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May 24, 2007 Edition

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This week:
Capital campaign: St. Vincent de Paul plans for new food pantry and service center
God's plan for sexuality: Theology of the Body
  Sidebar: Theology of the Body events
Guided by the Spirit: Procedures, policies for parish cemeteries
• Front page: Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon
• Front page: Corpus Christi: Procession, Cathedral announcement
• Front page: Catholic Herald summer publication schedule
News Briefs
Nominate someone for "Profiles from the pew"

Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral


News Briefs:
Memorial Day Masses

BELOIT -- Fr. Gary L. Krahenbuhl will celebrate Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 2222 Shopiere Rd., Monday, May 28, at 9 a.m.

A procession to Mount Thabor Cemetery follows.

JANESVILLE -- Fr. Randy J. Timmerman will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m., Monday, May 28, at Mount Olivet Chapel Mausoleum, 1827 N. Washington St.

Mass will be held outdoors. In case of rain, Mass will be held at St. William Church, 456 N. Arch St.

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino will celebrate Mass at Resurrection Cemetery, 2705 Regent St., Monday, May 28, at 10 a.m.

Mass will be held outdoors. In case of rain, Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 405 S. Owen Dr.

Dinner on Mazzuchelli church restoration

MADISON -- The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 1200 is hosting a dinner and presentation on Saturday, June 2, at St. Dennis Parish on "Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli Proceedings and St. Augustine Church Restoration."

Presenters will be Knights from the Father Mazzuchelli Assembly and Sr. Mary Paynter, vice-postulator for the cause of Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli. The Madison Maennechor Choir will sing.

Social begins at 6:15 p.m. followed by dinner and program. Cost is $16 per person. Make reservations with Jim Gillitzer at 608-222-8854 or Mel Feit at 608-241-0800. Everyone is invited to attend.

Justice Crooks to speak

MADISON -- Justice N. Patrick Crooks will be the speaker for the St. Thomas More Society following the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Friday, June 1, at St. Patrick Church, 404 E. Main St. The St. Thomas More Society is composed of those involved in the legal profession and the intersection of faith, ethics, and philosophy. A buffet lunch of carved roast beef, turkey, and delicious sides will be served.

Reserve a spot by sending a check for $15 per person, payable to the St. Thomas More Society, to the Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach: P.O. Box 44983, Madison, WI 53744-4983. For questions, call 608-821-3086.

Drum-making retreat June 22

SINSINAWA -- Come to the "Drum-Making Retreat" at Sinsinawa Mound from 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 22, through 1 p.m. Sunday, June 24. Participants will craft a traditional frame drum and companion drum beater. We will pray and play with our drums in ritual, labyrinth walking, ceremony, and meditative practice.

The registration deadline is June 15, and the fee, which includes supplies and meals, is $225 for overnight guests and $170 for commuters. Contact guest services at 608-748-4411 for more information or to register or visit www.sinsinawa.org

Franciscan Sisters' retreat for young women

MANITOWOC -- The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity invite young adult single women to deepen their relationship with Jesus and others during a Sacred Heart-centered retreat.

The retreat will take place Friday, June 1, 7 p.m., to Sunday, June 3, 12:30 p.m., at Holy Family Convent Motherhouse, 2409 S. Alverno Rd. Cost: $25. Contact Sr. Mary Ann Spanjers at 920-682-7728 or smaryannsp@fscc-calledtobe.org to register or for more information. Visit www.fscc-calledtobe.org/living.asp

Writing retreat
at Sinsinawa Mound

SINSINAWA -- A retreat that combines spiritual life with writing is being offered from 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 8, through 1 p.m. Sunday, June 10, at Sinsinawa Mound. "Exploring Your Spiritual Life through Writing" will focus on using writing as a tool of inner reflection.

The registration deadline is June 1, and there is a fee. Contact guest services at 608-748-4411 or visit www.sinsinawa.org for more information or to register.

Memorial to Unborn erected in Watertown
by pro-life group

WATERTOWN -- The Watertown Catholic Pro-Life Group, in cooperation with the local neighborhood, has erected a "Memorial to the Unborn."

