• Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral
	News Briefs: St. Thomas Aquinas Scripture study MADISON -- St. Thomas Aquinas Parish will soon begin a Scripture study for couples where one spouse is Catholic and the other is a Christian of another denomination. Scripture, as one solid area of common ground, can be a perfect opportunity for married couples to grow in faith and knowledge, and to do it together. The first gathering will be Saturday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. in the Social Hall. There will be a casual dinner and introductions, then a short conversation on understanding Scripture, along with a few practical items. The evening will be finished by 7:30 p.m. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Jennifer Ludtke at 608-833-2600 or jennifer@stamadison.org by Monday, Aug. 20. Schoenstatt Sister from Vatican to speak about beatification work MADISON -- Sr. M. Thomasine Treese, a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary working in the Vatican, will be at Schoenstatt Heights, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 6:30 p.m. to give a presentation about her work for the beatification and canonization of Sr. M. Emilie Engel. The presentation will be held in the Family Room at Schoenstatt Heights and is open to the public. Sister Emilie was one of the first Sisters to offer her services for the formation and growth of the Schoenstatt Sisters at their founding in 1926. She died in 1955. Sister M. Thomasine, a German by birth, entered the Wisconsin province of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Madison in 1965. She worked with the Schoenstatt lay movement in the Diocese of Madison as well as in the Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. At present she works in the Vatican with the German diplomatic corps. She has also been active in promoting the beatification and canonization of Fr. Joseph Kentenich, Schoenstatt founder. Support groups for separated, divorced, relationship loss MADISON -- Two local 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 interested in attending do not need to be a member of the parishes. For information, call 608-663-5011. Friends on a Journey meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 16 and Sept. 6, at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 401 S. Owen Dr. New Directions meets from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 23 and Sept. 13, at St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd. Serenity Retreat to be held at Sinsinawa SINSINAWA -- A "Serenity Retreat" will be held at Sinsinawa Mound from 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, through 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. Based on the 12-step recovery process, the retreat focuses on the 11th step which is the key to ongoing spiritual recovery. Leader will be MaDonna Thelen, a Sinsinawa Dominican associate. The fee, which includes meals, is $174 for overnight guests or $109 for a commuter. Registration deadline is August 31. For more information contact guest services at 608-748-4411 or visit www.sinsinawa.org Life Line Screening MONROE -- Monroe Clinic is partnering with Life Line Screening to offer three screenings on Thursday, Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Founders Hall of Monroe Clinic: stroke/carotid artery; abdominal aortic aneurysm; and peripheral arterial disease. All three screenings cost $119 or $45 each (payable by cash, credit, or check only). Insurance will not be billed. Appointments are required; call 1-800-779-6353 and reference Monroe Clinic. FACE support groups offered MADISON -- Project FACE (Four Agency Cooperative Effort) is offering mental health groups to Dane County residents. Project FACE is a combined effort on the part of Catholic Charities Inc., Lutheran Social Service, Family Service, and the Mental Health Center of Dane County. Dane County and United Way of Dane County fund all groups fully or in part. Groups currently being offered include, but are not limited to, an Addictions Recovery Group; depression groups; men's and women's anger management groups; Parenting Paths, for parents who have used excessive discipline techniques on their children or are otherwise struggling with parenting techniques. Also offered are a Survivors of Suicide group, Women's Trauma group, a Men's Well-being group, groups for adult survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence groups, a psychotherapy process group for those who chronically struggle with mental illness, and support groups for men and women involved in the criminal justice system. Groups in Spanish are also offered to help with issues of coping skills, cultural differences, isolation, life transition, and anger management, as well as a new group for Spanish speaking men who are struggling with alcohol or drug abuse issues. For more information about the groups, call Calvin at 608-256-2358.

From hometown 'bum': To a Hometown Hero

By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front-page photo.)

MADISON -- As he accepted the Hometown Hero award in the Assembly chambers July 31 with characteristic humility, Msgr. Thomas F. Campion, the man who has inspired generations from Monroe and the diocese at large to treat people with disabilities with respect and dignity, spoke movingly of his own struggle with a disability.

"It says hometown hero, but there was a time in my life that I would have been the hometown jerk - and that's the Gospel truth," Monsignor Campion said, speaking of his struggle with alcoholism, of his time in jail and on the street.

"It's what made me what I am today," he said. "Because of my own handicap, because I laid in the gutter, because I've slept under park benches and alleyways, I got my devotion to handicapped people. They can't get up out of their wheelchair. I could."

Monsignor Campion, who this year celebrates his 50th anniversary as a priest, has spent 40 years now with the Apostolate to the Handicapped, which helps the elderly and those with disabilities with regular television Masses and several yearly large-group gatherings.

He said he is lucky to have gotten the opportunity to be both a bum and to be accepting the award.

"Never give up on yourself," Monsignor Campion said. "Never give up on anybody, because any of us could go from hometown bum to hometown hero."

Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, a graduate of Monroe High School, nominated Monsignor Campion for the award, and was supported by Rep. Barbara Gronemus, D-Whitehall, who also spoke in praise of Monsignor Campion.

Davis had brought with him the latest, bright-orange version of the Apostolate to the Handicapped "Campion's Champions" T-shirt that had been given to all the attendees and volunteers of the recent summer event in the Wisconsin Dells.

"Any priest who can get virtually every high school kid in town to put these on and wear them around town and think it's cool, you know the priest is doing something right," he said, holding up the shirt.

This recognition was "long overdue and much deserved," Davis said. "He's been a hometown hero for many decades, but we also know that Monsignor Campion's actions speak louder than any recognition we could bestow upon him."

Pardeeville parish: Dedicates new church

By Kat Wagner
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

PARDEEVILLE -- St. Mary of the Most Holy Rosary Parish dedicated its new church, located kitty-corner to the old church, with a Mass of dedication July 28, celebrated by Bishop Robert C. Morlino.

The new church, which was built after a survey of the former church found significant structural issues, will also ease crowding issues and allow for growth.

The response of the parishioners to the finished product was very positive, said Fr. John Hedrick, pastor at St. Mary Parish, which is linked with St. Andrew Parish, Buffalo. And although some of the parishioners, especially those who have been with the parish for a long time, are sad to lose the old church, the people have been very understanding and supportive.

"Personally, I'm very pleased with it," Father Hedrick said. "I'm pleased with the support and the enthusiasm. People supported the project in many ways."

The new church had a boon in the beginning with a bequest from a priest who, during his retirement, lived in the area. Fr. Fred Schmidt donated a large portion of his estate to the parish for them to build a new church.

And then the parishioners were extremely supportive, as well, not only financially but also with their time and talent, Father Hedrick said. For instance, the landscaping and painting was done by volunteer work, the oak trim on the doors and windows were donated and made by volunteers, and the sprinkler system was put in by parishioners.

"I'm very proud of you, and I'm proud of the faith that's existed in this parish for so long," Bishop Morlino said during his homily at the dedication. "Through the grace of God and through the goodness of so many people, there's a new house for Jesus to live in."

And when Jesus comes to live in our house, he said, we're changed, just as Zacchaeus was changed in his encounter with Christ in that Sunday's reading. "Jesus comes to live in a new house today, and in that sense it's a new start for all of us," he said.

Our mission now is to bring others to the fullness of truth: "We can't sit and say, we have the fullness of truth, bring me another beer and another brat," he said. "We have to get serious and bring the truth to all nations and the only way we can do that is to be like Zacchaeus."