• Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral
	News Briefs: Composer Marty Haugen presents concert and workshop in Janesville JANESVILLE -- Marty Haugen, composer of the familiar hymns Gather Us In, We Remember, and Shepherd Me, O God, will present a concert of inspiring liturgical music at St. William Church, 456 N. Arch St., Janesville, on Friday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. In 2007 Haugen was honored as "Pastoral Musician of the Year" by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. He has more than 30 recordings and over 400 published works to his credit. In addition to the concert, Haugen will present a liturgy workshop at St. William Church on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Through discussion, song, and prayerful reflection, Haugen will explore the ways in which "the power and grace of our life in worship can infuse and sustain our life in the world." The workshop is open to the public. Both the concert and workshop will be held at St. William Church, 456 N. Arch St. in Janesville. Advance tickets are available by calling the St. William Parish office at 608-755-5180. Concert tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Workshop tickets, including lunch and all materials, are $10. Foresters to mark 60th anniversary DICKEYVILLE -- The Holy Ghost Court #228 of the National Catholic Society of Foresters will be celebrating their 60th anniversary on Sunday April 20. A Mass will be held at 8 a.m. in Holy Ghost Church, Dickeyville, celebrated by Fr. Bernard Rott. Following the Mass the group will attend breakfast in the Holy Ghost School Gym. Eleven charter members of the original 27 members that have 60 years of life insurance with the National Catholic Society of Foresters will be receiving a crystal rosary. Charter members are Henrietta Hauber, Irma Melssen, Mary Ann Melssen, Lillian Salzmann, Marie Schroeder, Rita Kowalski, Loretta Miesen, Angeline Digmann, Helena Lawinger, Evelyn Kaiser, and Rita McKeon. The minimum number to start a court was 25. Twenty-seven charter members and two associate members held their first meeting August 22, 1948. The court stays active with monthly meetings and special events throughout the year. Bus trips, auction sale, food stations, family picnics, Christmas parties, and bake and rummage sales have kept the members busy throughout the 60 years. Seeks new infant foster care homes MADISON -- Catholic Charities, Inc.-Diocese of Madison is currently seeking to license new infant foster care homes in the following Wisconsin counties: Sauk, Rock, Columbia, and Jefferson. For more information, contact Trish Grant at trish.grant@tds.net or 608-833-4800, ext. 109. Deadline to inquire is April 30. Lima Polka Choir sings at St. Jude BELOIT -- St. Jude Parish on 747 Hackett St. in Beloit has invited the Polka Choir from Holy Rosary Parish in Lima, Wis., to sing at weekend Masses, Saturday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 20, 9 a.m. Holy Rosary Parish is located in the Township of Lima, in Pepin County, about five miles east of Durand. In the early 1970s, two parishioners played polka music for a Christmas Mass based on the music of Father Perkovich. From this small beginning, the Lima Polka Choir and musicians have developed into a group of over 30 members from various parishes in the area. They perform throughout Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Anyone interested is welcome to join St. Jude Parish for this joyful celebration of the Mass. Catholic women plan meetings West Dane Deanery MARTINSVILLE -- "Love thy Neighbor - Near and Far," is the theme for the West Dane Deanery spring meeting Tuesday, April 29, here. Registration is at 8:15 a.m. followed by business meeting at 9. Don and Mary Hoffman, local dairy farmers, will speak at 10. They have dedicated themselves to helping others. They helped start SOAR-Kenya, Inc. so that Don, a former Peace Corp member, could continue to support schools in Kenya. SOAR stands for Schools, Orphans, and Relief. Mass will be offered at 11 with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, as homilist. There will be a noon luncheon. Reservations are due April 22 to Sherry Endres, 5657 Dahmen Dr., Waunakee, WI 53597. Cost is $10. Bring non-perishable food items for the Multicultural Center. Grant Deanery MUSCODA -- St. John the Baptist Parish here will host the Grant Deanery spring meeting Tuesday, April 29 with the theme, "Ministry of Hope." Registration is at 3:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting at 3:45. Mass will be offered at 5 with Fr. Lorin Bowens, Lime Ridge, as homilist. Newly elected officers will be installed at this time. Dinner speaker will be John Pope, Eucharistic minister to patients in Madison hospitals. His topic is "Sharing Communion and Comfort." Reservations are due April 18 to Rosa Ropers, 11089 Mt. Ridge Rd., Lancaster, WI 53813. Cost is $10. Those attending are asked to bring a paper product or dried cereal. The family commission will have Catholic books and DVD/videos for sale. Nominate someone for a profile Do you know a person to nominate for a profile? This could be someone in a paid or volunteer position in the Catholic Church. It could be someone working outside the Church who lives his or her faith in ordinary or extraordinary ways in daily life. Send nominations with information about the nominee to: Catholic Herald, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719, or e-mail info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Pilgrim Icon of St. Raphael to visit parishes
People to pray for future of cathedral

MADISON -- Beginning this week at St. Patrick Parish in Madison, a special Pilgrim Icon of St. Raphael will visit every parish in the Diocese of Madison.

