News Briefs: Married couples invited to form focus groups MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison Office of Family Ministry, in cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is inviting married couples to form focus groups. Married couples will be asked to offer input about their marriage relationship and about ways in which the church might support them in their sacramental vocation. Couples - newly married, not-so-newly married, interfaith, separated and divorced, remarried, and Hispanic - are invited to participate in focus groups the week of November 28 to December 2. Times and locations for the groups, each including five to six couples, will be determined according to availability of couples and area of the diocese from which couples volunteer. Interested couples should contact Beverly Hartberg at 608-821-3177 or e-mail bhartberg@straphael.org by November 7. Music history retreat SINSINAWA -- A retreat will be held at Sinsinawa Mound that focuses on the music history within the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation. "Heritage Retreat: Music and Musicians from Sinsinawa" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. For more than 150 years, Sinsinawa Dominican composers, performers, teachers, students, and associates have shared and participated in a unique musical charism fostered by their founder, Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli. Retreat participants will experience, learn, listen, sing, and enjoy this cultural heritage under the leadership of Sr. Anita Smisek, assisted by other community musicians. For more information or to register, call 608-748-4411 or visit the Web site at www.sinsinawa.org/MoundCenter. The registration deadline is Saturday, Nov. 5. There is a fee. Parish/Family Day COTTAGE GROVE -- Madison Diocese Religious Educators' Organization (MDREO) will be hosting "The Family - The Church: A Challenge and Blessing to Parish Life," a program to help build stronger faith communities among families through parish life, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at St. Patrick Parish here. The workshop begins at 9 a.m. and runs through 2:30 p.m., featuring presentations, lunch, and a "family session" to talk about successful family/intergenerational programs. To register or for more information contact Sandy Dunn at 608-249-7720 or 608-251-7857 or e-mail: sandydre@charter.net Benefit record sale MADISON -- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will hold its eighth annual Collectible Record Sale on Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5, at the society's thrift store at 1309 Williamson St. here. The record sale will feature a wide selection of LPs, 78s, and 45 singles, cassettes, and compact discs. The event will be held in the store's lower level. Entry will be from Baldwin St. Hours of the sale will be 9 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. both days. Proceeds will help support the local charitable work of the society. Craft sale cancelled; building series on sale SUN PRAIRIE -- The Sacred Hearts School "Sights of Christmas" craft sale, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, has been cancelled based on an extensive review of Sacred Hearts' fundraising activities. The "Sights of Christmas" craft show committee will still offer the Landmark Building Series for purchase at Sacred Hearts School on November 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Landmark wooden collectables are a silkscreen print with a description of a building's history on the reverse side. This year's collectable, Sun Prairie High School, is 13th in the series. The committee will also sell selected craft items from the school booth and country market. Sacred Hearts School is located at 219 Columbus St.
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Mission to Biloxi:
Students donate items, time

By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Students from St. Paul's University Catholic Center will be taking a student-led trip to Biloxi, Miss., to deliver donated goods directly to needy families in the devastated city.

The six students - Tara Larive, Amanda Enders, Jane Sullentrup, Matt Bayer, Sarah Darr, and Katie Lease - will leave Madison Friday, Nov. 4, after the noon Mass at St. Paul's and drive to the city located about 100 miles from New Orleans, one of the areas worst hit by Hurricane Katrina. The donations collected by the Catholic center will be distributed door-to-door by the students and to neighboring shelters.

Sacrificing time

"Being college students, we don't have a lot of money to give," said Lease, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "The biggest sacrifice we could make was our time."

A missionary from the Biloxi area, Matt Manint, who recently gave a talk about his experiences to students at St. Paul's, is now awaiting the students' arrival and will help with the direct distribution of the donations.

The students will also be able to attend Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Rodi, the bishop for the Diocese of Biloxi, in the remnants of St. Michael Church, Biloxi, at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, according to Lease. At the Mass they plan to present to the bishop a sheet of prayers offered by members of the St. Paul's community, to be displayed in the worship space of the church.

"This isn't about six college students going on a road trip; this is about the St. Paul's community in Madison, Wisconsin, reaching out to the people in Biloxi, Mississippi," Lease said. "It speaks volumes about what youth can do."

Donations accepted

Donations are still being accepted and may be dropped off at St. Paul's front desk at 723 State St., Madison, by Friday, Nov. 4. Suggested items include toiletries, bed linens, infant items such as baby wipes, diapers, or baby food or formula, phone cards, aspirin, bleach, and bottled water. Monetary donations are also appreciated to help defray the cost of renting a large vehicle to transport the donated goods.

