MADISON — Some people might say good things just can’t last, but thanks to a family-friendship bond created almost 47 years ago, the Apostolate to the Handicapped’s weekly TV Mass has remained on the air on WISC-TV Channel 3 in Madison for as many years.
It continues to serve thousands of disabled and homebound Catholics and non-Catholics alike in the Diocese of Madison.
Not only has the TV Mass survived station consolidations and the passing of its beloved Apostolate to the Handicapped director of 44 years — Msgr. Tom Campion — in 2010, the TV Mass production has not missed a beat under the direction of Fr. Larry Bakke, who was appointed Apostolate director in July 2011.
‘The smiling priest’
Father Bakke, who many call “the smiling priest,” quickly captured the hearts of his constituents in the Apostolate to the Handicapped ministry as well as in his new role as pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Monroe (which represents the merging of St. Victor Parish in Monroe and St. Rose of Lima in Brodhead).
His joyful and welcoming smile carries over to his TV Mass ministry. According to WISC-TV Channel 3 Station Manager Tom Bier, “It has been a seamless transition, and Father Larry has done a terrific job. He understands what needs to be done and is very able.
“It is great to have Father Larry and his team of volunteers in our building each week,” Bier said. “They are the cream of the crop, and everyone is so polite and friendly.”
Production of the Mass is a pretty low maintenance project, he explained, and it is fairly easy to produce, but it is a great credit to the people involved. They are top-notch, efficient, and reliable, said Bier.
“Even when Father Tom was ill through the process” during the last couple years of his life, we could work around that. Everybody just did what needed to be done and sometimes that meant filming two sessions in a day.
“Now with Father Larry, the commitment of the diocese continues, and although it is not an easy schedule for him, especially when it is winter and he’s coming from Monroe,” Father Larry gets the job done week in and week out, Bier added.
Priest maintains legacy while implementing new ideas |
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| MONROE — Fr. Larry Bakke said he has enjoyed his transition into the directing role of the Apostolate to the Handicapped. His initial goal was to learn and sustain the mission of the organization, which is to raise awareness and service to the disabled and elderly throughout the Diocese of Madison.
As he continues to do that, he is excited about implementing ideas he’s gotten from his involvement with other organizations, such as the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities (NCPD). New grant program In 2012, the Apostolate to the Handicapped, Inc. Grant was established. Bishop Robert C. Morlino approved the process of making funds available to parishes, schools, and organizations for facilities and programs that support people with disabilities in the diocese. This grant money came from donations over the years to the Apostolate to the Handicapped organization. The grant program is one way to honor donor intent, Father Bakke said. So far, a quarter of a million dollars has been gifted to churches and schools for things such as automatic door openers, items to make buildings more accessible to the handicapped, and items to assist the hearing-impaired and deaf. St. Dennis Parish in Madison is one of the recent recipients for some of these items. Involvement of volunteers “The Apostolate to the Handicapped has been building on the involvement of many volunteers over the years, including the young people of Monroe, who were very involved under the direction of the late Father Tom. “We are now expanding the awareness of what he started and many of the students who worked closely with Father Tom, have now graduated from high school and college and have moved on to other communities and other churches.” Father Bakke said. That is a positive movement, because they carry the program in their hearts and will touch the lives of the disabled in their communities. Broadening awareness Father Bakke attended a NCPD conference in Houston in 2013 and got lots of ideas. He wants to continue broadening awareness of the special needs of the disabled. “So much of the Apostolate to the Handicapped grew out of Monroe,” he said, and “we need to keep that going but also branch out. We need to find ways to compliment some of the services already out there provided by the NCPD.” Churches and organizations that have a need to help their disabled can contact the Apostolate office and get an application to apply for grant funds by calling 608-328-8371 or by emailing disabilitygrant@madisondiocese.org Carrying ‘Campion’s Champions’ legacy into the future The Apostolate to the Handicapped sponsors two major events each year, besides airing the TV Mass each week. The first event, started in 1968, is the Apostolate Christmas Mass and Dinner, now held at Monroe High School in December. The second annual event, started in August 1975, is “The Day at the Dells,” where owner Tom Diehl and staff of the Tommy Bartlett Show host a Mass, sack lunch, and water show. This year’s event will be held on Friday, Aug. 22, at 11 a.m. Registration deadline is August 8; email campionschampions@tds.net |
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Generosity of Channel 3 owners
According to Bier, the working relationship between WISC-TV Channel 3 and the Diocese of Madison to produce the TV Mass has spanned four generations — down to the current owners, Elizabeth and Brian Burns.
