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June 9, 2005 Edition

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This week:
Ordination to priesthood: Bishop ordains two new priests to serve diocese
Kate Wiskus: Named director of diocesan Office of Planning
Leticia Frausto: Hired as coordinator of Centro Guadalupano
• Front page: Catholic Herald summer publication schedule
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News Briefs

News Briefs:
Schoenstatt Fathers fundraiser

MADISON -- The Schoenstatt Fathers are holding a fundraiser dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, at St. James Church parish hall, 1128 St. James Ct., Madison.

Funds raised will help the Schoenstatt Fathers build a village for children orphaned in the recent tsunami. Suggested donation is $35 per person.

For more information, contact Fr. Gerold Langsch, 262-548-9061, or Mary Lestina, 608-256-5614. For more information on the Schoenstatt Fathers and their work in India, visit www.kentenich-gdw.de/Frameset.html

Benefit dodgeball tournament

JANESVILLE -- St. Patrick's Home & School Association will be holding a dodgeball tournament to benefit the elevator addition fund.

The event is divided into an adult division and teen division. The adult tournament (ages 18 and up) will take place on Saturday, June 18, and the teen tournament (ages 13-17) on Friday, June 17.

Team entry fees are $50 for adults and $45 for teens. Registration forms and rules are available by contacting Jason Dowd at 608-756-1789 or 608-247-4103. Deadline for registering is June 10.

Raffle tickets for parish mission trip

OREGON -- On Sunday, June 26, five Oregon High School students and two chaperones from Holy Mother of Consolation Parish here will be traveling to St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, to participate in the Catholic HEART Workcamp, which revitalizes communities and beautifies homes for the elderly, disabled, and those who cannot afford needed repairs.

Currently they are selling raffle tickets. To purchase raffle tickets or make a donation to the group, contact Holy Mother of Consolation Parish at 608-835-5763.

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

SAUK CITY -- The bells tolled at St. Aloysius Parish in Sauk City as the choir broke out into a joyful "Alleluia," marking the beginning of the ordination Mass on Friday, May 27.

With the ordination rites passed down for countless generations, Bishop Robert C. Morlino ordained two men as priests for the Diocese of Madison: Michael Radowicz and Eric Sternberg.

Expressing thanks

At the beginning of his homily, the bishop asked each ordinand to sit with his parents in the front pews.

"The bishop gets to say to those ordained, 'my sons,' and as you sit there with those whom you're blessed to have as earthly parents, in a special way I'm lucky to have you as sons, too," Bishop Morlino told them. "I want you to know, Michael and Eric, how deeply I treasure that."

We're grateful to your parents for having good marriages and families and giving you to the church, he said.

Mentioning that this is his first ordination in the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Morlino said, "I can't tell you how grateful I am to be with you in Christ. What a great gift it is to me, just as both are a magnificent gift to all people."

You are called not to be served, but to serve, he said. "It's a special kind of service to which we as priests are called."

Openness to Christ

The bishop emphasized that openness to Jesus means being open to his presence in the Eucharist every day. Openness also means solidarity with every human being, he said.

The only way we can share freedom is through ground rules, the natural moral law written in our hearts. "We cannot be those who fall for everything because we stand for nothing," he said. "We have to proclaim the truth. The church calls you to teach that fearlessly all the time."

Similarly, there are ground rules in liturgy that must be observed, he said.

Suffering, support

Openness also means inclusiveness, he said. As a priest, you have to remind people they are Jesus' friend, too, and he laid down his life for them. "Our friendship in Christ means we as priests make every other person feel his friendship," said the bishop. "Jesus Christ is Lord and there is no other name by which they're saved."

In convincing people they're friends of Christ and correcting them if they're in error, we will suffer, said Bishop Morlino, but there is no other way for us to learn obedience except by suffering.

Jesus gives us family, the community of disciples, brother priests, and the bishop to support priests in their suffering, he said. "Just as I need your support in the days ahead, I know you need mine. You will also have brother priests, the support of Jesus Christ and of every angel and saint.

"Just as Jesus called us to friendship with him, every one of the saints is with us in friendship," he said.

When you lie prostrate and hear the whole church praying for you, it is a sign that you are willing to suffer and die like Jesus; then you get up and are remade in the person of Christ the priest, he explained.

"When there is suffering, remember the sounds of the church praying for you tonight: the church on earth and - wow - the church in heaven," he said.

Concelebrants, ministers

Concelebrants of the Mass included Bishop William H. Bullock, Bishop George O. Wirz, priests of the Diocese of Madison, and guests of those being ordained. Deacons of the Mass were Deacon Todd Martin and Rev. Mr. Daniel F. Bachner. Master of ceremonies was Fr. James R. Bartylla. Readers were Jayne Coster and George Schmitz. Servers included diocesan seminarians, men discerning a vocation to the priesthood, and friends of those being ordained.

Vesting priests included Msgr. Paul Swain and Msgr. Daniel Ganshert for Father Radowicz and Fr. Tait Schroeder for Father Sternberg.

Parents Arnold and Elsie Radowicz and Roy and Pam Sternberg brought up the Offertory gifts. Greeters included members of St. Aloysius Parish and diocesan employees, coordinated by Kathy Endres.

Music ministers included: the Madison Diocesan Choir, directed by Patrick Gorman; Glenn Schuster, organist; Monica Thorson, cantor; Rob Rohlfing and Rob Awe, trumpet; and Matthew Beecher, horn.

New priests

Father Radowicz and Father Sternberg graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.

For their new assignments, click here.


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Kate Wiskus:
Named director of diocesan Office of Planning

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino has announced that Mrs. Kate Wiskus has been named the Director of the Office of Planning for the Diocese of Madison.

