News Briefs: Support groups for separated, divorced MADISON -- Two parishes offer peer support groups for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship. Friends on a Journey meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 and 19, at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 401 S. Owen Dr. New Directions meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 and 26, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd. Epiphany prayer service at Mound SINSINAWA -- The Sinsinawa Mound Civic Chorus will sing during the Epiphany Prayer Service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, in Queen of the Holy Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Mound. This ceremony will include preaching, music, and a procession to the Christmas crèche. For more information, call 608-748-4411.
	Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew" To nominate someone to be featured in "Profiles from the pew," download a nomination form (PDF file). "Profiles from the pew" runs in the Catholic Herald print edition NOTE: The nomination form is 269 KB in size and may take a long time to download on a dial-up Internet connection. It is a Portable Document Format file, also called a PDF, which can be viewed using the freely available Adobe® Reader® software. Many computers already have this software and will automatically open the document when you click the nomination form link, above. Adobe Reader is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

Relevant Radio: Diocese enters into partnership to strengthen evangelization, catechesis, communications

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino announced that the Diocese of Madison has entered into a partnership with Relevant Radio to strengthen efforts at evangelization, catechesis, and communications within the diocese.

The relationship with Relevant Radio flows out of the bishop's role as director of the diocesan Office of Catechesis and Evangelization, which he assumed recently. Eric Schiedermayer serves as executive secretary of the office, working with Sr. Marcia Vinje and Jack McBride as associates.

"The primary office of the Bishop as indicated by the Second Vatican Council, and the documents which followed thereafter, is his office of teacher," noted Bishop Morlino. "In everything he does, including the celebration of the sacred liturgy, he is to teach to the people the saving truth of Jesus Christ."

Communication vehicles

Bishop Morlino said, "Since my coming to the Diocese of Madison, there have been two major vehicles available to me for communication with our people beyond whatever I offer directly in different parishes, groups, or at the Sunday Stational Mass - those two vehicles have been Relevant Radio and the Catholic Herald, both of which are great treasures, and indeed a necessity for me so that I can carry out my teaching and evangelizing responsibilities effectively.

"I wish to reach especially those who do not regularly attend Sunday Mass. If we did not, in fact, have both Relevant Radio and the Catholic Herald, we would have to develop such communication vehicles."

Relevant Radio has spent about $2.1 million dollars since initiating their operations in the Diocese of Madison. These funds have come from sources and benefactors outside the diocese. People in the diocese individually have contributed approximately an additional $500,000 dollars so that in total $2.7 million dollars thus far have been spent to sustain the operation of Relevant Radio in the Diocese of Madison. The diocese has offered no direct assistance to date.

Seeking to expand

Relevant Radio is strong in the Madison area and many people in other sectors of the diocese can pull in the Relevant Radio signal from places such as Chicago. In addition Relevant Radio is seeking to expand in the Janesville, Beloit, and Wisconsin Dells areas. "It is their goal to reach the entire diocese so that it truly is a diocesan-wide means of communication," said Bishop Morlino. "At present, without question, there are parish communities and areas of the diocese that cannot receive Relevant Radio and it will take some time to fill that gap, but that certainly is their plan.

"Let me add that although there are pockets in the diocese where Relevant Radio is not receivable on the airwaves, efforts are underway to make Relevant Radio universally available in the diocese through the Internet, such that the only limitations for receiving Relevant Radio would be the limitations posed by the Internet itself.

"In addition, the diocese will be able to take advantage of the technological infrastructure Relevant Radio has built, which will allow us to make available on the diocesan Web page catechesis and breaking news unfiltered by commercial media. CDs of my homilies and other talks recorded by Relevant Radio are already being produced and distributed free of charge with the assistance of the Madison Serra Club," noted the bishop.

Related articles: December 8, 2005 edition: • Brian Kelly of Relevant Radio: Has new office at Bishop O'Connor Center October 27, 2005 edition: • Relevant Radio: Bishop Morlino visits headquarters in Green Bay August 19, 2004 edition: • Local show Relevant 2 U to debut on Catholic radio May 13, 2004 edition: • Priest Council: Updated on sexual abuse prevention program (scroll down to "Catholic radio" header within article) • Relevant Radio Morning Air talk show program expands Nov. 22, 2001 edition: • New Catholic radio station

Relevant Radio is a non-profit organization. "It has been and will continue to be at my disposition as bishop," said Bishop Morlino. "I cherish the Catholic Herald, but the Catholic Herald has the limitations of a weekly newspaper. If we need to get the word out instantly, Relevant Radio is there to the point where Brian Kelly, the local station manager of Relevant Radio, is located in the chancery office. We provide for him office space so that he can be near the Office of the Bishop, the Director of Communications, and the Catholic Herald, all for the sake of effective communications, catechesis, and evangelization, even at a moment's notice."

Financial support

Because Relevant Radio wishes to expand into other dioceses throughout the country, their income from sources outside the Diocese of Madison must be distributed differently, the bishop explained. "Thus, I was recently asked by Relevant Radio to 'step up to the plate' and help provide them with much needed funds to sustain their efforts here in the Diocese of Madison.

"Since I believe that Relevant Radio is a blessing to the diocese, I took the matter to the Diocesan Financial Council for their deliberation. After lengthy discussion in three separate meetings the council unanimously voted, with one abstention, to approve the $1.0 million dollars to retain this valuable tool. I then went to the College of Consultors as required by canon law and they too approved the proposal. I have determined, therefore after appropriate consultation, to provide Relevant Radio with the requested financial support."

