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News Briefs:
St. Coletta to sell property
JEFFERSON -- Recently, St. Coletta of Wisconsin took yet another step into its next century of service by formally announcing the sale of its campus property, located along Hwy. 18 east of Jefferson.
Representing St. Coletta as listing agent is Colliers Barry, recognized as a leading provider of commercial real estate services in Wisconsin and throughout the world.
For more information about the sale of the Jefferson campus property, contact Jim Young at 414-271-1870, or view the listing by going to their Web site at www.colliers-barry.com
St. Coletta is currently in the process of identifying a site for future construction of its corporate headquarters.
St. Coletta of Wisconsin, with a corporate office in Jefferson, is celebrating 100 years of providing programs and services for people with developmental disabilities. St. Coletta currently offers programs in southeastern and southern Wisconsin, and in northern Illinois. To find out more about volunteer opportunities at St. Coletta, visit www.stcolettawi.org or call
920-674-8209.
Jefferson Deanery
FORT ATKINSON -- "Faith in Action-Global Solidarity" is the theme for the fall meeting of the Jefferson Deanery Council of Catholic Women Tuesday, Oct. 4. St. Joseph Parish here will host the event.
Registration is at 4:15 p.m. followed by recitation of the rosary at 5:10. A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 5:30 with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, diocesan moderator, as homilist. Dinner will follow. The program at 7:30 will feature the partnership between the Madison Diocese and the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Ghana.
Reservations are due September 27 to Mary Sykes, 710 Florence St., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. The cost is $10.
Rock Deanery
BRODHEAD -- St. Rose of Lima Parish here will host the Rock Deanery Fall Conference Thursday, Oct. 6. The theme is "Strengthening Within . . . Reaching Around the Globe."
Registration is at 3:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting at 4. A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 5:30 with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist. Dinner will follow. The evening program will feature Fr. Stephen Umhoefer and Jessica Brey speaking on the Global Solidarity Partnership in Ghana.
Reservations are due September 28 to Kathy McDonald, 435 Grove St., Janesville, WI 53545. The cost is $7. Those attending are asked to bring a $15 mini raffle gift.
Fr. Mazzuchelli
memorial Mass
NEW DIGGINGS -- The Mazzuchelli Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus of Lancaster announce the annual memorial Mass in honor of Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli will be celebrated at St. Augustine Church, New Diggings, on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 3 p.m.
A fundraiser dinner will follow immediately after the Mass on the church grounds. It will include steak or chicken breast, baked potato, baked beans, salad, and dessert at a cost of $10. Cash bar will be available. Enclosed tents will be set up on the church grounds.
All proceeds will be used for the assembly's project of restoration and preservation of St. Augustine Church. Fr. John Norder, friar of the Mazzuchelli Assembly, will be the celebrant along with numerous area priests. Fr. Bart Timmerman will be the homilist.
Latin American
Mission Program
MADISON -- The annual meeting of the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) will be held Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Multicultural Center, lower level dining room, 1862 S. Park St.
A potluck starts at 1 p.m. with a meeting following, including election of new board members and summaries of the summer program. Those coming are asked to bring a dish to pass.
All LAMP officers, board members, chairpersons, and 2005 summer volunteers and former volunteers are invited. Visitors from Mexico, including Fr. Carmelo Fonseca, are expected to attend.
For more information, call 608-845-7028.
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'Mattresses from Madison':
Drive to help evacuees
-- Posted: 9/22/2005, 3:20 p.m. Central Time
By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
(See also front-page photo.)
MADISON -- To help Hurricane Katrina evacuees who are resettling in Baton Rouge, La., the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Diocese of Madison launched a "Mattresses from Madison" drive Thursday, Sept. 22, at the St. Vincent de Paul's Dig & Save Outlet in Madison.
The drive, which is being held September 22 through Saturday, Sept. 24, seeks donations of $65 from Madison-area residents for new mattress sets that will be delivered to Baton Rouge by Reynolds Transfer free of charge. As monetary donations come in, up to 100 new mattress sets - which include a mattress and a foundation - will be loaded from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. onto a Reynolds Transfer semi-trailer in the parking lot at the Dig & Save Outlet.
Used mattresses are not being collected for the drive. Ralph Middlecamp, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's District Council of Madison, explained that the new mattress sets purchased for $65 are the same types of twin and double mattress sets St. Vincent de Paul buys each month to help people settle in their own homes after leaving Madison homeless shelters.
"Decent bedding is a crucial need for many hurricane evacuees as they are resettled and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge requested our assistance with obtaining mattresses," said Middlecamp.
St. Vincent de Paul's District Council of Madison has a close relationship with the District Council in Baton Rouge, said Middlecamp. The thrift stores in Baton Rouge have used Madison's thrift stores as a model and the Center for Vincentian Charity being planned in Madison is based on the center in Baton Rouge.
Helpful donations
At the drive's kick-off, Bishop Robert C. Morlino gave a donation for the first mattress set to be loaded onto the semi-trailer.
"The ministry of St. Vincent de Paul is one of the things that supports the credibility of the church," said Bishop Morlino, expressing his gratitude to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. "St. Vincent de Paul is Catholic, so it is not unusual for it to be in cooperation
with the diocese."
