Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, March 28, 2002 5:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Mass of the Lord's Supper, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Friday, March 29, 2002 3:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Lord's Passion, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Saturday, March 30, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside at Hour of Prayer, Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 7:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Easter Vigil Eucharist, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Sunday, March 31, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Easter Eucharist, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison 7:00 p.m. -- Preside at Solemn Easter Vespers, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Wednesday, March 27 -- Saturday, March 30, 2002 Attend Directed Retreat, Jesuit Retreat House, Oshkosh Saturday, March 30, 2002 Easter Vigil Eucharist, Sisters of St. Agnes, Fond du Lac Sunday, March 31, 2002 Easter Eucharist, Sisters of St. Agnes, Fond du Lac Wednesday, April 3, 2002 7:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Paul Parish, Evansville

Oils of forgiveness, healing, and sanctification

(This week's column consists of the text of Bishop Bullock's homily from the Mass of Chrism, Tuesday, March 26, 2002, St. Raphael Cathedral.)

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

We gather in our St. Raphael Cathedral this evening to celebrate the sacred mysteries of our faith.

We come to bless the oils of forgiveness, healing, and sanctification. We do so in a world in many ways, the same, yet very different from the world we knew at last year's Chrism Mass.

"This Holy Week, I pray that God may grant us pardon and peace, that He may strengthen us in Jesus, risen from the dead. With the Spirit of the Lord upon us, we use these oils for forgiveness, healing, and sanctification. He is our Savior and Redeemer lifted up that we might be saved."

In wake of terrorism

In the wake of terrorism on September 11^th, in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, we witnessed damage and destruction to buildings, and death to the lives of many innocent people. At the site of the World Trade Center even today bodies are being discovered.

Families of their deceased loved ones are still uprooted and in turmoil, and we find ourselves engaged in a war, while far from our shores, it is close -- close because in military service these are our brothers and sisters who defend our nation and preserve our cherished freedoms.

As a First World country we are perhaps the most powerful economically and militarily in the entire world. Yet, we are stunned and humbled, as a nation, full of fear and uncertainty about our future.

We have been invited to see first hand poverty, injustice, violence, and oppression, given as reasons but never excuses, for violence and hate which seethed openly or just beneath the surface. How are you and I handling all that is unfolding before us in our time and place both in the Church and in our country?

Need for forgiveness healing, sanctification

The first way to face our situation is to see our need for forgiveness within our nation, to see our need for healing, and our need as God's people to grow holy, see our need for sanctification by the Lord. Our eyes have opened, our hearts have broken, and our feelings have been hurt. How much does it take to get our attention?

Closer to home, the terrible news of the sexual abuse of minors by priests receives front page in the press, top of the hour coverage on T.V. and radio. The Church herself is humiliated by the secular world, put on trial for the misdeeds of some few who have violated their sacred trust given to them for ministry.

We pray first and always for the victims, and for those who have brought about this regrettable situation. We pray for the Church that God will raise up more vocations to priesthood and religious life, that he strengthens our seminarians, granting them the grace of perseverance.

We are in need of forgiveness within the Church, in need of healing as Christ's people, and in need of sanctification as a faith community. Let us never dodge or divert what we face with other agendas. We talk often about a call for conversion. Well, it's now here.

We need sacred oils

The Church needs the holy oils of forgiveness, healing, and sanctification. We need it wherever there is violence against the poor and helpless, wherever there is sickness of mind, body, or spirit.

We need the sacred oils wherever there is sin which alienates peoples and offends the holiness of God. The oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, the Holy Chrism used in the sacramental action of Christ is ours.

The ministry of the Lord to the prophet Isaiah, echoed by Jesus, is a description of His life and ministry. It needs to be heard and re-heard by us whose hearts and lives are wounded by violence, by sickness, and by sin. We need this Spirit of the Lord upon us.

Jesus speaks the ancient words of Isaiah in the synagogue when He says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." (Is. 61:1-2)

Year acceptable to Lord?

