News Briefs: Diocesan Choir concert MADISON -- The Madison Diocesan Choir will celebrate the Easter season in a spring concert on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the handicapped accessible Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 3577 High Point Rd. There is free parking. There is no charge; a gift of non-perishable food is appreciated. Evening of prayer MADISON -- Madison Diocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal Prayer Groups will hold an evening of prayer on Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 3577 High Point Rd. People other than prayer group members who would like to join in praying for the nation are also invited to attend. Rosary March May 5 MADISON -- The 49th consecutive Rosary March will be held at St. Raphael Cathedral at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Theme is "That Our Blessed Mother as the star of evangelization may lead the church into the living of the Gospel." Msgr. George Hastrich will present the homily. A 15 decade rosary will be prayed as participants march outside around the block and the rosary will also be prayed inside the church. There will be a presentation of flowers and May crowning. Msgr. Daniel Ganshert will celebrate Benediction. Music, death, and dying MADISON -- Composer, harpist, and singer Therese Schroeder-Shecker will present the work of music thanatology (study of death and dying) Monday, April 29, at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. To register, call 608-824-4400 or 1-800-368-5596. LAMP workshop MADISON -- LAMP (Latin American Mission Program) workshop will be held at the Schoenstatt Retreat House, 3601 Hwy. BB, Friday evening and Saturday, May 10 and 11. The workshop will include a Spanish Mass, travel information, teaching tips, arts and crafts ideas, experiences of former volunteers, slides, and an opportunity to meet volunteers for this year. For information, call 608-845-7028, 608-543-3631, or 608-868-7816.

Fire destroys Highland church:

(See also front page photo.)

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

HIGHLAND -- Tragedy struck SS. Anthony and Philip Parish here around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, when a fire broke out at St. Anthony Church and destroyed most of the building.

Fire departments from 10 communities worked together to put the fire out, but to no avail. The fire, which most likely began in the attic, continued to burn Thursday and left only brick structure standing.

A crane was scheduled to knock down the remaining brick structure Friday so that it would not fall into the street.

There was no indication of how the fire started. No one was injured.

Tragedy of fire

Pastor Fr. Ken Frisch had just arrived at St. Thomas Parish of Montfort, linked with SS. Anthony and Philip Parish, for an evening talk when he was told to head back to St. Anthony Church because there was a fire there.

"It was called in at 6:30 p.m. when the fire came through the roof," said Frisch. "It was amazing how (before that), people were in the church, but they didn't see anything because it was up in the attic.

"Firemen were there through the night," he said. "It was amazing what they were able to get out of there: all of the vestments, candles, chalices, most of the statues, the altar, the Easter candle."

There were a few things that were able to be saved from the basement as well, said Sharon Olson, pastoral assistant. "There were tables and chairs. Two huge statues of St. Anthony and the Holy Family and three huge historical pictures on the wall were saved."

The Stations of the Cross were removed from the building, but not all of them are salvageable, she said. "They saved so many things, and we are so grateful to the firemen."

They had hoped the bells could have been saved, but that was not possible. At about midnight Wednesday they came crashing down. Only when the debris is sifted through will they be able to determine whether the bells are salvageable, said Frisch.

Offering support

Bishop William H. Bullock and Msgr. Paul J. Swain, vicar general, visited the site Thursday to offer sympathy and support.

"That meant a lot to us," said Frisch.

"As Fr. Frisch has already indicated in the public press that I express my heartfelt sorrow at the loss of your treasured church building of St. Anthony and will be present to you as you make future plans," said Bullock.

"I am encouraged by Fr. Frisch's emphasis that the church building is a treasured place of worship, but its people constitute the living stones.

"I commend the firefighters, the parishioners, and Fr. Frisch, all of whom worked so hard to save the Blessed Sacrament and Tabernacle, vestments, cross, and some Stations of the Cross.

"Together in Christ, you of St. Anthony, Philip, and Thomas of Montfort will find a way to continue worshipping and working to promote the Kingdom of Christ in your midst. Know of my continued prayers.

