News Briefs: Fr. Frisch marks jubilee HIGHLAND -- Fr. Kenneth J. Frisch, pastor of SS. Anthony and Philip Parish in Highland and St. Thomas Parish in Montfort, will celebrate the silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood on Sunday, June 8. A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Philip Church in Highland with Father Frisch as the celebrant and homilist. A reception will follow the liturgy at the parish center in Highland. Born in Madison to Margaret and Carl Frisch, the jubilarian attended St. Bernard Elementary School in Middleton; Holy Name Seminary in Madison; Edgewood College in Madison; and St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. He was ordained on May 26, 1978 by Bishop Cletus F. O'Donnell at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison. He served as associate pastor at St. Jude Parish, Beloit, 1978 to 1980; taught at Holy Name Seminary, 1980 to 1985; was associate pastor at St. Mary, Janesville, 1985 to 1990; was pastor at St. Paul University Catholic Center, Madison, 1990 to 1996; and has been pastor in Highland since 1996 and Montfort since 2000. Upcoming Pentecost Vigil Mass MADISON -- A Pentecost Vigil Mass and prayer for priests will be held at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center on Saturday, June 7, with prayer service beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Madison Catholic Charismatic Renewal invites everyone to join in prayer for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all the priests and seminarians of the diocese, parishes, and families. Those attending will receive the name of a priest and will be asked to make a commitment to pray for that priest during the next year. With the shortage of priests and the many demands that are placed on them, prayers are needed for their health, spirituality, and strength. Mass will be celebrated immediately following the prayer service at approximately 7:45 p.m. by Bishop George O. Wirz. Following Mass, there will be a time of fellowship with refreshments. Retreat for women with cancer SINSINAWA -- "Choose Life: A Retreat for Women Who Have Experienced or Are Experiencing Cancer" will be held at Sinsinawa Mound Friday, June 20, at 3 p.m., through Sunday, June 22, at 1 p.m. Registration deadline is June 13. The fee is $169 for overnight guests or $114 for commuters. Group leader Sr. Mary Ellen O'Grady, who has experienced cancer, will lead the group in prayer, reflection, and ritual, focusing on the gift of life and one's choice for it. Sr. Mary Louise Seckar will offer sessions to promote relaxation and enhancement of the immune system. For information, call 608-748-4411 or visit the Web site at www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter. Bible study group in McFarland MCFARLAND -- On May 20 at Christ the King Parish, Denise Mergen shared her conversion journey from fundamentalist "anti-Catholic" to a dedicated convert to Catholicism. Starting on Tuesday, June 3, at 9 a.m. and continuing for four weeks, Mergen will conduct a Bible study answering typical questions: Do we worship Mary? Why do we pray to the saints? Purgatory? Papal succession? The public is welcome, especially college students who may face challenging questions on campus.

Ordination to priesthood:
Bishop ordains three new priests to serve diocese

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

(See also front page photo.)

MADISON -- Singing swelled throughout St. Raphael Cathedral May 23 as ordinands Diego O. Cuevas, James M. Poster, and Brian J. Wilk led the procession of more than 70 priests who filled the sanctuary.

Previous coverage ... Biographies (from 5/22/2003 Edition):   • Diego O. Cuevas   • James M. Poster   • Brian J. Wilk

The beautiful and solemn celebration of ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Madison had begun.

Bishop William H. Bullock presided at the ordination. Concelebrants included Auxiliary Bishop George O. Wirz, newly appointed Bishop Robert C. Morlino, members of the presbyterate of the Diocese of Madison, and guests of those being ordained.

Bishop Bullock invited Bishop Morlino to greet the congregation.

"I thank everyone for the wonderful welcome I received," said Bishop Morlino. "I say it from the heart. It's been an unforgettable day. You are a people easy to love - I love you already."

This is a great day for the universal church, the Diocese of Madison, the bishops, the priests, and the ordinands, he said. "I am honored to be here with you and them," he said, encouraging everyone to "forget about me" and to call the Holy Spirit on the three ordinands. The congregation applauded.

