News Briefs: Christmas gift for Bishop Morlino MADISON -- Catholics in the Diocese of Madison are preparing a Christmas gift for Bishop Robert Morlino. Participants are signing up to pray one Rosary per month, on a specific day of each month, for the intentions of the bishop and for his happiness, health, and the success of his work. This effort is to begin on Christmas Day of 2005 and will continue through Christmas Day of 2006. Interested individuals can sign up on the Web at http://oremusmusic.net/rosary/index.php or by mail: Rosary for the Bishop, 3983 Plymouth Circle, Madison, WI 53705. Send name, address, phone number, the date chosen (e.g., the 12th of each month), and e-mail, if applicable, to the address or e-mail above. People may register at any time throughout the year. St. Augustine Chapel awarded $5,000 matching grant SHULLSBURG -- St. Augustine Chapel Fund, Inc. has been awarded a $5,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Jeffris Family Endowed Preservation Fund for the State of Wisconsin. The seed money is a matching grant to help support St. Augustine Church Restoration and Preservation Project. St. Augustine Church was built by Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, the Dominican missionary priest, in 1844 in New Diggings, Wis. The National Trust's program for dispensing grants for local projects is administered through its Preservation Services Fund (PSF). The grants are awarded to nonprofit groups, educational institutions, and public agencies and must be matched at least dollar for dollar with public or private funds. This grant was made possible in part by a gift from the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville that established the Jeffris Family Endowed Preservation Fund for the State of Wisconsin. This fund encourages grassroots preservation of Wisconsin's architectural and historic resources. Madison furniture store helps St. Vincent de Paul Society MADISON -- Coralia Harn, owner of Stella's Furniture, has launched an initiative to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in celebration of her new store opening at Hilldale Mall. Harn announced that customers who buy furniture from Stella's will receive a five percent discount on their purchase if they are willing to make a donation of the furniture they are replacing. To facilitate the contribution process, when the crew from Stella's delivers the new furniture, they'll also remove the old furniture and deliver it to St. Vincent's distribution warehouse. A receipt for the donation will be provided. Living Nativity at St. Cecilia's WISCONSIN DELLS -- St. Cecilia Parish here will perform their annual Living Nativity from 10 p.m. to midnight on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24. A Nativity scene will be set up at the church, 604 Oak St., complete with stables and live animals. People from the parish will portray the parts of the Nativity. Christmas season Masses at Sinsinawa SINSINAWA -- The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters invite the public to celebrate the Christmas season with them in Queen of the Holy Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Mound. Christmas Eve will begin at 7 p.m. with a vigil of carols and readings. Eucharist will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. with refreshments served in the foyer afterward. Christmas Day morning prayer is at 10 a.m., with Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. New Year's Eve evening prayer will begin at 4:45 p.m. New Year's Day morning prayer is at 10 a.m., with Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact Sr. Mary Ellen Winston at 608-748-4411. Sinsinawa Mound, the Motherhouse for the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, is located in southwest Wisconsin on County Road Z, off Highway 11, about five miles northeast of Dubuque. Holiday Masses downtown MADISON -- The holiday Mass schedule for the linked downtown churches St. Patrick, 404 E. Main St.; Holy Redeemer, 120 W. Johnson St.; and St. Raphael Cathedral are as follows: Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 5 p.m. - St. Patrick 7 p.m. - Holy Redeemer 9:30 p.m. (Spanish) - Holy Redeemer Midnight - St. Patrick Christmas Day, Dec. 25 9 a.m. - Holy Redeemer 11 a.m. - St. Patrick 11:30 a.m. (Spanish) - Holy Redeemer New Year's Eve, Dec. 31 8 a.m. - Holy Redeemer 5 p.m. - St. Patrick New Year's Day, Jan. 1 9 a.m. - Holy Redeemer 11 a.m. - St. Patrick 11:30 a.m. (Spanish) - Holy Redeemer 5 p.m. - Holy Redeemer Seminarian Caroling MADISON -- Diocese of Madison seminarians studying at Mundelein Seminary are planning their 43rd annual caroling tour. The group plans to go caroling at sites across the diocese December 22 and 23. The carolers' tentative plans of places to visit include: Thursday, Dec. 22 9:15-10:15 a.m. Badger Prairie Health Care Center, Verona 10:30-11:15 a.m. All Saints Retirement Community, Madison 11:30-12:15 a.m. St. Marys Care Center, Madison 1:30-2:15 p.m. Central Wisconsin Center, Madison 2:30-3 p.m. Mendota Mental Health, Madison 3:30-4:30 p.m. Meriter Health Center, Madison 4:45-5:30 p.m. Port St. Vincent, Madison 6-8 p.m. Nazareth House, Stoughton Friday, Dec. 23 8-8:50 a.m. Caroling and Breakfast at Sinsinawa Mound 9-9:45 a.m. St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa 10:30-11:15 a.m. Bloomfield Manor, Dodgeville 1:15-2 p.m. Greenway Terrace, Spring Green 2-2:30 p.m. Greenway Manor, Spring Green 3:15-4 p.m. St. Clare Center, Baraboo 4:30-5:15 p.m. Divine Savior Heath Care, Portage 6:30-9 p.m. Cistercian Sisters, Prairie du Sac
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Model of holiness: Celebrating Our Lady
of Guadalupe

