PLW: School children surprise Bp. Hying with collection for pregnancy centers

About two months ago, we received a phone call from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Hales Corners. Bishop Hying was going to be saying Mass for the school at the parish, and the school children wanted to surprise Bishop Hying with a gift to thank him.

Bishop Hying’s pro-life convictions are well-known in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. When he was still rector of the St. Francis de Sales Seminary, Bishop Hying and several seminarians could often be found praying at Affiliated Medical Services on Saturdays. One Saturday at AMS inspired Bishop Hying to write this.

continue at Pro-Life Wisconsin

Arch. Milwaukee to begin $300k victim therapy fund if judge approves

As part of the Plan of Reorganization, we will ask the bankruptcy judge to allow us to establish a fund dedicated to providing therapy and counseling to abuse victims of diocesan clergy. Currently, the archdiocese spends approximately $70,000 each year for therapy and counseling for abuse survivors who come forward for this assistance. This fund will be launched with an initial contribution of $300,000. The therapy fund will be “evergreen,” meaning that it will be established in a way that allows it to be replenished, so that payments for therapy will continue for as long as abuse victims come forward for such assistance. We are establishing it, not because we are required to, but because our commitment in faith calls us to do so. Let me explain.

As you know, the bankruptcy process is a financial proceeding designed to compensate those making claims. I have stated previously, and want to emphasize again, that beyond financial settlements, outreach and assistance to abuse survivors is an ongoing and permanent ministry of the Church. The most important thing we as a Church can and must do, is to continue to provide therapy assistance to those who have been harmed, even if their claims are not recognized under civil law, which may be the case for certain of the claims filed against the archdiocese in the Chapter 11 proceeding.

In order to prepare the Plan of Reorganization, it is important to know how many claims will qualify for compensation and which claims cannot be honored. Soon, attorneys for the archdiocese will be filing motions to ask the judge to decide which claims against the archdiocese will be allowed under bankruptcy law. If the court is not going to allow a particular type of claim (for example, a claim that is past the statute of limitations; a claim brought by an individual who previously reached a legal settlement with the archdiocese; or a claim against a person who was never an employee of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee), then people need to know this so they have a realistic expectation as they proceed with the claims

-Abp. Listecki

Sorry, couldn't find the online version of the newsletter online. 

Project Rachel praised at USCCB conference

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo emphasized Nov. 15 how important the Church’s post-abortion counseling ministry Project Rachel is and said that it must play a role in the New Evangelization.

“Project Rachel Ministry is at the heart of the Church’s mission at this time in her history,” Cardinal DiNardo said at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ fall general assembly, which is being held in Baltimore Nov. 14-16.

Cardinal DiNardo, who is chairman of the bishops' pro-life committee, told the gathering that he believes Project Rachel must play a central role in the New Evangelization.

He explained that many women who have had abortions despair of ever being forgiven by God, and consider abortion an unforgiveable sin.

The Church must reach out to these discouraged women and encourage them to seek forgiveness, he said.

Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel, said that the report shows the bishops’ commitment to working towards healing for those who are suffering from a past abortion.

She told CNA that the U.S. bishops worked closely with her from the time that she initially began Project Rachel in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1984.

The involvement of the bishops grew as the ministry rapidly expanded, she said.

Several years ago, Thorn turned over Project Rachel’s service mark—a trademark used for services—to the bishops, who had greater resources to continue its work. The ministry is now available in more than 110 dioceses across the country.

continue at CNA

New Marquette Prez stresses homosexual inclusion

Marquette President Fr. Scott Pilarz
at former U of Scranton office

Marquette’s decision last year to rescind the position of dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences to a lesbian scholar, Jodi O’Brien, also came up for discussion.

The former president of the University of Scranton, a Jesuit University in Pennsylvania, said he was key to the development of the Scranton Inclusion Initiative which responded to the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian students – with opposition from the conservative community.

