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April 14, 2005 Edition

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This week:
Holy Father: Reached out with 'hugging, loving smile and reason'
Tom Shipley: Named new Catholic Foundation President and Director of Stewardship for the Diocese of Madison
St. James Parish: Planning centennial celebrations
News Briefs
• Front page: Links to coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II
Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew"

News Briefs:
First aid course offered
with adult CPR

MADISON -- "Heartsaver: First Aid Course with Adult CPR," for individuals who would like training for job or personal reasons, will be offered Friday, April 22, from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Dean West Clinic, lower level Health Works, 752 N. High Point Rd.

This 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.

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

The program is being conducted by Dean/St. Marys Health Works, a training center of the American Heart Association.

Course fee is $55. Pre-registration is required by calling 608-824-4400 or 1-800-368-5596.

Spaghetti dinner
at St. Stephen, Clinton

CLINTON -- The tradition of a high quality, authentic Italian spaghetti dinner continues at St. Stephen Parish.

On Sunday, April 24, "St. Paul's Italian Spaghetti Dinner" will be served from noon to 5 p.m. in the Parish Center. The public is invited to attend and savor Italian meatballs, sauce, salad, and dessert served by parishioners.

Tickets for the dinner are $6 for adults; $2 for children. They may be purchased at St. Stephen after Masses, in Beloit at Action Travel and at M&I Prairie Ave. North Branch Bank. Tickets may also be purchased by calling: Frank DeSarbo, 608-365-5391; co-chair Steve Williams, 815-389-0328; or JoAnn Williams, 608-676-5609. Tickets and carry-outs will be sold at the door.

Besides parish needs, proceeds from the dinner are used for the parish's sponsored Fr. Patrick Swendrowski Scholarship Fund. Swendrowski, deceased, was a former St. Stephen pastor.

St. Marys Hospital Auxiliary fashion show

MADISON -- St. Marys Hospital Auxiliary in Madison will present its "Colors of Spring" fashion show at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, in the hospital assembly hall. Tickets are $5 each at the gift shop.

The show includes dessert and door prizes. West Towne Boston Store in Madison will provide the fashions.

Mission at Beloit Parish

BELOIT -- Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (OLA), Beloit, is having a parish mission April 23 to 27 led by Fr. Jim Marchionda and Sr. Ann Willits.

Monday night the 7 p.m. service will be a "Prayer for Healing" the speakers have created based on their experiences with people suffering the challenges of everyday life. They have designed this prayer service to give people an opportunity to support one another through prayer, preaching, music, and ritual.

Father Marchionda and Sister Ann will give presentations at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass and the 8 and 10:30 a.m. Masses on Sunday. They will be part of the 8:15 a.m. Mass on April 25, 26, and 27, with presentations and discussions following until 10 a.m.

Tuesday is Family Night with a potluck at 5:30 p.m. in Assumption Hall (church lower level) and a presentation at 6:30 p.m. A Prayer Concert will close the mission on Wednesday at 7 p.m. featuring music of Father Marchionda and a 40-voice mission choir made up of OLA musicians.

Childcare is available by calling Janet at OLA Child Care, 608-368-2835. For more information, contact Randy Gracyalny or Sr. Judy Aubry at 608-362-9066.

Catholic women: Plan spring deanery schedule

Grant Deanery

FENNIMORE -- The spring meeting of the Grant Deanery Council of Catholic Women will be held at St. Mary Parish here Tuesday, April 19. The theme is "The Eucharist: Catch of the Day." Registration is at 4:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting and a message from Ann Nelson, Cambridge, diocesan president. A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 5:45 with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, diocesan moderator, as homilist. A dinner will be served at 6:30. Chris Schmelzer will speak on "The Fisherman" at 7:30. Reservations are due April 14 to Dorothy Prochaska, 460 Madison St., Fennimore, WI 53809. The cost is $7.

