News Briefs: Parish ministers to deaf MADISON -- Most Catholics have been blessed to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ all their lives. But not all people have. There are some who cannot possibly "hear" the message, because they are deaf. Many go to Mass at a parish near their home, even though they hear nothing at all of the readings, the singing, the homily, and the Eucharistic Prayer. In response to the needs of the deaf and hearing impaired, St. Joseph Parish in Madison is now offering interpretation for the deaf at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays. Peer support groups MADISON -- Peer support groups for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship are open to all ages/faiths at two parishes. Friends on a Journey will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at Our Lady Queen of Peace nursery, 401 S. Owen Dr. For information, call Paul at 608-862-3613. New Directions will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd., top floor. There will not be a meeting on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving day. For information, call 608-821-3170.
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Archbishop Dolan:
'Cast Out to the Deep'

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee urged a Madison audience, "Duc In Altum. Cast Out to the Deep."

He was not giving them a lesson in fishing. Or a lesson in Latin.

No, the archbishop was referring to the story of Jesus and his fishermen-apostles found in the fifth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel.

The fishermen had been fishing all night but caught nothing. Jesus tells them to cast out into the deep. Although they were skeptical, they did what he asked - and netted a huge catch of fish filling two boats.

"My message to you is simple but intimidating," said Archbishop Dolan. "Jesus is giving us the same injunction today: 'Duc In Altum. Cast Out to the Deep.'"

Mandate to perfection

If it's not a fishing lesson, what does this passage mean? The archbishop said its deeper meaning is "Our Lord's mandate to perfection."

He explained, "All who follow him must pursue perfection. Jesus is urging us to sanctity, to heroic virtue. Nothing superficial or halfway.

"This summons to the deep is a constant in Our Lord's teaching," emphasized Archbishop Dolan.

At times, he admitted, "We might wish he'd shut up. He won't leave us alone. Every time we find a safe harbor, he intrudes."

The archbishop said it reminds him of his childhood. As the oldest of five children, he was often held to a higher standard of behavior because he was the oldest. Just like Jesus tells his followers, "I expect more out of you."

Divine design

"Jesus is calling us back to the divine design, the way his father intended before sin sullied it," Archbishop Dolan pointed out.

"He wants us to recapture the blessedness of childhood. God wants to restore us to the awe, innocence, and radiance he bestowed on us on the day of our baptism."

But it doesn't end with us. "Our goal is to restore creation and all creatures to the divine design."

World drags us down

Although we prefer the "shallower water, water that is safer," the archbishop noted, "Jesus says to cast out to the deep. As the world gets shallower, we'd best cast out to the deep for virtue and the pursuit of perfection."

He gave the example of the late Cardinal John O'Connor of New York, who took a strong stand against distributing condoms in public schools. "He said we need to teach responsibility and chastity."

A reporter challenged him, saying young people will have sex anyway. The cardinal said someone has to stand up and tell young people. "Be good. We know you can."

Archbishop Dolan said he isn't a "Pollyanna." He realizes "this call to perfection is almost unnatural. We don't like to do it. It's tough."

He noted that in nature, everything is "forced down. To be drawn up goes against all the heavy forces of nature. While Jesus beckons us up, the world drags us down."

Today's moral style

Archbishop Dolan referred to the book, Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There by David Brooks. This book says today's "ruling elite constitute a new social class: the bourgeois bohemians. They combine the '60s pleasure seeking with the '80s values of consumerism and greed."

The archbishop said these people are looking for "flexology," a moral style "that doesn't shake things up."

However, "We have a Lord who loves to shake things up. Jesus and his church and the world expect a depth, a person of perfection."

How to cast into deep

Archbishop Dolan gave some specific examples of how faithful followers of Christ should cast out into the deep:

1. In our prayer. "We have to be serious about our prayer," he said. We must take time to listen to the Lord in prayer. He noted that it was only after St. Peter listened to Jesus that he caught the fish. "It is only after we tend to the depths through prayer that we can accomplish the tasks the Lord gives us," he emphasized.

2. Never tire of doing good. We can get tuckered out - call it "compassion fatigue," admitted the archbishop. We can get discouraged when we hear about all the bad things happening in the world. "Yet we can never tire of doing good, even if we're tempted," he said. We must spend our lives doing good "like Jesus did."

3. Strive constantly to cleanse sin from our lives. We must have a "horror for all sin, mortal and venial sin," said Archbishop Dolan. He said there are "powerful temptations to dumbing down our moral standards." When we look at all the sin, promiscuity, and injustice in the world, we're tempted to say "our sins aren't so much." Yet, in our pursuit of heroic virtue, "our only model is Jesus.

This is especially urgent right now in the church with the current sexual abuse scandals. Yet, "the sin and scandal impel us to cast out deeper and the only white flag we wave is the flag of Jesus risen from the tomb," said the archbishop.

4. Embrace the cross and suffering. "Suffering is the classroom of sanctity," said Archbishop Dolan. "Sooner or later the cross, suffering, come to us all. Jesus invites us to a more intimate union with him. We all have imprints of Christ's passion. He says, 'As the Father sends me, so I send you.' He says, 'Get ready.'"

Goal is to be a saint

Archbishop Dolan said the Second Vatican Council talked about both external and internal reforms. "The real renewal begins in here, in our hearts and souls, as we answer the universal call to holiness.

"My goal is to be a saint. That's our goal in life," he emphasized.

He had a few cautions. "Be careful about arrogance and pride, being 'holier than thou.' We gotta be humble.

"Be careful about discouragement. We need humility and perseverance. It's a lifelong task."

The archbishop also reminded the audience that we must depend on God, not ourselves, to achieve perfection. "We can't earn grace. It's a pure gift. Trust it all to God."

