News Briefs: Celebration of Vocations JANESVILLE -- Bishop William H. Bullock will be the honored guest speaker at the 24th annual "Celebration of Vocations" here. The "Celebration of Vocations" honors and celebrates the vocations of priests serving the Madison Diocese and area religious. The Knights of Columbus and Serra Club of Janesville host this year's event on Thursday evening, March 21, at the Janesville Country Club. Open to the public, the reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and program at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased from Janesville Serrans, Knights of Columbus, or Ticket Chairperson Joyce Reuter, phone 608-752-6053, for $20 per person. Deadline for ticket sales is March 12. New president at St. Clare, Baraboo BARABOO -- Sandra Anderson has been appointed president of St. Clare Hospital and St. Clare Meadows Care Center effective March 11. As president, Anderson will be responsible for the establishment, maintenance, and enhancement of St. Clare's health services in the Baraboo, Lake Delton, and Wisconsin Dells area. Anderson brings over 20 years of health care experience to the St. Clare campus. Since 1996, she has been chief operating officer of Green Memorial Hospital in Xenia, Ohio. Days of prayer PRINCETON/NESHKORO -- Days of prayer have been scheduled on Tuesday, March 12, at St John the Baptist Parish in Princeton, and Wednesday, March 13, at St. James Parish in Neshkoro. At St. John the Baptist Parish, opening prayers and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place at 7 a.m. This will be followed by continued adoration, a children's Mass at 8:30 a.m., Lenten Mass at 12:10 p.m., Stations of the Cross at 2:15 p.m., Communal Penance at 7 p.m., and Stations of the Cross and closing of adoration at 8 p.m. At St. James Parish, opening prayers and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place after the 12 p.m. Mass. This will be followed by continued adoration, Communal Penance at 7 p.m., and Stations of the Cross and closing of adoration at 8 p.m. If you are faced with a crisis, please send your request to be included to: Prayer, St. John Catholic Church, 1211 W. Main St., Princeton, WI 54968. If you feel the matter is confidential, your name on a slip of paper will suffice. Parishioners and those attending may drop their prayer requests in a box provided in back of church. Service mission in Appalachia MADISON -- Twenty students from Edgewood High School here will be living out the mission of their school when they travel to Grundy, Va., on a mission trip during spring break March 23-30. Near the Appalachian mountains, the group of students ranging from freshmen through seniors will participate in programs set up through Volunteers for Communities, helping with building, renovation, and clean-up projects. Students are currently raising funds for their trip, including expenses for travel, food, and supplies. Those wishing to make donations may contact Jen Adams at 608-257-1023, ext. 143. Babysitting Basics workshop PORTAGE -- Divine Savior Healthcare is offering a Babysitting Basics workshop to help students 11 and older learn about responsibilities of babysitting, child development, first aid, and child/infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Monday, March 18, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday, March 19, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Pioneer Westfield High School. A $15 fee includes all instruction manuals and educational materials. For more information and to register, call Divine Savior Healthcare-Community Health Education Department at 608-745-6405. Annual 'Day of the Arts' MADISON -- St. James School, located off Mound St. near Meriter Hospital, has invited more than 30 artists for "A Day of the Arts" on Friday, March 15. The day will begin with the East High "CoJo Drill Team" at 8:30 a.m. Then children will work with selected artists. They will hear an 11 a.m. performance by the "UW Parkside Brass Quintet," a UW student group. "The Bach Dancing and Dynamite Duo," world class music flutist and pianist duo, will perform at 12:30 p.m. and at 1:05 p.m. Parents and friends of St. James are invited to the art fair. The Edgewood High School Show Choir will perform at 2:30 p.m. in the gym to conclude this special arts day celebration.

Middle School Rally:

(See also front page photo.)

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- No matter what is happening in your life, God knows, and he has the answers for you.

