News Briefs: Women plan deanery meetings Following is a schedule of the fall deanery meetings of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women: • Sept. 13 - Sauk Deanery, a.m., La Crosse • Sept. 15 - Rock Deanery, a.m., Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Beloit • Sept. 15 - Marquette/Green Lake Deanery, p.m., St. James Parish, Neshkoro • Sept. 30 - Lafayette Deanery, p.m., Our Lady of Hope Parish, Seymour • Oct. 7 - West Dane Deanery, a.m., Holy Mother of Consolation Parish, Oregon • Oct. 8 - Grant Deanery, a.m., Holy Ghost Parish, Dickeyville • Oct. 14 - Columbia Deanery, a.m., Holy Hill • Oct. 19 - Jefferson Deanery, p.m., St. Mary Parish, Palmyra • Oct. 21 - East Dane Deanery, St. Mary Parish, Marshall Sauk Deanery Council of Catholic Women LA CROSSE -- The fall meeting of the Sauk Deanery Council of Catholic Women will be held Monday, Sept. 13. A chartered bus will drive the women to La Crosse, where they will visit the St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, the Chapel of St. Rose Convent, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The bus will leave the Pamida parking lot in Reedsburg at 7:30 a.m. At 7:45 Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Parish, LaValle, with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, diocesan moderator, as celebrant and homilist. Lunch will be served at the Shrine in La Crosse. Reservations are to be made with Nora Durst, S1123 E, Redstone Dr., LaValle, WI 53941. Cost is $28. Raffle benefits scholarship funds JEFFERSON -- Each year St. Coletta of Wisconsin is challenged to provide nearly $3 million in free or adjusted care for persons who have disabilities. This year, St. Coletta will hold its "Give a Chance, Take a Chance" raffle, with proceeds to benefit the organization's scholarship funds. Only 1,000 tickets are being sold. Grand prize is $5,000, second prize is $1,500, third prize is $1,000, fourth prize is $500, and fifth prize is $250. Tickets are $50 each and may be purchased at St. Coletta through the Development Office; by visiting www.stcolettawi.org; or by sending a check to St. Coletta of Wisconsin Scholarship Raffle to St. Coletta-Development, W4955 Hwy. 18, Jefferson, WI 53549. The drawing will be at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 11 during the organization's annual Fall Family Conference at Olympia Resort and Conference Center, Oconomowoc. Winners need not be present to win. For more information, call the St. Coletta Development Office at 920-674-8303. First aid, CPR courses offered MADISON -- A variety of first aid and CPR courses are being offered by Dean/St. Marys Health Works, a training center of the American Heart Association: • "Family and Friends: Infant and Child CPR Course," at St. Marys Hospital, 707 S. Mills St., Madison, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8; Wednesday, Sept. 22; and Monday, Sept. 27; at Dean East Clinic, lower level Health Works, 1821 S. Stoughton Rd., Madison, Monday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. • "Heartsaver: Adult CPR Course," Thursday, Sept. 9, from 6 until 8:30 p.m. at the Dean East Clinic, 1821 S. Stoughton Rd. • Pediatric First Aid Course Saturday, Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Dean West Clinic, lower level Health Works, 752 N. High Point Rd., Madison. Pre-registration is required by calling 608-824-4400 or 1-800-368-5596. Women's Awareness Day SINSINAWA -- The 21st annual Women's Awareness Day will be held at Sinsinawa Mound from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. There will be three 50-minute breakout sessions at 3, 4, and 5 p.m. Participants may attend any or all sessions. Over 20 topics will be offered, including Focus! Simple Keys to Taking Better Photos, Book Club Insights, Helping a Child with Homework, Faux Painting, Scrapbooking, Cosmetic Dentistry, and more. Dinner at 6 p.m. is followed by Debra Salz's keynote, "Happy People Secrets." For information or to register, contact Krista Weitz at Northeast Iowa Community College at 563-557-8271; toll free at 888-642-2338, ext. 247; or e-mail weitzk@nicc.edu Registrations postmarked on or before Sept. 15 will receive a discounted fee of $20. Late registrations will be $35.
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Our Lady of the Assumption:
Celebrates church dedication

By Pat Casucci
CATHOLIC HERALD CORRESPONDENT

(See also front page photo.)

BELOIT -- Radiant sunshine seemed to highlight the beauty of solemn dedication ceremonies at the newly built Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Church held on the parish feast day, Aug. 15.

Diamond-shaped in design, the church seats more than 600 persons. Its belfry architecturally sets it apart from the OLA complex of buildings. The church was built this past year during an extensive renovation and expansion project that addressed the current and future needs of the parish of more than 1,000 families.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino presided at the Mass with OLA Pastor Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl as concelebrant. Fr. James Bartylla, Madison, was master of ceremonies.

Music was presented by the OLA Dedication Choir and several instrumentalists directed by Randy Gracyalny, director of music and liturgy for the parish. Cantor was Laurie Seehafer.

Welcoming Bishop Morlino and extending the parish's hospitality were Joe Stadelman, project architect; Jerry Klobucar, general contractor; and Dick Schneider owners' (parish) representative. All three are members of OLA. Bishop Morlino was given a set of plans and keys to the new church.

Proclaiming truth

Often smiling, Bishop Morlino during his homily nevertheless had strong words to stress the need for "the fullness of truth in our culture and in the world. He spoke on the theme "Light of Christ, shine forth in the church and bring all nations the fullness of truth."