Madison Deanery

MADISON -- "The Eucharist: A Gift Given for Us" is the theme of the Madison Deanery spring meeting Wednesday, April 20. St. Dennis Parish here will host the event. A concelebrated Mass will be offered at 5:15 p.m. with Msgr. Duane Moellenbernt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist. Dinner will follow. Msgr. Paul Swain, St. Raphael Cathedral rector, will be the featured speaker at 7:15. Reservations are due April 16 to Donna Hellenbrand, 5750 Enchanted Ln., Waunakee, WI 53597. Cost is $9.50.

Marquette-Green Lake

MARKESAN -- "Angels Among Us" is the theme of the Marquette-Green Lake Deanery spring meeting Thursday, April 21, hosted by St. Joseph Parish here. Registration is at 3:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting, a concelebrated Mass with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, diocesan moderator, as homilist. Dinner will be served at 7. Cindie Umstade will furnish musical entertainment. Father Bowens' topic will be "End of Life Decisions." Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items for area food pantries.

Jefferson Deanery

LAKE MILLS -- The Jefferson Deanery spring meeting will be held Tuesday, April 26, at St. Francis Xavier Parish here. The theme is "One Bread, One Body." Registration is at 4:45 p.m. followed by the recitation of the rosary and a concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist. Dinner and a message from Ann Neslon, Cambridge, diocesan president, will follow. Featured speaker will be Fr. James White, Redemptorist Retreat Center, Oconomowoc. Reservations are due April 21 to Irene Sullivan, W8204 Elm Point Rd., Lake Mills, WI 53551. Cost is $10. Special collection is for food items or monetary donations for the Lake Mills Food Pantry.

Columbia Deanery

POYNETTE -- On Thursday, April 28, the Columbia Deanery spring meeting will be held at St. Thomas Parish here. The theme is "Offering an Alternative for Life." Registration is at 4:30 p.m. followed by a concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator, as homilist. A dinner will be served at 6. Speakers will be Sue Gruen, director of Elizabeth House, and Kathy McMahon who will speak on the walk for Elizabeth House. A business meeting will follow. The special project will be a silent baby shower for Columbia County Crisis Pregnancy Center. A cash donation is suggested to help keep the center open. Reservations are due April 22 to Rose Pollock, N2384 Summerville Park Rd., Lodi, WI 53555. Cost is $10.

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Holy Father:
Reached out with 'hugging, loving smile and reason'

MADISON -- We must continue to uphold the culture of life, truth, and freedom with the same "hugging, loving smile and reason of the Holy Father."

That's what Bishop Robert C. Morlino told those attending a memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona April 10.

Referring to the disciples on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel reading, Bishop Morlino said after Jesus explained the Scriptures to them, their hearts were burning within them, their discouragements were crushed, and they knew him in the breaking of the bread.

"They had an experience of the vision that never disappoints," he said. That's what we have at the Eucharist but we have to listen and stay a while, he said. "Our discouragements are to be crushed and hope and joy are to arise."

Truth, life, freedom

As grateful as the bishop is for the news media's coverage of the Holy Father's passing, the media is now beginning to say things such as "He didn't take into account accommodating modernity."

Modernity is the skepticism that grew out of the philosophy of enlightenment which means there is no certainty of truth, the bishop explained.

"We are not a culture of truth, yet God created the human mind to speak the truth and the human heart to love the truth," he said. "The human person is made for the truth, so the human person fully alive is connected to the truth. Truth and life go together."

The culture of truth is the culture of life and that's true freedom, he said.

The Holy Father said true freedom doesn't mean the ability to do whatever I feel like doing; true freedom is the ability to do what I ought to do and to live in truth, he said.

"Truth, life, and freedom are at the core of the Christian message and at the core of the Holy Father's thinking," said the bishop.

Modernity prefers a culture of skepticism, death, and autonomy. Those saying the pope didn't accommodate himself to modernity are saying we hope the next one will, said Bishop Morlino. "The next pope can't accommodate modernity. The next pope has to be counter-cultural."

There's no other option because truth, life, and freedom are at the core of the Gospel of truth, life, and freedom, the freedom with which Christ made us free, he said.

"We look forward to continuing the battle with modernity with the same loving, hugging smile and reason of the Holy Father," he said with tears in his voice. "That's our future."

As sure as communism collapsed in a nonviolent way, the culture of death and autonomy will collapse, he said.