He knows the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been helping victims of the tornado in Stoughton as well, noting that "we can't forget our brothers and sisters here," he said.
"I've been asking our people to pray," he said. "Prayer is more powerful than money. When we pray, we do a lot."
The mattresses are a basic need for people, he said. "I'm happy we're doing our part and I encourage everyone to keep it up."
So far, people across the Diocese of Madison have contributed more than $325,000 in hurricane relief efforts, he said.
"If we are not available to our brothers and sisters when it's this bad, when will we be?" he said. "The Lord never causes evil, but he allows things to happen and then he draws good out of it. Sometimes people need a wake-up call so we respond to the best instincts in humanity."
Brian Cain, executive director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Madison, said the diocese has established a disaster response committee in order to coordinate efforts efficiently. He thanked the diocese for its contributions to hurricane relief efforts, which
are channeled to hurricane-affected areas through Catholic Charities USA.
Reaching out
It costs $6,500 to purchase and ship a semi-trailer load of mattress sets. The Diocese of Madison and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's District Council of Madison have each already donated $6,500 for two shipments of mattress sets. After the three-day "Mattresses from Madison" drive, a total of about 300 mattress sets will have been sent down to aid hurricane evacuees, Middlecamp explained.
In addition, St. Vincent de Paul trucking manager Tod Schwenn will drive a St. Vincent de Paul truck loaded with bedding and towels down to Baton Rouge. There he will distribute the items and help out for a few days. The truck will then be sold below market rate to the council in Baton Rouge, which needs it.
"We'd like to let people in this area contribute to the next load (of mattresses) to help people in need," said Ed Emmenegger, president of the District Council of Madison.
Donation checks for the "Mattresses from Madison" drive should be made payable to "St. Vincent de Paul" and "Mattresses from Madison" should be written in the subject line. Checks may be dropped off at the Dig & Save Outlet, 1900 S. Park St., or at any of the other four St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores in Dane County. Or they may be mailed to St. Vincent de Paul, 1109 Jonathon Dr., Madison, WI 53713.
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Record number: At Apostolate to Handicapped summer outing
By Bill Boyce
CATHOLIC HERALD CORRESPONDENT
(See also front-page photo.)
WISCONSIN DELLS -- Setting a record number of participants for all Apostolate to the Handicapped events, 1,405 people attended the recent annual summer outing at the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in Wisconsin Dells.
On a perfect summer day, August 26, Msgr. Tom Campion, director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped, welcomed the handicapped, caregivers, and volunteers at Mass, which was followed by a lunch and then a show by the Tommy Bartlett Water Show performers.
A record number of 23 priests from throughout the Diocese of Madison concelebrated the Mass.
Living sacrifice
In his tribute to the handicapped and volunteers, Monsignor Campion's homily was based on the first reading of the Mass. In St. Paul's letter to the Romans, St. Paul asks the Romans - whom he calls his "brothers and sisters" - to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice "wholly and completely" and to be transformed into a disciple of Jesus.
Monsignor Campion compared St. Paul to a football coach, and his followers to the team, with each group having the common qualities of enduring sacrifice, discipline, and hard work.
"How many people can answer that call today, to answer that challenge to follow Jesus wholly and completely?" Monsignor Campion asked. "I submit that here today are 1,500 people who every day of their lives take up their crosses and offer their bodies as a living sacrifice. When I look among you and see the blind, the lame, those who move about in wheelchairs, and all of us with various degrees of infirmity, I say that you are the ones who belong to the team, you are the ones who are truly Christian, and you are the ones who offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.
"Many of us have disabilities all our lives. The important thing is how we accept and live with it, and if we offer it in a willing way, as a living sacrifice. The fact that you are willing to be here today, with a smile on your face, shows your willing commitment to St. Paul the coach, and your desire to be disciples of Jesus, as mentioned in the readings.
"The readings don't talk about how much you give to the poor, or how many degrees you've earned with your mind, or how powerful you are. Rather it says 'He who daily takes up his cross and follows me is my disciple.' That's discipline - doing what Jesus asks of us. We're not spectators to the gospel, we're in it! We are part of that living body of people who carry their crosses."
Service in action
Monsignor Campion also paid tribute to the many volunteers who made the day possible, again referring to St. Paul's letter.
"Paul called the Romans 'My brothers and sisters.' And that's exactly what today is all about," he said. "We come here today because of the generosity and invitation of President Tom Diehl of the Tommy Bartlett Show and the dozens of Bartlett volunteers all around you in their orange shirts. All of the things they are doing here today are for you: to take care
of you, to serve and transport you, and later, to entertain you too.
"They serve not by pious words; but by their actions they are calling us brothers and sisters. They're treating us as family, the family of God. It matters not if they believe exactly as we do; they're fulfilling that challenge of St. Paul today, to be brothers and sisters.
"We thank them all for all they do in carrying on this great tradition of service for us for 20 years at the Bartlett Show; we thank them as our brothers and sisters.