The students also ask for prayers on their mission, said Lease. Donations and money are good, she said, but "the biggest thing is support."

For a more detailed list of items needed or for any questions, contact Katie Lease at 608-444-5673 or kmlease@wisc.edu

Christmas Party:
Apostolate to Handicapped

MONROE -- The Apostolate to the Handicapped announces its 39th Christmas party for the handicapped will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Monroe Senior High School.

"He Calls Us Each by Name" is the theme of the annual event. Plans are being made for about 1,200 disabled guests.

Large celebration

Bishop William H. Bullock, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Madison, will preside and deliver the homily at the 11 a.m. Mass. He will be joined by 20 priests of the diocese who will concelebrate the Mass with him.

The Diocesan Choir under the direction of Dr. Pat Gorman will sing for the Mass, along with Hugo and Heidi. Randy Gracyalny will be the cantor for the Mass and will be joined by musicians from St. Victor Parish, Monroe, along with instrumentalists from Monroe High School, directed by Tom Schilt.

Commentators and acolytes for the Mass will be from the WISC-TV, Channel 3, television Mass presented each Sunday morning. Members of the disabled community will present Offertory gifts to the bishop.

The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the popular music and singing of Hugo and Heidi, who will also finish out the day with more entertainment.

Following the Mass will be a full Christmas dinner, prepared and served with hundreds of volunteers under the direction of Mike Doyle.

After dinner there will be gifts for all attendees with the annual appearance of Santa Claus.

All handicapped and elderly persons are invited. To make a reservation, write Msgr. Tom Campion, Box 443, Monroe, WI 53566. Transportation will be furnished to those who need a ride whenever possible. There is no cost as expenses are paid by friends of the apostolate.

Experiencing God

Hundreds of volunteers will work to make it happen for the comfort of the disabled guests.

"This is a wonderful way to experience God," said Monsignor Campion. "It shows vividly that we all belong. To be human is to accept who we are and to accept others for who they are; to be bonded together. This is where we are all special.

"Please come and join us to experience God's presence with us on Saturday, Dec. 3. He calls each of us by name."

Pat Born: Puts experience to work as archivist

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Her 32 years of experience working in the Diocese of Madison is proving to be helpful to Pat Born in her new position as diocesan archivist.

Born, who assumed her new position in May, has worked in the diocese since she graduated from Edgewood College in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She has been a teacher in a Catholic school, a director of religious education, and an administrative assistant to Msgr. Paul J. Swain, Bishop William H. Bullock, and most recently Bishop Robert C. Morlino. She currently serves under the Chancellor, Kevin Phelan.

The Archives - located at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison - was established in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. Its mission is to "collect, preserve and make available for research the official records of the Diocese and those ancillary records which reflect the work of the Church within the Diocese."

The Archives seeks to promote an understanding of the origins, aims, and goals of the diocese as reflected in the workings of the official diocesan offices, agencies, institutions, and offices.

Born is available to serve parishes and other institutions within the diocese by making records available for use as needed. The Archives also accepts historical materials from parishes and other institutions for permanent preservation.

"I have already been assisting people from the parishes," said Born. "Many of them call or visit to request information on putting together memory books for parish anniversaries."

The Archives also provides some assistance to individuals, including those researching family genealogies. Born pointed out that sacramental records are kept in the parishes where the individual was baptized. However, she can provide information on the location of a parish or when and where it existed in the past. "I do have some resources available prior to the establishment of the diocese in 1946," she noted.

Born encourages parishes to send copies of various kinds of documentation to the Archives. This includes anniversary books, endowment information, blueprints, and other official documents.

Born said the Archives provides a history of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Madison. "We need this history for now and in the future. It's our tradition," she said.

For example, there is a whole section in the Archives on the Golden Jubilee year, celebrated in 1996. The diocesan Golden Jubilee quilt is kept in the Archives.

To take advantage of educational opportunities and conferences, Born has joined the Association of Catholic Diocesan Archivists and the Midwest Archives Conference. She is planning to continue her education and training in such areas as records management and cataloging.

Those planning to visit the Archives are asked to call ahead. Born may be reached by phone at 608-821-3140 or e-mail at pborn@straphael.org between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. No items in the Archives circulate, but items may be photocopied.