• Articles on St. Raphael Cathedral
	News Briefs: Parish cemetery workshop MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison Parish Cemetery Program is sponsoring a workshop on Tuesday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (9:30 a.m. registration) and Wednesday, July 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. (12:30 p.m. registration) at the Bishop O'Connor Center. Both workshops are the same, so attendance at only one is needed. The workshop will be presented by Joseph Sankovich and Grant Emmel. It will cover the management letter, policies and procedures, and rules and regulations. The workshop is suited for priests, deacons, seminarians, those who missed previous sessions, or those who want a refresher. Register at ParishCemeteries@straphael.org; for more information, contact Emmel at grant.emmel@straphael.org or 608-821-3010. Catholic Charities schedules orientation on adoption services MADISON -- Those interested in adopting are invited to an adoption orientation to learn about Catholic Charities' domestic and international adoption services. It will be held Monday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 426 S. Yellowstone Dr., Suite 100. Registration is required. Contact Jerilyn Robinson at 608-833-4800, ext. 104, or jrobinson2@tds.net to register. Catholic Charities seeks foster care homes ROCK COUNTY -- Catholic Charities, Inc.-Diocese of Madison is seeking to license new infant foster care homes in Rock County. For more information, contact Trish Grant at 608-833-4800, ext. 109, or trish.grant@tds.net Deadline to inquire is July 31. 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

Humanae Vitae:
A sign of contradiction
July 25 marks 40th anniversary of encyclical
on human life

MADISON -- On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI released the encyclical letter Humanae Vitae - Of Human Life.

	Special Events • Natural Family Planning Week, July 20 to 26, 2008 • Humanae Vitae Lectures, October 23 to 24, 2008, Madison: Dr. Bradford Wilcox: "Humanae Vitae Got It Right: The Social Scientific Vindication of Catholic Moral Teaching" Resources • Humanae Vitae text online under Holy Father/PaulVI/ encyclicals at www.vatican.va • Diocesan Web site on Humanae Vitae events at www.madisondiocese.org/hv40 • Diocesan Natural Family Planning Web site at www.madisondiocese.org/nfp
	Related items this week: • Bishop Speaks page: Bishop prepares staff for anniversary of Humanae Vitae • Editorial: Pope Paul VI's predictions on target

At that time, there were many who anticipated that the Catholic Church would relax its prohibitions on the use of contraception. After all, most Christian denominations had done so.

Contraception was gaining wide acceptance and societal changes were occurring that made the teaching appear outdated and wrong.

Affirmed consistent teaching

Surprising many, Pope Paul VI instead affirmed the consistent Christian teaching of the past 2,000 years on the sanctity of marital love and the error of contraception.

In the following four decades, the Church, through the guidance of Pope John Paul II, deepened its understanding of marital love and continues to hold up sexuality as a critical component of God's divine plan for love and life.

All the while, the world around us seems to continue to abandon these truths. How are we, as faithful Catholics, to respond?

Called to be 'sign of contradiction'

We are called to be "a sign of contradiction - just as was [Christ] her founder." We are called "to teach the law that is proper to human life restored to its original truth and guided by the Spirit of God."

Pope Benedict XVI himself recently reacted to the timeliness of the message of Humanae Vitae:

"The truth expressed in Humanae Vitae does not change; on the contrary, precisely in the light of the new scientific discoveries, its teaching becomes more timely and elicits reflection on the intrinsic value it possesses. The key word to enter coherently into its content remains 'love.'"

Pope Benedict XVI

It is true that the majority of Catholics follow the general trend of contraception - today up to 80 percent. The secular culture around us has widely accepted contraception and its resultant anti-life mentality.

Envisioned effects of contraception

Pope Paul VI prophetically envisioned many of the effects of contraception: marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards, decreased respect for women, and the effects of contraception invading public policy. All of these are readily apparent today.

There are many threads to the story of Humanae Vitae:

• What were the events that led to the need of a papal document clarifying the Church's teaching on contraception?
  
  
• What did it say?
  
  
• How did Catholics and the world respond to it?
  
  
• Has it been lived out since?
  
  
• And, 40 years later, is it still relevant today?

Sadly, many are unaware of the true teaching of the Church on contraception and sexuality and the radical way in which it can change our lives.

Exploring questions, Church teaching

Throughout the anniversary year, the Diocese of Madison will broadly explore these questions and the Church teachings related to them in the hope of bringing greater awareness to the wonder and beauty of God's plan for love and life. This week's issue includes articles about Humane Vitae and Natural Family Planning.

The Catholic Herald will run a series of articles by Fr. William Saunders of the Diocese of Arlington, Va. They will discuss in greater detail the teaching on marital love and contraception. Periodic articles will continue through the year on a wide array of related topics that should deepen our understanding of this important teaching.

