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News Briefs:
Seminarian talks: Scheduled for summer
MADISON -- Seminarians of the Diocese of Madison will be talking at various parishes around the diocese this summer. The schedule includes:
• Saturday, June 23, and Sunday, June 24 - Chad Droessler: St. Peter Parish, Ashton; St. Martin Parish, Martinsville
• Saturday, July 21, and Sunday, July 22 - Mark Miller: St. Pius X Parish, Cambridge; Justin Hall: SS. Anthony and Philip Parish, Highland; St. Thomas Parish, Montfort
• Saturday, July 28, and Sunday, July 29 - Patrick Wendler: St. Peter Parish, Elk Grove; St. Matthew Parish, Shullsburg
• Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5 - John Putzer: St. Joseph Parish, Argyle; St. Joseph Parish, Gratiot; St. John Parish, South Wayne; St. Michael Parish, Yellowstone; Matt Nicolai: Holy Family Parish, La Valle; St. Boniface Parish, Lime Ridge; St. Patrick Parish, Loreto; Garrett Kau: St. James Parish, Neshkoro; St. John the Baptist Parish, Princeton; Matt Wittlin: St. Bernard Parish, Madison
• Saturday, Aug. 11, and Sunday, Aug. 12 - David Johannes: St. Andrew Parish, Buffalo; St. Mary Parish, Pardeeville; James Leeser: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cassville; St. Mary Help of Christians Parish, Glen Haven; David Greenfield: Holy Mother of Consolation Parish, Oregon; Jason Studnicka: St. Andrew Parish, Tennyson; St. Thomas Parish, Potosi
Family picnic raffle:
For six Packer tickets
MADISON -- The Knights of Divine Mercy are raffling off six tickets to an upcoming Packers' game to raise money for the Diocesan Family Picnic and other projects.
A fellow Knight has donated six luxury 40-yard line box seats for the Packers vs. Jaguars game on Thursday, Aug. 23, kickoff at 7 p.m. These seats, in an air-conditioned box, include unlimited gourmet food and drinks and close parking. A $3,600 value.
The drawing will be held during the annual Diocesan Family Picnic at the Bishop O'Connor Center on July 29 for which the Knights of Divine Mercy are the "main meal host." A maximum of 1,000 tickets will be sold. Tickets are $25 each, or five for $100.
To purchase tickets, contact any Knights of Divine Mercy member or St. Mary Parish, Pine Bluff, at 608-798-2111.
The Diocesan Family Picnic, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and the Knights of Divine Mercy, will held at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., in Madison, on Sunday, July 29, from 2 to 7 p.m.
For more details or to register your family, go to www.madisoncatholic.org/OEC/
picnic or call Monica Grant at 608-821-3160.
Belmont parish celebrates 50 years
at June 30 Mass
BELMONT -- St. Philomena Parish is celebrating its 50th anniversary of faith on Saturday, June 30. The Mass, celebrated by Bishop William H. Bullock, will begin at 5 p.m.
St. Philomena Parish, established in 1957, has more than doubled its size since its inception to nearly 400 parishioners in 164 families, according to 2005 statistics.
The parish began as a mission of Immaculate Conception Parish, Truman, with its first Mass May 5, 1957, celebrated by Fr. William Stack and held in a vacant store. A new church was begun the following September and dedicated nearly nine months later.
The current pastor is Fr. Monte Robinson, also pastor of St. Michael Parish, Calamine, and Immaculate Conception Parish.
Support groups offered for parents, suffering
MADISON -- Two parishes offer peer support groups for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship. The groups are open to all ages and faiths. People do not need to be a member of the parishes.
For information, call 608-824-0014. Friends on a Journey meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 5 and 19, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 401 S. Owen Dr. New Directions meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd.
A Birth Parent Support Group will meet Tuesday, July 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 5 Odana Ct. Sponsors are Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services. This ongoing support group for people who have placed their child/ren for adoption is free, safe, and confidential.
For registration, contact Alice at 608-270-6635 or apearson@lsswis.org or Trish at 608-833-4800, ext. 109, or pregnancy@tds.net
Mini golf outing on July 10: Supports Monroe Clinic Hospice
NEW GLARUS -- On Tuesday, July 10, Monroe Clinic Hospice is holding its 15th annual New Glarus Hotel and Chalet Landhaus Miniature Golf Outing at 5:30 p.m. at Swissland Miniature Golf Course, located at 700 State Hwy. 69 in New Glarus.
The event features a light-hearted game of mini golf, door prizes, and a dinner at the New Glarus Hotel. Opportunities to support Monroe Clinic Hospice include participating in mini golf and attending the dinner, just attending the dinner immediately following golf, making a tax-deductible donation, or becoming an event sponsor.
