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	News Briefs: Catholic teachers receive Kohl awards MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison announces that four teachers from Catholic schools within the diocese have been announced as recipients of the 2008 Herb Kohl Education Foundation Fellowship. The teachers are: • Barb Slatter - St. Patrick School, Janesville • Mekel Wiederholt Meier - Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart, Madison • Debra Grundahl - St. John the Baptist School, Waunakee • Raymond Robinson - St. Joseph School, Fort Atkinson U.S. Senator Herb Kohl established this fellowship program in 1990 to honor educators who exhibit a superior ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, the gift to motivate others, and for their leadership and service both within and outside the classroom. Recipients of the Kohl Fellowship and their schools each receive $1,000 grants from the Kohl Foundation. There are only 14 recipients from parochial and private schools statewide. The Diocese of Madison congratulates these teachers on their exemplary work and achievements. We celebrate these teachers and their accomplishment while joining in thanksgiving for all of the teachers in our schools who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality Catholic education to our children. Bloomington Players stage 22nd production BLOOMINGTON -- St. Mary's Parish Players are returning to the Old West locale in a comedy/farce for their 22nd production as they attempt to reach the milestone of $100,000 in total donated funds to help St. Mary School. The Players will stage The Ballad of Gopher Gap on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m. in St. Mary's gym. An "all you can eat" roast beef dinner will also be featured on Sunday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the church dining hall. Advance tickets for the play and dinner are available at Ma's Bakery and Whispers & Thyme in Bloomington or by calling 608-994-2484. Play and dinner tickets are also available at the door. East Dane Deanery MARSHALL -- "Rejoice, Be Glad" is the theme of the East Dane Council of Catholic Women spring meeting Tuesday, April 8, at St. Mary of the Nativity Parish here. Registration is at 5:15 p.m. followed by rosary, Mass, dinner, and guest speaker, Sr. Mary Frost, Oregon, on "Prayer Songs in the Bible." Reservations are due March 31 to Julie Hatch, 4982 Midway Ln., Marshall, WI 53559. Cost is $7. Bring layette items for a Baby Jesus shower. Support groups MADISON -- Peer support groups for those hurting from separation, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship include: "Friends on a Journey," 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 3 and 17, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 401 S. Owen Dr.; "New Directions," 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 10 and 24, St. Dennis Parish Center, 413 Dempsey Rd. Grief series OREGON -- Holy Mother of Consolation Parish, 651 Main St., Oregon, is hosting "Grief's Stepping Stones" on April 8, 15, and 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the lower level Rasmussen Room. Pre-registration is not required. There is no fee. It is open to all in the area. For more information or to register, call HospiceCare at 608-276-4660. Caregiver seminar MADISON -- HospiceCare's next question-and-answer seminar, "Caregivers Connecting: You Are Not Alone," will be held Tuesday, April 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy., in Madison. Nominate someone for a profile Do you know a person to nominate for a profile? This could be someone in a paid or volunteer position in the Catholic Church. It could be someone working outside the Church who lives his or her faith in ordinary or extraordinary ways in daily life. Send nominations with information about the nominee to: Catholic Herald, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719, or e-mail info@madisoncatholicherald.org

A healing ministry: Rachel's Vineyard retreat

MADISON -- Rachel's Vineyard retreats exist because a dedicated volunteer network reaches out to help heal women and men from abortion experiences. Bishop Robert C. Morlino will honor their dedication by presenting the second annual Respect Life Award to Leslie Graves and Mary Mead at the diocesan Respect Life Dinner on April 8.

Celebrate Life dinner Help "Celebrate Life!" with the Rachel's Vineyard volunteers as they are honored at Bishop Morlino's Second Annual Respect Life dinner on Tuesday, April 8. To reserve a space, send your check payable to "Diocese of Madison" for $35 per person, with a menu choice of roast beef, salmon, or vegetarian to Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719.

The Rachel's Vineyard volunteers, along with a priest, deacon, or a licensed therapist, help people with feelings of overwhelming sadness, pervasive anxiety, or intense anger heal from past abortions. God's infinite compassion and mercy transform this pain into hope and healing.

The next Rachel's Vineyard weekend retreat, to help both women and men heal from abortion, takes place on April 11 to 13 in the Madison area. The retreat allows participants the time, space, and support to start healing from the wounds of abortion.

A past participant wrote, "The retreat far surpassed all of my expectations. I have never witnessed so much healing and relief from anything else I have observed or experienced."

All faiths are welcome and one does not need to take part in the sacraments to benefit from the retreat. For further information on the after-effects of abortion, go to www.rachelsvineyard.org To register for the retreat, contact Mary at 608-221-9593 or call the diocesan help line at 608-821-3177. Scholarships are available. After April, the next area retreat is November 14 to 16, 2008.

