News Briefs: Adult lecture series MADISON -- The Adult Faith Formation Fall Lecture Series at Blessed Sacrament Parish has begun its fall 2002 program with Fr. Benjamin Russell's lectures entitled "Branches of the Same Vine: The Jewish Roots of Christianity." The first lecture, "Understanding Jesus as a Jew," was held Tuesday, Nov. 12. The next lecture entitled "Jewish and Catholic Ritual Year" will be presented Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Friary (school basement) at Blessed Sacrament; enter at the elevator entrance on Rowley Ave. A December prayer service with Temple Beth El is also being planned. Peer support groups MADISON -- Peer support groups for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship are offered at two Madison parishes and are open to all ages/faiths. New Directions will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd., top floor. For information, call 608-821-3170, option 2. Friends on a Journey will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at Our Lady Queen of Peace nursery, 401 S. Owen Drive. For information, call 608-821-3170, option 3. Education fair on adoption, foster care MADISON -- In honor of National Adoption Month, a free education fair on adoption and foster care will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison. Mini-workshops will be held on foster care and the different kinds of adoption, including domestic, international, and special needs. Participants may find out about the issues, process, and costs of adoption. Agencies and adoptive parents will be available to offer information. Childcare will be provided. For more information, call 888-485-7385. Remembrance service, grief workshop SINSINAWA -- Sinsinawa Mound will offer a "Remembering Service: Remembering Our Loved Ones at Holiday Time" on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. Participants may honor a deceased loved one by displaying a personalized ornament on a tree in Queen of the Rosary Chapel, then take it home after the service. To remember a loved one with an ornament, contact Janice, 608-748-4411, ext. 811. Those interested may also attend a grief workshop the preceding day, Nov. 23, and stay overnight. Call for rates. Moving volunteers needed MADISON -- St. Marys Care Center is in need of volunteers to help on "Moving Day," Saturday, Dec. 7. Volunteers are needed to help 175 residents move from the current Care Center location at 1347 Fish Hatchery Rd. to the new St. Marys Care Center at 3401 Maple Grove Rd. A variety of shifts are available. Contact Carmela Mulroe at 608-327-2582 for more information or to sign up.

Faith in Action: Catholic Charities celebrates achievements of community leaders and clients

By Sharyn Alden and Mary C. Uhler
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- Over 400 people joined Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison in celebrating "Faith in Action!" at the agency's recent Awards Dinner held at the Marriott Madison West.

In his address to those assembled, Bishop William H. Bullock emphasized that Catholic Charities brings "a gift of God's love." "We work to witness to Christ, our God and our Savior, who reassures both the caregiver and the recipient of aid and rehabilitation, that they are indeed human beings with rights, that they are loved by God," said the bishop. (The complete text of his talk may be found on the "Bishop Speaks" page.)

Catholic Charities, a 50-year-old agency, provides 27 services to the community through four areas of assistance: services to seniors, alcohol and drug abuse services, services to children, and services to individuals and families. Programs are provided to community members regardless of income or faith.

The annual Awards Dinner directly benefits programs administered by Catholic Charities. Last year over 16,000 people were helped by Catholic Charities' programs in 11 counties.

Three individuals within Catholic Charities programs were honored with Catholic Charities Executive Director Awards: Jane Wood from Companion Care, Stephen Maginot of Developmental Disability Counseling, and Joseph Kindell of Marquette Chemical Dependency Service.

Three local leaders were recognized for their contributions to the community:

• Msgr. Michael Burke, pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish since 1996. He received the Catholic Leadership Award. Burke was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Madison in 1974. His assignments have included: chaplain at St. Marys Hospital, associate pastor at St. Henry Parish in Watertown, vocation director for the Diocese of Madison, and rector and administrator at Holy Name Seminary.

• Dr. James A. Ebben, president of Edgewood College since 1987, received the Community Leadership Award. He is the first lay person to serve as the school's president. His community activities include the United Way, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America, and Rotary Club.

• Thomas E. Shipley, the recipient of the Visionary Leadership Award, is president of Rockit Products, Inc., a marketing and product development company. The former president of Edgewood High School, he has served as a strategic long-range planner and has been a project consultant for many area organizations, including the University of Wisconsin national "W" Club.

Brian Cain, executive director of Catholic Charities, commented, "We put our 'Faith in Action' here at Catholic Charities. Through the efforts of our many fine employees and volunteers we reach out into our community to make a difference in the many lives we touch.

"The beauty is that when we touch a life, it touches us back."

Christmas party:
Sponsored by Apostolate to Handicapped

MONROE -- The 35th annual Christmas Party sponsored by the Apostolate to the Handicapped will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Monroe Senior High School in Monroe.

The theme for this year's event is "Let Us Go Rejoicing - Celebrating 35 Years." Bishop William H. Bullock will preside and preach at the 11 a.m. Mass, joined by 20 other concelebrating priests. The Diocesan Choir, under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman, will sing for the Mass. Randy Gracyalny will be the cantor.

Commentators and acolytes from the television Mass on WISC-TV will read and serve for the Mass. Disabled persons will present the Offertory gifts. Fr. Kent Schmitt, Fr. Mike Klarer, and Fr. Bill Seipp will coordinate the Mass.

Hugh and Heidi Espinoza will begin entertaining the expected 1,300 guests at 9:45 a.m. The Mass will be followed by a traditional Christmas dinner. Mike Doyle is in charge of the dinner. Monroe athletes and Monroe F.F.A. will assist.

"Campion's Jazz Boys" will entertain during and after diner. They are six sophomores at Monroe High School. There will be the annual visit by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus who will bring gifts.

Special table favors are being made by Irene Molitor and her staff along with the Christmas gift given by Swiss Colony. The usual staff of hundreds of volunteers will help in the production of the day; nurses, drivers, cooks, servers, set-up and clean-up workers, benefactors, Monroe Fire Department, the Green County EMS, Monroe Auxiliary Police, UW Knights of Columbus, the staff and students body of Monroe High School, and many other organizations and individuals.

Every handicapped and elderly person is invited. To make a reservation, write to Msgr. Tom Campion at Box 443, Monroe, WI 53566. Transportation will be furnished whenever possible for those who need a ride. There is no cost to any handicapped person as expenses are paid by "Friends of the Apostolate."

Campion said, "This year's Christmas party is most significant, because most likely it will be the last one Bishop Bullock will preside at as he has reached the mandatory retirement age and has submitted his letter of resignation to Pope John Paul II. We want it to be an opportunity for us to express our affection and gratitude to him for his strong leadership and loyal support of the Apostolate to the Handicapped."