Seminarians caroling tour MADISON -- Diocese of Madison seminarians studying at Mundelein Seminary are planning their 42nd annual caroling tour. The group plans to go caroling at nine sites across the diocese during the weekend of Dec. 10 through 12. The carolers' tentative plans of places to visit include: Friday, Dec. 10 6 p.m. - Nazareth House, Stoughton Saturday, Dec. 11 8:15 to 9 a.m. - Dominican Center, Sinsinawa 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. - St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa 12:15 to 1 p.m. - Bloomfield Manor, Dodgeville 1:30 to 2 p.m. - Greenway Manor, Spring Green 2:05 to 2:45 p.m. - Greenway Terrace, Spring Green 4 to 5:30 p.m. - St. Marys Care Center, Madison 7: 15 to 9 p.m. - Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Prairie du Sac Sunday, Dec. 12 2 p.m. - Central Wisconsin Care Center, Madison News Briefs: Advent events WISCONSIN DELLS -- St. Cecilia Parish here is offering an Advent labyrinth meditation and a living nativity scene. Labyrinth meditation The labyrinth has been described as a path of prayer or a walking meditation. A labyrinth meditation opportunity will be held on Monday, Dec. 13, and Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. in the St. Cecilia Parish gymnasium, 605 Oak St. There is no charge and it is open to the public. For more information, call Dave Kordell, 608-253-5621. Living nativity scene Volunteers are asked to donate one hour of their time to portray the holy family, the three wise men, shepherds, and an angel for a public living nativity scene that will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19, on the south lawn of St. Cecilia Parish rectory, 604 Oak St. There are no speaking parts. Live animals will be a part of the living nativity scene. For more information, call Dave Kordell by Dec. 13 at 608-253-5621. McFarland missionaries MCFARLAND -- Three and perhaps four cinder block houses will be built in 2005 in Juarez, Mexico, by McFarland missionaries (church members and their friends). The goal is to make a difference in the lives of rural Mexican families who have migrated into urban Juarez to work in factories. The houses will replace shelters fashioned from pallets, cardboard, and other discarded materials which make do for many families and their children. Cost of the building materials and Mexican labor are $3,500 per house to be raised by the missionaries. In addition they are responsible for their airfare ($300) and room and board ($120) for their week in Mexico. Housebuilding missionaries are adults and youth (age 13 to 18) who bring their Mexican experience and person-to-person understanding back to the community. The program grew out of a long-term relationship between Christ the King Parish and Fr. Stan Martinka, the founder of San Alfonso Mission in Juarez. To date, over 80 missionaries from Christ the King Parish, McFarland Lutheran, McFarland UCC, and St. Luke Parish in Plain are responsible for building 10 houses since 2002. Persons wishing to contribute to the San Alfonso housebuilding program may send checks payable to Christ the King Church-Housebuilding Fund, Box 524, McFarland, WI 53558. Mothers of Preschoolers at Night STOUGHTON -- St. Ann's MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at Night will meet on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in the gathering area of St. Ann Church, 323 N. Van Buren. All mothers of children birth through kindergarten are invited to attend. This month's topic is "Growing Your Spiritual Self: Is God Your Gardener?" It will be presented by Joyce Duda. Cocoa and cookies will be served after the normal activities. Childcare is not provided; however babies birth through three months are welcome. There is a $2 fee per meeting and scholarships are available. For more information, call Mona Beckham at 608-877-0017. First aid course with adult CPR MADISON -- "Heartsaver: First Aid Course with Adult CPR," for individuals who would like training for job or personal reasons, will be offered Tuesday, Dec. 14, and Thursday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Dean West Clinic, 752 N. High Point Rd. This is a new American Heart Association course that teaches lifesaving skills of first aid for individuals who respond to emergencies at home, in the community, or at their worksite. This course also teaches adult CPR with the use of training manikins. No prior first aid experience is required. A two-year certification card is issued. The program is being conducted by Dean/St. Marys Health Works, a training center of the American Heart Association. Course fee is $55. Pre-registration is required by calling 608-824-4400 or 1-800-368-5596.
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New spire crowns
St. Raphael Cathedral

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- A new stainless steel and copper spire now sits atop the tower of St. Raphael Cathedral here.

