Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, December 11, 2003 Attend Solemn Vespers Service, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay Friday, December 12, 2003 Concelebrate at the Mass of Installation of the Most Reverend David A. Zubik as Bishop of Green Bay, St. Agnes Church, Green Bay Saturday, December 13, 2003 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Rededication of Church and Blessing of New Altar, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison Sunday, December 14, 2003 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Third Sunday of Advent, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Wednesday, December 17, 2003 12:00 p.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, December 18, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 7:00 p.m. -- Guest Presenter, World Future Society, Fluno Center, UW Campus, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, December 11, 2003 Attend Solemn Vespers Service, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay Friday, December 12, 2003 Concelebrate at the Mass of Installation of the Most Reverend David A. Zubik as Bishop of Green Bay, St. Agnes Church, Green Bay Saturday, December 13, 2003 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Wednesday, December 17, 2003 12:00 p.m. -- Attend Presbyteral Council Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, December 18, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Advent and R&R: Focusing on the things of heaven

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear friends,

We find ourselves in earnest along the path to our celebration of the Christmas feast, that time when as the prayers of the Eucharistic liturgy remind us just about every week, we are to learn to love the things of heaven. Advent is a time for directing our attention to heaven which, in the taking flesh of the Eternal Word in Jesus Christ, was united to earth. And so that we may celebrate Christmas more fervently, that we might really be filled with the Christmas spirit rather than distracted by consumerist commercialism, we allow ourselves more time to get caught up in love of heaven.

"During these days of Advent let us all try to keep our eyes fixed on the things of heaven, praying lovingly for one another."

As I have written previously I was to take a needed vacation last August but the transfer to Madison from Helena forced its cancellation. And so after the Bishops' Meeting in Washington, D.C., from November 17^th until after Thanksgiving, I was grateful to be able to avail myself of some R & R - since that time included some days in Rome, it was easy to devote some time to love for the things of heaven. Rome is full of helps and guides in this regard. I might just mention three.

Stay at North American College

It was a joy to stay for the six-day period at the North American College, the seminary of the Bishops of the United States located on Vatican territory, though outside the Vatican City itself. The warmth and hospitality of Monsignor McCoy, the rector, Monsignor Cecchio, the Vice-rector for Administration, the members of the faculty and staff, especially my brother priests, and of the seminary students was as usual, outstanding.

Students who are assigned to the North American College must be able to master Italian, to learn theology in Italian if they go to several of the universities where the lectures are delivered only in Italian, to navigate life in a culture which, though western, is very different from ours, all the while attending to the very serious responsibility of their spiritual and human formation to be priests of Jesus Christ.

The young men who study at the North American College are uniquely gifted in the above ways. All of our seminarians for dioceses in the United States, especially in difficult times for the Church, are unique gifts from Christ to His Church - that is not the issue. But different seminaries accentuate the need for different gifts in their students and in this particular case the North American College is the seminary involved. To visit with the students there, to watch them face the struggles and the challenges which are unique to the Roman situation, to hear the details of each one's falling and rising, which is the plot of every Catholic Christian story, to catch from them the sense of the Universal Church and love for the Holy Father which are beginning to engrave themselves into their hearts - what a marvelous experience.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day Mass

This experience came to a fulfillment of sorts on Thanksgiving Day when for the first time as a Bishop I was privileged to be the principal celebrant of the Thanksgiving Day Mass at the North American College. Thanksgiving Day is a very special day there because Americans gather from all over Rome to celebrate since Thanksgiving Day, of course, is not a holiday in Italy nor do the Italians eat much turkey.

So it is one of those special days for the seminary community at the college, and it was a very special gift for me to enjoy being caught up in the "full, active, and fruitful participation" in the liturgy which was to be the fruit of Vatican II, and which was so marvelously striking at this particular celebration as is usually the case at the North American College. The intense prayerfulness, reverence, and deep joy really are the gifts of heaven on which we are to focus during Advent, and this Eucharistic Liturgy provided an opportunity for me to do so for which I will be always grateful.

Audience with Holy Father

Thirdly, on Wednesday, November the 26^th I had the privilege of greeting our Holy Father Pope John Paul II after the Wednesday audience. He came out on his moveable chair smiling and waving at the people - the audience hall was particularly jammed that day with an unusually large delegation of young people who always enliven our Holy Father in a special way. His voice was strong and although it remains difficult for him to pronounce every word clearly, his message was strong as well, and he really enjoyed the time at the audience especially when the young people would interrupt him with singing, etc.

There were five other Bishops present for the audience and at the very end we each were invited to greet the Holy Father personally. I offered the prayers and love of the Diocese of Madison, the prayers and love of all of you in a special way through the offering of the Spiritual Bouquet in which so many of you chose to participate - I know that the Holy Father is deeply grateful to all of you for that, and he expressed his love, his prayers and his blessing for all of you especially for children and those who are sick.

