News Briefs: Talks on war and peace MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison's Office for Justice and Peace and various parishes will offer presentations on Catholic social teaching in light of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Referring to the U.S. bishops' statement on the subject, Director of the Office for Justice and Peace J. Mark Brinkmoeller will lead a presentation and discussion on Catholic teaching on war and peace. The first presentation will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, at St. Mary Parish in Platteville. Another presentation will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Portage. A third presentation is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison. Anyone interested is invited to attend. People with questions and parishes wishing to host a presentation may call the Office for Justice and Peace at 608-821-3086. New Catholic radio station MADISON -- The Feast of Christ the King, Sunday, Nov. 25, will mark the official start of WHFA, 24-hour Catholic Radio, in the Diocese of Madison. WHFA (Holy Family Airwaves) is found at 1240 AM. A primary goal of this radio station is to aid Bishop William H. Bullock and the local Church in deepening Catholic culture here in the Diocese of Madison. Each day WHFA will bring programs from around the country covering catechetics; apologetics; devotionals, including the Mass; and several hours of live call-in talk shows. Bullock and the Diocese of Madison will also offer programming in the near future. WHFA eventually hopes to present several hours of local programming. WHFA is one of five radio stations owned and operated by Starboard Broadcasting, Inc., of Kaukauna, Wis. Starboard is a non-profit company that relies on donations from listeners and from Catholics throughout Wisconsin. Currently Starboard is providing Catholic radio from the Fox Valley and Eau Claire. Following soon after WHFA's start in Madison, Starboard will begin broadcasting in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Rapids. For more information, contact Starboard Broadcasting at 800-342-0306. Knights celebrate 100th anniversary JANESVILLE -- Knights of Columbus Carroll Council 596, instituted Aug. 4, 1901, celebrated its 100th anniversary on Oct. 7 at St. Patrick Church. A Mass was celebrated by Fr. Daryl Furlong. Knights and their wives attended Mass in a body. A dinner followed at St. Patrick School cafeteria. The State Knights of Columbus treasurer Richard Ammon gave a talk on the charities and function of the Knights of Columbus. Ammon presented the council with a 100th Anniversary Certificate and letter from the National Knights of Columbus office. He also presented the council with the Columbian Award for 2000-2001.

'Courage under fire':

MADISON -- Have "courage under fire."

That was the theme of one of the largest high school rallies sponsored by the Diocese of Madison in recent years.

More than 450 high school youth gathered for the day-long rally Nov. 11 at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center here.

Courage under fire

Nov. 11 is exactly two months after the tragedies of Sept. 11, noted Ben Weisse, associate director of the diocesan Office of Religious Education.

He told the story of a man on flight 81 who, upon learning of terrorists on the flight, spent his last moments praying the "Our Father" with a 9-1-1 operator and asking her to call his wife and family to tell them he loved them. His final words were "Let's roll," before the plane, heading for Washington, D.C., crashed in Pennsylvania.

That is an example of "courage under fire," Weisse said.

"In our own lives there are a lot of pressures," said Weisse. "The good news is, God is on the side of those who do the right thing."

"I can be courage under fire/ Keeping my hope alive/Courage under fire/Let my spirit rise to you," sang Gregg Gernetzke, youth ministry coordinator of St. Albert the Great Parish in Sun Prairie and one of the speakers of the day. Gernetzke wrote the song for the theme of the day.

Youth from St. Joseph Parish, Baraboo put on a skit illustrating the many challenges students face today and how important it is for them to have the courage to face up to those challenges.

Say 'yes' to God

One of the speakers of the day was Melanie Carter, associate director of Camp Gray in Baraboo.

Carter gave examples of people who said "yes" to God, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.

"I bet that wasn't the first time they said 'yes' to God," she said. "It's got to be something they do over and over. The critical question is: What gave them the strength to do that and how can we get that strength?"

It is important to examine what we take our identity in, she said.

"We can fail at everything except at being a child of God," she said. "God never expected us to be perfect."