Approximately 550 middle school students from all over the Diocese of Madison heard this message when they gathered at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center Feb. 24 for a youth rally sponsored by the Office of Religious Education and Camp Gray.

Sending the message was keynote speaker Kerry O'Connell, associate director in the Youth Ministry Office for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J.

"No matter what is going on in your life, God always wants you to use your gifts," said O'Connell.

Overcoming hard times

O'Connell used the Gospel story of the day, the Transfiguration of Jesus, to illustrate the point that "sometimes we miss out because we're not looking in the right direction."

High school students in connection with Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison and St. Lawrence Seminary in Fond du Lac acted out a skit illustrating the transfiguration in modern times.

"The awesome things that God has in store for us may take effort, time, and work, but they're worth it," O'Connell said. "We have to overcome stuff to see those great moments."

She talked about people who met God and overcame things that held them back. Peter, for example, had to overcome being afraid, she said.

"Timothy was 13 or 14 when Jesus said, 'I want you to teach people who I am,'" she said.

"People who know you want you to do awesome things now," O'Connell told the students. "Think of the things you like to do and do well: those are the things we can do. We need to overcome all those excuses and say, 'Yes, I can do that.'"

'The BIG Questions!'

Volunteer students were then brought up onto the stage to play "The BIG Questions!" game show.

Divided into four groups, the participants had to answer several questions:

"God uses us," said one student. "When something bad happens, he shows us the good."

"God answers our prayers," said another participant.

Others acknowledged that God speaks to us through other people.

"To use the gifts he gave us," was one answer.

"To do the best we can," was another.

"To spread the Word of God," was yet another response.

"To be a good Christian and live a good life," said still another.

We do these things by the words we say and the things we do, as well as the words we don't say and the things we don't do, pointed out O'Connell.

"Whatever you decide to do, God wants you to be happy," she said.

"Yes, God loves everyone and knew when he made us that we would make mistakes," volunteered one student.

"GOD!" was the unanimous vote.

After a skit about "The Totally Tubular Tale of Biff, the Prodigal Son," O'Connell closed her presentation by having the students pray: "God, you are always there for me. For that I thank you. God you have always listened to me. For that I thank you. God, you have always watched over me. For that I thank you. God, you created me and watched me grow. For that I thank you."

Students then participated in various activity sessions and ate a pizza lunch before filling the chapel to capacity for Mass.

Power of God's love

A quiet hush fell over the laughing, boisterous bunch as the choir began to sing "Here I am, Lord" and "We are many parts."

Bishop William H. Bullock presided at the Mass.

"There are two things I never doubt in life: the power of God in what he can do, and the generosity of people in responding to the power of God's love," said the bishop in his homily.

"I know God is working through this day and he will work in a special way in the celebration of the Eucharist."

We must trust in God and open our lives to the possibilities of what he can can accomplish, he said.

Follow the rules

The bishop built on the theme of the day, "J.C.'s Road Rules."

"You and I live in an age of shattered trust," he said. "Jesus Christ would say, 'My road is different.'

When you get your driver's license, people will offer this piece of advice: drive for others, not just yourself; watch out so you don't get hit, said the bishop.

Along the highway there are lots of roadsigns, he said, pointing out the ones that say "dead end."

"On the road to Christ, there are some dead ends," he said. "We do see signs along the road that say stop and look in other directions.

"Today I hope you trust in the signs given to you and that you will drive with caution, ease, and enjoyment," said Bullock.

He told the story of a man in Ireland who was trying to get to Kilarney. He said to another man, "Is this the road to Kilarney?" The other man replied, "Yes, but you're going the wrong way."

"Sometimes the road looks smooth, but you're going in the wrong direction," said Bullock. "Follow the rules that get you to your destination.

"The road to heaven requires a lot of trust," he said. "You can trust in Jesus: he is faithful and true and he will be there. That's the road less traveled, but it's the road you want to stay on."

Thanking the bishop

After Communion, Ben Weisse, associate director of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Religious Education, presented Bullock with a framed photo and quote to acknowledge the bishop's support of youth ministry.

