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March 4, 2004 Edition

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This week:
Bishop Morlino names new chancellor
Protest and prayer vigil: To be held outside theater staging Corpus Christi play ...
News Briefs
Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew"

L e n t
Day of Recollection March 11

Lenten Retreat March 20-21

Living the Scriptures

Faith Alive!

Lenten regulations (from 2/19 edition)

Lenten contests for youth (from 2/19)
News Briefs:
Fund-raiser planned for Wellnitz family

CLINTON -- Caring youth in the Clinton and Milton FFA clubs and a number of area people, including St. Stephen's parishioners, are planning a fund-raiser for the Greg and Shelley family on Saturday, March 13, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Janesville.

The public is invited to enjoy a variety of activities, augmented by generous donations from area businesses. There will be a live auction from 6:30 to 9 as well as a silent auction, raffle, paddle raffle, music, food, clowns, and activities for children. The raffle grand prize is $2,500.

Greg Wellnitz, a farmer and St. Stephen Parish member, was killed in a farm accident in early January. The couple's oldest son, Mitch, was severely burned in the same accident and is recovering.

A planning group member, Sharon Hargarten, said the event will serve as "a security blanket for the family's needs, especially for the children's futures." She added, "Greg Wellnitz was a family man and a hard worker who would be the first one to offer help to someone else. He was always smiling."

Raffle tickets may be purchased at St. Stephen Church following Masses; at banks in Clinton and Milton; or by calling the Hargartens at 608-676-5606, the Mick Mullooly family at 608-752-3109, Mike at 608-676-5608, Pat at 608-676-5637, or Bill at 608-758-1237.

Silent auction donations are welcome and may be left at St. Stephen Church or will be picked up by calling the above numbers.

Project Rachel training
and information day

MADISON -- The Office of Family Ministry of the Diocese of Madison will sponsor a training and information day for Project Rachel, a post-abortion reconciliation and healing ministry.

The day is designated for clergy, counselors, and therapists; those who work in post-abortion areas or in professions where individuals may share their post-abortion history; and those interested in gaining an understanding of post-abortion healing.

Vicki Thorn, director of the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, will conduct the day Thursday, March 25, from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd.

To register, send name, address, phone number, parish or office affiliation, and e-mail address along with fee of $35 payable to the Office of Family Ministry, P.O. Box 44983, Madison, WI 53744-4983, by March 17.

For more information, contact Beverly Hartberg at 608-821-3177 or bhartberg@straphael.org

Presentations on divorce, annulment, remarriage

MADISON -- "Divorce, Annulment, and Remarriage in the Catholic Church" is the topic of presentations to be given by Jay Conzemius, J.C.L., director of the Tribunal for the Diocese of Madison, at parishes in March.

He will discuss the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding annulment issues and provide specific information about the annulment process in the diocese. There will be opportunity for discussion and interaction. After the talk and group questions, Conzemius will be available on a one-to-one basis to address personal situations.

Presentations will be Tuesday, March 9, at St. John the Baptist Parish, Jefferson; Thursday, March 18, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona; and Tuesday, March 23, at St. Luke Parish, Plain. All presentations will begin at 7 p.m.

First aid course offered

MADISON -- Heartsaver: First Aid Course, a basic first aid certification for individuals who would like training in first aid for job or personal reasons, will be held Saturday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Heartsaver: First Aid is a new American Heart Association course that teaches lifesaving skills of first aid. It is intended for individuals who respond to emergencies at home, in the community, or at their worksite. General principles of first aid and handling of medical, injury, and environmental emergencies are included.

No prior first aid experience is required. A two-year certification card is issued upon successful completion of the course.

Heartsaver: First Aid will be held at the Dean West Clinic, lower level Health Works, 752 N. High Point Rd., Madison. The program is being conducted by Dean/St. Marys Health Works, a training center of the American Heart Association.

Course fee is $39. Pre-registration is required by calling 608-824-4400 or 1-800-368-5596.

Day of Recollection March 11

MADISON -- St. Martin House will hold a special Lenten Day of Recollection on Thursday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St., Madison.

Coffee and rolls will be served from 8:30 to 9 a.m. followed by a presentation by Msgr. George Hastrich, spiritual director of St. Martin House. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. followed by a noon lunch.