One hundred percent of the funds raised through the outing support Monroe Clinic Hospice, which has been serving patients with terminal illnesses since 1988. Deadline to register is June 29. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, call 608-324-1230.
Monroe Clinic is a not-for-profit, single hospital health system sponsored by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.
Silent, directed retreat
at Sinsinawa Mound
SINSINAWA -- A six-day, "Silent, Directed Retreat" will be held at Sinsinawa Mound from 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 8, through 1 p.m. Saturday, July 14.
The retreat is for those desiring an extended time of peace, quiet, rest, and beauty and wanting to reflect more deeply on their journey of faith. There will be an opportunity for a daily conference with a spiritual director, morning and evening prayer with the community of Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, daily Mass, indoor and outdoor labyrinths, and walking through rural vistas of farmlands and woodlands. Massage will be available by request.
Spiritual directors are Presentation Sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary Julia Wingert, Dominican Sister Mary Owen Haggerty, Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Harriet Holles, Franciscan Sister Margaret Jungers, Andrea Beacham, and Ginger Anderson-Larson.
Registration deadline is July 1. The fee, which includes meals, for an overnight guest is $390 and for a commuter, $252. Contact guest services at 608-748-4411 or visit www.sinsinawa.org
Madison Area Retrouvaille: Provides help for hurting marriages
MADISON -- Is your marriage hurting and stressful? Do you feel lost, frustrated, or alone? Does meaningful communication or re-connection seem hopeless?
There is hope. Madison Area Retrouvaille is a Christian ministry, Catholic in origin, for struggling marriages. Couples have rediscovered each other and their marriages through this program.
Retrouvaille (ret-ro-vi) begins with a weekend experience in which husbands and wives are helped to rediscover each other and to examine their life together in a new and positive way.
Each couple is asked to make an anonymous donation to help cover the cost of the program. This one donation covers all the expenses of the weekend and the post-weekend sessions. Weekend lodging, meals, and materials are all covered by this single donation. No couple is ever denied the chance to heal and renew their marriage because of lack of funds.
A Retrouvaille program begins July 13 to 15 at the Radisson on Madison's west side. Call 608-249-2377 or 1-800-470-2230 for registration information or visit www.helpourmarriage.com
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Lay institute:
Trains laity to deepen faith
By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison Lay Institute came to a close June 9 with a celebration Mass for about 75 graduates of the 10-course institute.
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What is the
lay institute?
By Rachel Crigler
OFFICE OF EVANGELIZATION AND CATECHESIS
The whole life of the Catholic Church (and how the faith has been handed down throughout time) is embodied in the inspired union of apostolic tradition and sacred Scripture.
In order to effectively evangelize and provide sufficient catechesis in the world today, it is imperative Catholics continue to seek ongoing formation in Church teaching and doctrine - better equipping them to share the faith with others.
The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis established a lay ministry training program, the
Diocesan Lay Institute, to build up the body of Christ by supplying adults with an affordable theological and leadership education opportunity.
The goal of the Diocesan Lay Institute (DLI) is to better prepare individuals to serve at
the parish and diocesan levels. Participants in the DLI began taking courses last September in Catholic doctrine, Scripture, spirituality, and theology. Classes were held once a month at the Bishop O'Connor Center and each course of the DLI was taught by a different guest lecturer.
For instance, Bishop Robert C. Morlino instructed the April 14 session on Moral Theology. He opened his lecture by outlining how the starting point of fundamental moral theology is the meeting of Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Once an individual has had this encounter, only then can he/she begin to understand that "although the church is human in its members, it is divine in its institution" which will eventually lead him/her to comprehend the Holy Spirit as the soul of the Church.
Other themes addressed by Bishop Morlino in his talk included the philosophy of natural moral law and end of life issues. The bishop reminded the participants of the DLI that "conscience leads beyond the ordinary to the heroic." So too should the Catholic Church - invigorated by the faithful - be called forward and challenged through study and prayer to deepen their knowledge, skills, and commitment for innovative leadership in the world today.
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Bishop Robert C. Morlino celebrated the Mass and conferred certificates of completion on the institute participants.
The Level-1 institute, sponsored by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC), provided formation for Catholic adults in their faith and in the leadership skills necessary to serve the parish community.
Through the 10 eight-hour courses, attendees learned about Catholic theology; the structure, theology, and history of Scripture; moral and sacramental theology; social teaching; Canon Law; and the Second Vatican Council. They also engaged in spiritual formation, practicing to become effective disciples and grow in their personal commitment to prayer and the sacraments.
