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	News Briefs: Lenten retreat for single Catholics MADISON -- The Office of Family Ministry invites single (never married, separated, divorced, or widowed) Catholics of all ages in the Diocese of Madison to a lenten retreat. Through discussion, reflection, and prayer, participants in this retreat titled "Prescription for a Balanced Life" will learn ways to meet the challenges of daily living, create harmony in their lives, and sustain balance. The day will end with a prayer service. Joan Fitzgerald will lead the retreat. A lifelong single, she has worked with singles ministry in the Diocese of Madison for more than a decade. She works full-time for the state of Wisconsin as a school administration consultant and teaches part-time at Madison Area Technical College. The retreat will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison. Cost of the retreat is $30 and includes lunch. For registration information, call the Office of Family Ministry at 608-821-3175. Registration information is also available at the Office of Family Ministry Web site www.madisonfaithandfamily.org. Pre-registration is necessary. Spaghetti dinner April 13 CLINTON -- Tradition and camaraderie combine when St. Stephen Parish presents St. Paul's Italian Spaghetti Dinner on Palm Sunday, April 13, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. in the parish center. The public is invited to the dinner. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children. They may be purchased after Masses at St. Stephen or from Co-chairmen, Frank DeSarbo, 608-365-5391, or Steve Williams, 815-389-0328; ticket chair, JoAnn Williams, 608-676-5609; and in Beloit at Action Travel Agency or at M&I Prairie North Branch Bank. Tickets and carryouts will also be sold at the door. Proceeds from the dinner are used for parish needs and also for the parish-sponsored Fr. Patrick Swendrowski Scholarship Fund. (Swendrowski, now deceased, is a former St. Stephen pastor.) Each year, the parish presents three $500 scholarships in Swendrowski's name to area high school students. Program for those facing cancer MADISON -- St. Marys Hospital Medical Center is offering the next program of "I CAN COPE" beginning on Monday, April 7. The program runs for eight consecutive Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through Monday, May 26. "I CAN COPE" is an American Cancer Society program for those facing cancer and their family members, friends, or other support persons. This series will be held at St. Marys Hospital Medical Center, 707 S. Mills St. The class is free and open to the public. To sign up, call St. Marys Hospital Public Relations and Marketing at 608-258-5065. Mothers of Preschoolers in Waunakee WAUNAKEE -- Mothers of Preschoolers will meet Tuesday, April 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arboretum Centre, 1004 Quinn Dr. Yvonne Ziegler will speak on "What is Preschool For and Is My Child Ready?" Sponsored by St. John the Baptist Parish, this ecumenical group meets monthly. For information, call Lisa Schuebel at 608-824-0984. Mission training class MADISON -- The fourth Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) training class will be held Sunday, April 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St. Former volunteers will talk about their experiences in teaching and on health teams. For more information write LAMP, P.O. Box 85, Madison, WI 53701-0085, or call 608-845-7028, 608-543-3631, or 608-868-7816.

Bishop dedicates chapel: At Catholic Multicultural Center

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- It was "a day of rejoicing" at the new Diocese of Madison Catholic Multicultural Center on Beld St. when Bishop William H. Bullock dedicated the chapel there on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

"May all here today, and all those in days to come, who will celebrate your mysteries upon this altar be united at last in the holy city of your peace," the bishop prayed.

Concelebrating the Mass were: Auxiliary Bishop George O. Wirz; Msgrs. Paul J. Swain, Daniel T. Ganshert, George M. Hastrich; Frs. Francis Xavier Ekwugha, George W. Fox, Mick Moon, Nicholas Okere, Loran Miller, and John G. Stillmank.

After sprinkling those attending and the altar with holy water, the bishop said in the opening prayer, "Lord, you willed that all things be drawn to your Son, mounted on the altar of the cross. Bless those who dedicate this altar to your service. May it be a table of our unity, a banquet of plenty, and a source of the Spirit, in whom we grow daily as your faithful people."

A multicultural center

In his homily, Bullock said, "As we bless the altar and set aside the chapel for praise and sacrifice, we are a multicultural center," which was depicted in the different languages used during the readings and Gospel.

Romilia Schlueter, pastoral minister, Centro Guadalupano, gave the first reading in Spanish; Steve Maurice, administrator, St. Martin House, gave the second reading in English; and Fr. Nicholas Okere, administrator, St. Patrick Parish, Lodi, and St. Michael Parish, Dane, read the Gospel in Ibo, one of the major languages in Nigeria.

The bishop acknowledged Steve Skolaski, his sister Elaine Hilt and her husband Bob, who were in attendance because Steve and Elaine's parents, Lillian and August Skolaski, were among many long-time volunteers at St. Martin House. August Skolaski built and donated the first altar at St. Martin House.

Altar of Christ

"The altar is sign of Christ," said Bullock. "This is where we bring our burdens and cares of our lives. This is the place where final resurrection comes."

But also the altar is a place of communion, a place of peace, a source of unity and friendship so central to our praise and thanksgiving, said the bishop.

We must examine whether we come to do God's will or our own, said Bullock.

"Mary says, 'Be it done unto me according to your word,'" said the bishop. "What a beautiful attitude for all of us."

As both sacrifice and banquet, the Body and Blood of Christ nourish us, he said.

Servers were Greg Keller, director of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Finance, and Jack Fernan, auxiliary master of ceremonies for the bishops. Musicians were Bill Frederick and Steve Johnson.

Staff members of St. Martin House and Centro Guadalupano attended, along with Dr. Patrick Gorman, director of the Office of Worship, and Jay Conzemius, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development.

Bringing up the Offertory gifts were Elaine Hilt and Steve Skolaski of Madison.

Dedicating the altar

After the Litany of the Saints, Bullock said the Prayer of Dedication.

"Bless this altar built in the house of the Church, that it may ever be reserved for the sacrifice of Christ, and stand forever as the Lord's table, where your people will find nourishment and strength," he prayed. He asked God to make the altar a sign of Christ, a table of joy, a place of communion and peace, a source of unity and friendship, and the center of our praise and thanksgiving.

He anointed the altar with oil and incensed it. The altar was then dressed and lit with candles.

After Communion, the bishop placed the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle for the first time.

In the chapel

The chapel includes several stained glass windows taken from St. Martin House, the previous facility located on the site of the new center.

The altar, ambo, tabernacle, pews and chairs were designed by KEE Architects and then crafted by Loss Finish, both of Madison. The chapel seats about 32 people but can seat up to 110 people when a partition opens up into the adjoining community room.

An open house for the public is being planned later in spring.