Fr. Pilarz said he doesn’t know all of the details about what happened at Marquette last year, and wouldn’t second-guess what happened because he wasn’t a part of the process, but he stressed there is no room in the Catechism of the Catholic Church for discrimination or exclusion on the basis of sexual orientation.

“I can assure you, going forward, Marquette will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation,” he said.

Milwaukee Catholic Herald

Some of this is left ambiguous; "pastoral needs" "discrimination" etc.  What does he really mean by these things?  I assume it means the world has it right on homosexual acts and that old outdated Church needs to get with the times. 

+Listecki to speak at War Memorial Center on Veterans Day

"Veterans Day, this year on November 11th, falls two months after the 10-year anniversary of 9/11," said Secretary John A. Scocos. "For those who have ever worn the uniform in service to our nation, Veterans Day has significant meaning."

In addition, as part of Veterans Day, in 2007 Wisconsin Act 22, the State of Wisconsin has declared that the seven-day period that ends on November 11 (Nov. 5-11, 2011) is designated as "Veterans Recognition Week" in Wisconsin and the week of November that starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday in which Nov. 11 falls (Nov. 6-12, 2011) is designated as "Hire A Veteran Week" in Wisconsin.

Friday, November 11, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. - 2011 Veterans Day Banquet at the War Memorial Center in Milwaukee. Speakers include U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John McCoy, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, and Wis. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos.

Isthmus 

You might know Abp. Listecki served as an Army Reserve Chaplain in the United States Army Reserves for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

SmokingGun: Photo of young women from satanism arrest in Milwaukee

Chandler claimed that her roommate--whom she identified only as “Scarlett”--was “the one who did the majority of the cutting” during the incident. Chandler, police reported, “also made reference to ‘Scarlett’ possibly being involved in satanic or occult activities.”

Chandler was placed in custody at the scene. During a subsequent search of the apartment, investigators seized copies of "The Necromantic Ritual Book” and "The Werewolf’s Guide to Life,” a humor book. The former book promises to enable a reader to “share consiousness with the Angel of Death.” Paperwork seized from the home was described by police as the “7 Pentacles” of planets. Additionally, a black folder was described as an “Intro to Sigilborne Spirtits,” an apparent reference to “The Sigil-Born,” metaphysical entities that are “occultic practitioners” of necromancy, the purported ability to contact the dead.

Cops subsequently identified “Scarlett” as Raven Larrabee, 20. She was arrested and booked yesterday into the Milwaukee County jail, where she is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond. Chandler is also in the county lockup, where her bond was set at $150,000. The women, who have not yet been charged by prosecutors, are being held for suspicion of reckless injury, a felony.

Chandler (left) and Larrabee are pictured in the above mug shots (click to enlarge). Search warrant records do not indicate why the Arizona man traveled to Milwaukee (or what he expected to happen upon arrival). In a post earlier today on his Facebook wall, the man offered a one-word update: “stitches.”

The Smoking Gun 

HT Sykes

+Listecki to lead Rome pilgrimage as part of Vatican visit

Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops, including Milwaukee Archdiocese Jerome Listecki, will head to Rome in February for his quinquennial ad limina trip, in which prelates provide the Vatican a full accounting of their ministries and operations every five years.

As part of that pilgrimage, Listecki will meet with Pope Benedict XVI and individual offices of the Roman Curia, or Vatican administration, and discussions will range from pastoral priorities and initiatives to the bankruptcy, said spokeswoman Julie Wolf. Some of the meetings, including the visit with the Pope, are likely to be group sessions that include other the bishops in the region -- Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

Listecki will be in Rome from Feb. 10 to 17, and local Catholics are invited to travel with him, according to a post on the archdiocese web site.

MJS FaithWatch

I just have to say that the new Journal Sentinel FaithWatch blog is being done really well!  I've been pleasantly surprised.  I just wish they had an RSS feed for it so I could put it on the side bar.  When I tried it before it was showing all stories, not just FaithWatch.  The sports one seems to work fine though.  Okay I just tried it again and it looks like it's working.  I need to clean up that side bar a bit I think....  Oh but I have found these posts to actually be more interesting to me than the feature articles on religion.  They did a big writeup on women's ordination when Call to Action was in town.  Those stories tend to be a bit more boring when the editor just has an axe to grind.  Rah, rah, rah, Church needs to get a clue.. zzzzzzzzzzzz.  If they start their own church, or have an honest debate, that would be interesting but otherwise it's the same old story I've read 100 times. 