God wants us to trade all of our sorrows in and say "yes" to him, she said.

Be the best you can be

The second speaker was Fr. Paul Arinze, pastor of St. Ignatius Parish, Mt. Horeb, and Holy Redeemer Parish, Perry.

"Today we talk about moral courage," Arinze said.

He told the story of a girl who had courage enough to convince her classmate not to do drugs anymore and to turn her life around.

Society is basically good, but there are a lot of confusing things out there, so you must trust in God, he said.

"Let that help you be the best you can be," he said, stressing the importance of prayer and going to Mass. "We have to use our goodness to do something better. By being the first one to do something good, you're multiplying the goodness.

Gregg Gernetzke, left, coordinator of youth ministry at St. Albert the Great Parish in Sun Prairie, leads youth in singing the rally's theme song, "Courage Under Fire." Leading youth in actions during the song is Nicole Hankel of St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie. (Patrick Scullion photo)

"It is not the burdens of life that weigh us down," he said. "It is how we handle them."

Trust in God

Gernetzke lead participants in song and talked about what the songs meant.

"We have to build our lives on firm foundation," he said, leading the youth in a song called "Feet on a Rock."

We must be open to what God calls us to do, said Gernetzke. "How often do we turn off all the noise and allow God to speak to us?"

Sometimes we forget the gifts of life that are happening all around us, he said.

He stressed the importance of turning to God and trusting in him.

"You don't have to go it alone," he said, pointing out that God gives us plenty of people who care about us, like parents, youth ministers, priests, and catechists.

Stand up for beliefs

Concelebrating Mass were Arinze and Msgr. Paul Swain, vicar general. In his homily, Swain emphasized the importance of standing up for one's beliefs.

"Courage is evidenced by the choices we make," he said. "We must know what we believe."

We believe in one God, in Jesus who rose from the dead, in the sacraments, he said. "We believe each person is sacred and that people are not to be used or abused.

"Whatever our differences, we're all children of God," he said.

For those beliefs in the creed, we are asked to stand up and witness by how we live our lives, and sometimes this takes courage and sacrifice, said Swain.

Bells are ringing again:

At Bishop O'Connor Center

	Alex Masiarchin works on the four bells in the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. Each of the bells is inscribed in honor of subject material taken from Pope Paul's apostolic letter on seminaries. (Patrick Scullion photo)

MADISON -- In July of 2001, an electrical storm damaged the controllers on the three operating bells at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center on Madison's far west side.

The beautiful bells were silenced. Those who were accustomed to hearing the bells chime every 15 minutes had to start checking their clocks and watches more often.

Bells no longer called people to 12 noon Mass in the center's chapel.

"One of the four bells had been out of use for about 15 years," noted Tom Murphy, director of engineering at the O'Connor Center, which houses offices for the Diocese of Madison and serves as a residence for active and retired priests.

Repaired by son of installer

To repair the bells, Murphy called upon the son of the original installer of the bells in 1964, Alex Masiarchin (the same name as his father). Masiarchin now works for the Verdin Bell Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, which includes personnel from the original company that installed the bells.

Murphy found it fascinating to climb up into the belfry. The entire mason tower and spire -- seen for many miles -- rise 142 feet from the ground to the top of the gold cross.

Imported from France

The four cast bronze bells were imported from the Paccard Bell Foundry of Annecy, France. They were donated by Lloyd O. Krueger and Robert C. Kraft, architects of Holy Name Seminary (the original use of the center) and were dedicated by the late Bishop William P. O'Connor on Oct. 7, 1964.

The bells have a combined weight of 2,790 pounds. Each is electrified with a motor mounted inside. The bells are controlled from the sacristy in the O'Connor Center chapel.

Masiarchin installed all new clappers and motors and upgraded the wiring.

Ringing again

As of Nov. 12, the bells were ringing again. They sound from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., chiming every 15 minutes with longer chimes on the half-hour and hour. Angelus can be heard at 12 noon and 6 p.m.

