News Briefs: Divine Savior Healthcare solicits funds PORTAGE -- Divine Savior Healthcare announced that over half of the funding for expanded services at its new hospital, scheduled to open in October 2003, has been raised. Through its capital campaign titled, "Building on Exceptional Healthcare," Divine Savior Healthcare has been soliciting funding from community members and businesses in order to raise $3.3 million for expanded services. The $33 million new hospital project, the largest investment an organization has made in the Portage area, consists of 30,000 square feet of additional completed construction on the Medical Center that opened January of 2000 and a 143,000 square foot hospital scheduled to open in fall. The fundraising initiatives will enable the hospital to meet most of the healthcare needs of Portage and the surrounding communities. Some of the priority items and expanded services that will be purchased, if the funding is secured, include a renal dialysis machine, nuclear machine, magnetic resonance imaging, surgical services, polysomnography (sleep lab) plus a fourth operating room, and more. If the capital campaign goal is not met, these items will not be purchased. Businesses or community members interested in donating or those interested in obtaining additional information on the hospital should call 608-745-5605 or log-on to www.dshealthcare.com. Waunakee parish hosts dinner for life WAUNAKEE -- Adults who have lost a loved one are invited to attend the seasonal "Dinner for Life" on Tuesday, May 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the gathering space at St. John the Baptist Parish, 209 South St., Waunakee. The spring dinner is entitled "Let Our Clay be Moist" with the theme: "Our suffering can allow the Lord to mold our lives into something new." The opening prayer service is followed by a dinner catered by Delitalia and small group discussion. Pottery Wheel demonstration and centerpieces are provided by Lakeside Pottery. Register with the rectory at 608-849-5121. Feel free to bring a friend. For questions, ask for the parish nurse. Serenity Retreat offered May 30 SINSINAWA -- "12-Step Serenity Retreat: Priorities after 9-11" will be held Friday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 1, at 1 p.m. at Sinsinawa Mound here. Registration deadline is May 16. Cost is $164 for overnight guests or $109 for commuters. Leader Fr. Gavin Griffith, of Monterey, Calif., will address the issues of powerlessness and unmanageability, in part by using the healing power of humor. For information on Mound events, call 608-748-4411 or visit www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter. Editor named finalist for award MADISON -- Mary C. Uhler, editor of the Catholic Herald, is one of five finalists for the St. Francis de Sales Award presented annually by the Catholic Press Association (CPA). The award is given to a person who has performed the work of Catholic journalism with excellence. Uhler has been a member of the Catholic Herald staff since 1973 and editor since 1986. CPA members have cast their votes. The award recipient will be announced at the annual CPA convention May 30 in Atlanta, Ga.

Uphold Catholic moral vision: While serving people of all faiths

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- Visiting the state Capitol is not a "secular trip," Fr. J. Bryan Hehir told approximately 280 Catholics from throughout Wisconsin in his keynote address at the recent "Catholics at the Capitol" legislative conference sponsored by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) and other Catholic organizations in Wisconsin.

Instead, Hehir said Catholics bring their faith to the Capitol as expressed in a "moral vision of the kind of society we should be." This vision is rooted in Scripture and cultivated by church teaching. "We come to the Capitol, to every place in society where decisions are made," said Hehir.

As president of Catholic Charities USA, Hehir works with a national network of 1,640 Catholic agencies serving over seven million people each year. Hehir pointed out that the Catholic Church supports the largest health care, education, and charities systems in the United States. These systems - although reflecting a clear Catholic identity - serve people of all faiths.

Rooted in Scriptures

Hehir explained how the Catholic moral vision of today is rooted in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. The creation account in Genesis reveals the sacredness of the human person and the importance of stewardship of creation.

"God says to Adam and Eve to take responsibility, to be fruitful and multiply, and to tend the garden. We, too, are accountable to God for the state of the world. We perfect the work of God," said Hehir.

Eight centuries before Christ, Hehir noted the prophets emphasized that "the quality of faith depends on justice, on how you stand with each other." This continues "in every age and every time, when we keep an eye on widows, orphans, and resident aliens. Now, 2,800 years later, the Congressional Budget Office tells us the most vulnerable are the widows, orphans, and aliens."

