A Lenten exam:

		Notes from the  Vicar General  Msgr. Paul J. Swain

While often viewed as a somber time, the season of Lent is a great gift of the Church.

It is not an end in itself, but a time of preparation for those to be baptized at Easter, and a time of renewal for those already baptized. The Church invites us to pray, to reflect on the words of Scripture specially selected for this season, to examine our lives in a penitential way which leads to conversion, and to offer acts of charity.

The season of Lent should help us to celebrate at Easter, with humble and grateful hearts, what we believe, that Jesus Christ truly is the resurrection and the life.

Pope John Paul II has offered as a theme for our Lenten reflection the words of Jesus, "You have received without paying, give without pay" (Mt. 10:8). It is a powerful reminder that Christ gave of himself totally for our redemption. In return we are to give sacrificially of ourselves.

While a good practice throughout the year, an examination of conscience is a useful tool to help us reflect on how we are responding to his selfless gift. Asking ourselves tough questions and honestly answering them can lead to the recognition of our need for God's forgiveness and the grace to grow in holiness.

You received without paying

St. Francis of Assisi prayed: Lord make me an instrument of your peace. He asked that gospel values of love, pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy guide him. As a Lenten exercise, perhaps we might examine our conscience to discover whether we are instruments of Christ's peace by asking:

Lord, have I sown hatred instead of love? How do I deal with those who are different from me in language, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, economic standing, or other ways? Do I love others as Christ has loved me?

Lord, have I sown injury instead of pardon? Am I able to forgive, to keep confidences, to avoid gossip, and to refrain from criticism that divides or harms?

Lord, have I sown doubt instead of faith? Do I deal with the mysteries of life and the temptations of the world grounded in the teachings of Christ and reflected in Church teachings, even when difficult or unpopular?

Lord, have I sown despair instead of hope? Do I handle sickness and setbacks with trust in God's will and with support to those in need, even when inconvenient?

Give without pay

Lord, have I sown darkness, instead of light? Despite the shadows of the day, do I approach tomorrow with the optimism that comes from knowing that Christ is the light of the world?

Lord, have I sown sadness instead of joy? Do I evidence the uplifted spirit that flows from baptism and the continuing gift of Christ in the Eucharist. Some saint said, save me from sour faced Christians.

If we are to be instruments of God's peace, we must not only prepare internally for Easter day, but become Easter people who express our faith outwardly in all we do and say. After all, we have received without paying. With joyful hearts, may we give without pay.

Plan to end shared revenue:

		Eye on the  Capitol  John Huebscher

Governor McCallum's plan to phase out the shared revenue program over the next three years is one of the most politically significant policy initiatives to land in the legislature of late.

The plan also sets in motion a serious discussion as to the structure of local government in Wisconsin.

Staple of partnership

The shared revenue program has been a staple of the partnership between the state government and Wisconsin's counties, cities, towns, and villages for nearly a century. Initially the state played the role of tax collector, raising revenue from income taxes and later from sales taxes.

This revenue was returned to the local governments largely on the basis of where the taxes were collected. For example, if Milwaukee generated 10 percent of the income tax and sales tax revenue collected by the state, Milwaukee would receive roughly 10 percent of the total revenues returned to local governments.

Beginning in the early 1970s, the program was modified to further the goal of equalizing property tax burdens across the state. Instead of returning the revenue on the basis of where it came from, the funds were distributed according to a formula that considered population, local tax effort, and property values.

This change had the effect of benefiting larger cities and property-poor rural areas. Affluent suburbs and property-rich resort areas received less.

Losing revenue

As a result, shared revenue dollars account for a larger share of the funds available to some communities than others. The first stories about the impact of eliminating shared revenue focused on Beloit, which relies on the program for nearly 40 percent of its total funds.

But other cities are similarly affected. Ending the shared revenue program will eliminate nearly one-third of Milwaukee's revenue base. For Superior the loss will be 27 percent; for Marinette, 28 percent; for Boscobel, 34 percent; for Ashland, 29 percent; for Rhinelander, 11 percent; 18 percent for La Crosse; for Eau Claire, nearly 16 percent.

Losses in this range will occur in most cities and losses of that magnitude will be hard to make up, even for the most creative local governments.

