News Briefs: Program at St. Thomas Aquinas explores poverty in Dane County MADISON -- Learn what it's like to live in poverty in Dane County at the St. Thomas Aquinas Justice and Peace Committee's "Supper and Substance" program on Thursday, Nov. 17. A simple supper will be served at 6 p.m. followed by a speaker at 6:30 p.m. Pat Ludeman, family living educator with University of Wisconsin-Extension in Dane County, will lead participants through activities related to hunger and living on a "family wage" in Dane County. The evening will also include strategies to consider for both short- and long-term solutions to helping families. This event is co-sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference from St. Thomas and is the first in a series on social justice issues. No registration is necessary. There is no cost to the program. The event will be in the St. Thomas Aquinas Social Hall, Gammon Rd. and Old Sauk Rd. For more information contact Mary at mtcrave@hotmail.com, Trudi at trudijenny@yahoo.com, or Tom Nelson at St. Thomas Aquinas at 608-833-2600. Ecumenical Thanksgiving service planned MCFARLAND -- Christ the King Parish, McFarland Lutheran Church, and McFarland United Church of Christ will sponsor an ecumenical Thanksgiving service on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. at Christ the King Church, corner of Main St. and Marsh Rd. Everyone is invited to this celebration. Pastors, choirs, musicians, teens, and other members of the parishes will lead a celebration of Thanksgiving in word and song. As an expression of thanksgiving, those attending are invited to bring forward at the offering either a non-perishable food item or a monetary donation. These gifts will be given to the McFarland Food Pantry. A social will follow. Grief retreat to be held at Sinsinawa Mound SINSINAWA -- As the holidays approach, Sinsinawa Mound is offering a retreat for people who have experienced loss in their life. "Grief Retreat: Journey toward Wholeness," will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sr. Mary Hopkins (Mary Goretti), a certified grief specialist, will guide people through reflecting on their loss and discovering how loss can lead to greater wholeness and holiness. Registration deadline is November 19. There is a fee. Contact Guest Services at 608-748-4411 for more information. Thanksgiving meal and service HIGHLAND -- The sixth annual Highland community Thanksgiving Day meal will be served at noon on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, at SS. Anthony and Philip Parish Center, 726 Main St., Highland. The meal is sponsored by the Highland area churches. There is no cost and rides are available. Reservations are appreciated; call 608-929-7490 by Sunday, Nov. 20. All are welcome. On Wednesday evening, Nov. 23, there will be an ecumenical Thanksgiving service at 7:30 p.m. at SS. Anthony and Philip Church. Those coming are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the Iowa County Food Pantry. All are welcome.
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Monstrance for Vocations:
Comes to Diocese of Madison

(See also front-page photo and Monstrance schedule.)

The traveling Monstrance for Vocations blessed by Pope John Paul II will be coming to the Diocese of Madison from Friday, Nov. 18, through Wednesday, Nov. 23.

This monstrance is part of a worldwide initiative to increase prayers for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

	Related article: • Bishop's column -- Year of the Eucharist: Reflect on fruits of celebration

Given by the Vatican to the USCCB, the monstrance is traveling to different U.S. and Canadian dioceses at the request of local bishops.

The special honor of helping to handle the logistics of the tour schedule was given to members of the USA Council of Serra International.

The monstrance is one of six blessed by the pope in November of 2004 to promote Eucharistic Adoration during the 2004-2005 Year of the Eucharist.

"The goal is to send the monstrance to different diocese to promote prayer services centered around adoration of the consecrated host," said Fr. Edward J. Burns, executive director of the Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

"I think it's going to create great synergy in the country," commented Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Vocations. "It will be an opportunity to raise up in the minds of the faithful that the need is not only to pray, but also to create a culture of vocations.

"I've asked the Serra clubs, through their leadership, to accomplish this because I know that it will be done efficiently," said Bishop Cupich, who also serves as episcopal adviser to the USA Council of Serra International. "Serrans are organized and the program will highlight the mission of Serra as the lay vocation arm of the church, a title given the organization by the Holy Father."