Teacher tax deductions:

Conference supports

MADISON -- The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) urged members of the Assembly Committee on Education to support a bill that would give teachers an income tax deduction for their out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies.

State Representative Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton) and State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) authored the proposal, AB 428.

"Teachers in Wisconsin schools go to great lengths to provide an educational experience for their students that will give them a solid foundation for future successes," said M. Colleen Wilson, associate director of the WCC.

"The tax deduction proposed by AB 428 accomplishes two purposes: it provides very modest financial relief to the teachers who are willing to use their finite resources to benefit their students; and it serves as an expression of gratitude from the state of Wisconsin for the steps that teachers take on their own to augment what schools are able to provide."

Under the bill, teachers can take a tax deduction of up to $500 for monies they expend up to $500 for educational supplies. The bill defines educational supplies as educational materials or supplies that are used in the normal course of instruction in a school.

Teachers in public, religious, and independent schools would be eligible for the tax deduction, and according to administrators of several Catholic schools, most, if not all, Catholic school teachers are expending their own funds to purchase educational materials.

"AB 428 recognizes the contributions of teachers from all schools in Wisconsin -- religious schools, public schools, independent schools. The sacrifices being made by teachers on behalf of their students do not take place in just one kind of school. Teachers are equally deserving of inclusion in legislation that acknowledges their contributions, regardless of where they choose to share their gifts."

If the committee supports passage of AB 428, the Assembly could take up the bill in January. The bill must clear the Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions and the state Senate before moving on to the governor's desk.

Death Notices

Franciscan Sisters of Mary

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Franciscan Sister of Mary Sr. Mary Helen Bocklage, 88, died Nov. 6 at St. Mary of the Angels Convent here. She professed her final vows in 1942. In the Diocese of Madison she served as supervisor of the Radiology Department and assistant to the administrator of St. Clare Hospital, Baraboo, 1967-69. Memorials may be made to the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Tribute Fund, 1100 Bellevue Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63117-1883.

Racine Dominicans

RACINE -- Racine Dominican Sr. Ann Regis Ruder, 83, died Nov. 11 at Lincoln Village Convalescent Center here. She professed her final vows in 1942. In the Diocese of Madison, she taught at St. Bernard School, Madison, 1936-40; served as principal at St. Bernard School, Madison, 1948-54; and served at Edgewood High School, Madison, 1971-82. She spent three years, 1982-85, in Madison as a volunteer in pastoral ministry. Memorials may be made to the Racine Dominican Ministry Fund.

Sinsinawa Dominicans

SINSINAWA -- Three Sinsinawa Dominican sisters with ties to the Diocese of Madison died.

Sr. Eithene McNicholas, 89, died at Finley Hospital in Dubuque on Sept. 3. She pronounced her final vows on August 5, 1938. In the Diocese of Madison, she ministered as a housekeeper at St. Clara Convent, 1935, 1939-40; St. Rose Convent, 1940-42; and Edgewood Convent, 1956-57. She worked in the Mass Bread Department at Saint Dominic's Villa in Dubuque, 1980-87. She resided at Dominican Motherhouse at Sinsinawa from 1987 until the time of her death.

Sr. Mary Maude Fletcher, 85, died at St. Dominic Villa at Sinsinawa Oct. 14. Barbara Fletcher made her final profession as Sr. Mary Maude in 1939. She was an elementary teacher and health aide assistant for 39 years. In the Diocese of Madison, she taught at St. Rose School, Cuba City, 1947-48; St. John Vianney School, Janesville, 1967-68.

Sr. Jean Marie Funk, 94, died at St. Dominic Villa at Sinsinawa Oct. 17. Beatrice Funk made her final profession as Sr. Jean Marie in 1939. She was an elementary and high school teacher for 40 years. In the Diocese of Madison, she taught at St. John Vianney School in Janesville, 1964-65, and lived at Dominican Motherhouse, 1991-99. She then went to St. Dominic Villa in Dubuque and remained there until moving into the new Villa at Sinsinawa in October of 2000. Memorials may be made to Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9700.