Noting that the theme sums up what the dedication was all about, he added it is also why the feast of the Solemnity of Mary is celebrated. "Mary's feast is a mystery and truth. I think it's a most important truth we have to proclaim to our nation and all nations," while adding that he is very devoted to the mystery of the Assumption of Mary.

In the Assumption we see the mystery of the great dignity of the body. "Our culture needs to hear this truth," he said.

Bishop Morlino said the new church is "built in love founded upon truth, which is a communion of truth we bring to all nations. Every time we come into this church let us be reminded who you and I are together."

Dedication rites

In keeping with solemn traditions, the following ceremonies and prayers were included in the Mass: Prayer of Dedication, Anointing the Altar and Walls of the Church, Incense Burned on the Altar and Incensing the Nave, Covering of the Altar, Lighting of the Altar and the Church, and the Inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel that is located in the belfry.

Proclaimers of the Word were Brook Graves and Luke Madaus. Servers were Mike Senz, Helen Madaus, Matt Jones, and Stephanie Kinast.

At the conclusion of Mass, Father Krahenbuhl was given an enthusiastic standing ovation for his inspiration and guidance throughout the building project.

He also proudly announced that through the generosity of an unnamed parish family, three bronze bells are presently being cast in Europe and will be hung in the belfry hopefully by Christmas.

Thanks to pastor, many parishioners

The day's celebration continued with refreshments in the new Assumption Hall, tours of the church and school, displays, and a concert by several parish members. Rita and David Bonds were co-chairs for the celebration events.

The laying of the cornerstone featured parish leaders, including Bill Flanagan, chair of the jubilee committee. He offered sincere and lavish praise to everyone who worked on the project.

He said so many committee members, who spent "an enormous number of hours cooperating together the past four years, "have become caring friends along the way. It was hard work, but accomplished with love," he said.

He added his heartfelt thanks to Father Krahenbuhl. "No person deserves more credit for our success than Father Gary whose inspiration, leadership, friendship, and commitment to the parish has made all this possible," said Flanagan.

Stating, "It's wonderful," Father Krahenbuhl summed up his feelings.

Building project

The OLA building project coincided with the parish 50th jubilee in 2003. The building project included the Chapel of the Holy Cross formed from the center of the old church, gathering space, improvements to OLA School, parish hall, and related spaces.

Among those involved in the project were: architect, Angus-Young and Associates, Inc., Janesville; liturgical consultant, Dennis J. Horbinski, New Berlin; general contractor, Klobucar Construction Co., Inc., Beloit; and fund raising, Trinity Fund Raising Consultants, Janesville.

New season: New members invited to join Madison Diocesan Choir

MADISON -- The Madison Diocesan Choir, under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman, begins a new season Sept. 28 with openings for new members in all sections.

The award-winning choir has more than 60 members, representing parishes throughout the dioceses. For four decades the choir has served the faith community with its music ministry and represented the diocese in tours abroad.

Offers opportunities

"It's an opportunity for people to sing in a rather large church-related choir, to sing very good music, to strive to do it in the best possible way for diocesan liturgies, and to sing in other parishes," Gorman said.

The choir also is an opportunity to meet people from all over the diocese, "to share music with them, get to know them, and learn more about our faith," Gorman said. "The choir's kind of a family."

Choir's schedule

Although the 2004-05 schedule is not yet final, the choir plans visits to a number of parishes in addition to singing at such regular events as "Lessons and Carols" and diocesan liturgies including Rite of Election, Chrism Mass, and ordination to the priesthood.

The choir will sing at the Apostolate to the Handicapped Mass in Monroe and the Knights of Columbus memorial Mass. Smaller numbers of choir members sing at the All Souls Day Mass and the TV Christmas Mass.

Selections for season

Gorman's selections this season include works by composers Felix Mendelssohn, Herbert Howells, and Mack Wilberg, whose arrangement of an American hymn, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, features harp, flute, and oboe. The annual spring concert will be a celebration of hymns, European, American, and contemporary.

Gorman became the choir's director in 1992. A year later the choir received an award for excellence from the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. At the choir's 2002 "Lessons and Carols" Bishop William H. Bullock presented Gorman and the choir with the Bishop's Distinguished Service Award, the highest diocesan honor.

Invitation to join choir

On Sept. 28, the choir will resume regular Tuesday evening rehearsals at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Center. Anyone interested in joining the choir should contact Gorman before Sept. 15 to schedule a placement appointment. He said the bass, tenor, and alto sections have a number of openings, while opportunities to sing in the soprano section are fewer.

Gorman may be reached by phone at 608-821-3081 or e-mail pgorman@straphael.org

Sell coupon books

In addition to paying dues of $30 a semester, members support the choir through the sale of entertainment coupon books. The books allow people of the diocese a way to support the choir's ministry and benefit from substantial savings, according to bass Paul Stein of St. Andrew Parish in Verona.

The book still sells for $25, but includes a new bonus this year: 12 coupons for $5 each at Copps Food Centers. "That's $60 in savings right there," Stein said. "This is our primary fundraiser. This is what we use to be able to visit your parish and do everything else."

Anyone interested in purchasing a book may contact a choir member or send Stein an e-mail at mdchoir@charter.net

New Web address

A new Web address - www.diocesanchoir.org - offers information about the choir, including its tour of Ireland this summer and a 2001 trip to Italy, where the choir sang for Pope John Paul II.