In the Diocese of Madison, Fr. Jim Bartylla, vocation director, has been working with the Serra Clubs of Madison and Janesville to coordinate the monstrance's visit.

The monstrance will also be at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Madison; St. Patrick Church, Madison; the Diocesan Youth Rally; St. Paul's University Catholic Center, Madison; St. Augustine University Parish, Platteville; St. William Parish, Janesville; and the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison.

Father Bartylla said the goal was to have the monstrance especially available to young people.

The concluding service on Wednesday, Nov. 23, will include prayer for vocations in special memory of Pope John Paul II. "Many of our seminarians personally attribute their vocational call to Pope John Paul II's great example," said Father Bartylla.

Catholic Multicultural Center: Hidden jewel in diocese

By Kathleen Bushman
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Simply put, the Diocese of Madison's Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) is a place where the poor can come to get help.

But it, too, can be in need of help sometimes.

"Catholics are called to serve the poor," said Andy Russell, administrator of the CMC. "When you serve others, you gain something more in return."

The CMC, which will soon be entering its fourth year, is always looking for volunteers and has a variety of opportunities for people to devote time or resources toward helping others.

Help for all

Located on the south side of Madison just off Park St. at 1862 Beld St., the CMC offers services to anyone who is in need. "We help people from all walks of life: white, black, Latino, Asian, all people," said Russell.

The center houses two main programs: St. Martin House, which runs a meal program that serves people every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and the last Tuesday and Thursday of every month, and Centro Guadalupano, which offers services and resources, including religious education for children and adults, especially for Hispanic people.

The center also has a food pantry, which offers people a way to stretch their budget for other things than food, such as rent, gas to get to work, or heating in the winter, said Russell. "People starving isn't the issue," he said. "People going homeless is."

Most food pantries offer clients food for three or four days, and clients can only come one time in a month. But the food pantry at the CMC allows clients to choose what food they need for seven days and allows them to return more than once per month.

In addition to these services, the CMC also offers a range of classes for English as a second language, job-tailored computer training, and life improvement. The center has a social worker and a parish nurse to help serve those who use the programs. It also serves as a neighborhood center and meeting place for other organizations and groups.

More information: • Catholic Multicultural Center page on Diocese of Madison Web site: www.madisondiocese.org/cmc/index.html Related articles: May 12, 2005 edition: • Andy Russell: New administrator of Multicultural Center Oct. 9, 2003 edition: • Sharing culture: Vietnamese dinner, cultural night April 3, 2003 edition: • Bishop dedicates chapel: At Catholic Multicultural Center Jan. 9, 2003 edition: • Bishop's Christmas gathering: At Catholic Multicultural Center Dec. 5, 2002 edition: • New Catholic Multicultural Center: Staff getting settled after move Nov. 28, 2002 edition: • New Catholic Multicultural Center: Home to offices serving people of various cultures Oct. 24, 2002 edition: • Catholic Multicultural Center • Center board will strengthen outreach, service, personal witness of our diocese June 27, 2002 edition: • Bishop names administrator of Catholic Multicultural Center Dec. 13, 2001 edition: • New Catholic Multicultural Center: Excavation begins; fund raising underway

Serving the poor

This variety of programs and services provides many ways to help out and get to know the people in the community who need assistance.

"Serving the poor, it affects me a lot more than anything else. They've helped me in my spiritual life, in my heart," said Russell, who worked at the CMC for years as a volunteer before becoming administrator.

"The Catholic Multicultural Center is a hidden jewel in the Catholic diocese; it's something all Catholics in the Madison Diocese should be proud of," said Russell. "Even people without finances or time to give right now should come see what the Diocese is doing because everyone can pray for the work being done here and we could use those prayers."

To schedule a tour of the CMC, to volunteer, or to donate, contact Andy Russell at 608-661-3512, ext. 106, or arussell@straphael.org