According to Msgr. Paul J. Swain, cathedral rector, the replacement of the spire is part of the first phase of a Cathedral Restoration Project that will include both the inside and outside of the church.

Poor condition of the previous 90-foot spire necessitated replacing it with materials which will stand the test of time. The new steeple is a replica of the one it replaced, which was designed by Col. L.V. Shipman, an architect from Chicago who previously lived in Madison and donated his design.

The pieces of the new spire were fabricated at Heather & Little in Toronto, Canada, and Vulcan Supply in Burlington, Vt. The two companies started working on the parts in June of this year.

Beginning in October, the general contractor, JH Findorff & Son, Inc., of Madison, disassembled the old spire piece by piece, beginning by taking off the old cross. Meanwhile, the new spire was assembled in two large sections in the parking lot of the cathedral.

Fiber optic lighting was installed in the new spire and the face of the clock was replaced. Four windows were also replaced by Conrad Schmitt Studios, Inc., New Berlin.

Kelly Thompson of Facility Engineering, Inc., of Madison was the architect in charge of the project.

During the spire replacement project, which began shortly after the 150th anniversary celebration of St. Raphael Cathedral, a time capsule for the cathedral - blessed previously by Bishop William H. Bullock - was placed into a cornerstone in the cathedral Nov. 18.

A new bell, dedicated to Pope John Paul II, joined the two rehabilitated bells in the belfry on Nov. 22. On Nov. 26 and 30, large cranes lifted the new steeple section by section.

A new gold-plated copper cross, blessed by Bishop Robert C. Morlino Nov. 28, was raised to its crowning position on top of the spire on Nov. 30.

Diocesan Choir's Festival of Lessons and Carols

By Dick Jones
FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

MADISON -- Continuing with tradition, the Madison Diocesan Choir will perform a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 19, beginning the final week before Christmas with a respite for all from the busy holiday season.

Under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman, the choir will begin the free Christmas concert at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.

Best kept secret

The chapel was filled to capacity four years ago when Madison Symphony Director John DeMain directed the symphony, the Madison Symphony Chorus, and the Diocesan Choir in a performance of the Bach Magnificat. At the time, DeMain delighted in the performance, as did all in attendance, and he declared the venue one of the best kept secrets in Madison.

The Magnificat performance in December 2000 was the only interruption in more than a decade of Lessons and Carols performances by the Diocesan Choir.

Like a mini retreat

With Glenn Schuster as accompanist, Gorman will direct the nearly 60 members of the choir, representing parishes throughout the diocese. Liturgists from area parishes will read the lessons from Scripture. As Gorman described it, the event marking the final week of Advent is like a mini retreat.

"It's a nice way to start the last week of preparation for Christmas," he said. "It's quiet, it's peaceful, it's prayerful. It's not so much a concert as it is really a prayer service with Advent and Christmas Scriptures, and some very reflective music. So I think it's a nice way to prepare yourself and center yourself before Christmas in the midst of all the busyness."

Scripture readings

The nine Scripture readings begin with Adam's temptation and fall, and they conclude with the birth of Christ. According to historians, the readings and carols were first introduced in the Anglican Church of England in 1880 by Bishop F.W. Benson. On Christmas Eve in 1918, the King's College Cambridge Choir gave its first performance of a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

The King's College tradition was firmly established by 1928 when the performance was first broadcast. Since then, its popularity has grown with broadcasts around the world, and in that sense, bringing people of all faiths together.

"For Catholics, it's a way to get together with the broader Christian community and to share the common things that we have in terms of music and Scripture," Gorman said.

Praying for the poor

"Some of the prayers focus on praying for the local church and especially praying for the poor. A lot of the Scriptures deal with Christ's promise to the poor and the forgotten."

While the concert is free, the Diocesan Choir suggests that each person bring a non-perishable food item that the choir will deliver to a local food pantry.

According to Gorman, the Lessons and Carols festival is most often performed in America by college or professional choirs.

"We're really one of the few diocesan choirs that have a program quite like this," he said.

Familiar and lesser known compositions

In keeping with tradition, those in attendance can join the choir in singing familiar hymns and carols.

