News Briefs: Catholic women plan deanery meetings Rock Deanery BELOIT -- The fall meeting of the Rock Deanery Council of Catholic Women will be held Wednesday, Sept. 15. Our Lady of Assumption Parish here will host the event. The theme is "Enthusiasm Is Catching the Spirit of God's Love." Registration is at 9 a.m. followed by the business meeting at 9:30. The program at 10:30 will be a presentation of "Children and Safe Environment." A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 11 with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist. A dinner will be served at noon. Reservations are due Sept. 9 to Kathy McDonald, 435 Grove St., Janesville 53545. Cost is $7. Those attending are asked to bring a $15 mini raffle gift. Marquette-Green Lake Deanery NESHKORO -- "Harvesting the Spirit" is the theme of the meeting of the Marquette-Green Lake Deanery Council of Catholic Women Wednesday, Sept. 15, hosted by St. James Parish here. Registration is at 3:30 p.m. with the business meeting to follow at 4:15. A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 5 with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, diocesan moderator, homilist. Dinner is at 6. Fr. Dale Grubba, host pastor, will speak on the theme. Those attending may bring toiletry items for people in Panama. Reservations are due Sept. 9 to Stella Sedlar, N9120 Otter Ln., Neshkoro 54960. Cost is $7.50. Day of remembrance at church SAUK COUNTY -- A day of remembrance will be held at the little 120-year-old Our Lady of Loretto Church Museum on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 1:30 p.m. Sr. Jean Ferstl of St. John Parish in Spring Green and St. Luke Parish in Plain will lead a prayer service. A short program and open house will follow. The church is located nine miles west of Hwy. 12 on Hwy. C between Denzer and Leland in Honey Creek Township of Sauk County. The afternoon is planned as a time of remembrance, a gathering of families that once attended the church and for anyone interested in seeing this antique church museum nestled in the countryside. Across the road is the Our Lady of Loretto Cemetery, where walking among the gravestones might be considered a journey back through time. Former St. Raphael students MADISON -- Don Rogers would like all former students of St. Raphael School to know about, and join if possible, the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of St. Raphael Cathedral Sept. 26 to Oct. 3. He would like to compile a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of former students. If you can help him, send him information about yourself and about other classmates to Don Rogers, 2621 Waunona Way, Madison, WI 53716, or phone him at 608-222-3005. Since time is short, he thanks you in advance. Sinsinawa Mound children's choir SINSINAWA -- Sr. Marie Juan Maney invites all area children, grades three through eight or home-schooled, to join the Sinsinawa Mound Children's Choir beginning Monday, Sept. 13 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Members will enjoy a semester of singing all types of music and giving various performances while developing proper form and technique. The fee includes practice sessions, music materials, and free participation for an additional sibling. New members are asked to call Sister Marie at 608-748-4411, ext. 807, to arrange an audition time. For more information on these and other activities at the Mound contact Sheila Heim at 608-748-4411, ext. 869, or visit the Web site at www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter Sinsinawa Mound, the motherhouse for the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, is located in southwest Wisconsin off Cty. Rd. Z, off Hwy. 11, about five miles northeast of Dubuque.
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Deacons: Bishop ordains two men to transitional diaconate

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- "Know what you are doing," Bishop Robert C. Morlino emphasized to Eric Sternberg and Michael Radowicz in his homily before he ordained them to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Madison Aug. 27.

Being ordained to the transitional diaconate is the first step toward being ordained to the priesthood.

Family members, friends, priests, seminarians, and others filled the Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel in the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison for the ordination.

"We thank the Lord tonight with joy for all the gifts with which He so generously blesses the Diocese of Madison," said Bishop Morlino, who presided at the Mass. "We are especially grateful for Michael and Eric, to both of their families for giving this special gift to the Lord."

Bishop Morlino expressed gratitude to all those in attendance and all those who have helped nurture the two men's vocations, including concelebrants Msgr. Paul J. Swain, vicar general, Bishop William H. Bullock, and Bishop George O. Wirz, bishop emeriti.

Addressing candidates

In his homily, the bishop addressed Radowicz and Sternberg directly.

"From all eternity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have had your priestly ordination in mind," he said, noting that they were chosen for this church with its joys, strengths, challenges, and troubles.

"Never give in to discouragement," he told them. "Realize why you're here: It's the idea of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

Tonight the Holy Spirit will rush onto your souls and change you at the deepest level into the icon of Jesus the deacon and servant, the bishop said. "This change in you will not go away. That seal is the foundation on which the seal of the priesthood will be built."

We have to serve people by getting them to see that they need the truth, he said. "And if we get a few bumps and bruises along the way, that's okay."

Tonight you will commit yourself to celibacy for the Kingdom of God, he said. "What a beautiful gift that is for the Kingdom of God. When you give up the gift of the companionship of marriage, you show people how precious is the Kingdom of God and how precious is marriage. To dedicate yourself to the celibate life is to say, 'Only the call of Jesus Christ could call me from the beauty of marriage.'"

