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News Briefs:
Tribunal director: Gives presentations at parishes
(Note: updated with correction in red on 2/7/2006)
MADISON -- "Divorce, Annulment, and Remarriage in the Catholic Church" will be discussed by Jay Conzemius, J.C.L., director of the diocesan Tribunal, in presentations at parishes in the diocese.
Conzemius will discuss the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding annulment issues and will provide specific information about the annulment process in the Madison Diocese.
There will be an opportunity for discussion and interaction, as well as the opportunity for group questions. After the presentation, Conzemius will make himself available on a one-to-one basis to address personal situations.
Upcoming presentations will be on:
• Tuesday, Feb. 21, at St. Peter Parish, Madison
• Thursday, Feb. 23, at Holy Mother of Consolation Parish, Oregon
• Tuesday, March 14, at St. Bernard Parish, Middleton
• Saturday, March 18, at St. Henry Parish, Watertown
• Tuesday, March 21, at St. Clement Parish, Lancaster
• Thursday, March 30, at St. Jude Parish, Beloit
All presentations will begin at 7 p.m.
Afternoon of reflection:
For liturgical ministers
at Saint Mary, Platteville
PLATTEVILLE -- The Diocesan Office of Worship and Saint Mary Parish are co-sponsoring an afternoon of reflection for liturgical ministers on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at Saint Mary Parish in Platteville.
The day, called "The Word Became Flesh," reflects on the presence of Christ in the Word as well as how the words that we pray shape and deepen what we believe.
The keynote address, "Believing the Words that We Pray," will be given by Patrick Gorman, director of the Diocesan Office of Worship. He will explore the words of the Catholic liturgy and discuss how we can pray them with greater zeal.
A variety of breakout sessions will be given that will explore topics of prayer, Scripture, singing, and the call to justice. Breakout sessions and presenters include "Praying with the Psalms" (Msgr. Charles Schluter), "The Liturgy of the Hours: Prayer for the Church and the Home" (Sr. Denise Herrmann), "Reflections on the Scriptures of Lent and Easter" (Kate Wiskus), "Proclaim Good News to the Poor" (Debby Del Ciello), and "Words that We Sing" (Patrick Gorman). The event will conclude with evening prayer.
Saint Mary Parish is wheelchair accessible. Assistive-listening receivers are available. Large-print material will be available if requested on the registration form. If a sign-language interpreter is needed, contact the Office of Worship at 608-821-3080 or e-mail worship@straphael.org as soon as possible and we will try to arrange for one to be present. Call the Office of Worship if there are other special needs.
The afternoon is free and open to all people. For more information or to register, call Saint Mary Parish at 608-348-9735 or visit the Office of Worship Web site at www.madisondiocese.org/worship
Support groups
for separated, divorced
MADISON -- Two local parishes offer peer support groups that provide support to those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship.
The groups are open to all ages and faiths. People interested in attending do not need to be a member of the parishes. For information, call 608-821-3170.
"Friends on a Journey" meets on the west side from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 and 16, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 401 S. Owen Dr.
"New Directions" meets on the east side from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 and 23, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd.
Adoption seminar:
To be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace
MADISON -- The Our Lady Queen of Peace Respect Life Committee will sponsor a free seminar presented by Jerilyn Robinson, adoption specialist, and Rachel Nelson, pregnancy counselor, from Catholic Charities.
The seminar will take place on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 401 S. Owen Dr.
Topics to be covered during the seminar include: different types of adoption, including domestic, international, and special needs; open adoption; typical adoption expenses; and criteria used to assess adoptive parents.
Adoption is a loving and life-affirming choice. Anyone who is interested in learning more is welcome to attend this seminar.
Our Lady Queen of Peace is located at the intersection of Mineral Point Rd. and Owen Dr., one block east of Midvale Blvd. The seminar will be held in the gathering space located in the church's main entrance. The seminar is expected to last approximately one hour and will include a question and answer session.
Advance registrations are appreciated. Call Vicky Franchino at 608-238-8219 to register. For adoption-specific information, contact Jerilyn or Rachel at 608-833-4800.
Natural Family
Planning classes
MADISON/CASSVILLE -- Couple to Couple League offers Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes in two locations starting this February.
A class in Madison will begin on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish. A class in Cassville will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Charles Parish.
To register for the Madison class call Mary and Howie Mead at 608-221-9593 or e-mail meadmt@mailbag.com For the Cassville class call Doug and Rita White at 608-994-2948 or e-mail dougwhite@tds.net
Each class will consist of four sessions. Additional information on Couple to Couple League is available at www.ccli.org
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Parish Leadership Day:
Focuses on evangelization
By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- Evangelization is the focus of the annual diocesan Parish Leadership Day to be held Friday, Feb. 17, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.