Faith in Action: Catholic Charities honors leaders, clients, volunteers

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Catholic Charities (CC) of the Diocese of Madison honored outstanding church and community leaders and clients who put "Faith in Action" at their ninth annual awards dinner held recently at the Marriott Hotel.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino, making his first public appearance since his heart surgery, greeted over the 400 people attending the dinner. "Thank you for the wonderful gifts of yourself and time, talent, and treasure that assist Catholic Charities," said the bishop.

Imitating former President Bill Clinton, Bishop Morlino quipped, "Nothing would be better for my heart than to be with you this evening."

The bishop thanked CC Executive Director Brian Cain, his staff, and members of the CC Board of Directors for their work. He also congratulated the recipients of CC Leadership Awards and Executive Director's Awards.

Sacredness of life

"At Catholic Charities we care for the poor, the needy, and those who suffer from violence and injustice," noted Bishop Morlino. "We don't just help some of the time. We do it all the time" because of "our conviction about the sacredness of the human person from conception to natural death."

He stressed, "We care about moral truth, we care about the dignity of the human person, those who are terminally ill and close to death, we care about their origin, about life in true marriage."

He noted that the American electorate seems to be "taking notice" of moral values. "This is the time for Catholic Charities to declare our mission. We're here to celebrate and give thanks and to celebrate our deepest convictions. Thank you for your generosity. God love you all."

Invocation

Bishop William H. Bullock, bishop emeritus, gave the invocation, praying "for all assembled here and all who work for Catholic Charities, their Board of Directors, their staff, and their many contributors to the welfare of the poor, of the marginalized, of the forgotten. 'Faith in Action' is their theme and the fire of their love is service.

"We are here tonight because we believe and because we wish to serve," he prayed. "Your Son Jesus tells us what we do in His Holy Name for others, we do unto Him."

CC continues to grow

Phil Galassie, president of the CC Board, observed that Catholic Charities offers caring service through 25 different programs.

"Catholic Charities continues to grow and serve people," he said, noting that the proceeds from this year's banquet will benefit services for senior citizens.

He said the past year saw the completion of a vision for serving aging citizens in the building of All Saints Retirement Neighborhood in Madison.

Bring teachings to life

Brian Cain, executive director since 1989, said, "Our work is a reflection of the teaching of Jesus to help the hungry, homeless, sick, imprisoned, and poor. Catholic Charities brings these teachings to life," he said.

Catholic Charities served over 17,000 people in 2003. "We are the only lifeline many people have," he said. "I feel as a Catholic community if we're not present to the poor and vulnerable, we lose our credibility."

Cain said the award recipients epitomize Catholic Charities' values and articulate its vision: they think with integrity; practice what they preach; listen to and learn from others; are tenacious; have courage; and are committed.

Videos highlighted the lives of two client honorees - Mary Powell from Community Connections in Janesville and Janette Schultz of Community Living Program in Montello - and one volunteer group, the St. Peter Parish, Madison, RespiteCare Team.

The four Leadership Award honorees are: Fr. Tom Coyle, Jefferson, and Dr. Greg Gehred, a permanent deacon from Fort Atkinson, both receiving the Catholic Leadership Award; Judy Collison, Oregon, the Community Leadership Award; and Gerry Ring, Madison, the Visionary Leadership Award.

Helping poor:
At Thanksgiving and throughout year

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Thanksgiving is especially a time to reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves, and that's what members of St. Paul's University Catholic Center Conference of St. Vincent de Paul did recently when they gathered at Luke House to pack up and distribute 200 Thanksgiving baskets.

Each "basket" included donated items such as rolls, potatoes, onions, apples, celery, carrots, and stuffing, plus a turkey, milk, cranberries, and a pie - everything needed to make a Thanksgiving dinner. Families in need picked up the Thanksgiving baskets at Luke House, which offers a community meal program.

The distribution of the Thanksgiving baskets is one of the most important events for the St. Paul's Conference because we're meeting families, said member Julie Gryskiewicz. "It's rewarding because we can bring food out to the cars and treat everyone with dignity."

"It's awesome to be a part of it," said member Mark Meyer.

Helping through year

This is just one of the ways members of the St. Paul's Conference lend a hand to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul year round.

They also organize "Loaves and Fishes," an ongoing food drive at St. Paul's University Catholic Center in Madison. In the fall and spring, they distribute lists of items needed at the food pantry, detailing certain food desired for specific weeks.

"We talk with the food pantry to see what they need," said Marijean Bobinski, president of the St. Paul's Conference.

Parishioners place donated items in barrels located at the church entrances. Then St. Paul's Conference members deliver the food to the food pantry. "Loaves and Fishes" collects approximately four to six grocery bags of food each week.

The biggest yearly event for the St. Paul's Conference is a move-out drive in August, during which furniture is collected at two sites - one on Regent Street and one at Holy Redeemer Parish - to donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores in Madison.

The conference also helps out at the Elizabeth Ann Seton House, which provides transitional housing for women and children, and once a semester members participate in a clean-up day at Port St. Vincent, which provides transitional housing for men.

"This is one way we can live out the Gospel and just do what we're called to do: serve one another, those in need," said Bobinski. Plus, you end up learning about yourself, she said. "It can be very humbling at times."

St. Vincent beginnings

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was actually started by seven college students at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1833, said Ralph Middlecamp, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Madison.

"Our principle founder, Blessed Fredreic Ozanam, was 21 when he founded the first conference. Every time I am with the members of the St. Paul Conference, I feel privileged and can imagine the enthusiasm of those founding members," he said.

"They not only have an energy and enthusiasm for everything they do, but have a wonderful spiritual base that nourishes the work they do for the poor."

It has been a great pleasure to work with the St. Paul's Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, said Middlecamp.

Bobinski noted that anyone at St. Paul's - not just students - is welcome to join.