She will serve as the lead person in the upcoming diocesan strategic planning effort.

Importance of planning

In commenting on the importance of strategic planning, Bishop Morlino said, "We must insure that we will use the generous resources provided us by the faithful to our best advantage. Planning for our future is a critical responsibility of the Bishop's. I must insure that the truth of our faith is passed on from generation to generation."

Bishop Morlino said, "Kate has proven herself time and again to be willing to take on the hard challenges that face the Church in the third millennium."

She will continue her roles as Victims' Assistance Coordinator and Director of the diocesan Office of Safe Environment. Bishop Morlino noted that the auditors from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops "felt that Kate's work in protecting children from abuse was among the best in the nation."

He said, "The planning process and implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was a major challenge for every diocese and Kate performed flawlessly. She is the natural first choice for this planning initiative as well."

Direction for future

Wiskus said she is excited to be given the opportunity to serve the diocesan church and the faithful. Her mission is to assist in identifying strengths and challenges within the local church so that a clear direction for the future may be discerned.

"Clearly God is present to us and gifts us individually and as community," she said. "Cooperating with these graces helps us to move toward realizing God's will in this time and place.

"If we recognize the signs of God's presence in our midst, we can begin to discern the direction in which the Spirit is leading us. Then through prayerful dialogue we can articulate not only what has been and is, but also what may be if we labor together in Christ."

Previous experience

Planning and organization have been part of her service to the church since her beginnings in religious education. "As a DRE (director of religious education), I had to learn to think more globally, to consider programs from beginning to end, and to think with courage," said Wiskus.

"I can remember at times being disappointed by others who didn't want to go in a new direction because they feared it would challenge them more. It helped that I had both a creative desire and organizational logic. The combination drove my parents crazy when I was a child, but it has proven to be truly a gift as an adult."

Wiskus has served as Director of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Pastoral Services since 1998. As such, she has assisted in many communities with the linkage, cluster, and merger of parishes. She has also served as a resource person for parish pastoral and finance councils and commissions.

She is one of the founding members of the Wisconsin Directors of Pastoral Services and Planning and is a member of the international Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development.

Proven dedication

Kevin Phelan, chancellor of the Diocese of Madison, commented on both of Wiskus' roles. "I was the person who implemented the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in the Diocese of Helena. I know how difficult a job it was. Kate has proven herself dedicated to the Church and the Diocese," he said. "Her organizational skills and her detail orientation will be invaluable as we commence our data gathering phase. Kate will also have a very key role to play in the data analysis and communication process."

Phelan said Wiskus will head a team of pastors and laity with the background and experience to plan meaningfully for our shared future.

"The sole purpose of this endeavor will be to strengthen both the diocese and the parish as they provide for the needs of the faithful," said Phelan.

Demographic report

A comprehensive demographic report on the Diocese of Madison is being prepared by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. CARA's report will assist the diocese in more accurately determining the composition and dynamics of its Catholic population.

Besides the demographic report, the diocese is also planning to get input from parishioners through an in-pew survey. All Catholics 18 years of age and older will be asked to complete the survey in churches on a future Sunday.

Pastors will also be a key input in the planning process. Bill Brophy of the Pastoral Center staff will be working with Wiskus and is currently designing a communication vehicle that will allow the pastors to "weigh in" on a variety of issues regarding the future direction of the diocese.

The report and survey will provide the basis for the strategic planning process directed by Wiskus through the Office of Planning.


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Leticia Frausto:
Hired as coordinator of Centro Guadalupano

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino has announced that Leticia R. Frausto has been hired as coordinator of Centro Guadalupano, which provides services primarily to the Spanish-speaking at the Catholic Multicultural Center in Madison.

She replaces Romilia Schlueter, who has taken a position with HospiceCare in Madison.

"Leticia Frausto will be working with the team of Susanna Herro, Andy Russell, and Steve Maurice to identify where the Multicultural Center can make the biggest impact," said Kevin Phelan, chancellor.

Frausto is fluent in English and Spanish. "This has proven to be a valuable skill when working with the monolingual Spanish-speaking community at the educational institution, community based, and/or Catholic Church levels," she said.

She has presented workshops in Spanish on various themes from church teachings to social issues for the Latino communities in the Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz., as well as in Madison. Since 1999, she has been a Latino pastoral minister at St. Joseph Parish in Madison, where she works with sacramental preparation and translates materials for parents and children. She will continue to be involved at the parish.

Frausto has a Bachelor's Degree in psychology from Arizona State University, Phoenix. She came to Madison in 1999 to pursue graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Human Development Department. She hopes to complete her Master's Degree program by the end of the summer.

She has worked at Employment & Training Association of Madison as an employment specialist and case manager and as a childcare, child protective service, and respite coordinator. She has also been involved in the Madison community as an interpreter, case manager, job developer, and advocate.

A native of Texas, Frausto was raised in West Phoenix, Ariz. She has been involved in the Catholic Church throughout her life. "My mother and father had a strong influence on my involvement in the church," she said.

Frausto earned a Certification in Pastoral Hispanic Ministry at Mt. St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, Calif. She was director of catechetical ministry and office manager at St. William Parish in Phoenix for eight years. There she planned liturgies and classes in both English and Spanish and did training for Spanish-speaking and bilingual catechists at both the parish and diocesan levels.

Frausto said she is looking forward to working with Susanna Herro, Andy Russell, Steve Maurice, and Antonio Quintanilla. "It's great to have a team," she said. "We hope to let people know more about the Catholic Multicultural Center and help them use it."

She will continue working with Spanish-speaking people, but she said many of the services are open to other ethnic groups as well. This includes classes in English as Second Language (ESL), computers, life skills, and citizenship.

Frausto begins her new position on June 13.


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