	Description of icon Following is part of the description of the Icon of the Archangel Raphael written by Vladislav Andrejev, an iconographer and instructor at St. Michael's Institute of Sacred Art at St. Edmund's Retreat, Mystic, Conn. (see icon below). The depiction of the icon corresponds to the account given in the book of Tobit. Archangel Raphael symbolizes "the aid and healing of God," and in the Orthodox tradition, he is the third archangel, after Michael ("who is like God") and Gabriel ("the strength of God" and "messenger of God"). In this icon, in his right hand, the Archangel holds a rod or staff, symbolizing Christ's words: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." On a golden chain hangs an incense burner, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, expelling the demons from the "temple" of the human body by means of sweet incense. The young Tobias walks along the left arm, the fish in his hand. Dressed in a white linen shirt, similar to a baptismal gown, and a red cloak, a symbol of transfiguration and new earth, Tobias is an image of the righteous soul, of obedience, and of pure wedlock reminding us of the marriage of Christ and the Church. He is, as if following along the course of the river of life, an Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ, who is called the Living Water. The fish is an ancient emblem of the Church and a symbol of Christ. In Greek, the word for fish is ichthys, which is also an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Savior."
	Prayer to St. Raphael Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. We beg you, assist us in all our needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" we humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of our souls and the ills that afflict our bodies. We especially ask your guidance of our diocese as we journey toward the rebuilding of a cathedral bearing your name, and the great grace of purity to prepare us to be temples of the Holy Spirit. As our intercessor, beg the Blessed Trinity to prosper the work of our hands and, above all, to bring us, face-to-face, into their Holy presence. Amen.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino blessed the icon on Sunday, April 13, at St. Patrick Church. Eventually it is hoped that the icon will be enshrined in the new St. Raphael Cathedral.

Journey began
in Connecticut

How did this St. Raphael icon come to Madison? The icon began its journey in Connecticut at St. Edmund's Retreat located on Enders Island in Mystic, Conn.

In a telephone interview, Fr. Thomas F. X. Hoar, a priest of the Society of St. Edmund who is president of St. Edmund's Retreat, explained how this remarkable icon came to Madison.

Chad McEachern, currently serving as director of the Diocese of Madison's Office of Stewardship and Development, was employed at St. Edmund's Retreat in 2005. That was the year St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison was destroyed by an arson fire.

McEachern knew Bishop Morlino at the time of the fire. "When the cathedral burned, Chad was working with us," recalled Father Hoar. "Some of us started praying for the cathedral."

Showing prayerful support

St. Edmund's Retreat is the home of St. Michael's Institute of Sacred Art. At the institute, world-renowned artists provide instruction to students in such disciplines as iconography, manuscript illumination, gilding, stained glass, fresco, and Gregorian chant. (For more information on St. Edmunds Retreat and the institute, go to www.endersisland.com)

The Enders Island community wanted to show their prayerful support of the bishop and the Diocese of Madison in a special way. They decided to have an icon of St. Raphael written.

Father Hoar explained that an icon is written, because it is a prayer. "It is a prayer and the promise of a prayer," said the priest. "Our giving this icon to the Diocese of Madison is a promise to pray for the cathedral and the Diocese of Madison."

As the Pilgrim Icon of St. Raphael travels throughout the diocese, Father Hoar said it would be "gathering prayers of the people of the diocese for the intercession of St. Raphael and the good of the cathedral."

Process of writing the icon

Father Hoar said the process of writing an icon itself involves prayer and fasting. Vladislav Andrejev, an instructor at St. Michael's Institute of Sacred Art, wrote this icon. "He is a master iconographer, a Russian émigré whose icons can be found in cathedrals and churches all over the world."

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The icon is written in the Russian Byzantine Style. "It is rich in meaning and beautiful to behold," Father Hoar said in presenting the icon to Bishop Morlino. "It is our hope that the Icon of St. Raphael will inspire others to join in our prayer to renew the Church."

St. Edmund's Medal of Honor

Each year St. Edmund's Retreat presents the prestigious St. Edmund's Medal of Honor named after the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1170 to 1240. The award is given to "those men and women who, like St. Edmond, see their talents and expertise as God given gifts." Recipients are recognized leaders in their communities who have sought to use their abilities for the common good.

Chad McEachern received the Medal of Honor in 2007. Father Hoar said Bishop Morlino will receive the Medal of Honor on October 3, 2008, along with Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Since McEachern has come to work in the Diocese of Madison, the St. Edmund's Retreat community has made a promise to support him with their prayers. "It is our hope that this icon will remind you that we are united with you in prayer and we ask that the Archangel Raphael will read our prayers before the Throne of God," said Father Hoar.

Traveling throughout diocese

After two weeks at St. Patrick Parish, the Pilgrim Icon of St. Raphael will be traveling to All Saints Parish in Berlin (see schedule below). Accompanying the icon will be a prayer card (see prayer, above right) and prayer intention book in which people can record their prayer intentions.