Just a beginning
Eric Schiedermayer, OEC executive secretary, expressed his gratitude for the support and enthusiasm of all those involved in the institute. "The energy, commitment, and passionate love for the Church that I witnessed give me great hope. We had to cut off registration last
summer because we simply didn't have the space to accommodate all those who wanted to attend," he said. "This was a huge commitment on the part of the participants."
He added, "The quality of the presentations - most of them by priests and laity from right here in the diocese - was truly impressive. This diocese is greatly blessed to have so many teachers and theologians of this caliber."
Schiedermayer said he looks forward to seeing the fruits of the program ripen in the parishes in the coming months and years. "This is just a beginning, but it's a very impressive beginning," he said. "Many of our participants already serve the Church in a variety of ways, but I suspect and hope that they now find themselves better equipped to serve as disciples and laborers in the vineyard."
Improved confidence
One of the participants, Dave Kordell, CRE for St. Cecilia Parish in Wisconsin Dells, said that the program helped him become more confident in his faith.
"I think that all of us strive for a deeper understanding of our faith and a firm ability to talk to people," he said. "Especially in my role as CRE, the more I know, the more I can help."
The participants learned about the Catholic faith in so many different areas, he said, "there wasn't a Saturday I didn't come back and say, I learned about this, I learned about that."
"I think Catholics are afraid sometimes to share their faith because they lack confidence." After experiencing the lay institute, he said, "as a lay person, I can speak with confidence."
Upcoming institute
In the fall, the OEC is looking to repeat the success of the Lay Institute with another Level-1 institute.
Those interested in learning more are invited to contact the office at oec@straphael.org or 608-821-3160, or visit www.madisoncatholic.org/oec and click on the "Lay Institute" link.
The site provides information on the completed institute, including a "Participants Page" with audio and notes from the lectures. CDs of the series are also available.
Regional gatherings: Provide forum for diocesan, local catechist interaction
By Emily Seyfert
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) held five regional gatherings with parish catechetical leaders around the Madison Diocese recently. These gatherings were created as an extension of and follow up to the diocesan-wide gathering of catechetical leaders that took place in February with Bishop Robert C. Morlino.
Eric Schiedermayer, director of the office, remarked that they started each regional gathering, "by reflecting on the diocesan vision which Bishop Morlino articulated . . . and how that plays out in the work of a parish DRE."
The bishop's diocesan vision statement is as follows: "Our goal is that everyone in the diocese would hear everyday a loving and gentle invitation to meet Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, in a life changing way."
Kathy Dwyer, from St. Luke Parish, Plain, and St. John the Evangelist Parish, Spring Green, sees the gatherings as an "overdue opportunity for us to converse in a guided discussion." Throughout the meeting she was "looking at where our mission is and (receiving) spiritual support for us as leaders."
Another participant, Sue Jackson, from St. Ignatius Parish, Mt. Horeb, commented that she "really enjoy(ed) hearing personal stories and specific information connecting us to people in the parish."
Eileen Bender, from St. Joseph Parish, Waterloo, and St. Mary of the Nativity Parish, Marshall, found the day "very interesting." She felt it is "good to get together and share common experiences and meet new people." When asked what she expected to get out of the day she replied that she "came very open-minded," but thought to gather "new ideas and (affirmation on) what we have been doing."
These catechetical leaders came to the right place, as their expectations mirrored the goals set forth by the OEC for the regional gatherings.
"These gatherings are being positioned to become a forum for regular ongoing interaction between diocesan and parish catechetical leaders," Schiedermayer stated.
"Our goals for these gatherings include: Establishing solid relationships between parish and diocesan catechetical leaders; creating strong regional networks of parish catechetical leaders; providing the forum for parish catechetical leaders to work on common problems; and pursuing a common vision for evangelization and catechesis.
"The entire OEC staff has been present at each meeting to listen to needs and concerns and discuss resources and plans," Schiedermayer continued. "The response to these meetings has been extremely favorable so far."
LIMEX:
Graduates embrace ministry
By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- Students of Loyola University marked their graduation with a small Mass celebrated by Bishop William H. Bullock on June 20 at the Bishop O'Connor Center.
The students were part of the Loyola University Institute of Ministry extension program (LIMEX), started here in the Diocese of Madison several years ago by the late Jack McBride, and this year facilitated by Cindy Fischer, of the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
Graduates Cathy Diamond; Sabrina Elsen, who could not be at the Mass; Holly Irving; Mary Lestina; and Larry Schmitt, whose wife Peggy was in the first LIMEX class, all earned master's degrees from the program designed to provide in-depth information and reflection for ministerial roles in the church.
"This program has really helped me to get to know myself," said Lestina, who with her degree will be moving from St. Patrick Parish in Madison to a new position in pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. "It's helped me to apply what I learned to everyday ministry in the parish.
"I'm so excited about embracing my new ministry," she said.
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