"On behalf of youth ministry and the youth in the diocese, we thank you for all that you've done," said Weisse.

The framed photo was one of the bishop and youth giving the "thumbs up" sign while attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., last year. Beneath it was a Bible verse: "Do not let anyone look down upon you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, your faith and purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).

The youth rally attendees stood and applauded, giving the bishop a standing ovation.

After Mass, the youth interacted during a social period, using the game room and swimming pool and taking part in a dance.

MONROE -- The Apostolate to the Handicapped announces its spring day for the handicapped to be held on Saturday, April 13, at the Monroe Senior High School.

All handicapped, elderly invited

All handicapped and elderly persons are especially invited to this event. "Light the Fire Within -- Celebrating 35 Years" is the theme of this day for the handicapped. Having begun in 1967, the Apostolate to the Handicapped will celebrate its 35th birthday.

Bishop George O. Wirz will be the principal celebrant and homilist for the 11 a.m. Mass. He will be joined by other priests concelebrating the Mass.

Fr. Kent Schmitt will lead the liturgical planning assisted by Fr. Michael Klarer and Fr. Bill Seipp. Television Mass commentators and acolytes will read and serve the Mass. The gifts will be presented to the bishop by disabled persons of the Apostolate to the Handicapped.

Hugh and Heidi Espinoza will begin the day at 9:45 a.m. with music. This will be followed by the Mass and then a dinner will be served to all the guests. After dinner, entertainment will be provided by the "Wisconsin Singers."

With the help of volunteers

This day happens because of the generosity of hundreds of volunteers. It takes many drivers, nurses, planning committees, set-up and clean-up committees, Monroe auxiliary police, cooks, food preparers, servers, decorators, Monroe High School personnel, and benefactors -- all volunteers to make such a large undertaking take place for 1,200 persons.

A special feature this year will be a commemorative "Campion's Champions" T-shirt which will be given to each guest attending. This will be a unique edition honoring the 35 years.

All handicapped and elderly persons are invited. To make a reservation, write to Msgr. Tom Campion at Box 443, Monroe, Wis., 53566. Transportation will be furnished whenever possible for those who need a ride.

Celebrating 35 years

Campion said, "Thirty-five years is a real milestone. We have so much to look back on with pride, and so much to look forward to with hope. We want to make this a great day of celebration; 35 years of love, caring, and compassion for disabled persons is a vivid and loud testimony to the goodness of people, through whom God speaks to his people. I hope we can all join together in a spirit of love and friendship, thanking God for the past and rededicating ourselves to the future. We all have to continue to light the fire within."

There is no cost to any handicapped persons as expenses are paid by friends of the apostolate.

MADISON -- Three paid internship opportunities are available for college-age people in the Diocese of Madison, according to J. Mark Brinkmoeller, director of the diocesan Office for Justice and Peace.

The opportunities include:

• Internships with the Social Ministry Internship Program sponsored by the Office for Justice and Peace -- Beginning in early June and running for 10 weeks, internship positions will most likely be with the Office for Justice and Peace, St. Martin House, Hispanic Ministry/Centro Guadalupano, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. Placement decisions are made based on the intern's interests and the current needs of the partner organizations involved. Application deadline is May 1.

• An intern position funded by the national office of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development -- The intern would work in the Office for Justice and Peace on CCHD-related tasks and issues, local poverty, community organizing, etc. The position begins in the fall 2002 term and runs through the winter term for a total of 28 weeks. More information may be found at: http://www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/youth.htm#internships. Application deadline is March 15.

• A Catholic Social Teaching Internship organized by the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice -- Internships run over the summer and are available in various cities. More information may be found at: http://www.nicwj.org/pages/outreach.CST.html. Application deadline is April 1.

For more information, contact Brinkmoeller at 608-821-3086 or at justiceandpeace@straphael.org.