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News Briefs:
Vigil for Life July 29-30
MADISON -- All are invited to attend a "Vigil for Life" from 10 a.m. Thursday, July 29, through 10 a.m. Friday, July 30, outside of Planned Parenthood of Madison, located at 3706 Orin Rd.
The vigil is sponsored by the Diocese of Madison seminarians and the Knights of Columbus.
Participants are also invited to attend an 8 a.m. Mass July 29 at Holy Redeemer Church, 120 W. Johnson St., and a noon Mass July 30 at St. Raphael Cathedral, 222 W. Main St. Participants will go out for breakfast after Mass July 29 and before Mass July 30.
For more information, call 608-821-3088.
Serenity Retreat
at Sinsinawa
SINSINAWA -- Sinsinawa Mound is offering a retreat focusing on the spiritual gift of serenity while moving through the 12 steps of recovery.
This Serenity Retreat will be held Friday, Aug. 20, from 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. Fr. Tim Seigel, pastor of St. Mary Parish, East Dubuque, Ill., will lead the retreat.
Cost is $164 for a private overnight room or $109 for commuters. Registration deadline is Aug. 6. For more information or to register, visit the Web site at www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter or call 608-748-4411.
Schoenstatt Sisters vocational retreat
WAUKESHA -- A vocational retreat will be sponsored by the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from Monday to Wednesday, Aug. 2 to 4, at the International Schoenstatt Center, Waukesha.
It is planned for young women, ages 15 and older. Registration and lodging are free of charge. The retreat begins with supper at 6 p.m. on Aug. 2 and ends at 2 p.m. on Aug. 4.
For information contact: Sr. M. Joanna Buckley, phone 262-542-4384 or e-mail srjoanna@schsrsmary.org, or Sr. Margarite Rodriguez, phone 262-542-4384 or e-mail srmargarite@schsrsmary.org
Anniversary party
for Janesville school
JANESVILLE -- This August St. Mary School will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a weekend-long celebration that will include an alumni "Back to School" cocktail party, a golf outing and afternoon lunch, a 75th anniversary party with guest speaker Congressman Paul Ryan, and a special alumni Mass.
The festivities will kick-off the recently formed St. Mary School Alumni Association and the upcoming St. Mary School renovation project.
For more information, e-mail alumni@nativitymary.org, call Barb at 608-868-9170, or Patrice at 608-757-0544.
All Saints Retirement Center open house
MADISON -- An open house will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at All Saints Retirement Center, 8202 Highview Dr. Bishop Robert C. Morlino will attend a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m.
The public is invited to visit the new senior housing community created by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison and Horizon Development Group.
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Nominate someone
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from the pew"
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Diocesan Institute:
Lay people receive Certification for Ministry
By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
(See also front page photo.)
MADISON -- Fourteen lay people celebrated their "graduation" from the first Diocesan Institute for Lay and Diaconate Formation on Sunday, July 11, at St. Raphael Cathedral.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino presented each of them with certificates certifying them for lay ministry in the Diocese of Madison.
They include: Jacqueline Childs, Patricia Clark, Robert Clark, Marilouise Durkin, Patricia Hendrickson, Connie Hultman, M. Susan Hundt-Bergan, Jean Jozefowicz, Annette Kiesow, Mary Ann
Lukesic, Catherine Schneider, Kathy Siberz, Jerrilyn Sutter, and Sharon Zimmerman.
Certified in lay ministry
These 14 people studied alongside the 20 men who will be ordained to the permanent diaconate on Friday, July 23.
"Congratulations to those who will be certified in the lay apostolate and congratulations to your families," said Bishop Morlino.
He also welcomed those concelebrating the Mass: Msgr. Paul Swain, vicar general and rector of the cathedral; Fr. Roger Nilles, pastor of St. Peter Parish, Madison; Fr. Ron Kreul, parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison; and Fr. Robert Turner from Carroll College in Helena, Mont., who was visiting Madison to participate in the FOCUS program. Deacon Bill Stack served as deacon while John Morgan was master of ceremonies.
Love, serve the world
In his homily, Bishop Morlino discussed the Gospel story of the Good Samaritan, which fit in so well with the lay ministry certification. Jesus asked, "Who was the neighbor, the priest who passed by or the Samaritan?"
