News Briefs: Catholic weight loss program WAUNAKEE -- The Light Weigh, a Catholic spiritual growth weight loss program, is a 12-week, video-based program that takes place in a small group home setting. For more information or to register for the gatherings in Waunakee, call Nancy Gantt, parish nurse, at St. John the Baptist Parish rectory, 608-849-5121. For details on the program, go to www.lightweigh.com CPR course offered MADISON -- "Heartsaver Infant and Child CPR Course" will be offered by Dean/St. Marys Health Works on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Dean West Clinic, lower level Health Works, 752 N. High Point Rd. Pre-registration is required by calling 608-824-4400 or 1-800-368-5596. Blood drive at St. Clare Hospital BARABOO -- The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at St. Clare Hospital, Baraboo, on Friday, July 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Ringling Conference Room. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of ID are required at check-in. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more. It isn't necessary for donors to know their blood type to donate. Theology-On-Tap for young adults MADISON -- Theology-On-Tap (TOT), a speaker series for young adults in their 20s and 30s, will be held on Tuesday evenings, Sept. 21, 28, and Oct. 5 and 12, at Club Majestic in Madison, at Los Pinos in Janesville, and on the second floor of Pizzeria Uno in Platteville. It will also be held on Thursday evenings, Sept. 23, 30, and Oct. 7 and 14, at Bellows Brew Pub in Watertown.
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Walking together:
Bishop from Ghana shares his perspective

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- We don't always appreciate the benefit of international relations and maybe the world would be more at peace if it learned to exchange those values, said Bishop Lucas Abadamloora, bishop of the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga in Ghana.

Bishop Lucas (as he is usually called) shared his thoughts in an interview with the Catholic Herald during his visit to the Diocese of Madison July 16-18.

The Ghanaian diocese and the Madison diocese are developing a Global Solidarity Partnership with the help of Catholic Relief Services. Within the past two years, two delegations from the Diocese of Madison have traveled to Ghana. Bishop Lucas was among the many people who warmly welcomed the delegates.

Walking together

"We have a lot to share," said Bishop Lucas, emphasizing the U.S. bishops' 2001 statement on "A Call to Solidarity With Africa." We as Catholics walk together as a family, he emphasized. "I see the partnership in that light, trying to do things together" as human beings and Christians, he said.

It is humanly and spiritually encouraging to expose people of the same faith to another culture, he said, noting the Catholic faith is the first connection between the two cultures. "This partnership gives us extended family members who strive for the same goals."

"A certain exchange of culture makes us more human. No one should claim to be self-sufficient," he said, remarking that both cultures can learn something from each other. For example, the Global Solidarity Partnership includes sharing ideas in areas such as youth ministry, peace and justice, family life, certain values, education, and spiritual renewal.

While in the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Lucas met with Bishop Robert C. Morlino and other diocesan staff as well as delegates who visited Ghana.

"In the near future we hope to return the visit," he said.

Professor to bishop

Bishop Lucas was ordained in 1968. After a short time of parish work, he studied in Rome, received a doctorate in theology. Then he served as a professor in a seminary in Ghana where he was involved with moral theology and spiritual direction.

He became vicar general of the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga and was appointed bishop in 1994. On June 29 the diocese celebrated his 10-year anniversary as bishop.

It was a challenge to go from being a professor to being a bishop, said Bishop Lucas, but he was determined to do his best. "I took over a diocese that was less endowed in many ways," he said. Poverty -- often in the face of famine or other emergency crisis -- is one of the challenges in his diocese and people often show up at his door to ask for help.

"We are not a rich diocese. We are struggling. But we are joyful to do what we can," he said.

At his 10-year anniversary celebration, "I felt consoled because people said, 'You have managed to keep us walking together,'" said Bishop Lucas, who is known as the "people's bishop" because people come to him.

"That was a good message. This was not a lonely journey, but one in which I felt the presence of many people."

Various challenges

Another challenge for Bishop Lucas is to keep the people united in a diocese that speaks various languages. "It is not only language that unifies. We must have a common vision," he said.

The Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga has 14 parishes, but each parish has many outstations. One parish has 32 outstations, for example, and another parish has 20 -- so there are actually 150 to 200 Christian communities.

There are 200,000 Catholics in a population of one million. "We live side by side with Muslims and Protestant churches. We live peacefully together. We are not fighting but have to watch out for militant Muslims, radicals employed by Saudi Arabia and other rich nations," he said.

Lay formation is one way to unify the diocese, he explained, adding that a strong group of Christian mothers is very helpful as well. In a lay formation program, catechists are trained during two weeks a year for three years.

Developing the faith of the people is another challenge. "We have to deepen the faith of the people so that in crisis they won't run away."