Finding strength

"How do we keep up that hugging, loving smile when faced with irrational attacks?" he asked.

Pope John Paul the Great had marvelous strength that came from God, he said, noting how the Holy Father appealed to young people.

The bishop told of a card he received from a Methodist woman who was suffering from a longterm illness.

"She said she was losing hope until she saw him at the window after his tracheotomy and was so uplifted," he said.

"Isn't that what we do when we look at the crucifix?" he asked. "The Holy Spirit used this sign of weakness of the Holy Father to give her tremendous hope and strength.

"That's who we are: ministers of joy and hope. Our weapons are a loving, hugging smile and reason," he said. "We want the joy of the Lord to be everyone's strength."

Knowing you will win will make you play better, he said. "That's our call from John Paul the Great. So let's keep praying for him and offering Masses and prayers. Let's rush out into the world, take people by the hand and rush with them toward the threshold of hope."

Turning toward a framed picture of Pope John Paul II, Bishop Morlino said, "With you and the whole world, I say 'Thank you, Holy Father,'" and placed a kiss at the corner of the picture.

Many thanks

After Communion, Bishop Morlino thanked Fr. John Meinholz, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, and his staff and everyone who participated in the Mass, including the Knights of Columbus and diocesan members of the Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He also thanked concelebrating priests including Bishop George O. Wirz and Msgr. Paul J. Swain, participating deacons including Rev. Mr. Michael Radowicz and Eric Sternberg, and the Diocesan Choir directed by Pat Gorman.

"The days ahead are full of hope and joy and they're not going to be easy," the bishop said to the people. He asked them to pray from the heart for the Holy Father as they listened to the papal anthem, a final tribute to Pope John Paul II.


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Tom Shipley: Named new Catholic Foundation President and Director of Stewardship for the Diocese of Madison

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino has announced that Tom Shipley has been named Director of Stewardship for the Diocese of Madison.

Shipley will also be President of the new Diocese of Madison Catholic Foundation to be established. He will officially begin his duties with the diocese in mid-June.

Bishop Morlino thanked Shipley for once again choosing to serve the Church in her hour of need. "Our diocese has many important priorities, but with the recent tragedy at St. Raphael's, Tom's work will be even more important," said Bishop Morlino. "He brings a history of service to both the church and the local community. Wherever the new cathedral will be located, Tom's leadership will be invaluable in our efforts to raise a beautiful new St. Raphael Cathedral from the ashes of our shared sorrow and loss."

Development and fundraising experience

Shipley brings over 15 years of development and fundraising experience to his new position. He was president of Edgewood High School in Madison from 1989 to 2001, serving as the first lay administrator in the school's 120-year history. He created the school's first Board of Trustees governance model and developed a marketing and recruitment strategy that increased the enrollment from 340 students to over 600.

He also was instrumental in tripling the school's annual giving program and raised over $14 million in the school's "Preserving the Past/Planning the Future Capital Campaign." Major initiatives included a cooperative master planning initiative with Edgewood College and Campus Schools, building renovations, curriculum improvements, increasing the school's endowment fund, and enhancing faculty benefits.

His experience also includes serving as a consultant and as a volunteer board member for various not-for-profits in the Madison area. He left Edgewood in 2001 to pursue a career in business, founding Rockit Products, Inc., a Madison-based marketing company specializing in product development. Shipley will continue as a shareholder and consultant to the company.

Joining diocesan team

Shipley said he is excited to be part of the diocesan leadership team. "It's an incredible opportunity to use my experience working in the church," he said. "Dioceses nationally are looking at new and innovative ways to enhance the notion of stewardship and provide support for their ministries."

He noted that in 1992, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral letter on stewardship that has charted a course for such programs within a diocese. "Stewardship is a way of life, a faith response and much more than a program to raise money," he said. "It will be our challenge to incorporate the principles of stewardship into diocesan and parish development programs."

Shipley calls Bishop Morlino a "visionary who truly understands the need and benefits of a program of stewardship that includes opportunities for the people of the Diocese of Madison to become involved in parish and diocesan life."