Though I have been privileged to greet the Holy Father on many occasions, one never gets used to meeting Peter through his direct successor, the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth. The Holy Father has taught all of us especially by his example in recent days to love the things of heaven, so that we are less encumbered by those of earth.

Let us continue to keep him in our prayers. For myself I am praying to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta for a miracle that through her intercession, Jesus Christ would give the Holy Father a boost of energy, a "20^th or 21^st wind" so that his time of shepherding the Church might flourish beyond these 25 plus years. Please find it in your heart to join me in this prayer to Blessed Mother Teresa.

Growing in love of things of heaven

And so the days in Rome were a marvelous preparation for Advent to focus on and grow in love of the things of heaven. This time away was made possible by the sacrifices of so many here, and in particular Monsignor Paul Swain, our Chancellor, Mr. Jay Conzemius, my secretary Pat Born, and special assistant John Gordon along with all of the priests and those on the Chancery staff who do the work of Christ each day so that the miracle and mystery which is the Church happens here in Madison. Thank you so much to all.

And I am grateful to the Lord for the gifts of health, safety, and deepening of faith which accompanied me during the time of R&R. During these days of Advent let us all try to keep our eyes fixed on the things of heaven, praying lovingly for one another. Thank you for reading this and God bless each one of you.

Bishop's Letter

Dear Friends in Christ:

The sixteenth collection in support of the Retirement Fund for Religious will be taken December 13 - 14. It is a time to reflect on the wonderful legacy religious sisters, brothers, and priests contributed to the Church and us all.

This year's theme is Let Mercy Triumph, which comes from the Rule of St. Benedict. Mercy in this context refers to attitudes of love and compassion. Their mercy toward hundreds of thousands of Catholics and non-Catholic alike in schools, hospitals, parishes, and other institutions and ministries helped shape the Church in the United States for many decades. We can return the favor, and express our appreciation for all they have done and sacrificed, through this collection.

Over 52 percent of all religious are over the age of 69; many more are approaching retirement. Many are frail and vulnerable, and without the financial resources to provide for themselves because they served so long for meager or no salaries or benefits. More than 96 percent of the proceeds of this collection are used directly for the needs of elderly religious in 560 religious institutes in 47 states.

Pray for an increase in vocations to the religious life, and for the spiritual and physical health of the retired religious. They trusted in God's providence. Through this collection, we can be God's instruments. Please be generous in expressing your mercy for those who have served us so well.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend
Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison

Decree of Promulgation

	Related Web page ... • The complete Policy Regarding Abuse of Minors, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Harassment is available on the Diocese of Madison Web site.

The Policy Regarding Abuse of Minors, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Harassment updates the 1993 Diocese of Madison Policy, and results from the concern that the Church utilize competent ministers who provide effective ministry. We are convinced that the majority of those who serve in various capacities in the Diocese of Madison are competent, ethical, balanced, and mature. At the same time, we are aware that accusations have been made, and we are concerned that the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, with the accompanying Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, are upheld and maintained in the Diocese of Madison.

While this Policy statement is necessarily canonical in tone, it is based on the conviction that the root of the problems we face in this area is sinful behavior. Behaviors that are contrary to the provisions of the Policy are objectively grave violations of the Sixth Commandment. Only when one acknowledges the personal sinfulness involved, will it be possible freely to turn to the healing mercy of our loving God. The sexual abuse of minors is a crime, and is usually associated with serious psychological illness. Any response must address those two dimensions. But the third dimension, serious sin, must not be overlooked - in fact, the Church's unique competence is to deal with sin primarily, rather than crime or psychological illness - others have competence in those spheres, which may or may not create space for mercy. But in the end, only the Mercy of Christ heals human sin and sinfulness. The Church must overflow with mercy for victims of sexual abuse, and must also not deprive abusers of all hope for mercy.

This Policy becomes effective on November 30, 2003, the First Sunday of Advent. It applies to all priests and deacons incardinated in the Diocese of Madison, to all seminarians affiliated with the Diocese of Madison; to women and men religious, lay men and women employed by or utilized as volunteers by the Diocese of Madison, its parishes, schools, institutions, offices, or programs; and to all priests and deacons incardinated in a diocese other than the Diocese of Madison serving in any capacity here, and to women and men religious serving in any capacity within the Diocese of Madison.

In virtue of my authority as Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, this Policy Regarding Abuse of Minors, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Harassment is hereby promulgated by sending a copy to each priest, deacon, seminarian, woman and man religious currently serving in the Diocese of Madison; by sending copies to each parish and institution of the Diocese with the requirement that the pastor or institution director immediately distribute a copy to each employee and volunteer who works with children; and by publication of the Policy in The Catholic Herald.

Given at Madison, Wisconsin, this 6th day of November; to take effect on the 30th day of November, 2003.

Signed by:

Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Witnessed by: Reverend Monsignor Paul J. Swain