(en Español)

By Emily Way
OFFICE OF JUSTICE AND PASTORAL OUTREACH

MADISON -- St. Joseph Church was filled with people, colorful decorations, and festive music on Saturday, Dec. 10, for the 16th Diocesan Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration, sponsored by the Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas and the patron saint of the unborn child. The Diocesan Mass, presided over by Bishop Robert C. Morlino, was to celebrate her feast day of December 12, the day she came to bring faith, hope, and consolation to the oppressed.

The Mass began with a procession of children; many dressed in their countries' traditional outfits, setting roses at the feet of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. Roses symbolize the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego, now Saint Juan Diego, in Mexico in 1531. As a result of her appearance, nine million indigenous people were converted within 10 years.

Estudiantina, the Diocesan Hispanic Choir, along with members from the group Sotavento, rang out with guitars, percussion, a bass, and an accordion playing traditional songs like Mañanitas a La Virgen de Guadalupe and O Santísima.

Spirit of Advent model

Bishop Morlino spoke in his homily of the spiritual presence of Mary in our everyday lives. Especially meaningful now, as we await the coming of our Lord, "the Virgin Mary is a model of the spirit of Advent," he said.

He continued that Mary is a child of the Lord who allowed her entire existence to be directed by God. Mary, in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt to the fullest extent, accepted the will of God without question or doubt when Gabriel told her of the divine plan. She is a woman of hope, who believed that the things promised by the Lord would be fulfilled.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is an example of "preventative medicine," explained the bishop, as she was conceived free from original sin through the Immaculate Conception. She was, thus, redeemed in advance for the foreseen merits of her Son. Mary is a model of true holiness as she supports us as we continue in our faith, always remembering the events of salvation.

"Her perfection makes her full of mercy," said Bishop Morlino. Mary is the mother of the Redeemer who takes us to Jesus when we need mercy.

The bishop went on to say that mercy and forgiveness are what make families happy. He used the example of Hispanic people who cherish family life, saying there is much we can learn from their culture.

Schools of holiness

He said that our families need to be schools of prayer and schools of holiness. We need to look to the Blessed Mother for hope and mercy and use her as a model for holiness in our lives. We need to put our complete trust in the Lord, just as Mary did, particularly while we wait patiently with her in joyful expectation for the coming of the Lord.

Mass ended with the Bishop's final blessing in Spanish and a lively rendition of Adiós, O Virgen de Guadalupe. St. Joseph's volunteers and staff welcomed the people after Mass with hot chocolate and traditional Mexican pastries.

For information on how your parish can welcome other cultures, prepare bilingual celebrations, or other questions regarding outreach to Hispanics, contact the Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach at 608-821-3086 or by e-mail at justiceandpeace@straphael.org

Cathedral future:
Bishop hears priests' views

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Priests of the Diocese of Madison discussed options for the future of the diocesan cathedral at a meeting on December 15 at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino asked members of the Presbyteral Council of the diocese to come prepared to discuss the cathedral issue. (St. Raphael Cathedral in downtown Madison suffered extensive damage from a fire in March.)

Relaxed pace

The bishop emphasized that he will be taking a "relaxed pace" in making a decision about the cathedral. He plans to hold town meetings and "give everyone a chance to voice their opinions."

The bishop also noted that people in the diocese responded generously to victims of the tsunami and hurricanes in the past year. "A lot of people maxed themselves out," he said, saying this is not an appropriate time to begin a capital campaign for a cathedral.