Articles on Cathedral fire:
Past articles on Cathedral:

Dec. 9, 2004 edition:
New spire crowns St. Raphael Cathedral

Oct. 7, 2004 edition:
St. Raphael Cathedral: Marks 150th anniversary of cornerstone

Sept. 30, 2004 edition:
New spire: To crown St. Raphael Cathedral ...
• Sidebar: First phase of Cathedral Restoration ...
Spire illustration -- a detailed PDF (Portable Document Format) file of Cathedral spire and its parts (233 KB file size)

Sept. 23, 2004 edition:
Stone by stone: Mason restores stones on cathedral facade

Sept. 16, 2004 edition:
Cathedral: Marks 150th anniversary of laying of cornerstone

Diocese of Madison site:
New foundation

In speaking about his new role, Shipley said, "The Diocese of Madison Foundation will enhance the diocese by encouraging and managing long-term stewardship and philanthropy. The vision is to create a tax-exempt trust, establishing permanent funds that will be invested and earnings distributed to enhance and support ministries of the parishes and the diocese. We must examine our current methods of funding diocesan and parish programs. Enhancements can be made that will create a strong environment for supporting initiatives at all levels."

According to Shipley, stewardship "can create a sense of community within our church. I am excited to be part of that vision and to assist the diocese in developing strong partnerships with the faithful, parishes, pastors, diocesan ministries, and the greater communities at large."

Madison background

Shipley's parents were lifelong members of St. Raphael Cathedral Parish, where Tom also received his grade school Catholic education. Shipley is especially sensitive to the impact of the recent fire at the cathedral.

"Certainly the tragic fire at St. Raphael's and its future will be a major issue to be addressed in the days ahead," he observed. "But that event, and any decision that is forthcoming, must be part of a greater diocesan strategy and vision to strengthen our church, set a direction for the future, and provide healing for the parishioners of St. Raphael Cathedral."

An initial goal for Shipley is to visit with pastors in all parishes of the diocese and to dialogue on their individual needs and that of the parish. "At the heart of our ministry is the faith life that exists in our parishes," he said. "This will be an area that we will become vigilant in supporting the programs and services which they provide."

Shipley and his wife, Beth, are members of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison. They have three children: Sara, who lives in Minneapolis, Minn., with her husband Matt and daughters Megan and Morgan; Joseph, a junior at Colorado State; and Matthew, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Education, awards

Shipley attended St. Raphael Cathedral Grade School and Edgewood High School. He has a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in educational administration from Northern Illinois University. He has done post-graduate studies at Loyola University in Chicago.

Awards he has received include the Samuel Mazzuchelli Award for Service to Christian Education from Edgewood High School in 2002; the Visionary Leadership Award presented by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison in 2003; and induction into the Edgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. He was named one of "Madison's Most Influential People" during his tenure at Edgewood High School.


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St. James Parish:
Planning centennial celebrations

MADISON -- St. James Parish in Madison is planning several centennial celebrations.

Members of the parish are invited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish by attending the centennial Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Bishop Robert C. Morlino will preside at the Mass. Former priests and deacons of the parish have been invited to take part.

Parishioners are invited to attend a reception following Mass. The parish will host a special dinner for the bishop and former priests and deacons afterward.

Another upcoming event - an alumni dinner and dance - will mark the centennial of St. James Parish as well. Parish members, alumni, and others are invited to attend the special event on Saturday, May 21.

Social hour will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner from 7 to 9 p.m. and a dance from 9 p.m. to midnight. Dinner will be catered by Kennedy Manor of Madison. Music will be provided by Jerry Stueber (brass, reeds, and vocal).

Memorabilia from St. James Parish through the years will be on display. The centennial ornament and historical book will also be available for purchase.

"Not only is this a way to celebrate the centennial of the parish, but it's a way to renew old acquaintances as well," said Pat Doran, chair of the centennial committee.

People are encouraged to purchase tickets through the parish office at 608-255-1656 by April 22. Tickets are $45 per person.

The centennial celebration will continue with a cake, coffee, and punch reception following the 10:30 a.m. Mass with pastor Msgr. Tom Baxter on Sunday, May 22.


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Diocese of Madison, The Catholic Herald
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