• Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral
	News Briefs: New features at festival STOUGHTON -- St. Ann Parish in Stoughton is adding new acts and activities to its fall festival, Friday to Sunday, Sept. 15 to 17. Big acts this year will be free entertainment for all ages on Friday with comedian Kenny Ahern at 6 p.m. and a concert on Saturday by local Christian rock band Oremus from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ($5 admission or maximum $20 per family). The festival will be a great place to have good family fun, said Joanne Del Pizzo, publicity coordinator. With the festival, St. Ann hopes to "reach out to the community and bring people together . . . all for a good cause," she said. Highlights also include a farmer's market on Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. and an art contest for all ages. Attendees to the festival will be able to judge the art contest entries on Sunday for the "viewers' choice" award. Entries must be submitted by Saturday, Sept. 16. Sunday's activities include a pie bake-off and contest, silent and loud auctions, and the raffle drawing. All events will occur under the big tent at St. Ann Parish, 320 N. Harrison St., Stoughton. Masses are at 5:15 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. For more information, contact Peg Koch at 608-575-9359. Churches build home MADISON -- Parishioners of St. Andrew Parish in Verona, St. William Parish in Paoli, and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison are among 10 Madison area churches that have volunteered to construct a home as part of the Apostles Build II for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. Groundbreaking for the Xiong Family will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m. at 9 Kanazawa Circle in the Twin Oaks Subdivision on Madison's southeast side. "Thank you to parishioners of St. Andrew, St. William, and Blessed Sacrament for helping their brothers and sisters in need," said Habitat for Humanity of Dane County's executive director Brian Miller. He said Habitat for Humanity of Dane County will "continue to work hard" toward the ultimate goal of affordable housing for everyone in our community. Cartoonist to speak at Generations of Faith MCFARLAND -- National speaker and cartoonist Jason Kotecki has been invited to Christ the King Parish to kick off the Generations of Faith program on Sunday, Sept. 17. The event runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and dinner will be provided. Babysitting will be available. As a kick-off to a new lifelong faith formation program and a new school year, Kotecki will be encouraging attendees to uncover and embrace strategies from childhood to help them grasp a deeper understanding of faith, family, and fellowship. People of all ages are feeling stressed and burned out with the busyness of life. Kotecki will be speaking about "Adultitis," the epidemic that is affecting almost every household. Hilarious anecdotes, artwork, and cartooning are featured in his presentation. For questions about the event call Kathie at 608-838-9797. More on Kim & Jason can be found at www.KimandJason.com Speaker/singer MADISON -- Cheryl Kirking, inspirational speaker and singer, will be at St. Bernard Parish Hall, 2650 Atwood Ave., on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. Kirking tickles the funny bones and tugs at the heartstrings of audiences. She weaves her unique blend of original songs, homespun humor, and personal anecdotes. Reservations should be made by calling 608-249-9256. Evansville parish: Plans centennial celebration EVANSVILLE -- St. Paul Parish is celebrating its centennial with a celebration on Saturday, Sept. 23. The celebration will include a Mass, dinner, and entertainment, as well as dedication of the Monument to the Unborn at Holy Cross Cemetery in Evansville. The centennial celebration will take place on September 23, the anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone for the first church. That church stands today with only a few enlargements since it was built. The event will feature a dedication of the Monument to the Unborn, built as part of an Eagle Scout project by a youth from the parish. The dedication will take place at 4 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Centennial Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino at 5 p.m. at St. Paul Church, 39 Garfield St. A dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. at Evansville High School, 640 S. Fifth St., with entertainment, "The Sisters of St. Mary," at 8:15 p.m. in the Evansville High School auditorium. Reservations are required for all parts of the celebration. Dinner has a cost for both adults and children. For more information or to register, call the St. Paul Parish office at 608-882-4138. Spanish Mass: Celebrated Sept. 17 in Beloit BELOIT -- Mass in the Spanish language will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Jude Parish. Fr. Loren Miller, a Capuchin priest from Madison, will be the celebrant. Everyone is welcome to attend the Mass, planned by the Hispanic Ministry for the three Beloit parishes. Cassville parish: Celebrates 150th anniversary at annual festival CASSVILLE -- On Sunday, Sept. 17, St. Charles Parish in Cassville will use the occasion of its annual fall festival to also celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. To mark this sesquicentennial, a new parish history booklet has been compiled and will be ready for sale that Sunday at $7 per copy. According to Bob Klauer and Charles Lange, who collaborated on the project, the booklet traces the history of the parish along with the development of the village and contains many interesting pictures. The festival day will begin at 10 a.m. with a Mass that will celebrate the heritage of faith bequeathed by those Catholic families who were the first parishioners. Following that will be the special St. Charles chicken barbecue dinner coupled with games and entertainment throughout the afternoon, ending the day with bingo at 5:30 p.m. Education Institute: September 29 at Marriott MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison's Central Education Institute will take place at the Marriott Madison West Hotel and Conference Center on Friday, Sept. 29. Those involved in parish ministry, Catholic schools, or religious education are encouraged to attend. The keynote speaker is Dr. Karen Ristau. She is the president of National Catholic Educators Association and earned a doctorate in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco. Her address is titled "The Grace of Great Things" and will focus on how Catholic educators live out the message of Christian love from Pope Benedict's first encyclical. There will also be a variety of workshops on topics related to religious education. The schedule is as follows: 7:45 a.m., exhibits and registration; 8:30 a.m., Mass with Bishop Robert C. Morlino; 10 a.m., keynote speaker; 11 a.m., workshops, Round I; noon, lunch and exhibits; 1:15 p.m., workshops, Round II. Basic FOREM tract workshops begin at 10 a.m. and continue to 3:45 p.m. Registration is necessary. The fee is $55 if received by September 11 and $60 after September 11. For more information or to register, call 608-821-3180 or visit www.madisoncatholic.org/oec/Forms/ Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew" To nominate someone to be featured in "Profiles from the pew," download a nomination form (PDF file, 269 KB). "Profiles from the pew" runs in the Catholic Herald print edition NOTE: The nomination form is a Portable Document Format file (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. 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Brad Klingele:
New coordinator
of young adult ministry

