News Briefs: Fr. Leffler to celebrate 25 years POTOSI/TENNYSON -- Fr. Richard J. Leffler, pastor of SS. Andrew-Thomas Parish, will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood Sunday, June 22, with a 3 p.m. Mass at St. Andrew Church in Tennyson, followed by a reception/dinner at SS. Andrew-Thomas School. Bishop George O. Wirz will be homilist. Concelebrants will include Bishop Wirz; St. Francis graduation class members (1977); St. Francis ordination class members (1978); and Emmaus Group members. Son of Margaret and Raymond Leffler, the jubilarian grew up in Dodgeville, where he attended St. Joseph School and Dodgeville High School. He attended University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Holy Name College program, Madison; and St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee. He was ordained May 26, 1978 by Bishop Cletus O'Donnell at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison. He served as associate pastor of St. Luke Parish, Plain, with mission of St. Patrick, Loreto; St. Victor, Monroe; St. Mary, Portage; St. Albert the Great, Sun Prairie; and St. John the Baptist, Waunakee, prior to becoming pastor at SS. Andrew-Thomas Parish. Corpus Christi procession in Perry PERRY -- A Corpus Christi procession will immediately follow the 8:45 a.m. Mass at Holy Redeemer Parish here Sunday, June 22. Participants will recite the rosary and sing songs during the procession, which begins in the church and continues outdoors around the church, weather permitting. Leading the procession will be Fr. Sanctus Ibe, pastor, who will stop at three different stone chapels on the church grounds featuring statues, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built by parishioners. Mental health groups scheduled MADISON -- Project FACE (Four Agency Cooperative Effort) is offering a variety of mental health groups to Dane County residents. Groups available include, but are not limited to: a group for trauma survivors; Beginnings, a support group for men soon to be released from jail; groups for adults dealing with depression; anger management groups for both men and women; Survivors of Suicide Group; women's trauma groups; and a number of Spanish-speaking groups. Project FACE is a combined effort of Catholic Charities, Inc., Lutheran Social Services, Family Service, and the Mental Health Center of Dane County. For more information about any group, call Robyn Davis at Catholic Charities, 608-256-2358. Parenting children with attachment difficulties MADISON -- Parenting Children with Attachment Difficulties is a new group designed for adoptive, foster, or biological parents who care for children who have been emotionally and/or physically abandoned. This group will help parents feel more competent as parents by sharing their experiences with others, learning more about what children with attachment difficulties need and what to do to provide this, and developing a positive self-care plan. This is a 10-week group. For more information on this group offered by Project FACE, contact Robyn Davis at Catholic Charities, 608-256-2358. Support groups for divorced, separated 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, June 19, 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, June 26, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd., top floor. For information, call 608-821-3170. La Crosse to welcome relic LA CROSSE -- The Tilma of Tepeyac tour will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse on June 20 and 21. The tour features a relic from the tilma of recently canonized Aztec Indian St. Juan Diego. The relic - on loan from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the only one in the U.S. - is a small portion of tilma, the cloak displaying the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "The visit of the relic of the tilma of Saint Juan Diego to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Diocese of La Crosse will be a time of special grace for all who are able to come on pilgrimage to venerate the relic," said La Crosse Bishop Raymond L. Burke. The showing of the tilma at the La Crosse shrine will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21. The veneration will continue Sunday, June 22, beginning at 8 a.m. and will close with a procession at 4:15 p.m. and Mass at 4:30 p.m. The rosary will be recited in the temporary chapel at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

St. Francis Xavier Parish, Cross Plains: Celebrating 150 years and counting

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

CROSS PLAINS -- The people of Cross Plains are known for their friendliness, and that goes for the members of St. Francis Xavier Parish here as well.

Nestled in a German village of about 3,000 people, St. Francis Xavier Parish is the spiritual home of 850 families, and the numbers continue to grow.

