Catholic Multicultural Center

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photos.)

MADISON -- The fund raising effort for the Catholic Multicultural Center has now reached a milestone of just over $2 million, reported Jay Conzemius, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Madison.

Contributing to this milestone was a recent $250,000 donation for the kitchen area from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation in Madison. It was the largest individual gift so far during the 15-month fund raising campaign to reach a goal of $3.5 million.

Generous gift

The quarter-million-dollar gift is intended for the kitchen of the center, said Steven F. Skolaski, president of the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation. The foundation was established in 1949 by Oscar Rennebohm, a successful businessman and former Wisconsin governor who owned the once-largest chain of drug stores in Madison.

News Briefs: Post abortion retreat MADISON -- For men and women who have struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion, Rachel's Vineyard offers a non-judgmental environment in which to begin the healing process. For general information on Rachel's Vineyard, call 1-877-HOPE-4-ME or visit www.rachelsvineyard.org. To speak to someone who has attended a Rachel's Vineyard retreat, contact Leslie Graves at 608-218-1264 or LBGraves@aol.com. The next Rachel's Vineyard retreat in the Diocese of Madison will be held at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center on Friday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 10. For more information, contact Beverly Hartberg at 608-821-3177 or bhartberg@straphael.org. 'Dealing with grief' SUN PRAIRIE -- Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish will be hosting a presentation on "Dealing with Grief" by Sr. Susan Michelle Dubec, a member of the Provincial Council of the Milwaukee Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and former pastoral associate and director of adult enrichment at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison. The day will begin on All Souls Day, Saturday, Nov. 2, with a Memorial Mass at 8:30 a.m., celebrated for those parish members and their loved ones who have died within the past year. Immediately following Mass, refreshments will be served in the parish gathering room. Dubec's presentation will follow at 10:15 a.m. All are welcome to attend. Mt. Horeb clinic MT. HOREB -- The Dane County Human Services Department's Division of Public Health is holding a free immunization clinic in Mt. Horeb on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 315 E. Main St., from 3 to 5 p.m. Immunizations are free; no appointments are necessary. Persons should bring all immunization records. For more information, call 608-242-6520. Flu shot clinics are scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Mount Horeb EMS, 120 S. First St., and on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Ignatius Church, 109 S. 6th St. Call Home Health United at 608-250-3305 for locations of other flu clinics. Peer support group MADISON -- Peer support for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship is offered at St. Dennis Parish and is open to all ages/faiths. New Directions will meet 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd., top floor. The topic will be "The links between self-esteem and relationship choices" presented by social worker Donna Defoe. RSVP to 608-821-3170 option 2. Craft sale donations SUN PRAIRIE -- Donations are now being accepted for the Sacred Hearts School's 14th annual "Sights of Christmas" Craft and Collectible Sale. Items may be dropped off outside the office of the school. Contributions will be accepted through Thursday, Oct. 31. For more information, call Lisa Wittmann, 608-837-5752.

Skolaski said this is the second grant the foundation has made to a kitchen on the south side of Madison - $125,000 was donated to the Boys and Girls Club as well.

The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation recognized the need as well as the tremendous commitment the diocese has made to the project, said Skolaski. "We felt it is an important project. The diocese should be proud of it."

"The need for our Catholic Multicultural Center continues and the gift to assist in feeding Latinos, Asians, and African Americans by donating part of the equipment for the kitchen pleases me very much and yet allows the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation to stay within the parameters of their charities," said Bishop William H. Bullock. "Partnering in our enterprise is great and I am grateful."

Conzemius emphasized the diocese's gratitude as well. "This gift will help the diocese provide for the poor in our community in a very dignified environment, a place where guests and volunteers will want to come," he said.

To open in December

According to J. Mark Brinkmoeller, Catholic Multicultural Center administrator and director of the diocesan Office for Justice and Peace, St. Martin House and Centro Guadalupano plan to move into the center by Nov. 25 and 26. Programs in the Catholic Multicultural Center will be operational by the first weekend in December, he said.

A formal opening of the center will take place in December.

"The generosity of the foundation is tremendous and we are very grateful," said Brinkmoeller, noting that the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation gift will strengthen the meal program.

"As the Catholic Multicultural Center building nears completion, it more than fulfills the high expectations its planning identified," said Msgr. Paul J. Swain, vicar general. "The facility will allow continuation and expansion of the outstanding programs of Centro Guadalupano for the Latino community, and St. Martin House for the needy and neighborhood, while allowing new programs to be developed. Investment in this building is a sign of the respect the Catholic Church in Madison has for the people we serve."