This memorial consists of 300 white crosses set in a cemetery setting. It will be in place during the month of May on the corner of U.S. Hwy. 26 and Endeavor Dr.

This memorial was created for two reasons. First, to increase awareness of this tragic issue and hopefully cause people to act toward putting an end to abortion.

Secondly, this memorial can help heal men and women who have been hurt by abortion, especially women who have not yet grieved the loss of their child OR children who have not yet grieved the loss of their sibling.

Many people have picked an individual cross to serve for the grave of their aborted child, including leaving flowers or a remembrance. Visits are encouraged.

For more information, call 920-261-5697.


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for "Profiles
from the pew"

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Capital campaign: St. Vincent de Paul plans for new food pantry and service center

MADISON -- The St. Vincent de Paul Society in Madison is publicly launching its first capital campaign this week.

The Help Build Hope campaign's aim is to construct a new food pantry and service center on Fish Hatchery Rd. adjacent to the interim facility at 1309 Culmen St. The campaign's goal is $4 million, with $1.9 million in gifts and pledges made in the campaign's "quiet" phase.

Improve, expand services

The new center will allow St. Vincent de Paul to improve and expand its current efforts and to develop initiatives to help its neighbors in need more effectively and compassionately, said Ralph Middlecamp, executive director of the District Council of Madison.

"The Madison community is constantly growing," noted Middlecamp. "There is a segment of people who come here for the opportunities. They have to find jobs and housing. Yet, the cost of living here is high. Food, energy, medical expenses, and higher gas costs all impact people's lives."

Middlecamp noted, "Some people are surprised that we need to expand our services. They don't realize that 15 percent of people in Madison and nine percent in Dane County are below the poverty level."

More people seeking help

More and more people are seeking services from St. Vincent de Paul. One of the most telling statistical changes is the increase in how much food the society gives away. In 2005, the dollar amount for food distributed was $411,000. In 2006, the society's pantry gave away more than $850,000 worth of food.

The society's interim food pantry typically serves between 60 and 100 families per day, five days a week, according to Ernie Stetenfeld, the society's director of community relations.

"It is Dane County's largest and busiest food pantry," he noted. The pantry has served up to 116 client families in a single day.

Middlecamp said the temporary pantry is often very crowded with only one check-in station. The new center will have an opportunity for four check-in stations and more places to sit. "It will make the waiting experience better," he said, emphasizing that the society always seeks to treat people with dignity and respect.

Volunteer opportunities growing

Besides serving people better, the new center will also provide more opportunities for volunteers to get involved. "Our organization is dedicated to putting faith into action to serve the poor," explained Middlecamp. "The new pantry space and new model has lots of opportunities for people to get involved. We hope to expand those opportunities.

Middlecamp stressed that involvement in St. Vincent de Paul shows people value the church outreach to the needy. "We're giving Catholic people the tools to do their ministry and the space to do it," he said.

"It's exciting to see we're almost to the half-way point in our campaign. We've never done a capital campaign before. It's gratifying to see the support and how generously people have responded so far." Middlecamp noted that there will be a variety of events in parishes and in the community in the next five months for people to get involved.

Those willing to donate or become involved in the campaign or seeking more information should contact St. Vincent de Paul Development Associate Rebecca Thorman at 608-442-9878, ext. 1. Information is also available at www.svdpmadison.org


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God's plan for sexuality:
Theology of the Body

The desire to be in communion with another person is a universal desire. We hear this desire in the "popular" music of our culture.

Theology of the Body events:

Register Online Now!

Introduction to the Theology of the Body

Presentation by Damon Owens


Date: Saturday, June 2
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Bishop O'Connor Center
For more information and registration, go to www.madisoncatholic.org/
oec/tob/


God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage

Training for couples and individuals interested in working with engaged couples preparing for marriage. All costs, including materials, lodging, and meals are covered by the diocese.

Date: Friday, June 22, to Sunday, June 24
Time: Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 3 p.m.
Location: Bishop O'Connor Center
For more information and registration, go to
www.madisoncatholic.org/
oec/tob/Gods_Plan.asp


Theology of the Body
for Teens


Training for youth ministers, catechists, and religious educators interested in running the Theology of the Body for Teens program in their parish.

