News Briefs: Stress management program MADISON -- The Madison Diocese Religious Educators' Organization (MDREO) will be hosting "Unwind Your Mind: An Ordinary Holiness Approach to Stress Management" on Thursday, Dec. 8, at St. Peter Parish, 5001 N. Sherman Ave. The day begins with Mass at 9 a.m., followed by a gathering, business meeting, and the program, which uses music, games, prayers, and stories to unravel stress-reducing tips and ways to apply them to daily life. The speaker, Jamie Dillon, is a youth minister who draws on her healthcare background, religious education, and experience as a wife and mother to reach out to audiences. Dillon writes and plays music that has been heard around the world and specifically at World Youth Day. There will also be a gift exchange, so attendees are asked to bring a small ($3-$5 or home-made) gift to share. Cost is free for MDREO members and $25 for non-members. For more information or to RSVP by December 5, contact Nicki Paulson at 608-249-6652, ext. 29, or npaulson@stpetersofmadison.org Twelve Days of Christmas open house MADISON -- All Saints Retirement Neighborhood will be holding a 12 Days of Christmas open house from December 12 to 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. each day at the model cottage at the corner of Watts Rd. and Commerce Blvd. All are invited to visit and tour the retirement center and cottages owned by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison and managed by Horizon Development. There will be entertainment and refreshments. For more information, call Katie at 608-827-2222.
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Consecrated life: Mosaic of unity in diversity, says Mother Assumpta Long

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front-page photo and sidebar of future lectures.)

MADISON -- Consecrated life is truly a "mosaic of unity in diversity," Mother Assumpta Long revealed in her recent talk as part of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.

"Over the centuries the church has raised up different individuals and communities," she said, before reviewing 2,000 years of church history pertaining to religious life.

God-given gift

Mother Assumpta emphasized that consecrated life is a "God-given gift." While there is a certain mystery about a religious vocation, she said it is not "frightening or distant." She compared it with a beautiful rose: strong and delicate, lovely to look at but difficult to describe. "It takes a lot of care, pruning, and protection - and a lot of nourishing."

She added, "It's been my gift for many years and I'm still astounded. I don't understand it. But we accept it with humility and gratitude."

In her talk she used the term "consecrated life" since it embraces secular institutes as well as religious orders. Church documents in the 20th Century refined a theology of consecrated life rooted in Jesus' teaching and church history.

Following Jesus

"It all began when Our Lord said, 'Follow me.' The disciples asked, 'Where do you live?' And Jesus said, 'Come and see.' It's all about following Jesus," said Mother Assumpta. "It's the call to perfection."

Some people wanted to follow the Lord more closely in their homes by living a secluded life. "That didn't work," noted Mother Assumpta.

The next step was leaving home and city and going into the dessert. These followers of Jesus were ascetics, hermits, and anchorites. They fasted, prayed, and chastised the body.

With St. Anthony came the beginnings of monastic life. "In the Fourth Century, men clustered around St. Anthony for advice. But everything was left up to the individual and it was too unstable."

The development of monastic communities with superiors and observance of rules came next. In the Sixth Century, St. Benedict developed an order in which monks took vows and followed an abbot.

By the 13th Century, mendicant or apostolic orders such as the Franciscans and the Dominicans were started as the church responded to needs by going out into the world. "They took the cloister with them to preach and teach," noted Mother Assumpta.

St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, emphasized obedience to superiors, a longer period of formation, and authority. Most modern religious communities are based on the Ignatian model, she said.

Responding to new challenges, new forms of consecrated life have emerged, including secular institutes (such as the Schoenstatt Sisters and Fathers), societies of apostolic life (such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society), and consecrated virgins.

Founded new orders

Mother Assumpta herself is the co-foundress and prioress general of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist started in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1997. She also assisted Cardinal John O'Connor in forming the Sisters of Life in New York City in the 1990s.

Her new community's primary apostolate is described as "Catholic education in the spirit of the New Evangelization; fully Dominican in spirituality, the two distinguishing marks of the community's charism are devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary."

