Rites of initiation into Catholic Church:
For 250 people on a sunny Sunday in Sun Prairie

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

	Nearly 250 people seeking to become full members of the Catholic Church from throughout the Diocese of Madison gathered with their sponsors, family members, pastors, and friends Feb. 29 for the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion held at St. Albert the Great Church in Sun Prairie. Here, from left, Fr. Michael C. Richel, pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, looks on as Bishop Robert C. Morlino greets catechumen Tammie Jude-Reiche and her sponsor Nancy Hanson from St. Jude Parish in Beloit. (Catholic Herald photo by Abigail Henderson)

SUN PRAIRIE -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino described it as a "sunny Sunday afternoon in Sun Prairie" as he greeted those participating in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion on Sunday, Feb. 29, at St. Albert the Great Church here.

"Right here we've got it all," said the bishop. He addressed nearly 250 catechumens and candidates and their sponsors, family members, pastors, and friends who gathered from parishes all over the Diocese of Madison.

Seeking sacraments

Catechumens are those seeking the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. Candidates are those who have been baptized in other denominations and now seek to become members of the Catholic Church.

The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion are part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

In his homily, Bishop Morlino said the catechumens and candidates bring "a beautiful message and hope for the church throughout the world and in our diocese. You are enlivening and inspiring."

The bishop pointed to the first reading and the Gospel, which talk about disciples receiving a new heart and God calling them "friends." Those things happen "when you receive the sacraments of initiation," he noted.   Full story ...

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By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Seeing the film, The Passion of the Christ, often leaves people speechless.

So it seemed fitting for about 400 people to gather in prayer in the chapel of the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center after viewing the film on Sunday, March 7.

As they entered the chapel, the people were drawn to look at the mosaic of the Risen Christ in the sanctuary. All knelt or sat in silence, praying and reflecting on the movie which brings to life the last 12 hours of Jesus' life.

Exposition, Benediction

After all arrived from the nearby Point Cinema, Bishop Robert C. Morlino presided at Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. This was followed by reflections on the movie by Bishop Morlino with time for questions and answers.   Full story ...

MADISON -- Dr. Janet E. Smith, chair of Life Issues at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Mich., will deliver the next address in the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Lecture Series at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 2, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.

Smith speaks nationally and internationally on the Catholic Church's teaching on sexuality. She is serving a second term as a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family. She is the author of Humanae Vitae: A Generation Later and editor of Why Humanae Vitae Was Right: A Reader. She has written many articles on ethical and bioethics issues. Over 500,000 copies of her tape, "Contraception: Why Not," have been distributed.   Full story ...