An Apostolate to the Handicapped information flier tells of the history of the organization and describes a brief history of the station’s commitment to the Diocese of Madison’s TV Mass.
Shortly after Father Campion was appointed by Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell in 1967 to start a new ministry for the handicapped, the TV Mass became the first work of the organization.
Through the generosity of Mrs. Elizabeth Murphy, then owner of WISC-TV Channel 3 in Madison, the first TV Mass was aired on the first Sunday of Advent in 1967 free of charge.
After Mrs. Murphy’s death, her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Burns, chose to continue their family’s loyal and generous tradition of the television Mass. Over the years, it has aired at different times and was originally 45 minutes in length.
“It is a lasting tribute to the generosity of the Morgan-Burns family and the entire staff and management of WISC-TV, both past and present, that the 30-minute television Mass continues to air every Sunday morning at 7 a.m. now in its (47th) year,” the flier reads.
Bill Cross becomes producer
The current producer of the weekly TV Mass, Bill Cross, has also been involved in the Apostolate ministry in a variety of ways over the years and worked closely with Father Campion from the beginning.
Cross explained that his mother taught at St. James School in Madison when he was in high school. One day she came home and told the story of Father Campion and what Bishop O’Donnell wanted him to do for the handicapped.
Cross started helping as a driver with the Apostolate when he was 18. Over 12 years ago, Monsignor Campion asked him to help with the lector organization for the TV Mass. When Monsignor Campion died, the Apostolate asked Cross to take the training course for the program, and he took over as program producer, he said.
“The main emphasis by the Murphy-Burns family, the late Bishop O’Donnell, and Father Campion from the start was that the Apostolate TV Mass was set up for everyone,” Cross said.
The main reason the TV Mass has been so successful over the years is because of the involvement of volunteers, young people, and seminarians, and the bonds of friendship and commitment between WISC Channel 3 owners and the late Father Campion, the late Bishop O’Donnell, and the Diocese of Madison, Cross said.
Bringing the tradition to the people
Father Bakke said that it is estimated that about 3,500 disabled and elderly tune in to the weekly TV Mass.
One long-time viewer of the TV Mass, Donna Kelley, a member of Divine Mercy Parish in Sauk City, says, “I love to tune into Father Bakke’s TV Mass. His welcoming smile and his glow gives so much hope to the elderly and disabled.”
Kelley says, “Since I am semi-disabled, it is hard for me to get up and go to Mass, so it is easier to get up early and watch the Mass on TV.” She said she also loves seeing the special camera shots, for example, of the servers’ reverently folded hands and religious symbols.
“It (the Mass) is available to everyone in the privacy of their own home,” she said. It may bring ex-Catholics back to their faith or inspire non-Catholics to join a church.
Putting it all together
Bier commented that the TV Mass is easy to produce, but behind the scenes, there is a lot of preliminary work to do before the Saturday afternoon filming of the Mass.
Father Bakke explained how each week, different volunteers come in to assist in the production. He works with his team of helpers earlier in the week to line up lectors, servers, musical talent, and a Mass interpreter for each TV Mass. When seminarians are available and in town, he often will ask them to help with the TV Mass.
The altar, complete with fresh flowers, candles, chalice, and podium, is all set up when Father Bakke and his volunteers arrive for the shoot. The priest does a practice session with his helpers, and at exactly 2 p.m., everyone is in place for the show. The shoot takes exactly 27 minutes, and when it is done, the props are all taken down in a matter of minutes and stored behind a wall.
“It is all very efficient,” Father Bakke said, thanks to WISC-TV Channel 3 staff and the dedication by many volunteers.