For more information on the icon's schedule, contact Paul Margala at the Office of Stewardship and Development, 608-821-3045.

Pope wants to bring message of hope

Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI's message, in English, to Catholics in the United States. The pope will visit the U.S. April 15 to 20.

	Related article: • Editorial -- The 'green pope'

(en Español)

Dear brothers and sisters in the United States of America,

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you! In just a few days from now, I shall begin my apostolic visit to your beloved country. Before setting off, I would like to offer you a heartfelt greeting and an invitation to prayer.

As you know, I shall only be able to visit two cities: Washington and New York. The intention behind my visit, though, is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the United States. At the same time, I earnestly hope that my presence among you will be seen as a fraternal gesture toward every ecclesial community and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men and women of good will. The risen Lord entrusted the apostles and the Church with his Gospel of love and peace, and his intention in doing so was that the message should be passed on to all peoples.

At this point I should like to add some words of thanks, because I am conscious that many people have been working hard for a long time, both in church circles and in the public services, to prepare for my journey. I am especially grateful to all who have been praying for the success of the visit, since prayer is the most important element of all.

Dear friends, I say this because I am convinced that without the power of prayer, without that intimate union with the Lord, our human endeavors would achieve very little. Indeed this is what our faith teaches us. It is God who saves us, he saves the world, and all of history. He is the shepherd of his people. I am coming, sent by Jesus Christ, to bring you his word of life.

Together with your bishops, I have chosen as the theme of my journey three simple but essential words: "Christ Our Hope." Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to the United States of America as pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture, and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father.

I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings. I shall also bring the message of Christian hope to the great Assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world.

Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom, but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do.

This "golden rule" is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including nonbelievers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree, so that when we come to address other matters we can do so in a positive and constructive manner for the entire human community.

Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends in the United States, I am very much looking forward to being with you. I want you to know that, even if my itinerary is short, with just a few engagements, my heart is close to all of you, especially to the sick, the weak, and the lonely. I thank you once again for your prayerful support of my mission. I reach out to every one of you with affection, and I invoke upon you the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

May God bless you all.

New Catholic hospital to be built
in Janesville
Parent company of St. Mary's to develop $140 million campus

JANESVILLE -- Dr. Craig Samitt, president and CEO of Dean Health System, and Mary Starmann-Harrison, CEO of SSM Health Care of Wisconsin (SSMHC/WI), parent company of St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, have announced plans to develop a $140 million new community hospital campus in Janesville.

The plans call for a 50-bed hospital and an adjacent Dean physician office complex.

Offer a choice in health care

The new campus will offer patients, doctors, nurses, and local employers a choice in health care services, inside technologically sophisticated facilities.

"Janesville residents are asking for - and deserve - more health care options closer to home," said Dr. Samitt.

"In partnership with SSM Health Care of Wisconsin and St. Mary's, we have been listening to, working with, and investing in communities in Wisconsin for nearly 100 years. We are proud of our roots in Janesville and committed to developing a medical campus that meets the changing needs of the area."

"Quality patient care is our priority," said Starmann-Harrison "It always has been and it always will be. We are looking forward to serving the broader health care needs of the residents of Janesville."

Need is clear

"The need for this new hospital is clear," said Dr. Samitt. "Studies show that 40 percent of patients leave the Janesville area for care and that, by 2011, this area will need an additional 100 hospital beds. The community wants a choice in health care and, together with SSM Health Care of Wisconsin, we are well-positioned to provide it."

The hospital will be a sister hospital of St. Mary's, within the SSMHC/WI system. The hospital campus will be in Janesville, located near Interstate 90 at Highway 11 and is expected to open in 2010 with approximately 344 employees.

Dean's new physician office complex, also scheduled to open in 2010, will offer a broad array of services comparable to those provided at Dean's Riverview Clinic in Janesville. Procedures currently performed at the Riverview Surgery Center, jointly owned by Dean and SSMHC/WI, will be performed at the new hospital.

Dr. Mark McDade, a surgeon at the Riverview Clinic, expressed his support for the new hospital. "The new facility will provide patients with a continuum of care in a state-of-the-art facility. Patients, physicians, and the entire region will all benefit," said Dr. McDade.

Wide range of care

The hospital will open with 50 beds and expand to meet the needs of the community. The facility will offer a wide range of inpatient and outpatient care.

The hospital will provide vital services to tens of thousands of area patients, including the 20,000 Janesville area residents who are currently participants in Dean Health Plan.

Dean Health System, based in Madison, includes approximately 500 physicians providing primary, specialty, and tertiary care at almost 60 locations throughout southern Wisconsin, including the Riverview, Northview, Milton, and Delavan Clinics.

SSM Health Care of Wisconsin owns and operates St. Mary's Hospital (Madison) and St. Clare Hospital (Baraboo) and their nursing homes. SSMHC/WI affiliated hospitals include Stoughton Hospital, Columbus Community Hospital, Upland Hills Health (Dodgeville), and Boscobel Area Health Care. SSMHC/WI is part of St. Louis-based SSM Health Care.