News Briefs: St. Coletta hosts Job Fair JEFFERSON -- The St. Coletta Job Fair will be held Friday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the administration building's front lobby, located on E. Hwy. 18, Jefferson. Career, internship, and volunteer opportunities are available to match employment, educational, or personal objectives. A comprehensive benefit program is available for those individuals working at least 30 hours per week with another level of benefits for staff working 20+ hours. Paid positions are available in dietary, transportation, housekeeping, health services, residential services, vocational skills training, and CNA staff. Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Coletta provides support services for persons with developmental disabilities and other challenges to live more independent and successful lives. Meet staff and employees at the St. Coletta Job Fair and find out about available positions or visit the St. Coletta Web site at www.stcolettawi.org Program on 'ABC's of Healthy Aging' BARABOO -- St. Clare Hospital's GoldenCare program is hosting a program on the "ABC's of Healthy Aging" on Sunday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. in the hospital's Ringling Conference Room. Cori March, director of the hospital's Clarion Center, a mental health service for older adults, is the presenter. Marsh will tackle the challenges people face as they become older and help them face the process with their heads held high and a bounce in their steps. "Aging is an inevitable challenge for everyone," says Marsh. "No one is exempt although many have tried throughout the ages." Lois Luethy, GoldenCare advisor, will also present the latest information on the new Medicare Drug program and answer questions. Refreshments will be served. There is no charge for the program, but reservations will be appreciated by calling the GoldenCare office at St. Clare, 608-356-1407. New president at St. Marys Hospital MADISON -- SSM Health Care of Wisconsin, St. Marys Hospital's parent company, announced that Dr. Frank Byrne has been named president of St. Marys Hospital. Byrne will join the St. Marys' team in July of 2004. Gerald Lefert, the hospital's current president, is retiring after 32 years of service with St. Marys. Byrne served as president of Parkview Hospital, a 550-bed tertiary care facility that anchors Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Ind. He has also served as executive vice president of Parkview Health and president of Parkview Health Foundations, overseeing public policy and government relations. He was also president of the medical staff. Byrne will be moving to the Madison area with his wife, Cindy. They have three children. Rock Deanery women meet May 4 EVANSVILLE -- St. Paul Parish here will host the Rock Deanery Council of Catholic Women spring meeting Tuesday, May 4. The theme is "God's Love Is Everlasting." Registration is at 3:30 p.m. followed by business meeting; concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist; dinner; and program "A New Beginning for a Parish Council of Catholic Women" presented by Dorene Shuda, Jefferson, and Sr. Virginia Brunner, Sue Johnson, and Denise Sherry, all from Watertown. Reservations are due April 26 to Elizabeth Korback, 2262 Harmony Ln., Beloit, WI 53511. The cost is $7. 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. New Directions will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd., top floor. For information, call 608-821-3170. Friends on a Journey will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 6, at Our Lady Queen of Peace nursery, 401 S. Owen Dr. For information, call Paul at 608-862-3613. High school auction on April 24 MADISON -- Edgewood High School's (EHS) spring auction and social, Passport to the World, will be held Saturday, April 24, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the EHS Commons and Wilke Gym. Tickets are $45 per person and include food, beverages, raffle opportunities, silent and live auction, and a time to enjoy the company of friends while supporting Edgewood High School's financial aid program. Blue Plate will be catering the evening. Appetizers will be served in several "around the world" stations including Italy, the Orient, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. Unlimited beer and wine will be included. For tickets, call the EHS development office at 608-257-1023, ext. 134. Beloit schools hold Walk-a-thon BELOIT -- Families, students, and faculty at Brother Dutton and Our Lady of the Assumption Schools will join together for their 22nd Walk-a-thon on Saturday, April 24, beginning at Brother Dutton School at 9 a.m Proceeds will be used for equipment and needed tools to further children's education. Each school has a goal of raising $10,000 or more. Those who would like to make a donation may send it to either school (Attn: Walk-a-thon Committee). Beloit residents are asked to be aware that children will be walking on the west side of the city during the event.
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Mercy:
First gift of Risen Christ

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo of painting.)

MADISON -- Forgiveness and mercy are the first gift of the Risen Christ to his disciples, Bishop Robert C. Morlino reminded those present for the Mass marking Divine Mercy Sunday, April 18, at St. Raphael Cathedral.

The cathedral was filled for the ninth annual Mercy Sunday Mass held in the Diocese of Madison. People stood in line for confessions well into the Mass, which was followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Divine mercy

When the Holy Father - inspired by the generous love of Mother Faustina - started the Divine Mercy Sunday observance, some people considered it a distraction from the Easter liturgy, noted Bishop Morlino in his homily.

But he said the Holy Father was inspired by the Gospel of the day. The Gospel says the first fruit of the Resurrection is forgiveness, observed Bishop Morlino. "Mercy came forth from the cross."

