Editorial

Bishop George O. Wirz celebrates his 75th birthday on Jan. 17, 2004. It is fitting that this milestone falls during the annual observance of National Vocation Awareness Week in the Catholic Church.

	Related articles ... from this edition: • Happy 75th Birthday! -- Bishop George O. Wirz from Oct. 17, 2002 edition: • Bishop Wirz: Attended Second Vatican Council 40 years ago from June 13, 2002 edition: • Bishop Wirz celebrates Golden Jubilee

For if anyone is an example of a happy, faith-filled priest, it is Bishop Wirz. In an interview prior to his golden jubilee as a priest in 2002, Bishop Wirz said, "After 50 years, my romance with the priesthood has grown stronger!"

Enjoys people. A native of Monroe, Bishop Wirz was ordained in 1952. He has served his entire priesthood in the Diocese of Madison. Above all, he has enjoyed working with people. He still keeps in touch with hundreds of people he has met. "People are so good," he says.

He met many of these people while serving as pastor at St. Bernard and St. Patrick Parishes in Madison. He continued in parish work even after being ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Madison in 1978. He eventually began full-time ministry as a bishop in 1989, traveling throughout the diocese to administer the sacrament of Confirmation and attend special parish functions.

Ministry to seminarians, priests. Bishop Wirz considers ministry to seminarians and other priests as his special apostolate. He began this work as an instructor at Queen of Apostles Seminary in Madison from 1954 to 1963. In 1963 he was named founding rector of Holy Name Seminary in Madison. He held that position for 10 years.

He is proud of the seminary's achievement in educating close to 70 priests and many lay leaders in the church. Bishop Wirz feels like a proud parent as he meets seminary alumni on his travels throughout the diocese. "I see them all over the diocese, in just about every parish as I go about for Confirmations or other events. The alumni are good leaders in their parishes," he noted.

In addition, over one-half of all the priests in the diocese were either his colleagues or pupils. "I'm so proud of the priests," says Bishop Wirz. He still keeps in touch with his former students, giving them encouragement and support.

His interest in priests has also been shown in his service as director of the diocesan Office for the Continuing Education of Priests, a position he has held since 1993. This office plans all the diocesan clergy days, assemblies, sabbaticals, and retreats for priests.

Bishop Wirz is also pleased that priests have increasingly been sharing ministry with the laity at the diocesan and parish levels. He sees this as one of the best outcomes of the Second Vatican Council, which he attended.

Living his vocation. This humble priest and bishop has quietly but firmly lived out his priestly vocation, serving the priests, religious, and laity of the Diocese of Madison for almost 52 years. He plans to live in Madison during his retirement years and continue to help where needed.

We wish him God's blessings for many years of serenity and peace. Thank you, Bishop Wirz, for the gift of your priesthood. You are truly an outstanding example of a happy, faith-filled priest and bishop.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Bishop provides
helpful information

To the editor:

I disagree emphatically with the letter in the Jan. 8 issue of the Catholic Herald criticizing Bishop Morlino's informative article on The DaVinci Code.

The writer is correct that this book was written as a work of fiction; however, both network and cable TV specials have reviewed it as if it might have a basis in historical fact. I suspect it also has been a topic of similar analysis on talk shows.

As the bishop noted, because of its notoriety, many Catholics might have received copies of the book as Christmas gifts. They deserve to know the truth about the myths promoted by this book and it is refreshing to have a bishop who is willing to take the time to provide this. We will never learn it from the secular media.

James A. Sorenson, Madison

Origin of the term 'Christmas'

To the editor:

There are groups and individuals who want to eradicate anything that deals with the term "Christmas." Do they know that the term, "Christmas," originated in approximately 1123 A.D. in England for English-speaking people and replaced the term, "Nativity"?

The more accurate term for the celebration on Dec. 25 is "The Solemnity of the Nativity," which originated in approximately 336 A.D. in Rome as a Christian celebration to replace the pagan winter festival, "Unconquered Son" (Natalis Solis Invicti). The actual date of Jesus' birth is unknown.

While the opponents of Christmas are exhausting themselves in trying to eradicate Christmas, the rest of us can celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity.

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

English version of hymn not same

To the editor:

I am sure many readers enjoyed Antoinette Bosco's article on "Silent Night" (Dec. 18, 2003 [print edition only]), as I did. However, German-speaking readers may recall the original lines in their language: Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, alles schlaef, einsam wacht . . . A literal translation relates how all slept while the shepherds kept "a lonesome watch or vigil."

The English version, "all is calm, all is bright," waters down the intended notion that all humanity, like the shepherds, were keeping a silent watch, hoping that a Savior would come who would be the "Light of the world" to extinguish the darkness.

J.W. Rock, Monona

Bishop Burke narrowly selective

To the editor:

Bishop Raymond Burke is narrowly selective in telling Catholic legislators how to vote on abortion. How about other issues? What would he say to legislators who voted for war in Iraq after the pope specifically spoke against a U.S. pre-emptive strike in Iraq? What would he say to those legislators who approve and support the death penalty when the official church teaching is opposed to it?

The role of the elected representative, whether Catholic nor not, regardless of party, is to vote for the common good by upholding the rights, dignity, and life of every person.

Fr. Tony Schumacher, Madison