Throughout his time as Bishop of Madison, Bishop William H. Bullock initiated a variety of policies and programs. Many of these still exist today.
Policies and programs
- In 1993, Bishop Bullock established a diocesan clergy sexual abuse policy as one of his first acts as bishop.
- In 1995, Bishop Bullock established the Diocesan Cabinet and promulgated a sabbatical policy for priests.
- In 1996, the name of Catholic Social Services was changed to Catholic Charities and the program for the Spanish speaking was changed to the Office for Hispanic Ministry. A full-time director of communications was named.
- In December of 1997, Fr. Kevin Akagha came to the Diocese of Madison from the Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria, to serve as an assistant to Bishop Bullock. He was the first of a number of Nigerian priests who served in the diocese.
- In 1999, Bishop Bullock appointed a lay director of Religious Education and Family Ministry.
- In 2001, the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development was established with a lay director.
Other news
- On March 4, 1998, Fr. Alfred J. Kunz, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Dane, was found murdered at his parish. After much investigation, the murder has yet to be solved.
- In April of 1998, Fr. Paul J. Swain, vicar general of the diocese, was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of Reverend Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.
- In March of 1999, Fr. Daniel T. Ganshert, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Madison and director of the diocesan Office of Planning and Vicar for Religious, was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.
- On March 19, 2000, the Diocese of Madison and the South Central Wisconsin Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America celebrated a Service of Thanksgiving to God for the ratification of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with Bishop Bullock and Lutheran Bishop Jon Enslin co-presiding.
- On August 18, 2000, 19 priests of the diocese were invested as Prelates of Honor with the title of Monsignor.
Achieved a goal
On June 8, 2002, Bishop Bullock achieved a goal he set as bishop when he came to the Diocese of Madison in 1993: he completed his visits to all 137 parishes in the diocese with a visit to St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Glen Haven.
On September 29, 2002, Bishop Bullock celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest and nine years as shepherd of the Diocese of Madison with a special Mass at St. Raphael Cathedral.
On May 23, 2003, Bishop Bullock resigned his post, having reached the age of 75. He served as diocesan administrator until the installation of Bishop Robert C. Morlino as his successor on August 1, 2003. Bishop Bullock served as Bishop Emeritus until his death on April 3, 2011.
More on Bishop Morlino will be included in the next article in this series.
Source: Archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper.
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.