News Briefs: Calling all couples married in 1953 MADISON -- A 50th wedding celebration Mass will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, 2003 at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. Pastors throughout the Diocese of Madison received letters asking them to submit by Jan. 6 the names of those couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries during 2003. Couples must go through their parish in order to participate in the diocesan-wide celebration. Each participating couple will receive a certificate from the bishop at the April 27 Mass. Following will be a wedding cake reception in the dining room. There is ample parking at the O'Connor Center, which is also handicapped-accessible. Schoenstatt Sisters invite women to learn about them MADISON -- The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary invite women to come and learn about them and their mission at "Come and Learn Days" to be held from Saturday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m. to Sunday, Jan. 19, at 1 p.m. at Schoenstatt Heights, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd. in Madison. Women of high school age or older are invited to pray with the sisters. This includes Mass in their Marian shrine, the rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. There will also be time for private prayer and reflection. For more information, contact Sr. Marcia Vinje at 608-222-7208 or e-mail: rosary@chorus.net, or write to Schoenstatt Heights, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53718. Estudiantina sings for Spanish celebrations MADISON -- The Diocesan Estudiantina, a Spanish glee club organized under the Diocese of Madison's Office of Worship, sings for Spanish or bilingual Masses, as well as other liturgies and celebrations. The Estudiantina is ready and willing to travel around the Diocese of Madison to sing with parish choirs. Rehearsals for the Diocesan Estudiantina are held every other week at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison. For information on membership or about scheduling the Estudiantina at your parish, contact the director, Maria Antonia Kellor, at 608-238-8529. Marriage Encounter Weekend Jan. 10-12 MADISON -- Madison Marriage Encounter is hosting a weekend from Friday, Jan. 10, to Sunday, Jan. 12. A Marriage Encounter Weekend helps enhance a marriage or make a good marriage great. It is a weekend away from the daily distractions and tensions of life. The weekend will be held at the Bishop O'Connor Pastoral Center in Madison. All faiths are welcome. To register or for more information, call 608-821-3175. Peer support groups meet MADISON -- Peer support groups for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship are open to all ages/faiths at two Madison parishes. Friends on a Journey will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, at Our Lady Queen of Peace nursery, 401 S. Owen Dr. For information, call 608-821-3170. New Directions will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd., top floor. For information, call 608-821-3170.

Mass for Our Lady
of Guadalupe:
Brings special joy this year

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)
( en Español )

MADISON -- "We have been made heirs of the kingdom of heaven, and as heirs, we are to proclaim the greatness of God as well as be close to our Mary, to Our Lady of Guadalupe," said Bishop William H. Bullock in his homily at a Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 14 at St. Raphael Cathedral here.

Gathering for the celebration were people from all over the Diocese of Madison. Preceding Mass was a procession featuring a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. People placed flowers at the foot of the statue.

History of Our Lady ( en Español ) Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared Dec. 9, 1531, to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian who was passing by Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City. She told Diego to give a message to Bishop Zumarraga, the bishop of Mexico: he was to build a church "where I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help and protection to the people." Diego went to the bishop, who wanted proof. Our Lady arranged roses in Diego's cloak (or tilma) and when Diego returned to the bishop, the image of Our Lady miraculously appeared on the tilma. Within a few years, millions of people were converted to Catholicism because of the apparitions. The Feast of St. Juan Diego is Dec. 9 and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Dec. 12.

Ten priests of the Diocese of Madison concelebrated the Mass, including Msgrs. Daniel T. Ganshert and Paul J. Swain and Frs. Casimir E. Chimeziri, Francis Xavier Ekwugha, George W. Fox, Lawrence J. Kieffer, Michael (Mick) E. Moon, Nicholas S. Okere, John G. Stillmank, and Todd R. Van Natta. Estudiantina, the Hispanic choir for the Diocese of Madison, provided music. The choir is directed by Toni Kellor.

A special year

The celebration brings special joy this year, said Bullock, because Pope John Paul II canonized Juan Diego this past summer. Juan Diego's feast day has been established on Dec. 9.