Kingdom of God

In the New Testament, Hehir said the overarching ideas include the incarnation and the Kingdom. The incarnation means God becoming human and working through human beings to bring salvation to the world. "This is embodied in the style of ministry of Jesus," said Hehir. "God is with us to transform us. Everything that God touches changes: the blind saw, the deaf heard, the poor would hear the Good News of the Gospel."

The Kingdom of God is not a place or a thing, Hehir explained. "The Kingdom is like light in darkness, leaven, salt. Everything it touches is transformed."

Catholic social teaching

The Catholic Church has translated the Scriptures into Catholic social teaching. Pope John XXIII's encyclical, Pacem in Terris (written 40 years ago), "is a perfect example of taking the biblical vision, the moral dimension for all," said Hehir. "Pacem in Terris talks about the dignity of the person, a set of rights and duties. It's powerful language."

Catholic social teaching emphasizes the common good, where meeting the basic needs of all people is a goal. The Second Vatican Council contributed to this moral vision, especially in its final document on the church and the world. This document said the church's moral social vision is primary, "located at the very center of the church's ministry," said Hehir. This vision includes promoting and protecting the dignity of the human person.

Facing challenges

In 2003, society faces many challenges in the world, our nation, and the church itself. Hehir pointed to the challenges of terrorism and war in our post 9/11 society.

"We're going back to a period of intense competition for discretionary spending. Difficult choices must be made," he warned.

"In this time, as we think of national and homeland security, we cannot forget the need for personal security, every person's dignity. How do we share benefits and burdens in a time of quite severe economic need?"

Hehir noted that state budgets "are devastated across the land, in the worst condition since the end of World War II."

Between 2001 and 2002, 1.3 million people were added to the list of those making under $18,000 income per year. Over a million more people were without health care coverage. The U.S. mayors report the largest increase in demand for emergency shelter in 10 years and a steady rise in need for food aid.

Challenges of church

While society faces these challenges, the Catholic Church struggles with its own problems. Hehir said the church's experience of the last 18 months with the sexual abuse scandals "has produced a crisis of trust" both within and outside the church. "We must develop a style of pastoral ministry to build trust. If we do not choose to confront it openly, we could lose a generation from the church," warned Hehir.

Sadly, the Catholic Church's public image in terms of "public moral authority" has also been damaged. The church must recover the public trust so it can continue to provide its moral wisdom and vision. "We need to be part of the discussion," Hehir said, in dealing with all the challenges facing the world today.

Common responsibilities

In talking about the relationship of the church to the government, Hehir said the Catholic Church believes church and state should be separate, but both have responsibility for the welfare of society and there are common areas of concern.

"We are distinct, but we have common responsibilities," he said. "We should define the rules to work together. Catholic institutions work with government all the time. We can maintain our identity. We need to work together for the common good."

The Catholic Church especially promotes the obligation of the whole society to help the poor, said Hehir. But this does not mean only charity but also addressing issues of justice, that is, getting at the root causes of poverty.

JubOLAtion 2003:
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Jubilee

By Pat Casucci
CATHOLIC HERALD CORRESPONDENT

BELOIT -- JubOLAtion 2003 events on Sunday, May 18, at Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Parish will honor the past 50 years, celebrate the present, and look keenly to the future.

JubOLAtion will celebrate the future for the parish with groundbreaking ceremonies at 3 p.m. for the new, diamond-shaped church. The edifice, planned during an intensive three-year campaign called "Honoring Our Past: Building for the Future," will be located between the present church and the parish administrative center.

OLA Parish history BELOIT -- By an official decree in May 1953, the parish was founded by then-Bishop of the Madison Diocese William P. O'Connor. Fr. Robert O'Hara was appointed the first pastor. First Masses for the newly designated parish were held at Beloit Catholic High School. After a successful fund drive, ground was broken in April 1955 for the church and school. The school opened in the fall of 1955 and the first Mass in the "temporary" church took place Christmas Eve of that year. Masses were celebrated in the school's multi-purpose room. It was the custom at the time that a parish school was built first. Though plans called for a church to be built, they did not materialize. The rectory was completed in 1956 and the convent for the sisters who taught at OLA was completed in 1959. A statue honoring Our Lady of the Assumption sits in the heart of the parish grounds. Imported from Italy in 1957, it is a replica of the world famous "Madonna of Murillo." OLA's second pastor, Fr. John Urban, guided the conversion of the "temporary" church and the school multi-purpose room into a permanent church. In 1981, the parish center and kitchen were constructed along with an addition to the school that included a kindergarten room, enlarged library, gym with a full basketball court, and locker rooms. In 1995, in a project accomplished mainly by parishioners, the former convent was remodeled and designated the OLA Education Center. Since 1997, the building was converted into the OLA Child Care Center. Recently, the parish purchased a nearby house for the pastor's residence. That allowed for the reuse of the rectory as the parish administrative center.