Photo

Satanism on Milwaukee's east side

Milwaukee police are investigating a bizarre stabbing incident in which a Milwaukee woman allegedly stabbed an 18-year-old Arizona man more than 300 times when their sexual relations got "out of hand."

According to an affidavit accompanying a search warrant, the man was bleeding from the neck, arms and back when he called police to the intersection of E. Knapp St. and N. Astor St. shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday. The man told police he met the woman online and took a bus from Phoenix to meet her.

"Once he got to the residence, he was bound and stabbed numerous times over a time frame of what he described as two days," the affidavit states.

The man suffered more than 300 puncture wounds to his back, face, arms, legs and neck and was taken to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, according to the document.

Near the intersection of E. Knapp St. and N. Astor St., police found bloody duct tape "fashioned in a manner that appeared to be a restraint, as well as a bloody length of rope," the affidavit says.

Officers followed a blood trail to an apartment in the 900 block of E. Knapp St, where the door to one of the units was open. Inside, there was blood on the floor and on bedding in a bedroom as well as duct tape that appeared to be a restraint, according to the affidavit.

A 22-year-old woman introduced herself to officers, saying, "I think you are here looking for me."

She said she'd been having sexual relations with the man and that the cutting was consensual but quickly got out of hand.

After she was arrested, the woman told police her roommate, who's "possibly involved in satanic or occult activities," had done the majority of the cutting.

When police searched the apartment, they found a book entitled "Werewolf's Guide to Life," a necromantic ritual book; and a black folder called "Intro to Sigilborne Spirits." According to various websites, Sigilborne spirits include female werewolf spirits who engage in sexual acts.

The 22-year-old woman is being held in the Milwaukee County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.

MJS
 

Affiliated Medical Services, Milwaukee's number one abortion provider is only a few blocks away....

Milwaukee's St. Josaphat Basilica launches $700k campaign for upcoming projects

St. Josaphat Milwaukee

The St. Josaphat Basilica Foundation, which has raised $10 million for its renovations over the last 20 years, has embarked on a new, $700,000 campaign to fund a number of upcoming projects and build up its reserves.

The projects include interior and exterior lighting, masonry and stained glass repairs and a new sound system, said foundation Executive Director Susan Rabe.

Built by Polish immigrants between 1896 and 1901, the Basilica -- one of only three in the United States at the time -- is considered a cultural and historic landmark in Milwaukee.

“People come here from around the world,” said the foundation’s executive director Susan Rabe, who took on the post in 2009.

The new campaign has already received a $50,000 gift from the We Energy Foundation.

In addition to covering maintenance and repair costs, the campaign drive is intended to reinvigorate the foundation's annual giving, which has slipped over the past five years from $300,000 to $400,000 annually, to about $125,000, according to Rabe.

MJS - Annysa Johnson

Wauwatosa pro-life conference challenges, encourages post-abortion caregivers

WAUWATOSA — Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan., challenged and encouraged post-abortion caregivers to see those who seek their help “as the Lord sees them – beyond their weakness – and to call them to wholeness.”

He made his remarks during an Oct. 28 keynote address at the 13th annual Healing Vision Conference, at the Radisson Hotel in Wauwatosa. Organizers characterized the four-day event, Oct. 26-29, as “a think tank conference of academics, medical professionals, mental health experts and caregivers gathered to share resources and research, and (to) network.”

Archbishop Naumann, 62, employed personal stories and biblical passages as he urged his audience to help clients, “pained and in anger” after undergoing or being otherwise involved in abortions, to:

• experience God’s mercy and be able to forgive themselves;
• “be empowered to forgive others” who might have been instrumental in their abortions;
• realize that God is able to turn “terrible tragedy” into “good in their lives – a great grace.”