Date: Saturday, June 23
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Bishop O'Connor Center
For more information and registration, go to www.madisoncatholic.org/
oec/tob/tob_for_teens.asp


For more information or questions, contact Andy Galvin at 608-821-4517 or agalvin@straphael.org

In one such song, "Strong Enough," singer/song writer Sheryl Crow sings, "Lie to me, I promise, I'll believe. Lie to me, but please don't leave." We want this communion so much that some will accept a lie just to remain in it . . . hmmm . . . interesting.

Sexual freedom is truly realized in a committed relationship and sometimes we want this freedom so badly that we are willing to sell our soul and body to obtain it or to obtain an illusion of it. Why?

The answer is that we deeply desire communion both physically and spiritually with another person. This desire is "stamped" in our very being.

We want a spouse that will tell us what is best for us even when we want something else simply because we trust they know us, sometimes better than we know ourselves. Do you desire this? What stands in the way of obtaining that desire?

Gift from God

You know, our sexuality is a gift from God. This gift is so precious that He doesn't want us to give it to just anyone but to one someone that will treat this gift as the most precious pearl ever.

We cheapen this gift - our sexuality - by the way we wear our clothes, the way we act, what we look at, and how we talk. But, as Christopher West says "God gave us sexual desire itself to be the power to love as He loves."

That power - sexual desire - is from God and the center of a joy-filled marriage. There are other factors that make a joy-filled marriage but the power of the sexual desire is what the Church and John Paul II teach to be the only thing to truly imitate heaven on earth.

Some may think that the closest thing to heaven on earth is chocolate or the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl, but the sexual embrace - the marital embrace - lasts longer than either of those two things. It does so in two ways: the one-flesh union images the everlasting communion of the Holy Trinity; and second, that same union may produce another life, if God wills it to be so, and that life lasts for an eternity. Speaking of imaging, just as God fully gives himself to us through His, we too are called to fully give ourselves to another in the same way: freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully.

Becoming human
Previous articles:

We invite you to find out what it means to be truly human through your sexuality. The sidebar on this page lists a number of Theology of the Body events occurring this June. The Introduction to the Theology of the Body in particular may open a door to your humanity that many of us are completely missing.

And if you feel called to help promote this "rediscovery of the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life," as John Paul II puts it, then consider attending the training sessions for marriage preparation or the Theology of the Body for Teens.

Next Week: the Theology of the Body for Teens


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Guided by the Spirit:
Procedures, policies for parish cemeteries

Previous articles:

Throughout the Catholic Church's history there has been a great affinity for places of rest of our deceased brethren. From the catacombs of early martyrs to the parish cemeteries of the present day, these places should evoke the image of God's great gift to us, the resurrection to eternal glory of our temporal bodies, and the unification of that body to our soul.

In the Catholic tradition, there are two places that are considered sacred: the church and the cemetery. It should be no surprise that just as the Diocese of Madison is taking seriously the shortage of priests by undergoing diocesan wide strategic planning for parishes; it is also taking seriously the responsibility we all have to support our parish cemeteries.

In July of 2006 the diocese contracted with Joseph B. Sankovich and Associates to conduct a comprehensive survey of all 107 parish cemeteries in the diocese. That survey is complete and the diocese is holding several regional meetings to discuss the results of the survey and to outline the course of action over the next months and years. (See the advertisement on this page -- print edition only.)

Future regional meetings will discuss the diocesan policies/procedures and rules/regulations.

The policies/procedures establish the relationship between the parish cemetery and the diocese while the rules/regulations give a template and guidance to pastors and sextons for the cemeteries in their care.

If you have any questions about the regional meetings, the survey, the results, or future plans regarding parish cemeteries, please feel free to contact either Grant Emmel (608-821-3010 or gemmel@straphael.org), or Tom Hanlon (608-238-5561 or thanlon@straphael.org).


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Diocese of Madison, The Catholic Herald
Offices and mailing address: Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719
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