Calling of candidates

During the election of the candidates, Msgr. Paul J. Swain, vicar general, called forward the three to be ordained and testified to their worthiness for the order of priesthood. The congregation applauded in a sign of joy and consent.

Bishop Bullock's homily followed. For the complete text of his homily, see page 3 [online here].

Following the homily, Cuevas, Poster, and Wilk stood in front of the bishop as he asked them if they were ready to discharge the office of priesthood, execute the ministry of the word, celebrate the mysteries of Christ, and consecrate themselves to God. The ordinands replied, "I am."

Each ordinand then knelt before Bishop Bullock as they promised obedience to him and his successors. "May God who has begun good work in you bring it to fulfillment," said Bishop Bullock.

The three ordinands then lay prostrate in front of the altar as the Litany of the Saints was sung.

Laying on of hands

Afterward, the bishop and the concelebrating priests laid hands on each ordinand's head as the choir and assembly sang "Veni Sancte Spiritus."

The ordinands then knelt again in front of the bishop as he prayed that God help the men be faithful servants. "Renew in them the spirit of holiness," he said.

Vesting, anointing

Concelebrating priests helped vest the ordinands in their stoles and chausibles as the congregation sang, "Happy are they who dwell in your house, O Lord."

The bishop then anointed the hands of each man with chrism, praying, "May the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, guard and preserve you that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God."

Bishop Bullock presented a chalice to each of the ordinands and said, "Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the cross."

The Kiss of Peace followed, during which the bishop and the concelebrating priests hugged the newly ordained in a sign of peace. Through this gesture of hospitality, the newly ordained were welcomed into the order of the presbyterate as the assembly sang "Now thank we all our God" and the choir sang "As the bridegroom to his chosen."

The newly ordained then joined the bishops and priests in concelebrating the Mass.

Thanks to all

After Communion, Bishop Bullock thanked the Madison Diocesan Choir, director Pat Gorman, the Office of Worship, the staff at St. Raphael Cathedral, and many others who made this a joyous and faith-filled occasion. We are also honored by the presence of Bishop Morlino, he said.

Expressing gratitude to the families of the newly ordained, Bishop Bullock reminded family members that the new priests "need you even more after ordination."

Deacon of the Mass was Rev. Mr. Robert Gentile. Master of Ceremonies was Fr. Nicholas S. Okere. Readers were David Kinney and Isabel Bezerra. Servers included Gregory Ihm, Thomas Kemp, Benjamin Kesseling, Paul Margala, Michael Radowicz, and Eric Sternberg.

Vesting priests included Fr. Kevin Feeney helping Cuevas, Msgr. Daniel Ganshert helping Poster, and Fr. Kent Schmitt helping Wilk. Relatives and friends of those being ordained brought up the Offertory gifts. Greeters were Kathy Endres, Dick Fischer, Greg Gehred, Tom Hale, John Houseman, and Dick Martin.

Music ministers included the Madison Diocesan Choir; Patrick Gorman, director; Glenn Schuster, organ; William Frederick, cantor; Mary Ann Harr, harp; Robert Rohlfing and Phil Zell, trumpet; Katie Kretschman and Brian Whitty, trombone; and Joe Bernstein, timpani.

Rites of ordination

Fathers Poster and Wilk graduated from Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston, Mass. Father Cuevas is a graduate of Mundelein Seminary, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Ill. For their new appointments, see page 3 [online here].

Council of Catholic Women:
Annual diocesan convention June 11

By Dorothy Lepeska
CATHOLIC HERALD CORRESPONDENT

MADISON -- The 49th annual convention of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) will be held Wednesday, June 11, at the Bishop O'Connor Pastoral Center here.

The theme is "Come, Live in the Light." It is hosted by the Marquette/Green Lake Deanery Council of Catholic Women.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast being served until 9 followed by the annual meeting at 10. Erik Gyr, pastoral assistant at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison, will be the keynote speaker at 10 on "How Catholics View Scripture."