"I think a lot of people will be surprised with the new Catholic Multicultural Center when it is opened," said Conzemius. "It will provide a facility that will be a real asset to the diocese and our community. While the old facility allowed us to serve the poor, the new center will truly provide a resource we have never offered to our diocesan community for guests or volunteers.

"Hopefully by people seeing we have the support of a large and respected foundation like the Rennebohm Foundation, more people will decide to join in making a gift to this very important work of the diocese and to our community," said Conzemius.

Important project

The Catholic Multicultural Center is an important project because "it provides a service and a witness in the community, providing needed services and a place community action can occur," said Brinkmoeller. It is also vital because it provides a way we can act on our faith, a way of reaching out to all, which is part of our call as Catholics, he said. "And we'll be able to reach out in new ways, with a springboard to reach out to more diverse communities."

"We still have many miles to go before we rest but I know God will find a way for us to complete our payments and build a sustaining plan to minister unto and to help our Latino, African American, and Asian immigrants," said Bullock.

To make a donation to the Catholic Multicultural Center, send to: Diocese of Madison, Catholic Multicultural Center, P.O. Box 44983, Madison, WI 53744-4983, or contact Jay Conzemius at 608-821-3040. Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities at the center may call J. Mark Brinkmoeller at 608-821-3086.

Asking the Harvest Master:
For an increase in vocations

By Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

The bright hues of orange, yellow, and red which have festooned our trees these past weeks provide an insight into nature. Namely, what was there all along finally became visible for us to see and enjoy.

Leaves which had been green for months gradually showed their true colors as the seasonal process of dying takes it course. If this process were to have been stopped by laying an ax to the tree, the leaves would simply have turned brown as the result of having been cut off from their roots, their life source. Sin is like this. It can cut us off from our life source if we let it.

Area vocation meetings All parishes with vocation committees and those parishes who are interested in forming them are invited to attend one of the diocesan area meetings listed below: • Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m., at St. Mary Parish, Portage • Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m, noon at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison.

Human beings are created to be colorful people, not unlike the many beautiful leaves of harvest time.

Where does this beauty come from? Only from God in whose image and likeness we are made. We humans come from all walks of life with different backgrounds and experiences. This, among other things, makes us interesting people because we are so diverse. And yet, it is when we give of our inner selves that the even more interesting and colorful aspects of who we are become visible.

How beautiful it is when we see compassion, forgiveness, personal sacrifice for worthy goals, and similar qualities in one another's lives. These come from our own entering into the process of dying to sin; dying to selfishness, apathy, and greed; dying to ourselves so that Christ may live more and more in us, so that the beauty of the Body of Christ may be made visible in us. All the while, we ask Jesus to help us do this because he is our source of life. We can die to self each day and live, more and more, through him, with him, and in him.

May this autumn be the time we ask the Harvest Master, again, to change us, to bring out the beauty which has been planted in our lives from the start as creatures of God. It is a beauty for all the world to see. Let us also continue to ask the Harvest Master for an increase in vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life from our homes, parishes, and diocese.

Msgr. Daniel Ganshert is coordinator of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Vocations.

Wisconsin is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that nurture the lives and the spirits of Wisconsin's citizens.

Wisconsin's citizens have long taken their responsibilities as stewards of the environment seriously.

Stewardship

Ours is a stewardship that recognizes that the food we eat, the products we consume, and the energy we use impact not only Wisconsin's land and resources, but also communities abroad. This sense of stewardship is a reason that in many ways, Wisconsin is seen as a national leader in environmental protection.

"'We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well being of future generations.'" -- John Paul II, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, 1990

Stewardship is an ongoing responsibility. Today there continue to be threats to the land, air, and water, which are fundamental to the lives and the livelihood of the human community. Moreover, while stewardship responsibility begins with each individual, public policies can serve to preserve the benefits of the natural environment for the common good of the people of Wisconsin today and tomorrow. Accordingly, the protection of the environment is always relevant for voters.

Church teachings

The story of creation teaches us that God formed the land and the water, the skies and the creatures, and God granted the care of the creation to man and woman. However as the Catechism states, "Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation" (#2415).

Just as human beings are social and drawn into relationships, so is there a bond between people and creation. All of creation is interconnected. The use of the earth's resources and each individual's and community's consumption habits ripple through the natural world, impacting land, air, water, and the lives of our brothers and sisters across the globe.

As Pope John Paul II has said, "We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well being of future generations" (John Paul II, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, 1990).