Catholic leaders reflect on Brett Favre's impact
Future Hall of Fame quarterback impressed people on and off the field

GREEN BAY -- While the sports world came to halt at the March 4 announcement of Brett Favre's retirement, Catholic leaders in Green Bay and Mississippi also paused to reflect on the impact the future Hall of Fame quarterback had on and off the field.

Fr. Richard Getchel, pastor at St. Agnes Parish on Green Bay's west side, presided at Brett and Deanna Favre's wedding in 1996 and baptized their daughter, Breleigh, in 1999.

"I thought he would return, so it surprised me," he said. "I'm happy for him and the family. I sent Deanna an e-mail. She wrote back thanking me for my concern, which was nice."

Invitation to meet the pope

Norbertine Father James Baraniak, chaplain for the Packers, attempted to reach the Favres in the days prior to the announcement. He was unaware of the pending retirement. Instead, Father Baraniak sought to share a special invitation.

"I received a proposal from the pope's advancement team for Brett, Deanna, and Mike McCarthy to attend a papal Mass in Washington, D.C.," he said. "Ironically, I spoke to Coach McCarthy on Monday evening, likely right before he spoke with Brett.

"I finally caught up with Deanna, and we had a nice long conversation. She explained that it was an intense time, so they weren't answering any calls from the 920 area code. When I shared with her the proposal, she said if it was entirely up to her, she would give me an answer immediately, but she had to talk to Brett. 'You know that husband of mine,' she said."

Admiration for the Favres

Both priests spoke of their admiration for the Favres.

St. Agnes was the family's home parish, while they were in Green Bay. Daughters Brittany and Breleigh had both attended Holy Family School, located on the parish grounds.

Deanna was a regular participant at "Green and Gold Day" at the school, said Father Getchel.

Father Baraniak first met Favre 12 years ago on a team flight. It is a moment, he will never forget.

"I didn't get the memo to dress formal on the plane," he said. "I was wearing a polo and khakis. When he saw me on the plane, he pointed me out and said, 'New guy.' When he later saw me in my habit, he was really surprised. He said, 'New guy's a priest!' That was our introduction."

Father Baraniak was with Brett and Deanna in Oakland when Irvin Favre, Brett's father, died in 2003.

"They are very impressive people," he said, "so there is a bit of sadness. For very young people, they have done very well considering all the difficult times they have faced."

Mississippi parish members

The Favres are members of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hattiesburg, Miss. Fr. Tommy Conway, pastor, said he will miss trips to Green Bay for Packers games, but is happy for the family.

"It's a massive relief for Deanna," he said. "She loves the Packers, but she was concerned that something would happen to him. I think Deanna has shaped Brett Favre into the man he is today. I give her an awful lot of credit. They have faced adversity in their lives and they are both better people for it.

"I told Brett when he left for this past season that I was praying for two things for him," Father Conway added. "I wanted him to remain free of injury and to have a whole lot of fun. He was able to accomplish both. He really enjoyed the coaches and his teammates."

Charity efforts

One way the Favres live out their faith is through their numerous charitable efforts, including the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation and the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation.

"I would hope that they will continue their charity work," said Father Getchel. "They may have to cut back, but I think it will always be important to them."

"What is great is that you see them doing it together," said Father Conway. "Deanna is actually very shy, but she believes in the cause, so she has taken on the role of being the face for breast cancer research. We are so proud of what Deanna and Brett have accomplished."

Surviving tough times

Bishop Robert Banks, bishop emeritus of Green Bay, has spoken with Favre several times at the annual Bishop's Charities Game. The bishop said that people relate to Favre's struggles with addiction to painkillers, deaths in the family, and Deanna's battle with cancer.

"He's faced some tough challenges and he's handled them so well," Bishop Banks said. "He wasn't trying to hide from things. I admire how, in Deanna's book (Don't Bet Against Me), he let it all be told. He went through the early part of life like a lot of our young Catholics, but it turned out well for him."

Loyalty, unpredictability, and humility come to mind about Brett, said Green Bay Auxiliary Bishop Robert Morneau.

"Brett was here for 16 years," he said. "This is almost unheard of in professional sports. I believe that Packers fans interpreted this as a sign of fidelity; that Brett really wanted to be here. He seemed to be saying, 'I love this organization and its many and varied members.' People responded to this with deep affection and admiration."

Staying in touch

Father Getchel said he plans to see the Favres in the future. Father Conway has a standing invite to visit Hattiesburg.

"The day they got married, I could never have imagined they would be here after all these years," he said. "I think they will be lifelong friends. Brett will always be a part of Green Bay. Bart Starr hasn't lived here, but he has always had a foot in Green Bay. I think it will be the same for Brett.

"I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of them," said Father Conway, a native of Ireland. "I know they love Green Bay. He went out on top. He can always go back to Green Bay and be welcomed like the flowers in May."