The archbishop recalled a young couple, parishioners when he was a newly ordained priest in his native St. Louis more than 35 years ago. The couple’s toddler son was killed after darting into the path of a delivery truck and Fr. Naumann witnessed at close hand the parents’ “profound grief.” Sadly, there was also guilt, something women who experience abortions also often feel.

continue at MilCat

Brookfield parish's new athletic facility to be dedicated Sunday

St. Dominic Catholic Parish, 18255 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, will celebrate the completion of their Phase One Master Plan for Capital Improvements with a blessing and dedication with Bishop Donald Hying after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

St. Dominic will also be having an open house Saturday, October 29 from 5:30-6:30 pm and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to showcase their new facilities. St. Dominic Catholic Parish constructed a new 12,000 square foot athletic facility with 2 side- by-side basketball and volleyball competition courts and 4 basketball practice courts and 3 volleyball practice courts. Also featured in the athletic facility are 4 scoreboards, 2 large storage rooms, a new sound system, new bleacher seating and proudly displayed on the anchored resilient maple floor is the newly designed St. Dominic Knight Logo. The facility is fully air conditioned. Additional facility features are a new event lobby, team rooms, concessions area, offices and restrooms.

continue at BrookfieldNow

So do they have a school too, or is this just a parish center?

Arch. Milwaukee issues correction on pension funds

On Tuesday, October 25, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran an article titled, “Milwaukee pension funds fall short.” On the same day, they printed an opinion article on the “perspectives” page written by Fr. Jim Connell of the archdiocese. We have posted additional information related to both of these articles on the archdiocesan website.

You may access more information about the pension fund article here.
You may access more information about Fr. Connell’s opinion piece here.
If you have questions or concerns about either column, please contact us at communication@archmil.org.

Thanks,
Jerry Topczewski
Chief of Staff
Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Milwaukee archdiocese pension funds fall short $41.8 million

Three pension funds operated by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for priests, lay employees and unionized cemetery workers have unfunded liabilities totaling $41.8 million, according to documents filed as part of the archdiocese's bankruptcy proceedings.

The gap between current assets and future payouts for the priest and lay workers' pensions - at 9.6% and 16.9%, respectively - fall within reasonable ranges given the economic conditions of the last few years, according to pension experts.

But the size of the lay workers' pension liability (at $37.4 million) and the funding level of the cemetery workers' pension (55% - with $1.3 million in assets and a $1 million unfunded liability) raise concerns about the health and future of those benefits, pension experts say.

"Anything funded below 80%, you'd have to look at, but a large gap is cause for concern, said Eric Loi, staff attorney for the Pension Rights Center, a consumer advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

Archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf blamed the shortfalls on poor investment returns and said in a statement that there is "no current cause for concern for employees."

"All benefits have been timely paid, and it is clear that the plans will continue to pay all benefits payable in the immediate future," she said.

The pension liabilities are laid out in claims filed last week against the assets of the archdiocese. They are among 160 claims totaling $123.4 million filed to date by creditors in the church's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In this case, it is the archdiocese itself and the pension trustees making the claims to protect the pensions.

continue at MJS

Wisconsin Catholic hospitals partner with abortion-training medical college

The Medical College of Wisconsin, as of this fall, is now training ob/gyn medical residents in abortion procedures. MCW has partnered with the Ryan Residency Program, a George Soros-funded “initiative” to push abortion training into medical schools. A 2010 New York Times article revealed that the new frontier was training ob/gyn medical students in abortions, to bring abortion into every doctor’s office in the U.S.

We already know that MCW uses aborted fetal body parts in research and uses embryonic stem cells in research.

MCW is a private college (unlike UW-Madison, which is state-funded), so state laws regarding the use of state funds in abortions do not apply.

MCW partners with Columbia St. Mary’s and St. Joe’s Hospital in Waukesha for its family residency program. It is disappointing these hospitals have not withdrawn from the MCW program, as both the hospitals and the Archdiocese have been made aware of what is occurring at MCW.