A video and discussion follow lunch. An opportunity for quiet reflection and Reconciliation will be provided during the afternoon. The day will conclude with Benediction.

All are welcome to attend. The program is free of charge (goodwill offerings accepted), but RSVP by March 9 (608-255-1287) to allow for planning of meals.

Lenten Retreat March 20-21

MADISON -- A Schoenstatt Lenten Retreat with Fr. Gerold Langsch will be held Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Schoenstatt Heights, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison.

Participants will take a closer look at the mission God gave each person. The retreat includes: talks, Mass, confession, and devotions.

Cost is $25, plus a donation for the priest. Overnight accommodations are available for $15.

Register by calling Irene at 608-222-4655. Deadline is March 15.

Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew"

To nominate someone to be featured in "Profiles from the pew," download a nomination form (PDF file).

"Profiles from the pew" runs in the Catholic Herald print edition

NOTE: The nomination form is 269 KB in size and may take a long time to download on a dial-up Internet connection. It is a Portable Document Format file, also called a PDF, which can be viewed using the freely available Adobe® Reader® software. Many computers already have this software and will automatically open the document when you click the nomination form link, above.

Adobe Reader is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

Bishop Morlino names new chancellor

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino has announced that Kevin R. Phelan will be coming to the Diocese of Madison as chancellor.

Phelan has served as chancellor of the Diocese of Helena, Mont., since June of 2002. He had been appointed chancellor there by Bishop Morlino.

In Helena, Phelan served as chief of staff of the Diocesan Pastoral Center. His responsibilities included management of the Pastoral Center staff, serving as a liaison to the bishop for various entities in the diocese, and serving as the bishop's representative on various committees, boards, and councils within the diocese.

Prior to coming to Helena, Phelan served as a member of executive management teams for several global telecommunications and multimedia companies. He was chief operation officer for developing markets for AVAYA until his retirement in 2001. Before that he was chief operating officer for U.S. services for Lucent Technologies.

He has an M.B.A. degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., and a bachelor's degree in English, philosophy, and theater from Regis University, Denver, Colo.

In an announcement to the diocesan staff in Madison, Bishop Morlino said he and Phelan have been friends for many years. "Since I am most interested in teaching and preaching, Kevin Phelan will assist me in the area of administration," said Bishop Morlino.

The bishop said Phelan is expected to arrive in Madison for Holy Week and begin work after Easter. He and his wife will be relocating to Madison.

In the Diocese of Madison, Jay M. Conzemius has been serving as chancellor since March 1, 2003. He is also director of stewardship and development and director of the Tribunal for the diocese. Conzemius was the first lay chancellor of the diocese, replacing Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert.


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Protest and prayer vigil:
To be held outside theater staging Corpus Christi play in Madison

MADISON -- The sexually oriented play Corpus Christi is scheduled to be staged at the Bartell Theater in Madison beginning March 5.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison issued a statement calling the play Corpus Christi a "frontal assault on the basics of what Catholics believe."

The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and American Needs Fatima are sponsoring a protest and prayer vigil on Friday, March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. outside the Bartell Theater, 113 E. Mifflin St.

The society is urging interested persons to join in this "peaceful and legal protest against the blasphemous play Corpus Christi, the story of a homosexual 'Jesus.'"

"This is an attack on the Sacred Person of Our Lord Jesus Christ," says the society. "The play perverts the Gospel."

Bishop Morlino issued the following statement on the play: "In misrepresenting and defaming the truly holy life which Jesus Christ lived on earth, the play Corpus Christi (this title also connotes contempt for the Eucharistic presence of Christ) embodies a frontal assault on the basics of what Catholics believe.

"This kind of public assault, repeated as often as the play is performed, seems quite out of place in a culture so promotive of mutual respect and tolerance."

The New York Times describes the play as focusing on a Christ figure who is born in a Texas flea-bag hostel and grows up in a sexually charged environment with gay encounters, profanity, and violence.

"This play blasphemes Our Lord Jesus Christ who countless respectful citizens of Madison adore as their personal savior," wrote Thomas Urbanik, a Madison resident, in a letter to Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz with a copy to the Catholic Herald. Urbanik urged the mayor to "do everything possible to stop the showing of Corpus Christi." The play, however, will be staged as planned.


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