For other communities, the impact of losing shared revenue will be much smaller. The Milwaukee suburbs of Whitefish Bay and Wauwatosa will lose about four percent of their revenue base. Property-rich resort Minoqua in Oneida County will lose about two percent. Neighboring Woodruff will lose about four percent, Eagle River about three percent. Wisconsin Dells loses about four percent; the village of Ashwaubenon loses less than three percent. Neenah and Sturgeon Bay both lose about 10 percent.

Efficiency incentive

Supporters of the McCallum plan say that the phase-out of shared revenue provides the incentive necessary for county and local governments to be more efficient and reduce duplication of effort in areas such as public safety, road maintenance, and other local services.

Opponents say that local governments are already efficient and that the spending increases that are driving the current state revenue shortage occurred at the state level and in education, not local government.

Neither is it clear how eager local government will be to collaborate. Neighboring communities of a similar size who find themselves in the same boat in terms of how much state support they lose may be willing and able to partner effectively. But suburbs that lose relatively little of their revenue base may not have much of an incentive to help Milwaukee solve its fiscal woes.

It is too early to determine what will happen to McCallum's plan. But he has certainly ignited a discussion over what our state's local government should look like in the 21st century.

John Huebscher is executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.

Ireland's St. Patrick:

		Common-day  Spirituality  Mary Rose  Remington

As a junior in college, I seized the opportunity to visit Ireland (have student loan, will travel).

I have wonderful memories of that trip and our tour group, which consisted of 20 adventurous college kids, one brave nun, and a young college professor.

During our one month stay, we did it all: dined in castles, drank Guinness in the pubs, got frisked in Northern Ireland, slept in cottages with thatched covered roofs -- even kissed the Blarney Stone!

As we traversed the countryside, we learned that more than one cemetery lays claim as the resting place of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.

Shrouded in mystery

It's only fitting that his burial place is shrouded in mystery; other details about his life are sketchy, too. St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succatt around 380 A.D. (he took the name Patrick when he became a priest). But historians don't agree where he was born: some say Wales, others say Scotland, or Britain.

Authentic Irish Soda Bread Serve for breakfast or with corned beef and cabbage dinner. 2 cups sifted flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tablespoon sugar 1/2 cup raisins 6 T. cold shortening 2/3 cup room temperature buttermilk (I use a wee bit more) Stir dry ingredients together; cut in shortening until consistency of course corn meal. Stir in raisins; add buttermilk gradually. Knead the dough for one minute until perfectly smooth. Shape into a round loaf to be baked on a greased cookie sheet. Brush top with milk and (with a sharp knife) cut a deep cross into the top of loaf, to keep bread from cracking. Bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes. Serve warm with a dollop of honey, butter, or marmalade if desired.

At the age of 16, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd sheep for an Irish chieftain named Milchu. During his six-year captivity, he began to have religious visions that strengthened his faith.

One divine vision instructed him to escape by walking to the coast. He followed God's command and found a ship that took him aboard and reunited him with his family.

Back home he continued to have visions, including one where the people of Ireland called out to him, "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."

Spiritual man

He studied in France to become a priest and eventually became a bishop. Around 433 he returned to Ireland to spread the Christian word. Legend has it that when Patrick came back he met a chieftain named Dichu, who opposed him. Dichu tried to kill him but could not move his arm until he became friendly with Patrick, who had no trouble converting him.

Patrick traveled throughout the country with his disciples, preaching, baptizing, and building churches. Numerous kings, their family members, and entire kingdoms were converted by the power of Patrick's message.

In his teachings, Patrick used the leaves of a shamrock to explain the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People say he drove the snakes out of Ireland, which may be a metaphor for driving out the pagans.

After years of poverty, preaching, traveling, and teaching, Patrick died on March 17, 461 (the exact date is reputed). St. Patrick was a humble, gentle, and deeply spiritual man who devoted his life to God and the Irish people.

On March 17 everyone is Irish. So dig out your green threads, cook up some corned beef and cabbage, bake a loaf of Irish Soda Bread, and raise a toast to St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Mary Rose Remington, a member of St. Thomas Becket Parish in Eagan, Minn., is a writer, career coach, and speaker.