We declare war on poverty, on terrorism, and on violence.

Out of the rubble comes a new resolve

We will defeat terrorism, we will eradicate it by educating all people in the ways of peace and forgiveness, sharing with all persons their new opportunities. As our season of Lent begins, I believe we must be committed to the long haul -- we must be men and women of peace, a peace as Pope John Paul II says, "that is born of justice and forgiveness."

Pope John Paul II continues, "In recent years, especially since the end of the cold war, terrorism has developed into a sophisticated network of political, economic, and technological collusion which goes beyond national borders to embrace the whole world . . . "

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II said, "When terrorist organizations use their own followers as weapons to be launched against the defenseless and unsuspecting people, they show clearly the death wish that feeds them. Terrorism springs from hatred and it generates isolation, mistrust, and closure. Violence is added to violence as a tragic sequence that exasperates successive generations, each one inheriting the hatred, which divides those who went before. Terrorism is built on contempt for human life."

I pray that together we can pray, fast and give alms, come to grips with our own death, and reach out in big ways to help God's poor.

I pray we have a good Lent, that we will truly grow as God's people to live by the Gospel, to truly repent, and reform our lives. Pope John Paul in his Lenten Message reminds us of all that has been given us by God's loving initiative in the words of Matthew, "You received without paying, give without pay" (Matt. 10:8).

Bishop's Letter

Dear Friends in Christ:

A Faith Ever Ancient, Ever New is the theme for the special collection we will take on Ash Wednesday in support of the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe. The faith was deeply rooted in these countries centuries before our own, and yet because of the decades of persecution in the 20th century, it has the challenge to rise from the ashes.

Entire generations were deprived of Catholic teaching and access to the sacraments. Proceeds from this collection help establish religious education programs, form seminarians and lay catechists, expand social ministries, rebuild ruined churches, convents and schools and build new ones, and spread the gospel through the media.

We rejoice with the Church in Central and Eastern Europe that is growing in numbers, spiritual fervor, and need for sacramental and pastoral ministry. We can express that joy this Ash Wednesday by giving generously to this collection.

Let us also join in prayer for those Catholics of our own day throughout the world who are persecuted for their faith. May the liberating love of Christ be theirs.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

Most Reverend William H. Bullock
Bishop of Madison