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LAST UPDATE: 05/01/2008
 We are in the process of adding new audio and video links for our seminarian and active clergy profiles. Please look for the audio and video symbols. When you click on these icons, you will be directed to the appropriate link containing the media file.
We are in the final stages of publishing a web page that will include profiles of our retired clergy. The page should be available by the end of next week.
To those women who visit our web site - please be sure to check the upcoming events section of our web site, found at the botton right-hand side of this page. Several discernment retreats have been added that may be of interest to you.
God bless you, and thank you for visiting our web site.
Please continue to pray for our seminarians, our priests and religious,
and for more vocations in our diocese, and throughout the Church.
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Recently, the Midwest Theological Forum finished production on an excellent video, entitled "The Catholic Priest Today: A Man of Faith, A Man of Tradition, A Man of God. The video is designed to speak to anyone who may have an interest in the priesthood.
The video features one of our own priests, Fr. Eric Nielsen, pictured at left, who is pastor at St. Paul University Catholic Center in Madison. In his remarks, Fr. Nielsen reminds viewers that  when discerning a vocation, there are more things to discern than the vocation itself. Saying yes to the priesthood reveals God's grace in many new ways, but it is also important to discern what sacrifices must be made in order to pursue a priestly vocation. In priesthood, sacrifice becomes blessing, and this theme is beautifully illustrated in this film.
Also included in the film is are commentaries by His Eminance, Francis Cardinal George, Cardinal-Archbishop of Chicago, Ill., and Dr. Scott Hahn, a well-noted scripture scholar and author.
There is a web site dedicated to the video, located at http://www.thecatholicpriesttoday.com You may also order a DVD from the web site as well. Click on the link below to view the video.
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 "To preside at the Lord’s Supper is, therefore, an urgent invitation to offer oneself in gift, so that the attitude of the Suffering Servant and Lord may continue and grow in the Church. Dear young men, nurture your attraction to those values and radical choices which will transform your lives into service of others, in the footsteps of Jesus, the Lamb of God. …Do not be afraid to accept this call. You will surely encounter difficulties and sacrifices, but you will be happy to serve, you will be witnesses of that joy that the world cannot give. You will be living flames of an infinite and eternal love. You will know the spiritual riches of the priesthood, divine gift and mystery."
These are the words of our previous Holy Father, John Paull II, and they so eloquently express the joy and gift of serving God's holy people in priesthood. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's Vocations and Priestly Formation committee embarked on an effort to try and address the need of discerning a vocation amidst the world we live in today. What resulted was an award-winning video entitled "Fishers of Men".
We have made this video available to you here on our web site. To view the video, click on the appropriate link below. Running time is approximately 20 minutes. Dial-up users may wish to save the video to their computers first by right-clicking on the link and choosing "Save As...". Viewing via streaming video is recommended only for our broadband visitors.
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Diocese of Madison Ordains
four Seminarians to the
Transitional Diaconate
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Dulli
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Schneider
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Greenfield
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Wendler
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With praise and thanksgiving to almighty God, Bishop Robert C. Morlino ordained Brian Dulli, Lance Schneider, David Greenfield and Patrick Wendler to the order of the transitional diaconate. The ordination took place on Friday, June 1st at the Bishop William P. O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.
Throughout the summer months, Deacons Wendler and Greenfield will be serving in parishes here in the diocese. Deacon Wendler is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, under the leadership of Rev. Msgr. Donn Heiar, pastor and current vicar general of the diocese. Deacon Greenfield is assigned to St. Bridget Parish in Ridegway, linked with Immaculate Conception Parish, Barneveld, under the leadership of Rev. Tait Schroeder, pastor. Deacons Dulli and Schneider will be participating in a seminary-sponored Clinical Pastoral Education experience.
All four seminarians will be returning to their respective seminaries in the fall for their final year of academic and spiritual formation. Deacons Dulli and Schneider attend The University of St. Mary of the Lake-Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, IL; Deacons Greenfield and Wendler attend Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA.
Canon Law, the law of the Church, requires that these men serve a minimum of six (6) months before they may be ordained to the priesthood. The diocese anticipates their ordination to the priesthood on May 23, 2008 at St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison.