The community is "growing by leaps and bounds," she noted.

She was major superior of the Nashville Dominicans before she and three other Sisters started the new foundation in Michigan. When they reach 100 members, they may go somewhere else to start another order.

Pray for vocations

Mother Assumpta emphasized the involvement of Sisters in Catholic education. "It's just too important," she said, noting that vocations grow out of contact between young people and priests and Sisters.

She also encouraged the audience to pray for vocations. "Don't underestimate prayers for vocations. You will be doing wonderful things for the church. There is so much to do and so little time to do it. Pray every day," she urged.

Whatever you do: Be proud of your faith

By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- "When we go out, let's be proud of our Catholic faith." That's what Eric Sova, a singer-songwriter who has worked in youth ministry for over 10 years, told young people gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church here November 19.

About 360 high school students from 27 different parishes around the diocese came together for the 2005 Diocesan Youth Rally on Christ the King Sunday. The theme was "Whatever you do," taken from the day's Gospel reading from Matthew: "Whatever you do for one of these least brothers of mine, you do for me."

Doing good: Make it a habit By Kathleen Bushman CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF MADISON -- "He makes it look so easy," Bishop Robert C. Morlino said of Brett Favre in his homily addressing about 360 young people gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for the 2005 Diocesan High School Youth Rally on Christ the King Sunday, Nov. 19. People like Brett Favre and Tiger Woods, he said, "make it look easy because it's a habit. It's almost as easy for them as brushing our teeth is, because they practice so much." But habits can be either good or bad, he said. When God sorts the sheep from the goats, the bishop said, referring to the reading for the day, will he say: "You made it look easy, and I tell you now, you did it for me"; or "You chose a bad habit: you practiced hard at something that was bad"? We have to practice hard at being good, he said. If temptation takes us by surprise, it'll make us fall. "There's all kinds of bad habits the world wants you to get into. And because you're a good person, you may not realize you're getting into a bad habit," Bishop Morlino said. "Sin is always a shortcut to happiness that leads to nowhere." But the grace of God, the bishop said, "helps us to practice hard at being good." If we choose to practice bad habits, "when we see the King of Glory, we'll not get a good surprise," he said. "But good habits lead to a very good surprise."

Be proud of faith

Sova was the first speaker to address the students in the event that featured speakers, discussion time, Adoration with the Monstrance for Vocations blessed by Pope John Paul II, and Mass with Bishop Robert C. Morlino.

Sova sang songs with the crowd, often inviting students to come up and help him out. He also talked about the importance of using symbols of the Catholic faith, like the Sign of the Cross, to help others understand that we live and believe our faith.

"Whatever you do, be proud of your Catholic faith," Sova said. "You are leading people to understand that this person is a person of Christ."

As young people, he said, it's especially important to help others. "No matter what gifts or talents you have, it's what you do with those gifts that matters," he said.

Collette Kennett, director of youth ministry in the diocese of Belleville, Ill., and the second speaker of the day, shared her experiences with young people in her more than 30 years of youth ministry and mission experience.

She told the youth to be open to what God has in store for them, and to not hide their light under a bushel. "Jesus calls you to live large," she said. "We all know our light is meant to be seen."

Presence of God

After parish group discussion, the students participated in Eucharistic Adoration. Bishop Morlino was present for Adoration and told the crowd that he was impressed by the young people's respectful silence as they adored.

"The quiet of Jesus Christ is something we experienced when God created our soul," the bishop said. "And whether or not we know it, we need it."

After Adoration, the bishop celebrated the Mass, with Fr. Paul Ugo Arinze, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Dodgeville, and Msgr. Terrence L. Connors, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, as concelebrants.

Students participated in the Mass as readers, music ministers, gift bearers, and servers.

Good experience

The rally was a good experience, several students said.

It was interesting and informative, said Joanna Bares, a freshman from Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Beloit, who attended the event as a part of her religious education requirements. With regard to the Eucharistic Adoration, it was something her mother had done when she was little, she said, but never had experienced it before. "It was something new and exciting."