Bishop Morlino said that Relevant Radio has a fine program to promote priestly vocations and, in fact, they have enlarged this promotional effort with extensive collaboration with the diocesan Office of Vocations and with the very active participation of the bishop and diocesan seminarians.

"So that this particular vocational awareness might be sustained I am giving an outright gift of $250,000 from the St. Joseph Fund," said Bishop Morlino. "The remaining $750,000 dollars will be borrowed by the diocese from the St. Joseph Fund, repayable at the prevailing money market rate plus 0.5%."

The bishop said that as the Diocese of Madison looks to the future provision for a cathedral, for collaboration in the City of Madison with St. Paul's Chapel, and to the larger capital needs of the diocese, there will need to be a substantial capital fund drive.

"I have determined, in my own mind, that communications will be a major line item in that capital fund raising and have projected $2,000,000 for that line item. I believe that we will raise the capital we need to ensure our future and I am consulting in these days as to what might be the best time for such an effort - it might not be the present moment, but the needs of Relevant Radio are becoming increasingly immediate. In raising the $2,000,000 for communications, I will, in the first place, repay what is owed to the St. Joseph Fund and then make an additional contribution to Relevant Radio in terms of what might seem appropriate. I will look as well to other communications needs at that time."

Unique programming

The bishop noted that at its beginning, Relevant Radio was almost completely dependent upon EWTN, the network of Mother Angelica, for its radio programming. In recent years, Relevant Radio has been able to cut successfully "that umbilical cord" and they are providing programming that is unique to them.

"They are always at your disposition and mine, to provide for our communication needs within the diocese," said Bishop Morlino. "As we move forward in time and our relationship with Relevant Radio deepens, our input will be invaluable in providing a communications tool through radio that we could never begin to initiate ourselves.

"Please join with me in enthusiasm and joy and let us look forward to the time when the Lord blesses us with the resources to address all of our capital needs in the Diocese of Madison so that we may be the beacon of Christ our Light in southcentral and southwestern Wisconsin."

In the Diocese of Madison, Relevant Radio airs on WHFA (1240 AM) and may be accessed on the Internet at www.relevantradio.com

Diocesan Choir: Performs 'Lessons and Carols'

By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- The voices of the nearly 60-member Diocesan Choir filled the chapel space with song at the Bishop O'Connor Pastoral Center December 18 for the choir's annual Lessons and Carols Christmas program.

Director Dr. Patrick Gorman led the choir, accompanied by Glenn Schuster on the organ and special guest harpist Mary Ann Harr, in 14 hymns and carols, several of which the congregation was invited to sing, as well. Alternating with the songs were nine Scripture readings ranging from Genesis to the birth of Christ.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino, bishop of Madison, presided over the program and read the ninth lesson of the evening. Afterward, he spoke to those gathered about the truth of Christmas.

"This holy tide of Christmas, all others shall replace," said the bishop, referencing the final verse of "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen," which the choir and congregation had sung earlier in the evening. "How seemingly intolerant of us to sing that. . . . Instead of Christmas carols, we're supposed to sing 'holiday carols.'"

We do need a secular society, he said. We need a society where people are free to worship as they wish or not at all.

"But that doesn't change the truth. The truth is this holy tide of Christmas all others will replace," he said.

"Christmas is the truth for all humans; to be human is to be like Christ," Bishop Morlino said. "Humanity means to be like Christ for everyone, whether they know it or not, whether they believe it or not."

Christmas should never be forced on anyone, he said, "but that doesn't mean it's not true."

Bishop Morlino also gave a special thanks to Bishop William H. Bullock, bishop emeritus, who had attended the event, for his 25 years as a bishop. The program included the world premiere performance of a piece titled "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," composed by Anthony Barresi and dedicated to Bishop Bullock on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as a bishop.

Barresi, a member of Christ the King Parish in McFarland, is music professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Those attending the concert brought non-perishable food items to help stock the shelves of the food pantry at the Diocese of Madison's Catholic Multicultural Center.

Holy days of obligation in 2006

Notes on the Liturgical Calendar for 2006 were provided by the Office of Worship, Diocese of Madison. For more information go to www.straphael.org/~office_of_worship

In 1992, the Holy See approved a general decree by the United States Bishops declaring days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States in conformity with canon 1246.

It was also determined that whenever January 1 (the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God), August 15 (the solemnity of the Assumption), or November 1 (the solemnity of All Saints) falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated (the faithful are not obliged to attend and participate in the Mass).

In 2006, no holy days of obligation are abrogated. The following are dates of holy days of obligation and other dates of note:

Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 (Octave of Christmas and the solemnity of Mary Mother of God), is a holy day of obligation.

Wednesday, March 1, 2006, is Ash Wednesday.

Thursday, April 13, to Saturday, April 15, 2006, is the Easter Triduum.

Sunday, April 16, 2006, is Easter Sunday.

Sunday, May 28, 2006 (the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord), is a holy day of obligation.

Sunday, June 4, 2006, is Pentecost.

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006 (the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), is a holy day of obligation.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006 (All Saints Day), is a holy day of obligation.

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, is the first Sunday of Advent.

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 (the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception), is a holy day of obligation.

Monday, Dec. 25, 2006 (the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ), Christmas, is a holy day of obligation.