MADISON -- In late July, Brad Klingele became the new Diocesan Coordinator of Young Adult Ministry.

Klingele began his work in the diocese over a decade ago at St. Paul's University Catholic Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as an undergraduate peer minister.

Since then, he has served as a youth minister, adult evangelization director, and RCIA coordinator at parishes throughout the diocese.

Eric Schiedermayer, executive secretary for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, is enthusiastic about the office's newest addition: "Brad is a tremendous asset to our office. He thoroughly understands the work of introducing people to Christ and helping them grow in that relationship. His years of experience working in parishes in the Diocese of Madison and on the UW campus have given him a solid practical footing and knowledge of the diocesan scene."

The primary duty of the young adult ministry coordinator is to support the formation and training of young adult leaders throughout the diocese.

When asked about his top priorities for the year, Klingele responded, "I am joining the efforts of the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to assist parishes and deaneries in their efforts to train young leaders. Well-formed young adults are real assets to their local church communities."

When asked how people can support young adults, Klingele replied, "Catholics of all ages should be welcoming. Take time to say hello to the young adults in your parish or your workplace. Because young adults are underrepresented in many parishes, they often do not feel connected to the life of the parish community. Every parishioner can work to help young adults feel recognized and welcomed as vital members of the faith community."

Klingele encouraged parishes to publicize local and regional events of interest to young adults, such as Bible studies, retreats, and social gatherings.

Brad and his wife, Cecelia, have been married for nine years and have five children.

Cindy Fischer:
Coordinator of curriculum and catechist development

MADISON -- Cindy Fischer began her duties as the Diocesan Coordinator of Curriculum and Catechist Development with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in mid-August, bringing with her over 18 years of experience as a parish director of religious education in the Diocese of Madison.

In describing her duties in this new part-time position for the diocese, Fischer sees herself as helping to "flesh out" the goals of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. In particular, her efforts will be aimed at assisting those who catechize to be "competent, effective, committed to Jesus Christ, and faithful to the truth as proclaimed by the magisterium of the Catholic Church."

Says Fischer, "my primary duty in this position is to serve as a resource, consultant, and sounding board for pastors, parish Christian education commissions, and catechetical staff as they strive to fulfill the mission of our bishop in introducing people to the person of Jesus Christ."

Eric Schiedermayer, executive secretary for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, states "well formed, informed, and effective catechists are a vital piece of this mission being fulfilled. Cindy brings a wealth of experience and creativity in the catechetical field, along with an educational background that has helped her develop assessment, organizational, and communication skills that will be a tremendous asset to parishes."

Fischer intends to put all those attributes to work as she continues to serve as full-time director of religious education for St. Patrick Parish, Lodi, in addition to her duties for the diocese.

"I see this first year primarily as a time to listen to those who labor in the fields, to surface the good work that is being done in parishes, and to also identify those areas where parish catechetical programs are struggling," she said.

"Given the talent and commitment to Christ that is so vibrant and vital in this diocese, I'm confident that together, we can develop a response to those needs that will contribute to the mission of the person of Jesus Christ being known, loved, and served ever more deeply."

Cathedral future: Bishop holds first townhall meeting

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

SUN PRAIRIE -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino listened to a variety of opinions and questions about the future of the diocesan cathedral at the first of a series of townhall meetings held September 6 at St. Albert the Great Parish in Sun Prairie.

	Related articles: August 17, 2006 edition: • Bishop plans townhall meetings on cathedral future • More articles on St. Raphael Cathedral

The bishop thanked the approximately 60 people for coming. He acknowledged Bishop Paul J. Swain, recently named Bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D. Bishop Swain is rector of St. Raphael Cathedral and pastor of the downtown Madison parishes.

Bishop Morlino said he will continue to consult with Bishop Swain after he goes to Sioux Falls.

"I am here to listen to you," Bishop Morlino told those gathered. He also noted that people of the diocese will be getting together and listening to each other in the diocesan planning process.

The bishop said he didn't want the townhall meetings to be adversarial. "My point is to listen in a way that there are no winners or losers," he said, adding that people should show "forbearance" and "give people the benefit of the doubt."