Of course, it was the good Samaritan who was the neighbor. "Jesus Christ himself who is mercy is the neighbor," the bishop observed. "That's the point, especially for those of you who will be certified for ministry, for lay apostolic service in the church. The work of the laity is precisely to be mercy, to be the neighbor for the whole world."
Lay people are called to "love, to serve, to teach the world," said the bishop. "In the church, I need help, my brother priests and deacons need help. We're so grateful for the help you give."
Bishop Morlino said lay people should provide service "to the world, to the culture, especially through the political process and voting in conscience."
Special role of laity
Those certified in ministry should never get the idea that they're more of a "church mouse," he said. "If anything, you're more of a world mouse. You need insight into the special role of the laity."
What do the laity say to the world? "It's tough," admitted the bishop. "The world often doesn't want to hear what we have to say."
Speak the truth
Bishop Morlino encouraged the laity to speak about the "truth found in natural law." One of the easier truths is the law of self-preservation. But there are other laws that don't come so easily or are not commonly agreed upon. These include "the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death." That law, said the bishop, is "in every heart." But it is not of self-interest like the law of self-preservation.
The "law of marriage of one man and one woman" is another natural law found in our hearts. This has been a law of long standing in society.
While "nobody attacks the law of self-preservation," he noted, the rest of natural law seems to be "up for grabs" in our society today.
But following the natural law is "not distinctively Catholic." And it has "nothing to do with the separation of church and state," he emphasized.
Purify the culture
He told the lay ministers: "Be neighbors. Be mercy for every human being. Show mercy. Teach that marriage is the place of mercy, because of the natural law and the mercy of God.
"Those who are called to the special lay apostolic service today are called to purify the culture, and with God's help, save the world. Today in this country this means to invite people to believe there is truth and there is natural law."
After presenting the certificates, the bishop blessed the lay ministers. He expressed special appreciation to Kate Wiskus, director of the Office of Pastoral Services, her staff, and all those involved in the formation program.
The bishop and all those attending gave the lay ministers an enthusiastic round of applause.
Diocesan Institute for Lay and Diaconate Formation: Involved four years of study, prayer, community
By Sr. Marcia Vinje
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD
MADISON -- The members of the Diocesan Institute for Lay and Diaconate Formation have grown together through their studies, their common prayer, and through a vibrant community.
They truly grew into a spiritual family, sharing joys and concerns, progress and frustrations, supporting one another and challenging each other to grow in conformity to Christ.
Twenty deacons:
To be ordained July 23
MADISON -- Twenty men who completed the Diocesan Institute for Lay and Diaconate Formation will be ordained to the permanent diaconate on Friday, July 23, at St. Raphael Cathedral.
The 7 p.m. ordination will be a first in the Diocese of Madison.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino will preside at the ordination Mass.
Those being ordained are: John Baxter, St. Mary Parish, Platteville; Jerome Buhman, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison; William Bussan, St. Augustine Parish, Platteville; James Davis, St.
Jude Parish, Beloit; John Fernan, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison; Richard Fischer, St. William Parish, Janesville; Gregory Gehred, St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson; Thomas Hale, Sacred Heart Parish, Reedsburg; Steven Hayes, Nativity of Mary Parish, Janesville; David Hendrickson, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison; John Houseman, St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville; Patrick Jozefowicz, St. Mary Parish, Fennimore; John Kraus, St. Mary Parish, Sullivan; Raymond Lukesic, Holy Redeemer Parish, Madison; Richard Martin, St. Maria
Goretti Parish, Madison; Todd Martin, St. Peter Parish, Madison; Ronald Pickar, Sacred Heart Parish, Reedsburg; Joseph Stafford, St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie; Dennis Sutter, St. Mary Parish, Portage; and Larry Tranel, Immaculate Conception Parish, Kieler.
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Formation program
The Diocesan Institute has met 11 weekends a year for four years including four weekend retreats. The formation program included not only academic studies but also helps the whole person to grow.
Attention was paid to theory and application, spiritual growth and liturgical practice, self-knowledge, communication skills, and administrative expertise.