"Fr. Frisch has brought a genuine pastoral presence of compassion, care, and sound plan to the three parishes these past years," said the bishop. "He has the confidence of his people and I am sure they will all move forward with courage under his leadership."

"The offices of the diocese will be available to help the parishes plan for the future," said Swain.

'We'll go on from here'

The church, whose cornerstone was laid in 1898, was last renovated four years ago with new paint and carpeting. The parish serves 420 families.

"To see a landmark disappear in one night is unbelievable," said Jane Pigusch, longtime parishioner.

Parishioners will now attend Masses held at St. Philip Church a block away.

"We do already use that church, so we will continue to do so," said Olson.

"One advantage is that we do have a church - St. Philip - so we do not have to make a rush decision" (on rebuilding), said Frisch. "That will allow us to choose wisely. I'm hopeful we all have the patience to see what may be the best thing for Highland. We'll go on from here. We'll make it work."

Marriage Savers:

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- "What God has joined together, let the faith community of the Greater Madison Area seek to hold together," reads the Greater Madison Community Marriage Policy.

The policy, signed by clergy and church representatives April 19 at a public signing ceremony at the State Capitol, signals the commitment of area congregations in strengthening marriages.

The event was sponsored by Marriage Savers and the Greater Madison Area Community Marriage Policy Task Force.

Madison is the seventh community in Wisconsin and the 160th community in America to establish a Community Marriage Policy.

Healthy marriages

"It is our purpose to promote spiritually healthy marriages," said Larry Ballard, Marriage Savers Midwest regional director.

Children of divorced parents are two times more likely to drop out of school, six times more likely to experience poverty, and 12 times more likely to become incarcerated, he said.

"We have the opportunity to make a difference through steps we take today," said Ballard.

Mentoring programs established through the Community Marriage Policy would provide couples with skills to fulfill their dream of a successful marriage, he said.

"Marriage is not a Catholic issue, a Protestant or Islamic issue. It is not a democratic issue. Healthy marriages are important to the well-being of society," he said.

Opportunities, resources

Beverly Hartberg, member of the Greater Madison Community Marriage Policy Task Force and associate director of the Diocese of Madison Office of Family Ministry, spoke on behalf of Bishop William H. Bullock.

"The Community Marriage Policy provides opportunities and resources to enrich and support married couples throughout their marriage by providing mentor couples from their faith community to journey with them," she said, pointing out that the policy gives couples in troubled marriages resources to learn relationship skills.

"The benefits of such unions will, in turn, strengthen and benefit our entire community," she said.

Helping couples

Msgr. Kenneth J. Fiedler, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison, represented the clergy of the Diocese of Madison.

He pointed out that the second Vatican Council document, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, reaffirms marriage: "The well-being of the individual person and of human and Christian society is intimately linked with the healthy condition of that community produced by marriage and family.

"May today's signing be a reminder to all engaged couples that we care and want the best for them," said Fiedler.

Making a difference

Other speakers voicing their support included Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow; Pastor Bill White, senior pastor, Bethel Lutheran Church; Pastor William T. Badger, Jr., New Beginnings Alliance Church; Pastor Ron Dobie, president, Dane County Association of Evangelicals; Rep. Wayne Wood, Janesville; Rev. David C. Couper, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and former chief of police, Madison; and Scott Jensen, speaker of the State Assembly.

"We indeed can make a difference, couple by couple, congregation by congregation," said Harriet McManus, co-chair of Marriage Savers with her husband, Michael.

Michael pointed out that clergy in Modesto, Calif., signed the nation's first Community Marriage Policy in 1986 and have since seen the divorce rate drop 48 percent and the marriage rate increase 14 percent over the past 16 years. "If most houses of worship in Madison sign this agreement and train couples in strong marriages to mentor others, the divorce rate of those congregations could fall to near zero and Madison's divorce rate could be cut in half."

The McManuses presented a seminar explaining the policy to clergy April 19. They facilitated a Marriage Savers Training to mentoring couples representing 20 different congregations at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center April 19-20.