Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Friday, November 8 through Thursday, November 14, 2002 Attend Fall Meeting, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Friday, November 8 through Thursday, November 14, 2002 Attend Fall Meeting, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.

At death --
memorials or Masses

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

On Saturday morning, Nov. 2, I celebrated All Souls Day Mass at Resurrection Cemetery Chapel here in Madison. At that celebration of the Eucharist we recalled all who are buried in the graves and crypts in the mausoleum.

Prominent among the spaces behind the main altar in the chapel is the crypt of the first Bishop of Madison, Bishop William P. O'Connor.

It was a solemn reminder to me of our beautiful past and the courage of our founding Bishop, but also that it is in this very cemetery that I, as third Bishop of Madison, will come to rest after my death. From there I hope to be awakened by the trumpet call of the angels to come forth and be ushered into the Kingdom of God with the many other people buried at Resurrection Cemetery.

The redeemed in Christ

One very commanding image I have of our final judgment is that of Christ gathered with his Church, all the redeemed.

"I truly believe in the need for Masses for our deceased. It is part of the respect we owe the dead. Our need, as the people of God here on earth, is to assist those of our beloved dead in their final journey into the fullness of the Kingdom of God."

At that gathering Christ will present this throng of millions to the Father. Like yourself, I want to be part of these holy people, the redeemed in Christ, and hear God, our Father, say to us, Come into the Kingdom prepared for you. Eye has not seen nor ear heard, the beautiful things I have prepared for you from the beginning of time. Enter now into the Kingdom.

We shall then hear Christ say to us: When I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirsty you gave me to drink, naked and you clothed me, sick and you called upon me, in prison and you visited me. Whatsoever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, that you did unto me (Matt. 25).

We will then walk again with God in the cool of evening, meeting as we walk, Mary our Mother, St. Joseph, our patron saint, family, and friends. What a reunion in Christ - a Kingdom without war, poverty, sickness, and violence - a Kingdom of peace, plenty, love, and joy.

I am spiritually reassured as I hear all these words that we will all be rewarded for our good works, but I am also concerned that I did not always respond to the needs of others as described by Christ with the alacrity and completeness with which I was able to do.

Stages of being purified

The stages of purgation or stages of purification the Church calls Purgatory, the stopping place before entry into the fullness of the Kingdom of heaven. This also leads me to my need for Masses after I die. After a modest provision of Masses from the modest funds of my estate, I will hope many Masses will be requested for my repose of soul by those I leave behind. As you may know, when a priest dies each priest in the Diocese offers three Masses for his brother priest.

Other Christian faiths do not pray for the dead as such. They often teach that prayers for the dead reduce the truth and efficacy of the power of Jesus' Resurrection - which is automatically applied fully and once and for all to those who die. They are only partially correct.

The efficacy of God's word spoken at one time in human history is not contained totally only in a specific time and moment but is applied through the ages, so with the Mass. The application of the merits of Christ's sacrificial death and Resurrection apply as offered time and time again until Christ comes again to claim us as his own.

For Catholics a Mass is normal. For other Christians who do not think the same way, money for a memorial fund to help some good cause is appropriate.

In visiting with our priests, I find that there are fewer and fewer requests for Masses at the death and burial of loved ones and more monies given for memorials. I truly believe in the need for Masses for our deceased. It is part of the respect we owe the dead. Our need, as the people of God here on earth, is to assist those of our beloved dead in their final journey into the fullness of the Kingdom of God.

Masses or memorials

For myself I wish Masses offered for my final and full repose in God. Bishops have heavy and demanding responsibilities and, therefore, will need all the spiritual help they can receive.

I suggest parents inform their children of their preference for Masses or memorials.

Sometimes it happens that children of Catholic parents have fallen away from the active practice of their faith and do not understand anymore the preferences of their parents. We need to respect the wishes of parents, but parents need to declare to their children, without embarrassment, what they wish through clear burial instructions.

Offerings for Masses

Mass intentions are usually listed clearly and offered at parish Masses. The Bishops of Wisconsin determined that in our day a Mass offering to be given the priest is $10. For those for whom this is too large I am sure a priest will accept a Mass intention for less.

November-poor souls

The whole month of November is dedicated to the poor souls, to all the souls of those who have died and depend upon our sacrificial prayers to accompany them to heaven. Once there, they intercede for us in our needs for we are a full communion of saints.

As I said last week we are a full service Church - we believe in the value and right of human life from conception in the womb of its mother to natural death. And we believe in the spiritual from our Baptism to the fullness of heaven - which includes Purgatory, a constant teaching of the Church from its early beginnings.

"Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. May perpetual light shine upon them. May all the souls of our faithful departed rest in the peace of God."

Bishop Bullock responds
to norms approved by Holy See

By Bishop William H. Bullock
CATHOLIC HERALD PUBLISHER

The work of the mixed commission on the "Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with the Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons" has been issued and I am pleased with its provisions.

I want to, in this public forum, say once again how sorry I am to all victims of sexual abuse. There is no other way than to say a profound apology to those betrayed by priests in sexually abusing minors and children.

Our Charter and now the approved Norms which become particular law will be followed in all its aspects in our Diocese. As other press release statements have indicated - "The Holy See in its mixed commission has shown a legitimate concern for the rights of the accused while supporting the obligation of the bishops, in the governance of their dioceses, to ensure these rights and the right of the faithful to be protected."

Following the November meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington there will be a disclosure of the names of priests in our diocese who have abused minors or children and are no longer in active priestly ministry.

In doing so I am following the lead given us by Cardinal Keeler, "I have come to the conclusion that public disclosure is the right thing to do. Ultimately, there is nothing to be gained by secrecy except the avoidance of scandal. And rather than shrinking from facing this scandal - which too often has allowed it to continue - we must address it with humble contrition, righteousness anger and public outrage. Telling the truth cannot be wrong."

I remain grateful to our Diocesan Sexual Abuse Review Board for assisting me in implementing all facets of the provisions of the Charter and Norms.

The final debate on these issues will take place at our USCCB meeting in Washington, D.C., on November 11-14.