"Jesus gave the apostles the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins," said Bishop Morlino.

Doubting Thomas

The Gospel reading for this Sunday tells the story of "doubting Thomas." He did not believe Jesus rose from the dead until he saw and felt his wounds in Christ's glorified body.

"If I would create a glorified body, I would have healed the wounds," said Bishop Morlino. "But the wounds were not healed or erased or forgotten. They were gloried. They became Jesus' badge of glory which allowed Thomas and others to recognize him."

The bishop emphasized, "Mercy is possible, is real, is necessary, makes sense because the wounds are meant to be glorified."

For us, too, mercy is poured out. "We realize that every wound we receive in life is destined to be glorified," said Bishop Morlino. "The only response to our wounds that makes sense is mercy. When we're wounded, the response is mercy.

Easter is about mercy

"Easter is all about mercy," he said. "Today it looks as if the world is less merciful than a week ago. Easter is supposed to make a difference. Easter is about divine mercy that forgives all sins.

"We know we need that mercy. If we don't receive it, we can't give it. We receive mercy in the Sacrament of Penance so we can pour that mercy out on all."

In his blessing of the Divine Mercy image, Bishop Morlino asked God to send his love and blessing on this image of Jesus. "Let our hearts blaze with mercy so we can bring it into our homes and the world."

Priests concelebrating the Mass included Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer, Fr. Wilfred Schuster, and Fr. Eric Nielsen. Frs. Mick Moon and Tait Schroeder assisted with confessions.

The Novena to Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday and ends on the Sunday after Easter. For more information on this novena, contact the Friends of Mercy, 5102 Schoefield Ave., Madison, WI 53716.

Priestly vocations: Bishop tells Serrans it's his top priority

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- "My top priority is the promotion of priestly vocations. We have every reason to be encouraged, because God is calling men from all eternity today."

That is what Bishop Robert C. Morlino told members of the Beloit, Janesville, and Madison Serra Clubs and the Southwest Vocations Club on March 19 at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.

Families and vocations

The bishop said there is "no question that Satan has waged an incredible attack on the church," including attacks on marriage and on the priesthood with the sexual abuse scandals.

He emphasized that "good priests come from good families." If the family is weakened, the number of priests declines. If the family background is not strongly Catholic, he said, there's more work to do in priestly formation.

Bishop Morlino said that while God "never creates and promotes evil," he "permits evil and draws good out of evil." He said we should not be discouraged or shrink back from encouraging men to become priests. Instead, "we should turn up the effort."

The bishop said "the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have called from all eternity young priests to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. When I meet young men in seminaries, they are not discouraged."

Bishop Morlino said we have "excellent young men" preparing to be priests in the Diocese of Madison. "I hope some of them will move throughout the diocese this summer to promote vocations. They are our best recruitment."

Since he became bishop Aug. 1, 2003, Bishop Morlino has served as vocation director. He has met with individuals and groups and continually brings up the topic of vocations.

He said the diocese does need a full-time vocation director for recruitment and retention. He also said the support of parents - especially the mother - is very important in fostering vocations.

Celibacy issue

Bishop Morlino admitted that celibacy "has taken a beating" recently. But he said "celibacy will continue for some time to be part and parcel of the call to priesthood."

"Celibacy is a precious gift, a gift Jesus himself chose to live out. It's for the sake of the Kingdom. We have to be clear about what celibacy is. It's more than refraining from sexual behavior. It's a mindset. I'd love to be a good husband and a good father. I sacrifice that for the sake of the Kingdom."

God gives men grace to help them live the celibate lifestyle, he said.

Priest in person of Jesus

The bishop called the priesthood "a mystical way of life. The priest is in the person of Jesus Christ. The priest is the ambassador of mercy par excellence. He dispenses mercy in the name of Jesus Christ."

The world desperately needs that mercy, Bishop Morlino said, pointing to terrorism and abortion as two "powerful expressions of a world without mercy." He called the priesthood a "joyful life, a mystical life."

Optimistic about future

The bishop is optimistic about obtaining more seminarians for the Diocese of Madison. He has six applications for the fall and more possible.

"We should have 25 or more. We have over 43,000 students at the University of Wisconsin, one-third of them Catholic. It's teeming with vocations."

He urged the Serrans to invite young men to consider the priesthood. "Guys need to hear, 'It seems to me you'd be a good priest. Did you ever think about it?' What you do is essential," Bishop Morlino said.

The Serra Club is an international organization of lay Catholics whose mission is to foster and affirm vocations to the ministerial priesthood and vowed religious life and through this ministry further members' common Catholic faith.

A CD with Bishop Morlino's complete address to the Serrans is available from Pat Stiennon at pjgs@machinepatents.com