HT PLW

Milwaukee seminarians battle for St. Lawrence Cup

Catholic and Episcopal seminarians will take to the gridiron for annual flag football battle for the St. Lawrence Cup between the St. Francis De Sales Shoremen and Nashotah House Knights at 3 p.m. Sunday at Thomas More High School.

The Catholic Shoremen are looking to make it three in a row, says Ryan Pruess, a 6-1, 325-pound offensive lineman. But Knights Coach Jason Murbarger promises to knock them off with receivers “more nimble than the mind of Thomas Aquinas”[LOL] and a former All-American quarterback.”

For the record, that’s Tony “the arm” Blything. He’s not technically an “All-American,” says Murbarger. “But he was born in America, and he did play high school baseball.”

The trash talk tends to be tame. (Who needs to dish dirt when you can invoke the saints?) [Haha]

“Last year, one of the announcers called them Protestants — they prefer Anglo-catholiclowercase c here — and they didn’t appreciate that,” said Pruess. “So they called us Papists.”

Ouch.

MJS Annysa

Great writeup!!!  I hope the seminarians don't mind being called Papists.  Some of us quite enjoy the description. 

Photo

Milwaukee Catholic Charities gets White House's ear

Representatives from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will take part in a community leaders briefing Friday morning at the White House. Executive Director James Brennan and Operations Services Director Sister Toni Gradisnik will join Catholic Charities representatives from around the country for the gathering, where they’ll discuss their programs and the challenges they face as non-profit human service agencies.

The meeting is expected to include presentations by, among others, the White House Office of Public Engagement and the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. While in Washington, Brennan and Gradisnik will meet with Catholic Charities USA advocacy staff and celebrate Mass with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

MJS

When you see "White House Office of Public Engagement and the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships" as it regards to Catholic entities, read "Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck." 

Maybe this will be the big announcement that Obama is now mandating female "priests" to the Catholic Church.

Nun killed in Chenequa crash

A School Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Mary Benet, 86, has been identified as the victim in the fatal accident that took place Oct. 7 at Highways K and 83 in the Village of Chenequa.

She was a passenger in the car driven by another nun, Sister Kieran Sawyer, 76, who was injured and taken Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The crash involved a dump truck driven by Frederick Kleppin, 56, of Hartford, who was not injured in the accident.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Living Lake Country

Requiescat in pace.  Say a prayer today for her today.

Weekly Traditional Latin Mass in Kenosha, and an endorsement?

Kenosha and Racine Area Catholics
A 12 Noon Sunday Traditional Latin Mass will be offered weekly at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
1919-54th Street, Kenosha, WI
Phone: 262-652-7660

Father Dwight Campbell and Father Benjamin Reese will offer this Mass regularly.

Please visit Apostles of Jesus Christ to learn more about the new society of diocesan priests located at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.

Latin Mass Kenosha

Innnnnnnte'esting!  So if we go to the society's website, look at what we find there....

"Father Campbell and Father Reese bring with them a rich tradition, a pastoral heritage, a heart for the people that they serve but also a vision; a vision to create a spirituality in the lives of many as apostles of Jesus Christ who is both priest and victim."

His Eminence Jerome Listecki
Archbishop Of Milwaukee

Fr. Meney elevates the Holy Eucharist before Holy Communion.

Abp Listecki leads first Mass in new "Chapel" at Stritch Univ.

Artist rendering

Cardinal Stritch University will celebrate the first mass in the new chapel on the second floor of Bonaventure Hall on Tuesday. The service will be lead by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki.

This Mass commemorates the death of St. Francis of Assisi[Oct 4th] and recognize the Franciscan pilgrims leaving for Assisi, Italy.

Shorewood

For some reason no one ever took pictures of the finished interior.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Milwaukee, WI

Found some pictures

Found these on a site called historic-structures.com

There's no dates or further information.  I would think these were probably pulled from some other repository of photos and slapped in this website.  Not sure of their origin. 

FYI, this church is now named Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.