Editorial

Several years ago, I remember showing up early for an event at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison. I noticed a man kneeling in a pew in the church. When I got closer, I discovered it was Msgr. Paul Swain. He was praying the Rosary.

	Related items: August 31, 2006 edition: • Pope Benedict XVI Names Msgr. Paul J. Swain Eighth Bishop of Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Bishop Paul Swain statement • Bishop Paul Swain background • A letter to the people of the Diocese of Madison from Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino (en Español)

At that time, Monsignor Swain was vicar general of the Diocese of Madison. I believe he was also rector of the cathedral, although I'm not sure. But whatever his assignment(s) then, he was a busy priest. Yet he took the time to pray in his hectic schedule.

Depth of faith. I think anyone who knows Monsignor Swain - now Bishop Swain of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D. - realizes the depth of his faith. He does not wear it on his sleeve. It's a quiet but very strong faith nurtured by daily prayer.

Perhaps that's one reason why Pope Benedict XVI named him a bishop. Certainly his background is quite unique for a prelate in the Catholic Church.

For one thing, Bishop Swain only became a member of the Catholic Church in 1983. He was raised as a Methodist.

Life in two phases. He talks about living his adult life in two distinctive phases. One was in the secular sphere. This included his service in the military as an intelligence officer with the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. This time of his life also included obtaining a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and working in civil law practice. He also served as legal counsel and director of policy for Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus of Wisconsin.

But during those years, he says, he "yearned for something more than professional success offered." His search led him to profess faith in Christ and His Church at the age of 39.

Called to priesthood. Shortly after entering the church, Swain also felt called to the priesthood. Bishop Cletus F. O'Donnell, bishop of Madison at that time, took a chance on Swain and accepted him as a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison.

At that time, "second career" vocations were unusual. Bishop O'Donnell sent Swain to study at what is now Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass., specializing in later vocations.

(Fr. Tom Segerson, another priest of the Diocese of Madison, had attended that seminary before Swain and spoke highly of it. Since then, two other diocesan priests - Frs. Jay Poster and Brian Wilk - have graduated from that seminary. Currently two seminarians, David Greenfield and Patrick Wendler, attend Blessed John XXIII.)

Bishop O'Donnell ordained Father Swain a priest of the Diocese of Madison in 1988. Ironically - or perhaps providentially - the announcement of Bishop Swain's appointment was made on August 31, the ninth anniversary of Bishop O'Donnell's death. We can be sure Bishop O'Donnell is smiling on Bishop Swain as he begins his service as bishop of Sioux Falls.

A lot to learn. Bishop Swain says that he has a lot to learn about his new diocese. Although Sioux Falls has fewer Catholics (about 130,000 compared to Madison's over 270,000), it covers a much wider geographical area: almost 35,000 square miles compared to 8,000 square miles in the Madison Diocese. It takes about seven hours to travel from one side of the South Dakota diocese to the other!

So Bishop Swain will spending more time traveling for Confirmations and other parish events in his new diocese. But perhaps that will give him a greater opportunity to pray, study, read, write, and reflect. The new bishop is an excellent preacher and writer. His homilies are succinct yet filled with wonderful stories and insights into faith and daily living. We will miss his occasional columns in the Catholic Herald, which often bordered on the poetic and were well-received by our readers.

We know Bishop Swain will be a good listener and collaborator with the priests, religious, and laity of Sioux Falls. He will teach clearly while being open to hearing the thoughts of the people. He will be an articulate representative of the Catholic Church in the wider community.

God speed. I encourage people of the Diocese of Madison to offer their good wishes and prayers for Bishop Swain, his new diocese, and our own in this period of transition.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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Women: be aware of cancer risks

To the editor:

September is both Gynecologic and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This year, the American Cancer Society estimates 77,150 women will be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and 28,210 will die. The deadliest gynecologic cancer is ovarian, with an estimated 20,180 new diagnoses and 15,310 deaths.

Women need to know the symptoms and risks and to be aware that gynecologic cancers may initially be misdiagnosed. We must be our own best advocates. Please check excellent sites such as the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov), the Gynecologic Oncology Foundation (www.wcn.org), and the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). Note especially the symptoms and risks.

What we learn may literally save our lives.

Ellen M. Esser, Madison