The program also includes some lesser known, yet beautiful compositions, such as Mendelssohn's Verleih uns Frieden and Grieg's Ave Maris Stella. The choir will sing them midway through the program, as well as Holst's In the Bleak Midwinter.

While Gorman recommends all the selections, he said he especially enjoys these pieces by these three composers.

"These three pieces by three major composers of the 19th and early 20th century kind of form the real centerpiece to the concert," he said. "And there's a strong Marian influence, too. We have three songs specifically in honor of Mary."

But it is the final lesson, read by the bishop, that should put all in the Christmas spirit.

"It's always the beginning of the Gospel of John, in which he talks about the Word being made flesh and dwelling among us," Gorman said. "After all of the prophecies from Isaiah, Zephaniah, and others, we finally get to what the core of that is, which is God came to be human, and that he's still fully human and fully God, and I think that's what Christmas really is all about."

Gorman and the choir are hopeful that Bishop Robert C. Morlino, who underwent heart surgery in September, can preside over the Lessons and Carols service.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

(en Español)

MADISON -- Various events and Masses in the Diocese of Madison will mark the Dec. 12 feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

One tradition of this special feast day includes the Mañanitas, a traditional serenade of song and prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Mañanitas, a morning song which means "little morning," is among the festive songs sung to Our Lady during the late hours of Dec. 11 and early morning hours of Dec. 12.

Hispanic Ministry event calendar (en Español) The following are events marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Diocese of Madison. Christmas celebrations are also included here. Our Lady of Guadalupe • Dec. 11: Diocesan Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Raphael Cathedral, 222 W. Main St., Madison; procession of offerings begins at 10:30 a.m. sponsored by the Guadalupe families; bilingual Mass begins at 11 a.m.; reception sponsored by the Guadalupe Pastoral Center follows. • Dec. 11: Serenade to Our Lady of Guadalupe "Las Mañanitas" from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Holy Redeemer, 120 W. Johnson St., Madison; at 10:30 p.m. "Mariachi Real Azteca" will sing las Mañanitas and other festive songs to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mass will be in Spanish at 11:30 p.m. • Dec. 12: "Las Mañanitas" sponsored by the Guadalupe Pastoral Center from 5 to 10 a.m. at the Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St., Madison • Dec. 12: Bilingual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist, 214 N. Sanborn Ave., Jefferson; a potluck follows Mass. • Dec. 12: English celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, sponsored by Beloit parishes, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle, 822 E. Grand Ave., Beloit. • Dec. 12: Spanish celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and blessing and dedication of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 5 p.m. at St. Henry Parish, 412 N. Fourth St., Watertown; following Mass there will be hot chocolate and Mexican sweet bread. Christmas celebrations • Dec. 12: Celebration of the Immaculate of the Blessed Virgin Mary "La Purísima," sponsored by Nicaragua Unida from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St., Madison. • Dec. 16: Posadas and Concert by "La Estudiantina" at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Redeemer, 120 W. Johnson St., Madison. For more information, call 608-255-1658. • Dec. 18: "Posadas Navideña" Christmas Celebration for the clients of Guadalupe Pastoral Center from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St., Madison.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is known as the "Patroness of the Americas." She appeared to St. Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian, on Dec. 9, 1531.

Juan was passing by the foot of Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City just before dawn when he looked up to see a beautiful lady who revealed herself to him as the "ever Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God, in whom we live, the Creator and Maker of heaven and earth."

She told Juan to give a message from her to Bishop Zumarraga, the bishop of Mexico. He was to build a church ". . . where I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help, and protection to the people . . . Here I will hear their weeping and their sorrows and will remedy and alleviate their sufferings, necessities, and misfortunes."

Juan went to the bishop as instructed, but the bishop wanted proof. Our Lady gave that proof by arranging roses in Juan's cloak, called a tilma.

When Juan returned to the bishop, the roses fell from his cloak and her image miraculously appeared on it. It can still be seen over the high altar in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico.

Our Lady came to offer faith, hope, and consolation to the oppressed. As a result of her appearance to Juan Diego and the miracle of the tilma, nine million indigenous people were converted within 10 years.

For more on events surrounding the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe and other upcoming Hispanic Ministry events, see the calendar on this page. For more information, call the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry at 608-821-3092 or Centro Guadalupano at 608-255-8471.