Bishops' Schedules: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, April 8, 2004 5:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Mass of the Lord's Supper, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Friday, April 9, 2004 3:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Lord's Passion, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Saturday, April 10, 2004 8:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Easter Vigil Eucharist, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Sunday, April 11, 2004 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Easter Eucharist, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Wednesday, April 14, 2004 7:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Holy Rosary Parish, Darlington Bishop William H. Bullock, Bishop Emeritus Thursday, April 8, 2004 4:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Mass of the Lord's Supper, Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Prairie du Sac Friday, April 9, 2004 3:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Lord's Passion, Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Prairie du Sac Saturday, April 10, 2004 8:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Easter Vigil Eucharist, Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Prairie du Sac Sunday, April 11, 2004 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Easter Eucharist, Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Prairie du Sac

At Easter: Christ transforms us, makes all things new

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear Friends,

One of my earliest memories of Easter Sunday takes me back to the wonderful days when with my parents and my grandparents I would attend Easter Sunday Mass and then come home and have the most spectacular brunch of the year to begin the Easter celebration in the home.

My parents and grandparents would have already gone to the Easter Vigil celebrations but that was considered too long for me to endure in my earliest days. But on Easter Sunday morning all of us would wear at least one item that was brand new and frequently more.

"At the core Easter has changed us and we are made new in Christ. To say that is one thing. To live it is another."

I can remember frequently getting a new suit and wearing it for the first time at Easter, but whether it was a new suit or a new shirt or a new tie or new shoes, every one of us was wearing something absolutely brand new on Easter Sunday morning. And my mother and grandmother would explain that Christ made us brand new at Easter, and so the brand new clothes that we wore were simply a reminder of that truth, like writing ourselves a note so as to not to forget the importance of Easter.

Christ makes all things new

At Easter Christ does indeed make all things new. He is the true light, symbolized by the Easter candle, in Whose radiance all creation looks differently to us. The mind of Christ changes us from top to bottom. At Easter Christ takes possession of time - it belongs to Him so that our own worries and priorities yield and give higher place to the concerns of Christ and His people. Our time is not for ourselves but for Him - to Him belong all the seasons and all the ages and glory in the Church forever and ever. Amen.

How do we live at Easter and during the rest of the year? Do we live as though our time really belongs to Christ or do we live as though it really belongs to us and to our own self-centered concerns?

Are we tempted to live as though only any leftover time belongs to Christ? Do we place our time of worship at Mass on Sunday as top priority or do we try to fit the Mass in after all the other priorities have been addressed? That tells us a lot about our belief in Easter.

We must live out Easter transformation

There is a beautiful hymn in the Eastern liturgies of Easter Sunday which proclaims, "Let us call even those who hate us our sisters and our brothers, for Christ the Almighty is Risen!" Talk about making all things new! Our broken relationships and our disappointed hopes need never be the end of the story. The glory of the Resurrection is so overwhelming that in its splendid light, we are able to call those who hate us our sisters and our brothers.

Easter has changed the meaning of time for us. Easter has changed the meaning of all of our relationships. At the core Easter has changed us and we are made new in Christ. To say that is one thing. To live it is another.

To allow the Christ who is real, risen from the dead, to change us so that for us our relationships are transformed and any hatred is purified, and so that our time is meant for caring for the concerns of Christ and His people rather than our own - that change alone can bring the Easter joy which the world cannot give and which the world cannot take away. May it be yours this Easter!

Thank you for reading this, and God bless you and yours at Easter. Praised be Jesus Christ!

Bishop's Letter

Dear Friends in Christ:

As we begin the beautiful season of Easter, we recall the importance of the priesthood to our sacramental, spiritual, and personal lives. This year our annual special collection on Easter Sunday will be used to support both our retired priests and our seminarians. Those who have retired from active ministry after serving you with such dedication and those who are preparing to become priests need your acknowledgement and encouragement.

Approximately a third of our priests are now retired. To help assure dignity in retirement, each receives a monthly stipend and full health care coverage, among other benefits, from the St. Raphael Society Fund. In order to assure adequate resources now and for the future, we must begin to build up the priest retirement fund to take into account the increased usage and the volatile health insurance costs. It is also a way to say thank you to our retired priests.

It has been the policy of the Diocese of Madison, which I strongly endorse, that no one should be denied the opportunity to study for the priesthood because of a lack of financial resources. Your support in this collection helps assure that this will be true. It is also a way to say to our seminarians that we are behind them.

Pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood in our diocese and for happy and healthy retirement years for those who have borne the burdens of the day. Pray also for those priests in active ministry who deserve our support, encouragement, and care.

May the season of Easter be one of joy and peace for each of you.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend
Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison