Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, November 29, 2001 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Sunday, November 25, 2001 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills with St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Johnson Creek at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills Tuesday, November 27, 2001 10:30 a.m. -- Chair, Meeting of the Board, Office for Continuing Education of Priests, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Wednesday, November 28, 2001 1:30 p.m. -- Attend Religious Leaders Retreat, Wisconsin Council of Churches, Green Lake Thursday, November 29, 2001 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

We come on bended knee to give thanks

This Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2001, marks the 38th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and finds our nation once again at war, a war against terrorism.

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

Bacteriological, chemical, and nuclear weapons are sought by terrorists who threaten use of these horrific weapons against civilians. It is frightening beyond measure.

Amid this terror, travail, and turmoil we continue to seek ways in which to correct crimes, such as those of September 11, 2001. We drop blankets, food, and medicine, not only weapons of war.

Disarm and rebuild

Every American has been asked by our President to help develop sound ways in which to build our future against terrorism including getting on with our normal everyday life.

As a First World Power we have the military capability to obliterate our enemies and yet in restraint we must hold back in order to protect innocent life. This paradox is very complex. It is puzzling. It is frightening.

Violence and retaliation seem so justified in the wake of the terrorists' "savage cruelty against humanity" (Pope John Paul II), yet reason and faith must guide us in all we do. Disarm the terrorists we must, and then rebuild and win for democracy all who are of good will and who desire peace -- and that includes one day ushering Afghanistan across the threshold of hope into the family of nations.

One very troubling attitude today in society's collective conscience is that "all" are guilty, but no individual claims his or her sins and thus it becomes all too easy to excuse ourselves. Collective conscience is a problem in our society, when it takes the place of personal responsibility and a sense of sin.

The simple words found on the front page of The Catholic Herald sound forth an honest, heartfelt prayer ["As morning breaks, I look to you, O God, to be my strength this day." -- Liturgy of the Hours, Week I, Morning Prayer]. America is on its knees in sorrow for its sins asking God for His strength and the light of His wisdom to do that which will truly end all forms of terrorism.

"Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one voice, by the whole American people." (Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863)

Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1863

"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord. We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world.

"May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven: we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.

"But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

"Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

"It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one voice, by the whole American people.

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the Untied States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father Who dwelleth in the heavens." (Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863)

I sincerely believe this is a powerful message that has many direct applications to our world today.

As we gather about our Thanksgiving tables, we give thanks, we beg forgiveness, and, "as morning breaks, we look to you, O God, to be our strength this day."

Inclinémonos para dar Gracias

		El Obispo: Un mensaje de fe Obispo William H. Bullock

En este día de Acción de Gracias, 22 de Noviembre de 2001, se conmemora el 38vo aniversario del asesinato del presidente John F. Kennedy y encontramos a nuestra nación una vez más en guerra, una guerra contra el terrorismo.

Las armas bacteriológicas, químicas y nucleares son buscadas por los terroristas quienes amenazan en usar estas terribles armas contra los civiles. Esto es muy aterrador y va más allá de las medidas. En medio de este terror, esfuerzo y confusión nosotros continuamos buscando las formas de corregir los crímenes, como aquellos del 11 de septiembre del 2001. Nosotros no solamente les enviamos armas de guerra sino los ayudamos con sabanas, comidas y alimentos

Desarmar y reconstruir

El presidente le ha pedido a cada americano que ayude a desarrollar sanas maneras de construir nuestro futuro contra el terrorismo incluyendo nuestra vida cotidiana. Como una primera potencia mundial tenemos la capacidad militar de arrasar con nuestros enemigos y con control podemos retenernos para proteger las vidas inocentes. Esta paradoja es muy compleja, es un rompecabezas, y también es muy aterrador. La violencia y la represalia parecen muy justificadas por los terroristas “la salvaje crueldad contra la humanidad” (Papa Juan Pablo II) y la razón y la fe deben guiarnos en todo lo que hacemos.

Debemos desarmar el terrorismo y luego reconstruir y ganar una democracia para todos aquellos que tienen buena voluntad y que merecen la paz. Esto incluye que un día podamos acomodar a Afganistán entre el umbral de la esperanza dentro de las familias de la nación.

Las sencillas palabras que encontramos en la página principal de Catholic Herald suenan como una oración honesta y sincera. América está de rodillas en lamento por sus pecados, le pide a Dios por su fortaleza, y que la luz de su sabiduría haga que termine toda clase de terrorismo.

Proclamación de Lincoln 1863 por el Día de Acción de Gracias

“Es la obligación de las naciones así como de todos los hombres de tener su dependencia sobre el gran poder de Dios; para confesar sus pecados y transgresiones en modesto lamento, con la confianza de un genuino arrepentimiento que los llevará a la misericordia y el perdón; y reconociendo la sublime verdad, anunciado en las Sagradas Escrituras y probado por toda la historia, que esas naciones son bendecidas por Dios que es el Señor. Nosotros sabemos que por su divina ley, las naciones como los individuos, están sujetos a represalias y castigos en este mundo.

“¿No deberíamos precisamente temer que las calamidades terribles de la guerra civil que ahora hace que la tierra este desierta pueda ser un castigo infiltrado hacia nosotros por nuestros atrevidos pecados, para el fin necesario de nuestra nación reformada como personas integras?

“Nosotros hemos sido los receptores de las recompensas más selectas del cielo: hemos sido preservados en estos años con paz y prosperidad; hemos crecido en números, riqueza y poder como ninguna otra nación ha crecido.

“Pero nos hemos olvidado de Dios. Nosotros hemos olvidado las hermosas manos que nos protegió en paz y nos multiplico, enriqueció, fortaleció; vagamente hemos imaginado, en la falsedad de nuestros corazones, que todas esas bendiciones fueron producidas por algún sabio superior y por la virtud de nosotros mismo. Intoxicados con sucesos, hemos empezado hacer muy independientes para sentir la necesidad de redimir y perseverar la gracia, y siendo muy orgullosos para orar al Dios que nos creo.

“Esto me ha parecido adecuado y justo que Dios debe ser solemnemente, reverentemente y gratificadamente reconocido como una gran voz, por todas las personas americanas.

“Yo hago una invitación a mis ciudadanos seguidores de todas partes de los Estados Unidos, y también a aquellos que están en el mar y que permanecen en tierras extranjeras, en tomar el últimos jueves de noviembre como un día de Acción de Gracias y alabanza para nuestro venerado Padre que vive en el cielo” (Abraham Lincoln, 3 de octubre de 1863)

Yo sinceramente creo que este es un profundo mensaje que se aplica en forma directa a nuestro mundo de hoy. Así como nos reunidos en esta mesa por el día de Acción de Gracias, le damos gracias, le suplicamos perdón y “al amanecer, me dirijo hacia ti, Oh Dios, para que seas mi fortaleza este día”

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison, wishes to announce the following appointments:

Reverend Jerome J. Maksvytis, from Pastor, St. Joseph, St. Michael and St. Stanislaus Parishes, Berlin, to Pastor of the newly established All Saints Parish, Berlin, effective with the decree of merger of the three parishes promulgated on July 1, 2001.

To the Diocesan Building Commission for terms ending October 31, 2004:

• Rev, Msgr. Thomas F. Baxter
• Rev. Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert
• Rev. Msgr. Michael E. Hippee
• Rev. Msgr. Duane R. Moellenberndt
• Rev. Msgr. Paul J. Swain (ex officio)
• Rev. Donald J. Heiar
• Dr. Patrick Gorman
• Mrs. Sabina Mirabelli-Conzemius
• Mr. Anthony Pawlowsky

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General