Several members of St. Albert the Great Parish spoke about the importance of feeding the hungry and healing the sick. One woman suggested instead of building a new cathedral, the diocese should build a medical center downtown.

Several suggested designating another church, such as St. Bernard Church in Madison, as a cathedral. Several mentioned that parking is a problem downtown.

Bishop Morlino pointed out that existing parishes may not want to be designated as a cathedral, since it would change their parish life.

Leo Wherley asked the bishop several questions, including whether there was a plan to rebuild St. Raphael Cathedral on the present site and whether there is an estimate of the insurance to be paid for the fire damage.

Bishop Morlino said there is no plan at this time. He expects about $6 million from insurance.

Wherley asked about the number of parishioners downtown. Bishop Swain said there are about 1,000 households. Bishop Morlino pointed out that there are more people moving downtown with much condominium development.

Audrey Pendergast asked about the status of the cathedral. "We don't have a cathedral building but canonically St. Raphael is still a cathedral," explained Bishop Morlino. "I am still the pastor of St. Raphael Cathedral. The parish family of St. Raphael is very much alive."

The bishop also said there has to be a cathedral in a diocese. It is the mother church of the diocese. He also noted that the cathedral is "for those who cannot find a spiritual home, those who are spiritually homeless."

He also emphasized that the cathedral should help the poor. For example, a downtown cathedral could join with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and work with the poor. He noted that the head of the Mormon Church in Madison had even offered to help with this work. The cathedral would also be a place for ecumenical conversation and dialogue with the legislature and the university community. "That's what is possible in a downtown cathedral that doesn't seem possible elsewhere," said the bishop.

Other speakers talked about the cathedral as a "spiritual center of the diocese." Ivan Norton, a member of St. Raphael Parish since 1963, said he would like to see the cathedral rebuilt. "It's a landmark," he said. "Many people have said they would give donations because they miss the church."

He said the current location is convenient and there is parking. The cathedral also has a history of working with the poor.

Bishop Morlino said he expects to make a decision within a year - by September of 2007.

Global Solidarity Partnership Program

By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

Both the weather and the welcome were warm for the eight delegates from the Diocese of Madison to the sister Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatonga in Ghana.

The fourth delegation between the two dioceses was able to see the differences that have been made by the Global Solidarity Project, begun in 2002 under the auspices of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Much as the recent delegation from Ghana experienced here, the Madison delegates had an opportunity to visit parishes and see the origins of the chocolate in Divine Chocolates, a fair trade organization, as well as meet officials and beneficiaries of the Donkey Project.

Schedule

The delegation arrived in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and met with CRS officials Thomas Awiapo and Michelle Borne. Accra, a city one delegate compared to Chicago, is a port city in the southern and more rain-forest-like part of the country.

From Accra, they drove five hours into the city of Kumase, where they visited the Cocoa Cooperatives, where chocolate is grown for Divine Chocolates. After meeting with the farmers, the delegates were given a surprise audience with the chief of the Ashanti tribe.

After Kumase, the delegates traveled to Bolgatanga in the northeastern, sub-Saharan part of Ghana. There they met beneficiaries of the Donkey Project and had Mass and breakfast with Bishop Lucas Abadamoora of the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga. They also were able to meet with the Regional Minister, Mahami Salifu.

While in the diocese, the delegates visited six different parishes and small villages.

Afterwards, they reconvened for a workshop at a retreat center to discuss ideas for improving the relationship between the two dioceses.

Afterwards they went to the Multicultural Center for dinner and a show that included students demonstrating their cultural dances. On the final night the delegates celebrated with Bishop Abadamoora with a Mass and dinner.

Experiences

"If I learned anything about our trip, it is the importance of good friendship and the cultural diversity of a wonderful diocesan relationship," said Brittany Wendt, parishioner at St. Ann Parish, Stoughton.

"I will never look at a map of Africa the same again," said Eric Schiedermayer, executive secretary of the Diocese of Madison Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison. "When I hear the word 'Africa,' images come to mind. Now I know people there.

"My own problems, my own struggles have been given a new perspective," Schiedermayer said. "I came away with a deeper understanding of the tremendous gifts that God has bestowed upon me . . . opportunities that are ours because of the rule of law, the stability of government, the personal freedoms guaranteed to us by our constitution, and the wisdom and sacrifice of our forebears.

"I've been thinking about these things a lot lately, and wondering about our responsibility to share these gifts with the world," he said.

Santo Carfora, a parishioner at Nativity of Mary Parish, Janesville, said what he gained the most from the experience was the connection with the people of Ghana.

"They treated me like royalty. It was embarrassing, humbling, and rewarding all at the same time," he said. "They welcomed me into their hearts."

He said that the Global Solidarity Program was a "two-way street" of education and assistance. "I am extremely touched with the work of CRS," Carfora said. "I never realized how much they do and what a difference they make in the lives of these people.

"I came away from this trip awestruck," he said. "I am open to the Spirit to lead me in the most useful direction it sees fit as I share this experience with friends, family, and members of the parishes and the community."