You may rightly ask -- Has this year of extraordinary violence, sickness, and sin, been a year acceptable to the Lord? Has it been a year of glad tidings for the lowly? A year of healing for the brokenhearted? A year of liberty and release for the oppressed? Has it been a year of favor from the Lord, of comfort for those who mourn?

We are tempted to say, "No, this has not been such a year." As we look again and again at the rubble and ruin of the destroyed World Trade Center, the twin Towers of wealth and power, as we hear time after time of the rubble of broken lives of families, children of the poor in Third World countries, as we sift through the smoldering ashes of all that we read in the newspapers and watch on television -- we are tempted to say, "No, this has not been such a year."

But all these are solemn reminders that the Church and the world stand in need of forgiveness, of healing, and of sanctification.

They are solemn reminders that the Gospel of Christ must be preached and lived more deeply.

Action of Christ

In a real way, it is because of this that we are here tonight and celebrate a year which Christ our priest can make acceptable. It can be, because of Him, a year when freedom and liberty in the name of our God triumphs over slavery and sin, a year when hearts broken can be mended, a year when the violence of terrorism will hold no power over those who believe and trust in the God who anointed Jesus to bring gladness and true freedom.

Ask for prayers

To all the faithful, those here present and all members of the Diocese of Madison, I ask your prayers for our Diocese, for me your Bishop, and Bishop George Wirz, and for these, our priests. You know them as pastors and spiritual fathers. They are compassionate men who desire to serve Christ with their very lives, and they do so with a powerful witness to the Gospel.

Much is asked of them today, and so much is also asked of you, the consecrated religious, of you parishioners, and parish ministry leaders.

Your prayer, your witness and work are important elements of the Church's service. Without you, the work of your pastors would be an impossible one. But with you, with Christ, the Church does and will accomplish great things. We thank you for your loving service.

Call upon Jesus

Terrorism will never be powerful enough to strike down those who believe in Jesus Christ. Sickness and sinfulness will never be strong enough to keep us from the presence of God, the author of all life.

Forgiveness, healing, and sanctification are gifts of Jesus to His Church through the proclamation of the Scriptures, and the preaching of her pastors, through the life-giving teachings of the Church, through the Sacraments which we celebrate with a living faith, and through these holy oils which we bless tonight. Forgiveness, healing, and sanctification all will be ours if we call upon Jesus.

"Today, this day," Jesus said, "this Scripture passage [of anointing, gladness, liberty, and healing] is fulfilled in your hearing." It was true when He said it nearly two thousand years ago and it is true tonight. He calls us to full conversion. God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins.

Savior and Redeemer

This Holy Week, I pray that God may grant us pardon and peace, that He may strengthen us in Jesus, risen from the dead. With the Spirit of the Lord upon us, we use these oils for forgiveness, healing, and sanctification. He is our Savior and Redeemer lifted up that we might be saved.

May our year ahead be a time of pardon and peace, a time of reconciliation. May we listen to Christ as faithful witnesses to His way and to His truth. May we walk faithfully and unfalteringly in His footsteps.

Bishop's Letter

Dear Friends in Christ:

As we celebrate with joy and humility the Resurrection of Our Lord at Easter, we are reminded of his mission to the church to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth until he comes again. Through baptism each of us is called to do so in whatever way we can.

Some are called to forsake secular pursuits and enter ordained ministry as priests. Each Easter we take a collection to support those in seminary programs studying for our diocese. With the complex and rapidly changing world in which they will serve, they must be well prepared. Their formation program includes four or five years of studies beyond college with a balance of theological academics, practical pastoral experiences, and spiritual discernment. God willing, three will be ordained this May.

Since becoming your bishop, I have sought to assure that those applying to become seminarians are properly reviewed and professionally screened. It is my strong belief that no one should be discouraged from responding to God's call to priesthood because of lack of funds. Your generosity in giving to this collection helps assure both are accomplished. Your support also is an encouraging sign to our seminarians.

With joy let us thank God for those who have answered God's call. May this Easter season be one of grace for you all.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

Most Reverend William H. Bullock
Bishop of Madison