Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Wednesday, August 14, 2002 12:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Day of Prayer and Fasting for U.S. Bishops in Reparation for the Sexual Abuse of Children and Minors, Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel, Madison Thursday, August 15, 2002 12:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Sunday, August 18, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Installation of Reverend James G. Kuhn as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Beloit Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:30 a.m. -- Attend Corporate Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, August 22, 2002 4:00 p.m. -- Attend Transitional Diaconate Ordination Rehearsal, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison (Ordination of Transitional Deacons will be held on Friday, August 23, 2002, 7:30 p.m. at Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison) 5:00 p.m. -- Host Bishop's Summer Gathering for Seminarians, Bishop's Residence, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, August 15, 2002 5:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sixth Anniversary of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, St. Mary Parish, Fennimore Sunday, August 18, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Installation of Reverend Randy J. Budnar as Pastor, Holy Rosary Parish, Darlington Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:30 a.m. -- Attend Corporate Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, August 22, 2002 5:00 p.m. -- Attend Bishop's Summer Gathering for Seminarians, Bishop's Residence, Madison

War and peace
in the global village

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

Amid the rumors of war with Iraq, the threats of using nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, the continuing war in Afganistan, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is a part of us that shouts - "stop the world, I want to get off."

In addition to the above, the continued recovery for victims of sexual abuse by priests and bishops headlines the news.

"God does not ask that we not feel anxious, but he does ask that we trust him no matter how we feel."

How, amid the bleakness and darkness of our time in history, can we keep our perspective, gather the courage and determination in order to develop solid plans that will reverse the destructive patterns that seek to destroy that which is good and worthwhile?

Gloom and doom

"Gloom and doom, Bishop," you may say. "Why not look at the bright side of life?"

There is a lot in me that reaches out asking that very question: how might we tap into the goodness of humankind in order to build a more civilized, peaceful world, and a holier people committed to the ways of Christ?

Why do we not have peace? We do not have peace because it does not come about by wishing it into existence; it comes by hard work, give and take, negotiation and patience.

How do we cope with life, live our faith while in troubled waters? Part of our answer rests in being quiet, listening, finding reflective time for prayer and reading.

If asked, I am sure each of us would say we try to live by faith. But when uncertainty continues to surround us, we can waiver and experience our own vulnerability in serious ways. Terrorism continues to be an uncertainty in our lives, as do an unsteady economy or shaky relationships - they test and try our faith.

God never fails

For us to keep our balance and continue our walk in faith, we need but recall God's acts of faithfulness to us. He has never failed us in the past. Faith remains his gift to us and that gift allows us to count on the track record of God who always loves us and is present to us especially in our need.

What God asks of us is stated simply by Thomas Merton: "God does not ask that we not feel anxious, but he does ask that we trust him no matter how we feel." That statement is easy to accept but hard to apply in daily life.

It is not my style to over-simplify challenges that face us on life's journey. Life is complex and can easily, in times of adversity, become very complicated if we set aside those essentials of our faith, our beliefs, our Church.

As one author states it: "As long as we have memories, yesterday remains. As long as we have hope, tomorrow awaits us. As long as God is with us, today is truly the best day of our lives." We have all three.

Mary, a model of trust

As we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven on August 15, we give thanks to God for his goodness to us, we praise God for giving us Mary, as mother and perfect Christian. She responded in faith in all that God asked of her. She is our mother who watches over us and intercedes for us in all our needs.

Like a good mother, when we are afraid, she throws her loving arms around us and leads us to the heart of her son, Jesus . . . there our restless hearts rest securely in him.

St. Pius X, Cambridge, multicultural parish

So often commentators speak of the world as a global village. Frequently I speak to the multicultural needs of our Church with special attention to our solidarity with the Archdiocese of Owerri in Nigeria. As you know, we are blessed with seven priests in our Diocese from Nigeria.

The recent World Youth Day in Toronto with representatives from 170 countries present gave us a good example of our catholicity, our universality. We were truly united in one faith, committed to Jesus Christ, and following the leadership of Pope John Paul II, his Vicar on earth.

More recent than World Youth Day was my pastoral visit to St. Pius X Parish in Cambridge this past weekend for the installation of Father Basil Osuigwe as Administrator.

Give and take

In a very concrete way the installation revealed a loving and mutual acceptance of each other's cultures.

In my visit with the parishioners after Mass, I could tell how easily they have come to know and cherish each other. One lady said, "I am Father's English teacher. I work on his 'rs'." Father Basil said, "I am their worship teacher leading them to good habits of worship."

We are a Church of four distinctive marks: one (united in Christ), holy (founded by Christ), catholic (universal), and apostolic (dating back to and founded upon the twelve apostles).

I share the happy news of this visit as a sign of compliment to the parishioners of St. Pius X Parish and their willingness, along with Father Osuigwe, to learn from each other and grow together in Christ.

It was solidarity in action, a genuine expression of a global world and Church embracing the multicultural goodness of the new millennium.

Bishop's Letter

Dear Friends in Christ:

Since the acts of terrorism in our country on September 11, 2001, we have been concerned about the when and where of other planned acts of terrorism. While the vivid memory of the past calls us to a new stage of alert, the Holy Spirit moves us deeply in prayer before God.

There is nothing like a crisis of evil to deepen our attention to God, His Providence, and loving care. While the passage of time may have somewhat eased the pain and distanced the memory, there remains among us a new resolve to be better Americans, better Catholics.

September 11, 2002, provides us with an opportunity to join with millions of other Americans in honoring the memory of those who died in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania as well as to pray with millions of fellow Catholics with the celebration of Holy Mass at your local parish.

When terrorist attacks leveled us all in 2001, I did not organize any special diocesan gathering but strongly encouraged our people to go to daily Mass and pray devotions in their homes.

At our meeting in Dallas on June 12-15, the U.S. Bishops discussed a Day of Prayer in reparation to God for the children and minors sexually abused by priests and religious. We thought the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, was an appropriate day. Upon further reflection however, the U.S. Bishops decided that it was too close to the September 11 terrorist attacks and thus moved it to August 14, the Vigil of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. The Bishops decided that they would bind themselves to personal fasting on that day.

Living in faith and with hope in our hearts after September 11, we are called as Catholics, to pray, fast, and witness to the goodness of God as we serve victims of the September 11 disaster.

Therefore, I am asking, with this letter, that we, as a Diocese, gather in our parish churches for the celebration of Mass on September 11, 2002. We can also observe the day in additional ways as suggested by the USCCB Publishing, a copy of which was sent to each parish.

As Catholics and Americans we can blend our Church membership and citizenship easily, readily, and without contradiction.

I will celebrate Mass at St. Raphael Cathedral on September 11 at 12:00 noon and invite those who wish to please join me.

Prayer, making a sacrifice for others, fasting, and giving alms to the poor helps us become better Americans as one nation under God and better Catholics in the universal Church.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

Most Reverend William H. Bullock
Bishop of Madison

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison, wishes to announce the following appointments:

Rev. Nicholas Okere, as Faithful Friar, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, Bishop William P. O'Connor General Assembly #1200, effective August 1, 2002, through July 31, 2003.

Rev. Jason E. Hesseling, as Chaplain, Knights of Columbus Waunakee Council #6371, effective August 1, 2002, through July 31, 2003.

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General