He asked the priests to respond to two questions: How do you see the relative worth of a downtown cathedral in Madison versus the value of a suburban cathedral? Where should the cathedral be?

Priests' comments basically fell into three categories: those who preferred a downtown location, either at the St. Raphael or Holy Redeemer Church sites; those preferring a suburban location; and those who had no preference.

Downtown location

Almost all the priests said it was important to have a "Catholic presence" in downtown Madison, but not all said it had to be a cathedral.

"The important thing is a Catholic presence downtown," said Fr. John Hedrick, Pardeeville. "But I don't see the necessity of having the cathedral downtown." He suggested exploring a cathedral in an existing parish or a new parish.

Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer, Madison, prefers a downtown cathedral. But he suggested that a suburban parish be named a "pro cathedral" in the meantime until it is feasible to build a cathedral downtown.

Msgr. Mike Hippee, Madison, said he would prefer to have the cathedral in the central city. But he questioned whether another church is needed because of the "exorbitant cost and lack of parking." He would choose Holy Redeemer and emphasize helping the poor.

Fr. Kevin Holmes, Sauk City, agreed with the Holy Redeemer site. He suggested acquiring additional properties near Holy Redeemer. He noted that the Spanish-speaking already have a connection to Holy Redeemer.

Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral fire: December 15, 2005 edition: • Cathedral focus of neighborhood meeting October 20, 2005 edition: • Closing Mass: Diocese gathers to end Year of Eucharist October 6, 2005 edition: • Madison XXV: Year of the Eucharist (painting showing firefighters rescuing the Blessed Sacrament from St. Raphael Cathedral after the fire) September 29, 2005 edition: • Mailbag/Letter: Thoughts on future planning September 1, 2005 edition: • Alleged arsonist deemed incompetent August 25, 2005 edition: • Competency hearing June 30, 2005 edition: • St. Raphael Cathedral: Restoration project awards May 19, 2005 edition: • Cathedral parish: Maintaining connectedness • Prayer on loss of St. Raphael Cathedral April 28, 2005 edition: • Beloved statue: Found beneath debris at ... cathedral • Front-page sidebar: From cathedral rector April 21, 2005 edition: • Cathedral case: Alleged arsonist suffers from mental illness April 14, 2005 edition: • Tom Shipley: Named new Catholic Foundation President and Director of Stewardship for the Diocese ... April 7, 2005 edition: • St. Raphael Cathedral: Finding hope amidst loss • Bishop's column: Kind gestures: Encourage hope, courage in face of loss Mar. 31, 2005 edition: • Letter of appreciation from Msgr. Swain Mar. 24, 2005 edition: • Front page photo and caption • Prayer commemorating loss of St. Raphael Cathedral • Cathedral fire: Result of arson • Future of cathedral: To be determined • Bishop's column: At Easter: With eyes of hope • Msgr. Swain's column: Moving forward ... • Editorial: Cathedral fire: We have lost our home, but not our faith • Mailbag/Letters Mar. 17, 2005 edition: • Firefighters work to control blaze • Bishop Morlino's statement on fire Breaking news posted Mar. 14/15: • Fire: Breaks out at St. Raphael Cathedral

Other priests supporting the downtown location mentioned the historical presence of the cathedral near the state Capitol and university, along with public transportation.

Suburban location

Fr. Jason Hesseling, Mazomanie, supported having a cathedral in one of the "larger, dynamic parishes in the suburbs." These parishes have schools and more resources and downtown churches are limited, especially with parking.

Agreeing on the suburban location was Fr. Larry Bakke, Baraboo. "It should be a vibrant community," he said. The cathedral should "not just be a building" but an "active center of liturgy and ministry."

Fr. John Meinholz, Monona, also preferred a suburban cathedral and suggested that the diocese update its new parish study done about 10 years ago.

Bishop's comments

Bishop Morlino himself said non-Catholics have approached him about the significance of building the cathedral downtown with a religious presence near the Capitol and university.

He emphasized, "I'm going to take my time, a lot of listening, no rushing." He plans to designate a "pro cathedral" in 2006 to be used until a decision is made.

Other business

Also at their meeting the priests approved adjustments to salary and compensation for diocesan priests effective July 1, 2006. They also agreed the Priestly Life Committee will remain an active committee of the council and will explore ways to deal with Mass stipend inequalities.