Mass and Liturgy of the Hours were part of the schedule as was time for building community spirit. Periodically families of the participants were welcomed for family gatherings consisting of Mass, a meal, and lots of interaction with everyone.
Constant interaction
The format provided for constant interaction between professors and students, the participants among themselves, and regular "integration and processing" sessions that helped to draw conclusions and connect various subjects.
For such intensive studies homework was a necessity; the focus, however, was always on application of material to practical ministry or one's personal spiritual life.
Every year the participants were evaluated either by their peers, the directors of the program, self-reflection, or reports from their pastors and field supervisors.
The faculty for the institute was drawn from Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill.; the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio; and clergy and laity from the Diocese of Madison.
Course of studies
Typically each weekend offered four classes from a variety of categories. The course of studies which these people have completed includes over 140 hours of theology. including systematic theology, sacraments, morality, Church history, and an additional 100 hours of Scripture courses; 60 hours of spirituality; 90 hours of liturgy; 75 hours of Church Life courses, including canon law; and 65 hours of Parish Ministry courses, including parish
administration and pastoral care.
In addition, most of them have spent three months in a supervised practicum that gave them field experience and feedback.
Sr. Marcia Vinje is associate director of the Office of Pastoral Services, Diocese of Madison.
Hmong refugees:
First family arrives, settles in Madison
By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- The first family in a wave of about 200 Hmong refugees settling in the Madison area arrived July 13.
Related article:
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"We are very happy to be here," said Chia Pao Lor in Hmong. He arrived from a refugee camp that is closing in Thailand. He and his wife, Mai Lee, and their seven children are building a new life in Madison.
The Lor family comes from Wat Tham Krabok, the last Hmong refugee camp in Thailand. The Thai government is closing the refugee camp, so the 15,000 Hmong refugees there must relocate. Many are unable to return in safety to their home country, Laos, so the U.S. government is allowing refugees to resettle here with family members already in the U.S.
While applying for housing in Madison, the Lor family is temporarily staying with Lor's cousin, Thao Lor, and her husband, Mang Yang, and their eight children whose ages range from 12 years to two months.
"I am very happy to sponsor his family to come in this country," said Yang. "The U.S. is very helpful if people need something."
Yang and his wife and their two oldest children immigrated to the United States in 1995, settling first in LaCrosse and then in Madison. Yang is a custodian at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and is continuing his education at MATC.
Difficult conditions
Chia Pao Lor and his wife escaped from Laos in 1977 and their children were born in the refugee camp.
With the aid of Yang, who interpreted for him, Lor described the conditions in the camp.
"When we lived in the camp, they had Thai soldiers," said Lor. "Whoever got out, they caught and punished. It was very hard when we lived over there."
In Madison, everything is clean and different from the refugee camp, he said. "Everywhere was dirty and many died outside" the camp, he said. "It was hard to find money and food."
Mai Lee said in Hmong that she is very happy and thankful for the American people. "I am happy to take my children to the U.S.," she said.
Hopes for future
Here in Madison Lor plans to go to school, learn English, and get a job. He hopes to help his children go to college and become professionals in whatever they choose.
In Thailand, Lor healed people when they were sick, Yang explained, indicating that now Lor may decide to go to school to become a licensed doctor here.
Help needed
Yang emphasized that the Lor family needs items such as clothes, furniture, and mattresses. What they have so far is not enough for his family of nine people, Yang said.
Yang and Lor expressed gratitude to everyone who has already donated items and to the media, which has publicized their arrival.
During the first 90 days in the United States, Catholic Charities is helping to settle the Hmong refugee families. United Refugee Services will then continue the efforts. The Catholic
Multicultural Center in Madison is among the agencies offering support as well.
Mary Sobota, Catholic Charities social worker, noted that the Lor family traveled 36 hours to get here.
She said three more Hmong refugee families were scheduled to arrive in the two days following the Lor family's arrival.
For more information
To donate items to this family and other Hmong refugee families and to find out about other ways to help, contact Mary Sobota, Catholic Charities social worker, at 608-256-2358.
Information is also available on the United Refugee Services Web site at www.ursw.org
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