The 2008/2009 St. Thérèse Lecture series will be dedicated to speakers focusing on a variety of topics related to this issue. Parishes and clergy around the diocese have been provided resources and information that we hope will encourage activities at the local level. It's anticipated that a few parishes will host a parish mission to explore God's plan for love and life.

Deepen understanding of marital love

I invite you to deepen your own understanding of marital love. Take advantage of these many opportunities so that you can fully live and evangelize the world around you. Commit to reading this landmark encyclical over the next year. It is my prayer that all of us will open our hearts and mind to the truths of marital love.

No doubt, this teaching is difficult. And yet, Pope Paul VI urged us to be a sign of contradiction precisely for the good of humanity in language that is proving to be quite prophetic:

"It is to be anticipated that perhaps not everyone will easily accept this particular teaching. There is too much clamorous outcry against the voice of the Church, and this is intensified by modern means of communication. But it comes as no surprise to the Church that she, no less than her divine Founder, is destined to be a 'sign of contradiction.'(Luke 2:34) She does not, because of this, evade the duty imposed on her of proclaiming humbly but firmly the entire moral law, both natural and evangelical.

"In preserving intact the whole moral law of marriage, the Church is convinced that she is contributing to the creation of a truly human civilization. She urges man not to betray his personal responsibilities by putting all his faith in technical expedients. In this way she defends the dignity of husband and wife. This course of action shows that the Church, loyal to the example and teaching of the divine Savior, is sincere and unselfish in her regard for men whom she strives to help even now during this earthly pilgrimage 'to share God's life as sons of the living God, the Father of all men.'"

Paul Vl, encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae(18)

Andy Galvin is coordinator of Marriage Preparation for the Diocese of Madison.

Providing flood support,
neighbor to neighbor

SPRING GREEN -- Jim Blau's house is uninhabitable, but for the second day in a row he was at the Community Resource Center at the Spring Green Town Hall, volunteering to help his neighbors recover from the floods.

	Resource Centers Spring Green Town Hall: 4411 Kennedy Rd. • Wednesday, July 23, through Friday, July 25: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. • Saturday, July 26: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jefferson Knights of Columbus Hall: 155 N. Main St. • Wednesday, July 23, through Friday, July 25: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. • Saturday, July 26: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Mobile Food Pantry on Saturday, July 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"I thought, I can't do anything more here now - I figure why not help someone else out?" Blau said. "A lot of people have it worse than we do."

Blau is one of several volunteers from the congregations at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Spring Green, and St. Luke Parish, Plain, who are stepping up to help their neighbors through a Catholic Charities of Madison and Diocese of Madison cooperative effort for flood recovery.

Heavy rains in June caused extreme flooding across the Midwest. Nearly $40 million in disaster assistance has been approved so far throughout the 30 Wisconsin counties eligible for individual disaster assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced July 15. Ten of the Diocese of Madison's 11 counties were recognized as disaster areas.

To address the more immediate needs still caused by the flooding, the Community Resource Center in Spring Green offers what Kimberly Burgo, senior director of Catholic Charities USA's Disaster Response Office, called "one-stop shopping" for flood victims.

In addition to copies of forms needed to apply for disaster assistance and counseling, the center has a warehouse of clothing, cleaning supplies, drinking water, and even toys donated by locals, the Salvation Army, and Lutheran Disaster Response. The Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry was on site July 19.

The center also offers another important service: listening.

"We're really listeners," said Cathy Wiechering, a parishioner at St. John Parish. She and Sr. Lynne Marie Simonich, pastoral associate, were volunteering July 17 at the center. "We are offering our support and the continued support of Catholic Charities."

In addition to helping with immediate needs like finding clothing, shoes, or bleach, the two were providing a willing ear for the problems and troubles of flood victims - "anything they want to talk about," Wiechering said. When asked if this was important aspect of the support offered at the center, she laughed.

"You're talking to a hospice nurse and bereavement counselor," she said. "I rate listening very highly."

Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Madison's Office of Rural Life are continuing to design a unified diocesan response to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the floods, as well as address the more long-term devastation. They will also continue to work closely with local St. Vincent de Paul Societies, Family Farm Defenders, the Harvest for Hope Fund, the Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, and other charitable groups to assist as many people as possible.

The Spring Green Community Resource Center will continue to offer assistance to flood victims at the Spring Green Town Hall, 4411 Kennedy Rd., Wednesday, July 23, through Friday, July 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

In addition, a Community Resource Center will be opened on Wednesday, July 23, at the Jefferson Community Center, located at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 155 N. Main St.

The site will also assist people from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, through Friday, July 25, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

In addition, the Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry will be on site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

For more information about these community resource centers, contact the Diocese of Madison's Rural Life Office at 608-821-3093 or Catholic Charities at 608-821-3100.