Giving the keynote address is Fr. Robert Barron, professor of systematic theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake-Mundelein Seminary outside of Chicago. Father Barron was recently named director of evangelization for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
He is the host of the Word on Fire, heard on Relevant Radio (8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Sundays). This is a program of Catholic evangelical preaching that is an instrument of outreach and conversion. Touching upon art, architecture, poetry, philosophy, theology, and the lives of the saints, Father Barron proclaims Jesus Christ in sermons based on each Sunday's upcoming Gospel.
He is the author of seven books and his articles on theology and spirituality have appeared in a variety of journals.
Father Barron will give the keynote address at 9:45 a.m., following registration at 8:30 a.m. and morning prayer at 9:15 a.m.
The day will also include three rounds of workshops, some of them dealing with topics related to evangelization.
Among the workshops are:
• "Catholics, Come Home: We've Missed You," with Tim Kruse, director of development at St. Paul's University Catholic Center in Madison.
• "The Role of Ecclesial Movements," with information on church movements such as Marriage Encounter, Charismatic Renewal, the Schoenstatt Movement, Regnum Christi, and the Latin American Mission Program. The workshop will be facilitated by Sr. Marcia Vinje, associate director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
• "Welcoming Hispanics in Our Parishes," with Ruth Kolpack, pastoral associate at St. Thomas Parish, Beloit; Araceli Montoya, director of the tri-parish Hispanic Ministry program in Beloit; Toni Kellor, director of Estudiantina, the diocesan Hispanic Choir; and Susanna
Herro, director of the diocesan Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach.
• "Evangelization in Every Day Life," with Deacon Tom Hale, Sacred Heart Parish in Reedsburg.
• "Parish Websites as a Tool for Evangelization," with Chris Lee, president of Leemark, a Madison firm which acts as Webmaster for the Diocese of Madison, the Catholic Herald, and the Compass in the Diocese of Green Bay.
• "Accommodating and Including Catholics with Disabilities," with Susan Perrault, who has served the Diocese of Green Bay for the past 17 years as an advocate and special education/pastoral care consultant in the area of ministry with persons with disabilities.
Other workshops will explore the diocesan strategic planning process; health care decisions at the end of life; how to start a parish respite team; legal aspects of personnel management; parish cemeteries; teens with problems; Theology of the Body; Christian unity; fostering vocations; Catholic social teaching; payroll accounting; and utilizing diocesan facilities.
There will be exhibits from diocesan offices, Catholic organizations, and vendors.
FOREM credit is offered for those interested.
The facility is handicapped accessible. Large print and assistive listening devices will be available. Those requiring a sign language interpreter are asked to call Patrick Gorman at 608-821-3081.
The registration fee is $25 per person if received by February 3. The fee is $30 per person after February 3. Make checks payable to Diocese of Madison and mail to: Parish Leadership Day, P. O. Box 44983, Madison, WI 53744-4983.
People may also go to www.madisoncatholic.org/PLD to register online. Those who register online will be entered for a prize drawing.
For more information, call 608-821-3060.
Spiritually Adopt a Baby:
Program emphasizes
prayer, action
BELOIT -- The "Spiritually Adopt A Baby" (SAAB) program obtained by St. Jude parishioner Charlene Tolmie at last year's March for Life in Washington, D.C., approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the Archdiocese of Baltimore, has been used in St. Jude Parish for the past nine months.
More than 200 parishioners were participants. A baby shower concluded on Sunday, Jan, 22, coinciding with the 33rd anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
Program's goals
This prayer and action program's goals include:
• Praying for a baby in danger of abortion.
• Teaching fetal development by poster displays to remind us of the humanity of the unborn child.
• Providing needed items to mothers and babies in need with excess items given to local pregnancy centers.
Participants choose a name for their baby, sign a pledge card, and commit themselves to this daily prayer: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion," a prayer written by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
A prayer card with Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and of the unborn child, keeps people focused on the reality that their prayers are helping to save a baby that they may never know, but whom God knows. Babies may be adopted individually or as a family.
Supporting human life
Pope John Paul II asked Catholics to "activate a great campaign in support of human life."
"Since everyone loves the beauty and innocence of a baby, we consider this a great way to express that love," said Sr. Rosalia Bauer, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration and member of St. Jude Parish.
Several other parishes and schools are either in the process of starting the program or have already done so. Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (OLA) was the first in the Beloit area to begin this program in April 2005 ending December 12 on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with 386 parishioners participating.
Lynne Duehr, from OLA, learned of this prayer and action program from Pro-Life Wisconsin's newsletter, "The Banner." She directed SAAB at Our Lady of Assumption.
OLA resumed on January 22 and St. Jude will begin again in April in order to end on January 22. Brother Dutton School began September of 2005 and will conclude in May of 2006.
From Beloit, news spread to Akron, Ohio, where Sandra Gross initiated "Spiritually Adopt a Baby" in St. Mary Parish on January 22, 2006. St. Peter Parish in South Beloit will begin in March.
For further information contact Charlene Tolmie, 608-362-3406, or Sister Rosalia, 608-364-2830.
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