Of course you will give your soul, mind, and heart to the Lord, but in celibacy, you also put your body where your mind is, he said.

Know what you are doing in giving this witness, Bishop Morlino said.

Ordination rites

After the homily, the elect promised to respect and obey the bishop and his successors. After lying prostrate as the congregation sang the Litany of Supplication, the elect knelt before the bishop as he laid his hands upon the head of each man in silence and then prayed the prayer of ordination.

Priests assisted in vesting the new deacons. Each deacon then knelt before Bishop Morlino, who placed the Book of the Gospels in the deacon's hands and said, "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

The bishops and other deacons offered the new deacons a sign of peace.

Liturgical ministers

Priests of the Diocese of Madison and guests of those being ordained concelebrated the Mass. Deacon John Fernan served as Deacon of the Word. Newly ordained Rev. Mr. Michael Radowicz served as Deacon of the Eucharist. Master of Ceremonies was Fr. James R. Bartylla.

Readers included Juan Landa and Jodi Galvan. Servers included Leon Blanchard, Brian Dulli, David Greenfield, Greg Ihm, Mitch Knutson, Paul Margala, David Miller, Mark Nornberg, and Lance Schneider. Vesting ministers were Frs. Monte Robinson, Bart Timmerman, and Thomas Lindner.

Gift bearers were Thomas and Lorraine Michel and Gary and Mary Williams. Greeters were Kathy Endres and Rita Lee.

Music ministers included the Madison Diocesan Choir directed by Dr. Patrick Gorman; Glenn Schuster, organ; Robert Rohlfing and Rob Awe, trumpet; Katie Kretschman and J. Michael Allsen, trombone; and Jamie Ryan, timpani. Cantor was Steven Harrison.

Celebrating marriage: Bishop honors couples marking 50 years

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Nearly 115 couples and their guests from throughout the Diocese of Madison gathered Aug. 29 for a Mass honoring the couples' 50 years of marriage.

The celebration was sponsored by the Diocese of Madison's Office of Family Ministry.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino presided at the Mass, which was held at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center here.

"Welcome to the diocesan youth rally," Bishop Morlino said in greeting as laughter rippled through the congregation. "I think we should all feel young today because the faith that's here has the strength and energy of youth. I congratulate you from the heart."

Gift of humility

In his homily, Bishop Morlino stressed the importance of humility. "People can be phony for a couple years, but not for 50," he said. "To face up to the humble truth of yourselves is one of the gifts you've given to each other. That gift of humility is very precious indeed."

In the Gospel we hear that those who do good and don't expect anything in return are blessed, he said. In so many marriage breakups today, you hear people say, "Well, I wasn't happy anymore," he said. "They mean, 'I expected to get what I wanted out of marriage and I'm not getting that.'

"After 50 years, you give so generously without expecting repayment," Bishop Morlino told the couples. "Thank God for that and you."

Letting God draw near

The second reading tells us God first appeared on the holy mountain amid trumpet blasts and you couldn't get near that God, he said. "Then it says in Christ, you draw near to that God: He's touchable, he's close."

You are ministers of the sacrament of marriage and that means that sacrament is conferred every day, the bishop told the couples. "In your married love, God is no farther away than a big or small deed in everyday life," he said.

Thank you for letting God draw near to you and give you joy that comes from living in His presence day in and day out, he said.

Your witness is needed

There are things wrapped up in the mystery of God that the humble person should not try to figure out, he said. "Marriage is at the core something the humble person should accept from Christ but not try to understand or unravel," he said.

Jesus Christ said the sign of his faithfulness is revealed in the love of one man and one woman in one lifetime open to children -- that's the way he conferred the sacrament of marriage on the church, said Bishop Morlino, pointing out that we shouldn't try to understand why or try to unravel it.

"In our country, marriage is unraveled when children are excluded. Once children are excluded, what is intimacy all about?" he said, bringing up the issue of gay marriages. "It's getting unraveled. I bring it up not to be negative, but to thank you for telling the truth for 50 years about what marriage is.

"Obviously the world needs that witness more than ever," he said. "That's why your youthful faith is so important. That faith is more durable and energetic than any 25-year-old's."

Thank you for letting the Lord stir up that faith in you -- durable, untired, energetic faith that goes on with joy, he said, noting that faithful love grows over the years; it does not decrease.

"Thank you for coming here to celebrate that today," said the bishop. "What a treasure you are to the church."

Honoring couples

During Mass, Bishop Morlino blessed the married couples and handed out certificates honoring each couple.

Couples and guests enjoyed cake in the dining room at a reception afterward.

"What a nice tribute, a wonderful celebration," said St. Dennis, Madison, parishioner Vern Maiers, who celebrated 50 years of marriage to Merl.