"Mary, God's mother, is known under many titles, one of which is Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Virgin Mary and Mother is dear to all of us but special to Latino people," said Bullock.

"But we also celebrate the canonization of St. Juan Diego by Pope John Paul - Viva Juan Pablo Secundo. St. Juan Diego is an inspiration to us because he struggled initially to recognize the wisdom of God. He showed much courage and faithfulness. He wanted to do God's will."

Once St. Juan Diego deepened his appreciation of Mary's loyalty and protection, said the bishop, he began making his decisions in life on the wisdom of God, on doing it God's way.

"St. Juan Diego came to see that God not only had different plans, but a better plan. This meant that he needed to abandon his own plans in favor of God."

St. Juan Diego is an example of evangelization and making the Gospel come alive, said Bullock.

'God wants to use you'

"Mary, our Mother, and the Mother of the Lord, gladly comes to visit us because Jesus has ransomed us. We have been made sons and daughters of Christ. Thus we have every right to cry out to God as our Father, and every right to cry out to the Virgin Mary, to intercede for us, to help us.

"Jesus speaks to us. He is determined to fulfill the Father's will," said Bullock. "God wants to use you! He wants you to be his Church.

"Let us pray, on this feast, that we may be faithful to God our Father, to Jesus. Our Lady of Guadalupe wants to bring you to Christ. Be prayerful. Be faithful. I am praying for you and ask that you pray for me."

Translating the bishop's homily into Spanish was Fr. Mick Moon, parochial vicar at St. Bernard Parish in Middleton.

Those attending gathered after Mass for a reception. Hispanic women in their traditional dresses performed folk dances.

Young adults: Learn holiday rituals, symbols

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- "Advent is an opportunity for us to make our souls a fitting realm for the rebirth of the Lord," director of family faith formation Mary Lestina told participants at a special young adult Advent event held recently at St. Raphael Cathedral here.

The event was sponsored by the Diocese of Madison's Office of Religious Education.

Preparing for a guest

"Imagine that a guest was coming to stay with you for Christmas. Imagine that guest is God. How would you prepare for him? How are you inside? That coming of Jesus is a reminder we need to clean ourselves out," she said.

Lestina noted three saints who help us prepare for Christ's coming: Isaiah, who helps us see we need to make the highway straight for the Lord; St. John the Baptist, who knew he was only an instrument to prepare the way of the Lord; and Mary, who was without sin and chosen to be the mother of the Lord.

Symbols and rituals

She shared with participants symbols and rituals of Advent. For instance, the evergreen tree is a sign of hope and the Advent wreath represents God's never-ending love.

Traditions like putting up a Jesse tree, which uses symbols about events that transpired before Jesus was born, or adding straw to Jesus' crib every time you do a kind deed are rituals we can practice in the home, Lestina said.

"Look at the Advent rituals and choose one that touches you," she said. "Ask the Lord to come into your heart."

More opportunities

More opportunities for young adults in the Diocese of Madison begin in January with Catholic Young Adult Small Groups:

• West - St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison, beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, for six consecutive Mondays. Later meetings will be held at Jeff Mesch's house, 736 Sauk Ridge Trail, Apt. A. Topic is studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church and applying it to daily life. Contact facilitators Jeff Mesch at jeff@mesch.us or Jillene Summers at jillenes_beans@yahoo.com.

• Central - St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison, beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, for five consecutive Thursdays. Topic is praying with the psalms. Contact facilitators Bob Agasie at agasie@engr.wisc.edu, Lee Herrera at livierherrera@hotmail.com, or Pete Rossmeissl at prossmeissl@msn.com.

• East - St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, for five consecutive Thursdays. Topic is "Spirituality: How do I live a spiritual life as a young adult in the 21st century?" Contact facilitator Andrea Loppnow at aloppnow@tstcoatings.com.

Cost for each group is $5 to cover cost of materials. Registration deadline is two weeks before each small group's beginning session.