Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Friday, October 31 - Monday, November 3, 2003 Gathering of Seminarians of Madison Diocese at Minneapolis-St. Paul Seminary Tuesday, November 4, 2003 9:30 a.m. -- Attend Corporate Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 5:30 p.m. -- Attend Catholic Charities Awards Dinner, Marriott West Hotel, Middleton Wednesday, November 5, 2003 11:00 a.m. -- Address Association of Attending Clergy of Meriter Hospital, Meriter Hospital, Madison Thursday, November 6, 2003 7:00 p.m. -- Preside at Evening Prayer, Guest Presentation, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Friday, October 31, 2003 11:00 a.m. -- Attend Ground Breaking Ceremony and Luncheon for the All Saints Retirement Center, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, November 1, 2003 4:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, All Saints Parish, Berlin Sunday, November 2, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Founding Convention of Dane County United, Alliant Energy Center, Madison Tuesday, November 4, 2003 9:30 a.m. -- Attend Corporate Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 5:30 p.m. -- Attend Catholic Charities Awards Dinner, Marriott West Hotel, Middleton Wednesday, November 5, 2003 7:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Joseph Parish, Waterloo Thursday, November 6, 2003 7:00 p.m. -- Attend St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Scheduling, preparing for sacrament of Confirmation

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear Brother Priests and Co-Workers in Christ:

At the first meeting of our Presbyteral Council on October 15^th we had a very fruitful discussion of Confirmation, particularly with regard to the requests for scheduling in 2004. It has been my hope to respond to these requests as soon as possible, but not without some discussion with the Priests' Council for reasons which will become apparent as you read on.

The Bishop with his brother priests should be able to live the liturgical year of the Church with a stable congregation and find himself the nourishment from this sacramental experience that is appropriate for all the faithful. Thus for the most part, during the school year, apart from very special parochial celebrations, such as the 100^th anniversary of a parish family which must take place on a Sunday morning, it is fitting for the Bishop to be in his Cathedral most Sunday mornings when he is not away from the Diocese on business. It is my intent to establish this Sunday morning presence at the Cathedral as much as possible beginning in Advent.

With regard to Confirmations on the weekend then, the following approach would seem helpful. On Saturdays Confirmations may be scheduled at any of the already scheduled Masses of precept on Saturday evening. However, because of the nature of the Saturday fulfillment of the Sunday precept, a liturgy should not be added beyond what is already scheduled for the sake of Confirmation. But parishes are welcome to request Confirmation during an already scheduled Saturday Mass regardless of the number to be confirmed.

If a parish community really feels the need for Confirmation on Sunday morning that need can be accommodated by my asking either Bishop Wirz or Bishop Bullock to preside, and I would be happy to forward such requests to them. As for myself, on Sunday morning when I am in the Diocese, I would generally be at the Cathedral beginning in Advent. Confirmations may also be scheduled with myself later in the day on Sunday, which would involve adding a special Mass. Confirmation Masses should be scheduled on Sunday no earlier than 4:00 p.m. nor later than 6:00 p.m. In order to add a Mass on Sunday for the celebration of Confirmation there should be at least 25 confirmandi - this could well mean that in order to seek this particular time frame, several parishes in the same vicinity might collaborate for a single celebration so that the requisite minimum number of 25 would be present.

Confirmation celebrations may also be requested for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday evenings to begin no later than 7:00 p.m. (Monday is generally the Bishop's day off).

The season of Lent will also be a time during which Confirmations may be requested and scheduled.

The "spring" schedule for Confirmation will be finalized as soon as possible - however it would seem good, given the opening up of the Lenten Season for Confirmation, to invite parishes to change their request for a Confirmation date if they so choose. Such requests should be forwarded to my office within a week of your receipt of this memo so that all dates can be finalized as soon as possible. I regret any inconvenience caused by this option to reschedule, but it seemed good, in accord with the advice of the Priests' Council to offer the option, and at the same time I did not want to proceed with this memo before giving the Priests' Council an opportunity for a thorough discussion and reaction. There was strong general consensus and comfort level among the members of the Priests' Council with the approach taken above.

In closing I would want to make two points. The candidates for Confirmation frequently would like a photo either as a group or individually with the Bishop and this should generally be planned for after the Confirmation ceremony in the following way: in their preparation for the ceremony, the young people should be instructed with their sponsors and parents to remain in their places at the end of the Mass and the Bishop will do the same thing. There will be no procession out which would include those confirmed or the Bishop. Others may process out according to what is determined locally. The Bishop, the newly confirmed, parents and sponsors should remain in place so that everyone can be lined up for a group photo at the earliest moment and then there would be the opportunity for individual photos thereafter.

The second observation is more substantial and catechetical. As our young people are prepared for Confirmation, the point should be made repeatedly that those who are already baptized are in fact called by Christ to receive the Holy Spirit unto strength in Confirmation. This call from Christ through Baptism is irrevocable. It would seem clear that the students should not be allowed to believe that this is a moment in fact to say no to the call of Christ. It is quite possible that this or that student may not believe that he or she is ready for this particular sacrament so that it would be postponed. This should always be done in pastoral discussion with the parish priest himself. But the call of Christ to be confirmed that comes with Baptism, that is Christ's choice of them through Baptism for the full life of the Church, is the choice that should be strongly emphasized as the choice far more important than their own particular choice. "It is not you who have chosen me - I have chosen you." It would be unfortunate if somehow our students get the idea that true freedom means freedom to reject the call of Christ through Baptism. I know that no one wants to teach in such a vein, but I am assured that this idea is somehow out there. I do appreciate all the fine work that our Directors of Religious Education and Catechists do, but there are so many influences on our young people that sometimes misleading ideas happen to win the day. In any event please be very attentive to this particular point.

Lastly, in terms of the age of Confirmation, candidates ranging from seventh grade to twelfth grade would be acceptable for this sacrament in the Diocese of Madison according to local parish determination. If eighth graders or twelfth graders are being confirmed, the timing of the celebration should be supervised so as to avoid conflict with the events of graduation in the springtime. Also pastors in the same vicinity might well be in touch with one another about particular parish practices with regard to the age of Confirmation, so that the life of individual parish communities can go forward with some desired serenity undisturbed by this particular possible exercise of diversity.

I am so grateful to the members of the Priests' Council including Bishop Wirz for their fine reflections and support in this particular matter, and I hope that these guidelines, and the added flexibility which accompanies them, will serve all of us well as we seek unselfishly to love Christ and to love our people. With gratitude for who you are as my brother priests and for all that you do, I am,

Cordially yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison