Following are excerpts from the funeral homily for Bishop Robert C. Morlino given at his funeral Mass on December 4, 2018. The entire homily can be seen here.
Your Excellency Archbishop Listecki, visiting archbishops, bishops, distinguished civil leaders, my brother priests coming from near and far, deacons, those in consecrated life, seminarians, and our beloved lay faithful, we appreciate your attendance today at the Funeral Mass for Bishop Morlino.
MADISON — As Catholics of the Diocese of Madison mourn the loss of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, many are asking what happens next.
“In the coming days, weeks, and years, those questions will be answered in due course,” said a statement issued by the Diocese of Madison.
Most immediately, the diocese needs a diocesan administrator to serve prior to the appointment of the fifth bishop of Madison by Pope Francis.
Following is a statement from the Diocese of Madison:
As Catholics of the Diocese of Madison mourn the loss of our beloved bishop, many have asked questions about what happens next.
Recently, there has been media attention regarding a private and confidential communication to the priests of the Diocese of Madison regarding funeral rites and those in homosexual civil or otherwise notorious unions. The answers below are an attempt to correct misinterpretations of the communication and provide explanation so there is greater clarity. To all those who try or hope to try to live the challenge of following the natural law and thereby the Church’s teaching while struggling with same-sex attraction and perhaps many times faltering, please know you are loved and respected, and always welcome in the Catholic Church and invited to the truth of the Gospel. Jesus Christ loves you and wants your joy.
Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, effective Saturday, July 15, 2017, unless otherwise specifically stated, and announced at weekend Masses of Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and May 14, 2017.
Catechumen Logan Brown, from St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison, and candidate Trevor Knapp, from Cathedral Parish in Madison, had similar words and emotions to describe their journey.
People in the Diocese of Madison were recently given a “sneak peak” at the progress of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center (BOC) redevelopment.
MADISON — All interested persons are invited to a Groundbreaking Ceremony to be held at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center to celebrate the commencement of construction for the redevelopment project at the center.
Gorman & Company and the Diocese of Madison closed the financing for this project at the end of March and construction has begun.
The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Friday, May 1. The program will start with Bishop Robert C. Morlino celebrating the daily 12 noon Mass in the O’Connor Center chapel.
For the past decade and a half, the eighth day of the Easter Octave has become a time of celebration in its own right.
In 2003, the Diocese of Madison had only six seminarians studying to be priests. With the number of ordinations decreasing and retirements of many active priests looming, the future didn’t look very promising.