"Speak Out!" writing contest for students MADISON -- The Catholic Herald is sponsoring a fall "Speak Out!" writing contest for students in grades five through 12 in the Diocese of Madison. Beginning with the Sept. 12, 2002 issue, The Catholic Herald will include voter education issues based on "Faithful Citizenship." Students are encouraged to write editorials in response to these articles. Topics include: 1) Faithful Citizenship in Election Year 2002 (introduction and overview); 2) Human Life and Dignity; 3) Help for Families; 4) Health Care; 5) Budget Shortfalls and Taxation; 6) Criminal Justice and Corrections; 7) Environment and Agriculture. Deadline is Nov. 8. For more information, interested students may contact their Catholic school teachers or principal, call The Catholic Herald at 608-821-3070, or e-mail info@madisoncatholicherald.org.

As for agriculture, the Church has a long history of promoting responsible farming practices. Food is a fundamental component of life, and each individual, whether as a producer or a consumer, is responsible for the impact of his or her choices on the current and future health of the land.

The principles of Catholic social teaching affirm sustainable farms, because of the increased likelihood that small, family farms will be responsible stewards of the land and enhance promotion of the common good within local communities.

Issues in Wisconsin

Among the issues pressing in Wisconsin today are concerns about land use, energy consumption, and the future of Wisconsin agriculture.

The expansion of urban communities places the agricultural lands surrounding them in jeopardy of conversion from agricultural use to suburban uses. Public policies should seek to encourage preservation of prime farmlands for future generations, ensure that the natural environment is protected and that the communities that develop are well planned.

Smart land use policies should also integrate issues of energy production and conservation. Public policies should seek to maximize production of energy from renewable sources and simultaneously encourage individuals and industry to reduce use by changing consumption patterns. Efforts to increase energy production or energy distribution capacity should consider the impact of those policies on the future health of Wisconsin's land, air, and water.

Agricultural production is critically connected to Wisconsin's environment. Farming, particularly the dairy industry, is a major contributor to the state's economy. A quarter of rural employment is based on farming or food, but Wisconsin is losing farms at a rate of four or more a day.

Even with these losses, the majority of dairy farms in Wisconsin are still small to moderate in size and family owned. According to the UW-Program on Agricultural Technology Studies, over 99 percent of dairy farms in the state are family owned and 85 percent have fewer than 100 cows.

Questions for candidates 1. How would you promote responsible land use that enables us to protect farmland and vulnerable natural environments from over development? 2. Do you support efforts to reinvigorate local rural economies and to reclaim abandoned urban industrial sites and neighborhoods? 3. Where do you stand on farm policies that support small to moderate-sized, family-owned and operated farms? 4. Would you support policies that promote eating Wisconsin grown foods and other programs to more directly connect consumers with producers? 5. How do you view the regulatory role of government relative to the energy industry? Do you support efforts to reduce consumption and promote the development of alternative, renewable energy sources? 6. Do you support the Family Farm Protection Act? Other resources • Economic Justice for All: A Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching on the U.S. Economy, 1986. • Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good, USCCB, 2001. • Renewing the Earth, USCC, 1991. • Toward Community in the Heartland: Strangers and Guests, A Pastoral Letter by the Bishops of the Midwest, 1980.

At the same time the number of large livestock operations in Wisconsin is growing. In 1998, Wisconsin saw an 18 percent increase in the number of permitted animal facilities over 1,000 animal units.

As farms grow in size, they are increasingly either owned or under contract with major food processors. In the process, control of food production - and control of the food supply - becomes more centralized.

While many of the economic hardships facing the small farmer today are the result of federal and global policies, as well as the choices of all of us as consumers, there are opportunities to promote reforms in Wisconsin that can educate consumers about agricultural issues and modify the state's approach to large-scale and sustainable farms in the state.

Family Farm Protection Act

One set of reforms supported by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference is the Family Farm Protection Act. Introduced earlier this year, this bill addresses concerns regarding consolidation (vertical integration) in farming, contract farming, environmental issues present with large confined animal feeding operations, manure storage and manure spreading plans and standards for all farms, and promotion of smaller scale market development for Wisconsin grown products.

As stewards of creation, we continue to seek to fulfill God's purpose for our natural world. In our own actions and choices, our communities, our work, and our public policies, we should affirm a Catholic ecological ethic that upholds the goodness of all of God's creation.

Prepared by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, September 2002. Phone: 608-257-0004. Web site: www.wisconsincatholic.com