During his four-week visit to the United States, Bishop Lucas will visit priests of his diocese who are studying in Massachusetts and California. He will also encourage mission appeals that will go toward the work of seminarians, catechists, and laity.

Social Ministry interns:
Working for social justice

By Julianne Nornberg
and Sarah Baldwin
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Eight young adults this summer are gaining firsthand experience in living out Catholic social teaching.

They are participants in the Social Ministry Internship Program, sponsored by the Diocese of Madison's Office for Justice and Peace.

Working in church agencies and offices, the interns share their hands-on experiences with each other in meetings and discussions led by J. Mark Brinkmoeller, director of the Office for Justice and Peace. The program was instituted by Bishop William H. Bullock eight years ago to meet goals of the Strategic Plan of the diocese.

'Being there for people'

Four interns are working in the Catholic Multicultural Center in Madison, which houses Centro Guadalupano and St. Martin House.

At Centro Guadalupano, which ministers to Hispanic people, Molly Reichelderfer of Madison is interning as a job search assistant, helps with Spanish translation needs, and teaches adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Planning to become an ESL teacher, she will be a freshman at the College of St. Benedict outside of St. Cloud, Minn.

"Being there for people without options" is a part of what Reichelderfer has learned in the internship. People come in with problems and I help them figure them out and help with the language, she said. "I try to make it easier for them."

Serving others

At St. Martin House, Gayle Westfahl is helping with the children's summer program and free meal program there. She also assists in teaching an ESL class through Centro Guadalupano and visits migrant worker camps.

A graduate of St. Norbert College with a bachelor of music degree, Westfahl completed her graduate degree in piano performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She directs the choir and instruments for the 11:15 Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison and frequently plays the piano at St. Paul's University Catholic Center in Madison.

She said this internship has allowed her to work with people from many different backgrounds and "reflect on what it means to serve others."

Give back to community

Two other interns at St. Martin House are Emma Johnson of Madison and returning intern Becky Belanger of Sun Prairie.

Johnson will be a senior at the University of Colorado-Boulder and is majoring in psychology and minoring in political science.

"I wanted to do this internship this summer because I wanted to give back to my community and be able to meet people from a variety of backgrounds and situations," she said. "My mother volunteers at St. Martin House and I used to come with her when I was home from school on break. It was a positive experience and it made me want to get more involved with the community."

Belanger will be a senior at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minn. She is pursuing a double major in theology and pastoral/youth ministry with a minor in psychology.

Working at St. Martin House for two summers has given me experience in working with all different kinds of people and opened my eyes to types of service that can be offered to those in need," she said.

Claire Murphy of Cross Plains is interning at Catholic Charities, working with the support broker program, which provides support to those who have developmental disabilities or brain injuries. She will be a sophomore in social work at Viterbo University in LaCrosse.

Treating clients with respect and having a non-judgmental attitude are the most important things Murphy has learned. "This internship has allowed me to go beyond the textbook and classroom and experience the work place," she said.

A global perspective

Tomasz Krzyzostaniak of Middleton and Angie Thorpe of Verona are serving as interns in the Office for Justice and Peace.

Born and raised in Poznan, Poland, Krzyzostaniak moved with his family to Middleton 10 years ago. He will be a senior at UW-Madison, where he is studying international studies, political science, and history. Next year he will be completing his university studies abroad in Cairo, Egypt.

As an intern, Krzyzostaniak is working on the Global Solidarity Partnership Program and gathering materials on forgiveness for a new Office for Justice and Peace Web site.

Krzyzostaniak said that through the internship he has gained a solid foundation in Catholic social teaching. The idea of responsibility for others is one example. "This has given me a good foundation, strengthening my convictions for social justice," he said.

Thorpe will be a junior at UW-Madison majoring in English with a medieval studies certificate. As an intern, Thorpe is compiling pro-life information for the Office for Justice and Peace Web site.

"Through my internship, I have learned how vitally important it is to know what is going on in our country," she said. "The only way you can change things is if you know what needs to be changed."

Learning from others

Returning intern Sarah Szerlong of Milton is working this summer at Port St. Vincent, which offers housing to 38 homeless men in the Madison area. She is a fourth year student majoring in psychology and vocal performance at St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

As an intern, she helps with meals and sorts donations. "However, I have learned the most from my contact and conversations with the residents," she said.

"Not only do I feel I have grown as a person in how I view society and culture, but I have developed an appreciation for what life has to offer and how generous and humble people can be in giving," she said. "More than anything, I have grown in my understanding of myself and my relationship with God and my community."

For more information on the Social Ministry Internship Program, call 608-821-3086.