Keeping the light burning
Catholic women hold annual convention

MADISON -- "Keep Your Light Burning," was the title of the keynote address at the recent Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) convention held here at the O'Connor Center. It was given by Jody Waterman from Aurora, Ill.

She asked the women, "Are you on fire? Are you passionate about the council or are you just hanging around?"

She then stressed the importance of National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) mission statement which she then read: "Through its members, NCCW supports, empowers, and educates all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service. We have to respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world."

She explained that the modern world is different from the one when NCCW was founded in 1920.

The keynoter then asked the women to take out their mirrors from their handbags and look into them. "Whom do they see?" she asked "You all see 'you.' You are the most important part of the council. Without you, things cannot happen. We cannot just hang around. We have to recruit new members. The best way is by personal invitation. We have to ask all women."

She then asked the women which is the worst word you can have in your recruiting. "It is 'assume.' We cannot assume the person asked would not be interested; would not have the time; would not want to be invited.

"We have to make women feel welcome. We have to support one another. We have to get others to have their hearts burning. If someone is sitting alone with no one talking to them, that sends a bad message. Each one has to take responsibility for the organization. One can do something but more can be accomplished if more work together."

Membership and leadership

Waterman stressed, "We are the light of the world. We have to have our light burning for all to see. We have faith because of who we are as Catholics. We have to promote our organization by letting others know about us. It can be done with flyers, the use of the bulletin board, inserts in the bulletin.

"Now we are promoting individual memberships for $25 which includes receiving the NCCW magazine. This is a bargain considering membership in other organizations. We are becoming a membership organization rather then an affiliate one."

Asked for the definition of leader, she replied, "A leader encourages, is the best cheerleader of the organization. True leadership is shown when a leader is absent from a meeting but the meeting can go on without her since the members have been empowered by her."

She concluded by saying each member is important for all are part of God's kingdom. The Lord offers opportunities for everyone. Say yes when asked even if one would be stretched beyond one's boundaries by accepting.

2008-09 business, officers

Jennifer Endres, Roxbury, received the Alice Krystofiak Madonna for being the youngest first-timer attending the convention.

New officers for the next two years were installed by Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, Sun Prairie, diocesan moderator. They are Sandra Hull, Patch Grove, Grant Deanery, president; Carol Brennan, Berlin, Marquette/Green Lake Deanery, president elect; Rita Brey, Plain, Sauk Deanery, vice president; Lucy Kippley, Roxbury, West Dane Deanery, secretary; and Rosa Ropers, Lancaster, Grant Deanery, treasurer.

Attending the convention were eight former diocesan presidents. They were Irene Sullivan, Lake Mills, Jefferson Deanery; Jane Bernhardt, Cassville, Grant Deanery; Dorothy Lepeska, Stitzer, Iowa Deanery; Dorene Shuda, Jefferson, Jefferson Deanery; Blanche Ryan Gibbon, Sauk City, Sauk Deanery; Joan Slate, Markesan, Marquette/Green Lake Deanery; Patricia Fisher, Madison, Madison Deanery; Mary Sykes, Ft. Atkinson, Jefferson Deanery; and Rita Macewicz, Beloit, Rock Deanery, outgoing president.

West Dane Deanery hosted the 54th annual convention. Lucy Kippley was convention chairman; Barb Ziegler was host deanery president; and Jo Ann Russell was reservations chairman. Lafayette Deanery will host the 2009 convention.

Diocesan finance director retires
after 14 years

MADISON -- Greg Keller, director of finance for the Diocese of Madison, retired as of July 18 after 14 years of service to the Church.

Keller worked nearly 20 years in corporate business before starting work for the diocese.

"My time here has been very rewarding," Keller said in a letter dated May 9 announcing his retirement to coworkers. "I feel much progress has been made and hope that you will agree that, overall, the Diocese of Madison [is] in a better condition than it was 14 years ago.

"Please know that I am grateful to our bishops who have supported me over the years and to you for your patience and understanding when dealing with difficult issues," he said.

At a retirement celebration July 18 at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Msgr. Daniel Ganshert, vicar general of the diocese, praised Keller for his years of service.

"We are all grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with you," he told Keller. He told diocesan employees that Keller "has been a remarkable example to all of us."

Dr. Patrick Gorman, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, praised Keller for his dedication during his years working for the diocese. He was always the first to arrive and one of the last to leave daily. Keller is an example of how to work and live in a quiet, unassuming manner, Gorman commented.

During his tenure with the diocese, Keller was instrumental in the diocesan offices' move from the former downtown diocesan chancery to its current location at the Bishop O'Connor Center.

Keller and his wife Anne have three children and are members of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison.

Contributing to this story was Pam Payne.