OLA Pastor Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl said that since the founding of the parish in 1953, "We have been blessed with people of great faith and creativity, wonderful vision, and a willingness to work diligently to achieve the visions that have been set. Our 50th anniversary is a celebration of God's accomplishments through the people of OLA these past 50 years."

He continued, "I have been fortunate to be a part of this parish for the past seven years, and have had the opportunity to work with so many talented and wonderful people in the planning of both the 50th anniversary and the building project.

"As we 'put the shovel in the ground,' I remember in prayer so many fine pastors and parishioners who have been a part of the building of this parish from the ground up. What a blessing to begin the next era of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish with such hope and vision," said Krahenbuhl.

A day of celebration

Beginning the day of festivities, Bishop William H. Bullock will preach and preside at the 10:30 a.m. Mass that includes music sung by the OLA choir, directed by Randy Gracyalny. To accommodate an anticipated overflow crowd for the Mass, a large tent will be located between the church and parish administration center. The Mass will be telecast on a large screen.

Following the Mass, a light lunch will be served from noon to 2 p.m. in the parish center. Family-oriented events continue until 5 p.m.

The occasion marks the first showing of the OLA jubilee quilt that features squares replicating the stained glass windows in the church as well as a Madonna. For the past several months, 13 parishioners have hand-quilted the work.

In the future, the quilt will be hung in the gathering area of the new OLA church.

OLA Grade School, which has served the parish for almost 50 years, is celebrating the jubilee in several ways, including: a display of photographs, yearbooks, scrapbooks, and memorabilia; a PowerPoint presentation about the school; and a silent auction of extra school athletic trophies.

OLA School was planned at the same time the parish was founded.

OLA parishioner Dennis Boucher designed the JubOLAtion 2003 logo that features a design of the statue of Mary that is located in the heart of the church grounds.

Plans for the future

In response to the needs of a growing parish, the former OLA convent and rectory have been remodeled in recent years. The convent in 1997 was designated the OLA Child Care Center. The parish administrative center is housed in the former rectory.

Presently the parish is nearing completion of its "Honoring Our Past: Building For The Future" $2.7 million campaign to build a new church and related space.

The new church, diamond-shaped in design, will link the present church to the parish administrative center. The new worship area will seat more than 600 people. According to Krahenbuhl, that satisfies a need for the parish as well as for the future when fewer Masses may be said due to priests serving more than one parish.

The building plans include remodeling the current church to accommodate a gathering area at the church entry and a chapel, seating about 80 persons for daily Masses, small weddings, and funerals. The sacristy and a music room are included in the remodeling of this area.

Part of the project includes improvements to the school for convenience and security. A new entryway will lead to new administration offices. The present office area will be used for teacher workspace and tutoring room.

Second phase building

A second phase of the building project will be constructed at a later date when funds become available, said Krahenbuhl. That phase of the project includes a conference room at the north side of the worship area and a kitchen and restrooms near the entry to the worship area.

The lower level of the church will have a parish hall that will seat 250 people. The parish hall will include a kitchen, youth room, an adult reading area, storage space, and an elevator to the main floor.

Essential to the success of the building project has been the work of the building committee headed by Terry Leahy and Jack Finlen. Krahenbuhl said they worked closely with architect Joe Stadelman of Janesville and Jerry Klobucar of Klobucar Construction Co., builder for the project.

Krahenbuhl also praised the committees for their work the past three years. They include: jubilee committee: Bill Flanagan, chair, and Jill Kinast, Roger Kemman, and Mark Madaus; capital committee: Tom Sennett and Casey Christofferson, co-chairs; and celebration committee: Dave and Rita Bonds, co-chairs.