"And additionally, we thank the faithful and hardworking volunteers who prepared our lunches last night at St. Victor's in Monroe, those who serve you food today, and those who transported you here and look after your needs, whether medical or otherwise. And we also thank our benefactors who come forward at these times. We thank God we have such a family, our brothers and sisters, people who are not just spectators of life, but who are in it, whether it is easy and convenient or not.
"It is the hard part of life, to offer one's body as a living sacrifice for brotherhood,
but it is also the beautiful part of life, to show genuine family love for our brothers and sisters by our actions, and not just words. This day is not about me, it's about you, but I thank you all for taking up your cross every day, and pray that this mission will continue for many more years."
Bishop dedicates: New church and school
in Fort Atkinson
By Audrey Mettel Fixmer
CATHOLIC HERALD CORRESPONDENT
FORT ATKINSON -- With a brass ensemble and three choirs to set the triumphant mood, parishioners at St. Joseph Church welcomed Bishop Robert C. Morlino as he made his entrance into St. Joseph Church to bless and dedicate their new church and school on Sunday, Sept. 11.
'Rejoice and Be Glad'
Culminating eight years of planning and 15 months of grueling construction, it was a fitting time to "Rejoice and Be Glad."
More than 800 persons packed the church and flowed over into the daily chapel and the large gathering space at the entrance.
Assisted by Fr. James Bartylla, his master of ceremonies, the bishop performed the rubrics of cleansing the altar and anointing it with holy oils, where the Sacrifice of Calvary will be repeated countless times in the future.
Thanks pastors and parishioners
In his homily, the bishop thanked former Pastor Fr. Jim Kuehn and current Pastor Fr. Bill Nolan and the people of the parish for producing such a splendid temple to the Lord.
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He congratulated parishioners for taking such a vital, active part in the construction, not only raising the money, but devoting so many of their own hours to the hard work of laying a brick retaining wall; doing all of the painting, staining, and varnishing of the woodwork; building all of the cabinets; installing all of the ceiling tiles; pulling all of the wires for the computers and telephones; doing all of the landscaping; and every bit of the daily cleanup.
Further groups prepared meals for the workers and published a monthly newsletter to keep everyone informed of the progress. So many volunteers gave freely of their time and treasures that they made it truly their own prayer to God and saved the parish more than $250,000.
Tours, reception
Tours of the entire facility organized by school Principal Leonard Bannon followed the Mass.
A reception held in the parish center provided all guests with tasty food and drink. Ladies of the Council of Catholic Women provided a delicious lunch to satisfy the hearty appetites of the crowd.
Under the leadership of Betty Schubert, vice chairperson of the St. Joseph Pastoral Council, committees worked for the past six months to make this a memorable and sacred day.
A souvenir Dedication Book was distributed to each family and to visitors.
Parent sessions to be held:
On preventing sexual abuse
MADISON -- Kate Wiskus, director of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Safe Environment and a long time worker in the field of abuse prevention and education, will conduct sessions for parents across the diocese this fall and winter.
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The following parent sessions are already planned by the diocesan Office of Safe Environment:
• Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005 - Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Green Lake
• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005 - Madison East Side (location to be announced)
• Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 - St. Joseph Parish, Edgerton
• Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 - St. Henry School, Watertown
Additional sessions will be planned for other areas in the diocese.
Parents wishing to attend a session should register online for the session at http://www.virtus.org or they may contact the Office of Safe Environment, phone 608-821-3133 or e-mail: ose@straphael.org |
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There is no cost for the session. Those attending a session will receive materials to assist them in their role as primary educator of their children and receive access to parent materials through the VIRTUS Web site.
Protecting children
Nearly everyone in the Diocese of Madison is familiar with the VIRTUS program, Protecting God's Children. Attendance at a Protecting God's Children for Adults session is required of every employee of the diocese, parish, and school as well as volunteers who work in programs with children.
"In those sessions, we addressed the issues of child sexual abuse and the need to establish and maintain clear guidelines to ensure a safe environment for our children and youth, an environment in which they could grow and be nurtured spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically," said Wiskus.
Educating parents
In the course of those programs, several parents requested additional information on the topic, information that would assist them in their role as parents to educate their children for safety. The Diocese of Madison has purchased the program Teaching Touching Safety: A Guide for Parents, Guardians, and other Caring Adults to do just that.
"The programs have some overlap, but their purpose is radically different and therefore their content by and large is different," noted Wiskus.
"The purpose of the initial program was to educate adults about sexual abuse of children and to enlist their help in establishing a safe environment in our parishes. The purpose of the new program for parents and guardians is to educate parents so they can teach their children about personal safety," she explained.
Topics discussed
What will parents learn from the new program? Some of the topics discussed include:
• Boundary issues children need to understand for personal safety
• Teaching children about the private body parts
• Designating safe friends and adults and special safe adults
• Educating children about the difference between safe and unsafe touches
• Teaching children what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation
• Recognizing the physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of abuse
• Techniques parents should use to discuss these issues with their children.
Wiskus emphasized, "We recognize that parents are the primary educators of their children, especially in areas of faith and morals. The session for parents and caregivers is meant to supplement the education parents are providing and support them in their efforts."
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