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| UPCOMING RETREAT FOR WOMENThe Franciscan Sisters of Peoria are sponsoring a retreat for discerning women, ages 18-40 beginning on May 23rd at 7:00pm, and concluding on May 25th at 4:00pm at their convent in East Peoria, IL. The deadline to register is May 10th. The suggested donation for the retreat is $20.00. For more information or to register, please contact the sisters by email to contact@franciscansisterspeoria.org or by telephoning (309) 655-4840
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| UPCOMING RETREAT FOR WOMENThe Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker are sponsoring a discernment for women ages 18-30 at St. William Convent in Walton, KY. The retreat begins on September 12th, and concludes on September 14th. For more information about this retreat or to register, please contact the sisters by email to vocations@ssjw.org or by telephoning (859) 485-4256
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| UPCOMING RETREAT FOR WOMENThe Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, are sponsoring three discernment retreats at their convent in Ann Arbor, MI. To register, or for more information, please contact Sr. Joseph Andrew, OP at (734) 994-7437 or by filling out their contact form, located at http://www.sistersofmary.org/contactus.php Retreat dates are:
NOVEMBER 8-9, 2008
FEBRUARY 21-22, 2009
MAY 23-24, 2009
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| UPCOMING RETREAT FOR WOMENThe Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary are sponsoring two discernment retreats this spring and summer. For more information or to register, please contact Sr. M. Barbara Ebbe by email to srbarbara@schsrsmary.org or by calling (262) 522-4200 Retreat dates and locations are:
MAY 23-25, 2008
Schoenstatt on the Lake, Sleepy Eye, MN
July 11-13, 2008
Internation Schoenstatt Center
Waukesha, WI
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| UPCOMING WOMEN'S RETREATThe Franciscan Sisters of Charity, located in Manitowoc, Wis. invite young adult women who are single for weekends of prayer, faith, support, community, music outreach, Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, bonfires, hikes, sharing quiet time together and faith renewal. The cost is $25.00 per person. For more information or to register, please contact Sr. Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF by emailing her at smaryanns@fscc-calledtobe.org You can also visit their web site for more information. The order can be found at http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org
UPCOMING RETREAT WEEKENDS:
10/26-10/28
11/30-12/02
02/29-03/02, 2008
05/30-06/01
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| Samuel GroupThe sisters of the Apostles of the Interior Life would like to introduce to you the Samuel Group, an opportunity for concrete spiritual growth for young adults (ages 19-30) in the Diocese of Madison. Over sixty people in the diocese have completed the program with very positive and encouraging feedback on its emphasis on purification, meditation, and interior self-reflection.
The program has a three-fold goal for each candidate: to know oneself, to know Jesus and to know one’s role in the Church and in the world. The meetings are held one Sunday afternoon per month, September until April, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center on the UW Madison campus. For more information, please contact Sister Celestina at 608-354-5562 or srcele@gmail.com.
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| The Quo Vadis GroupThe Quo Vadis group is entering into its second year! The goal of this new program is to help discerning men discover whether or not they may be called to religious through dialogue - both in prayer, and with other discerning men. Please, come and join us!
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Ever thought about how you can be a part of the New Evangelization, begun by our previous Holy Father, John Paul II, and continuing with Benedict XVI? Some of our seminarians for the Diocese of Madison reflected on this very question. What did their prayer and reflection yield? A new and exciting program sponsored by the Office of Vocations!
Being a good evangelizer means bringing the true faith of Christ to those who have questions, or who might be wondering about different aspects of the Catholic faith. That's just what some of our seminarians did this past summer! They set out for the streets of downtown Madison to solicit questions from people about the Catholic Church. From seminary studies and prayer to celibacy and the ordination of women, it's all covered!
These questions were brought to the air of Relevant Radio, and are discussed from a variety of perspectives. How will an issue affect the lives of Catholic Christians? What are the pastoral implications? What are some fundamental reasons for why the Church teaches what she does? Feel free to listen to some of the radio broadcasts on topics that were discussed by clicking on the link at the right.
Every time we help someone to grow in their faith, we not only bring them closer to Christ and His Church, but we ourselves grow in faith as we more deeply understand what it means to be an authentic disciple of the Lord Jesus.
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On the fundamental differences
between Catholics and Lutherans
On the Ordination of
Females to the Priesthood
On Charity
On Eucharistic Adoration
On Seminary Studies
On Married Clergy
On Transubstantiation
On Salvation Outside of
the Roman Catholic Church
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The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
Lord, open our eyes,
that we may see you in our brothers and sisters.
Lord, open our ears, that we may hear the cries
of the hungry, the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.
Lord, open our hearts, that we may
love each other as you love us.
Renew in us your Spirit. Lord, free us and make us one.
Prayer of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity
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Prayer for Vocations
Lord, we believe that You are present in the Holy Eucharist. Please watch over your Mystical Body, the Church, and send it shepherds to guide it. Grant our Diocese of Madison an increase in vocations to preisthood, deaconate, religious life, and sacramental married life. Help us to be instruments of your will in guiding young people through our teaching of the Catholic faith and the example of our lives. Instill in parents a desire to offer a child to priesthood or religious life, and sanctify priests, brothers, and sisters to be models of virtue and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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