A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 11 with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, and Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, diocesan moderators, celebrants. Luncheon is at 12:15 p.m. Shareshops from 1:45 to 3:15 include:

• Church and Community Concerns Commissions: "Taking Care of the Ill and Dying," Tod McVey, Hospice, Inc, Madison; "Celebration for the End of Life and the Beginning of Life," Bowens.

• Family Commission: "My Child, I See Your Tears," Anne Marie Ruhland, Plain, diocesan commission chairman.

• International Concerns Commission and Rural Life Committee: New Catholic Multicultural Center, J. Mark Brinkmoeller, center administrator and director, diocesan Office for Justice and Peace.

• Legislation Commission: "Short and to the Point," Mary Ann Berger, Green Bay, and Rita Macewicz, Beloit, diocesan commission chairman.

• Organization Commission: "A New Beginning for a Parish CCW," "Dream Team" of St. Bernard Parish, Watertown, Sr. Virginia Brunner, Sue Johnson, and Denise Sherry, discuss how they organized their CCW.

The MDCCW spring board meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 10. Rosary at 5:15 is followed by social and banquet.

Fees include: Tuesday - banquet $16; overnight at center, room with double bed, $40; dorm room with twin beds, $30; Wednesday - convention day, $17. Reservations are to be sent to Marianne Frei, N3444 Prairie Rd., Markesan 53946, by June 2 with checks payable to Marquette/Green Lake Deanery CCW.

Ban on all human cloning:
State legislators listen to testimony

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- In a joint hearing at the State Capitol May 20, legislators received testimony on Assembly Bill (AB) 104 and Senate Bill (SB) 45, which would ban all human cloning in the state of Wisconsin.

The two bills, co-authored by Rep. Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake) and Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), would ban all forms of "reproductive" cloning - in which a cloned person is brought to birth - and "therapeutic" cloning - in which a cloned person is killed in medical research.

According to Wisconsin Right to Life, there is virtually unanimous agreement in the state legislature that bringing a cloned embryo to term should be banned. But there are those who support the biotech industry and the University of Wisconsin-Madison who want to be able to create human embryos via cloning only to destroy them for the use of their embryonic stem cells.

"Therapeutic cloning is not necessary," said Barbara Lyons, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, in a recent interview with the Catholic Herald, "because adult stem cells are already being used successfully in human beings."

Working together

Susan Armacost, legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life, said a consortium of church denominations, universities, and organizations from throughout Wisconsin have formed the Coalition for Ethical Research, which will work in solidarity toward a ban on all human cloning.

"Concern for this issue is not limited to the right to life movement," said Armacost. "The concern is broadbased and intense. This is the message the state legislature and Governor Doyle must heed."

Protecting life

At the hearing, people associated with Wisconsin Right to Life and Pro-Life Wisconsin testified in favor of a total ban on the cloning of human embryos. The petitions of thousands of Pro-Life Wisconsinites were registered in favor of the ban as well.

"Petitions continue to pour into Pro-Life Wisconsin's state office," said Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. "They will continue to be circulated by churches, schools, community groups, and Pro-Life Wisconsin affiliate leaders throughout the state until a ban on all human cloning becomes a reality."

Donna Arciszewski of Greenfield, who has multiple sclerosis, spoke on behalf of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. "I do welcome advancing medical research that may extend and improve my productive and interactive life - but not at the expense of another human life," she said.

Cannot sacrifice life

"As an intrinsic good, human life may not be reduced to a means to some other end. No person should be intentionally sacrificed for someone else's advancement. Cloning, whether undertaken for reproductive purposes or research purposes, does just that," said John Huebscher, executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, in testimony at the hearing.

The joint hearing was held by the Senate Judiciary, Corrections, and Privacy Committee and the Assembly Public Health Committee. Either committee may take executive action on the bills at any time.

Catholics are encouraged to contact their legislators regarding this issue. For more information call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472.