Schedule of events St. Francis Xavier Parish, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains, will celebrate its 150th anniversary with Mass and activities on Sunday, June 22. The day's schedule follows: 1:30 p.m. Mass with Bishop Emeritus William H. Bullock and Pastor Fr. Tom Kelley 2:45 p.m. Reception in school gym with an ice cream social, historical display, cookbook and commemorative items available, Powerpoint slideshow of history, and 100-year parade on video 3:30 p.m. Skit of history of St. Francis Xavier Parish 5 p.m. End of reception 5:30 p.m. Parade (celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier Parish and the 125th anniversary of St. Martin Lutheran Church, Cross Plains) begins at Water St. on the west end of Cross Plains, continues east on Hwy. 14, turns north on Hwy. P and ends at St. Francis Xavier Church. A viewing area at 1504 Main St. will be available for seniors and others needing assistance. Parade viewers are encouraged to find a place to sit by 5 p.m. as Hwy. 14 will be shut down at that time. 9:30 p.m. Fireworks (Cross Plains World's Fair at Baer Park on Hwy. P), preceded by words from Father Kelley, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, and Rev. Rod Hank, pastor of St. Martin Lutheran Church

"There's a genuine Christian attitude that creates friendliness," said Fr. Tom Kelley, pastor. "We have a tight-knit community."

"A lot of people feel welcome here," said Sr. John Rose Acker, pastoral minister of care and a daughter of the parish.

That sense of friendliness will surely show on Sunday, June 22, when the parish celebrates its 150th anniversary.

150th anniversary

The daylong activities begin with a 1:30 p.m. Mass at which Bishop Emeritus William H. Bullock will preside. Right after Mass religious who have served the parish will be recognized. Sister John Rose said 50 religious vocations and 11 priestly vocations have come from the parish over the years. (See box for schedule of events.)

A parade that will take over Main St. that day is a combined effort celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier Parish and the 125th anniversary of St. Martin Lutheran Church, Cross Plains. Floats will include: a replica of the St. Francis Xavier log church built in 1853; a reprise of "Sister Act" by a group of St. Francis Xavier parishioners; and a horse-drawn carriage with Father Kelley, Sister John Rose, and Rev. Rod Hank and his wife Denise of St. Martin Church.

A parish committee has been preparing for the 150th anniversary for about two years, according to Father Kelley.

In honor of the anniversary, a memorial commemorative book will be published after the celebration. A cookbook with recipes collected from parishioners has also been published. Both items may be ordered through the parish office at 608-798-0100.

"History is a good way to remind ourselves of commitment and we have to take ownership of our parish and see it through into the future," said Father Kelley, marking the importance of the pioneer spirit of the early parishioners who cut down trees to build the first church.

"It's important to realize how long St. Francis has been a faith community," said Judy Saeman, parish secretary who has worked for St. Francis Xavier Parish for 14 years. "It's outstanding when you think of 150 years - most of us can't imagine that amount of time."

'Steady growth'

Today, the Masses are full and the parish school's enrollment will reach 197 students in the fall.

"Growth is steady," said Father Kelley, noting that master planning discussion is currently taking place to determine what kind of expansion is needed to meet the demands of the future.

Catholic Woman's Club:
Presents award to Care Net Pregnancy Center

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- The Madison Catholic Woman's Club presented its Christian Achievement Award to Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County at the club's 89th annual spring celebration held recently at Blackhawk Country Club.

Betty Mulhern, chairman of the club's award committee, gave the award to Liz Osborn, Care Net's executive director, and Ann Flynn, president of Care Net's Board of Directors.

Worthy organization

Mulhern described Care Net as a "very worthy organization." The agency is dedicated to:

• Equipping youth for wise life choices through abstinence education.

• Empowering women and families to choose life for themselves and their unborn child.

• Serving those affected by abortion so that they might heal emotionally.

Care Net's mission statement says, "We carry out these purposes in a compassionate, non-judgmental way, and with the desire to share the good news of forgiveness, hope and peace found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

Osborn said, "It is an honor and a privilege to be the recipient of this award. We couldn't accomplish what we do without your support and prayers."

Flynn also spoke, noting that Care Net's newest project is Elizabeth House, a maternity home with a temporary location in Stoughton. Plans are to build a permanent facility on property donated to the organization in Madison.

Catholic Woman's Club

Madison Catholic Woman's Club is an organization of Catholic ladies who work in the Madison Diocese doing charitable works for such organizations as: Apostolate to the Handicapped; Catholic Charities' Giving Tree; HospiceCare; Luke House; endowment fund to support seminarians; and more.

The women meet once a month with speakers and other programs. In the fall they hold a charity event featuring a style show to obtain monies for the charities.

All Catholic women are invited to join. Contact Dona Dyer, membership chairperson, 608-249-9046 for more information.