Local
Deacon gives Esto Vir participants ideas to live out roles as fathers, dads
APPLETON — Catholic men attending the Esto Vir (Be a Man) men’s conference Feb. 28 at St. Pius X Church walked away with practical ideas for living “as a man of God.”
The pointers came from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, the first and only black permanent deacon serving in the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore. The deacon’s imposing frame and commanding voice helped get his message across to the approximately 650 men and boys attending the fourth annual conference.
God is at work! Exciting things are happening! I’d like to share some of the good news in the area of vocations in our diocese.
Since the beginning of his time with us in the Diocese of Green Bay, Bishop David Ricken has emphasized the importance of nurturing vocations to the priesthood and religious life. All vocations are so important, especially the vocation of marriage, within which our faith is shared with our children. At this point in history, we have a special need to raise up priests and sisters to serve God’s people.
Passion play will highlight 10-day trip
ALLOUEZ — Green Bay Bishop David L. Ricken will be the spiritual director for a pilgrimage to Austria and Germany in September and October 2010. The highlight of the pilgrimage, sponsored by The Compass, will be attending a performance of the world famous Passion play in Oberammergau, Germany, on Oct. 2.
According to Compass advertising and marketing manager Amy Kawula, only 48 spots are available on this trip. Reservations are on a first-come, first served basis.
Author, lecturer to speak at diocesan Team Days March 20
ALLOUEZ – Paul Wilkes has covered wars as a reporter, spoken with the Dalai Lama, lived as a hermit in a Trappist monastery, written 20 books, given lectures across the country and produced an acclaimed television series, yet he describes himself as “just a regular guy who feels optimistic about this church.”
“Through all the failures and triumphs in my life, I’ve always come back to the basics of faith,” he said. “There is no better way to live a life than as a Catholic, and the best place to live your faith is in your parish.”
Support offered to cancer patients, families by hospital chaplains
GREEN BAY — You are never alone during your journey through cancer.
That’s what Connie Worzalla, patient care coordinator at the St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center in Green Bay, wants you to know. And so does John Viste, chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital, whose ministry focuses on serving the needs of patients and their loved ones dealing with the challenges of cancer.
APPLETON — As the end of life approaches for those with terminal cancer or other conditions, hospice services offer patients and their families in-home assistance with physical, emotional and spiritual needs. For those with a life expectancy of six months or less, services are covered by Medicare and most insurances.
“And we do have indigent funding for those who are unable to pay for it,” said Carolyn Batton, director of Affinity Hospice serving the Appleton, Oshkosh and Chilton areas. “Nobody goes without it.”
Wish List 2009: Lenten giving seeks Easter joy
GREEN BAY – Lent is a time we are asked to fast, pray and give alms.
It is also time for the annual Lenten/Easter Wish List, to which Compass readers have given generously since 1993.
The list links readers with some of the smaller organizations that help the poor, elderly, sick and disadvantaged around the diocese. Over these 16 years, 288 group requests have been placed on the Wish List. At least half the requests have been filled each year. Last year, 75 percent of the groups received donations from the list.
Listed below are groups, a description of their work, requests and a contact person. Whatever you choose, tell them that you read it in The Compass, so the project can continue to grow. Make personal contact with each group. Even if you wish to stay anonymous, telling the group you read about them in The Compass will help us track the success of the wish list.
Following Cole Ruotsala’s cancer death, family creates Web site to pray for others with cancer
GREEN BAY — Eight months ago, Moireen and Aaron Ruotsala of Ironwood, Mich., were celebrating the birthday of their oldest son, Cole, with a traditional 3-year-old’s birthday party. It was a lovely June day and there was cake, ice cream and, of course, lots of toys. Cole’s younger sister, Chanielle, 2, was there too and mom and dad, who were just married in 2004, were also looking forward to the birth of their third child.
But then there was an incident.
Cole bumped his stomach – hard – on a toy truck. So off to the emergency room the Ruotsalas went. Cole was fine – at least on this June day.
Cooley says people facing cancer often rely on faith to help them through
GREEN BAY — Life and faith intersect daily for Dr. Greg Cooley in the people he treats as a radiation oncologist at St. Vincent Hospital.
“It’s sometimes good to feel good about your faith and where you are, but cancer is just gross reality,” Dr. Cooley said. “It brings your faith down to this dirty, meaty, tough, tough position where you grasp reality.
Third in a series
GREEN BAY — How can objects so heavy that they sink to the bottom of the water form a cancer risk? They can if they’re polychlorinated biphenyls. And PCBs in the Fox River occur at the highest rate of any state bordering Lake Michigan. The current cleanup project of the river, expected to last at least 10 more years, is the largest in the country.
It’s important to remember that rates of environmentally related cancers are much lower than that of cancers related to smoking, diet or hereditary factors. Links to environmental causes are more tenuous, and studies still in their early stages.