Forty-fourth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
In a recent interview, Msgr. James R. Bartylla, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison who worked with three of its five bishops, discussed how the diocese has grown and developed over its 75-year history.
First three bishops
Monsignor Bartylla wasn’t yet born when the diocese began. He was ordained a priest in 2001. But he can imagine what a challenge it was for the founding bishop, Bishop William P. O’Connor, to start a new diocese in 1946, especially after a world war.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Bishop O’Connor,” said Monsignor Bartylla. “He took on the challenge, dealing with finances, priest personnel, founding Holy Name Seminary, and taking us into Vatican II, among many other things.”
Monsignor Bartylla reflected that Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell, the second bishop, “was the one who had to adjust the diocese to Vatican II and much cultural change. We owe him a debt of gratitude, too.”
Bishop William H. Bullock came in after Bishop O’Donnell’s 25-year tenure. “It is not easy to step in after a long-term bishop,” noted Monsignor Bartylla. However, he said Bishop Bullock steered the diocese through 10 years with some difficult situations, including the closing of Holy Name Seminary.
Serving under Bishop Morlino
Monsignor Bartylla said that Bishop Robert C. Morlino arrived in 2003 during a vocation crisis. “He was a master of vocations. He knew young men and had a natural charisma as a father figure for them,” said the vicar general, who served as diocesan vocation director under Bishop Morlino for five years.
The number of seminarians grew from six to 33 under Bishop Morlino, with a responding growth in the number of those ordained to the priesthood. Monsignor Bartylla also noted Bishop Morlino’s emphasis on liturgical renewal and strengthening catechesis.
Monsignor Bartylla served as vicar general for almost nine years under Bishop Morlino and was appointed diocesan administrator upon the bishop’s death in November of 2018. Bishop Morlino asked the vicar general to give the homily at his funeral Mass.
Administrator and coming of Bishop Hying
Monsignor Bartylla served as diocesan administrator for seven months. “There was nobody in my role as vicar general,” he noted, so all the responsibility of leading the diocese fell on him, although he did have “a great team” in the chancery who helped.
His experience as administrator gave him a respect for the role of bishops, including the time constraints and daily sacrifices they make.
Monsignor Bartylla began his service under Bishop Donald J. Hying in 2019, who reappointed him vicar general soon after his installation.
Monsignor Bartylla said Bishop Hying “is a very good builder on the previous bishops. He is a Wisconsinite with years of experience and a good sense of the people throughout the diocese, including those in rural areas and Hispanics. He is prioritizing evangelization and has been able to weather the COVID crisis.”
The Diocese of Madison’s Annual Catholic Appeal exceeded its goal in 2021. Monsignor Bartylla said that is because Bishop Hying has built trust among the people of the diocese by his frequent visits to parishes and schools.
Role of the vicar general
Monsignor Bartylla said his main role as vicar general is to be supportive of the bishop. “In some ways, the less you hear about the vicar general, the better,” he said.
“Msgr. (now Bishop) Paul J. Swain set an example for me,” he said. “He wasn’t so visible, but he did a lot for the bishop as vicar general, as I’m sure Msgr. Raymond Klaas did as vicar general.” Monsignor Klaas served for over 25 years in that role.
As vicar general, Monsignor Bartylla has helped out working with “pockets of need that exist in a diocese of our size (what Pope Francis would call the ‘margins’), such as migrant Masses at Cambria, managing the Hispanic Encuentro, working on the jail and prison apostolates, and seeing to the needs of the beloved Religious Sisters.”
Although other priests and lay people assist with these ministries, they are not always available to help with their own busy schedules. Monsignor Bartylla has especially found jail and prison ministry rewarding. “You encounter great moments of grace and humility” among the incarcerated, he said.
Dealing with clergy sexual abuse
The Catholic Church on national and international levels has been dealing with the problem of clergy sexual abuse for many years.
The Diocese of Madison has perhaps one of the best track records in dealing with abuse. The diocese established its Office of Safe Environment in 2004 and promotes safe environment policies.
“The key is to maintain vigilance,” said Monsignor Bartylla. “We recognize the history of the problem and our response must be firm and vigilant.”
He noted that the diocesan bishops have met with victims and have “grieved with them over their pain.”
Diocesan outreach
Monsignor Bartylla is proud of the many ways the Diocese of Madison reaches out to people of all ages through its diocesan offices and parishes. “People work diligently day after day to give life to important ministries,” he noted.
He points to Catholic education, with elementary, secondary, and college levels. Catholic cemeteries are a key work of mercy in the diocese. Catholic Charities, Evangelization and Catechesis, the Office of Communications, the Catholic Herald, Catholic hospitals and nursing homes, and many other agencies provide services to individuals and families.
“We measure the health of a society and the Church by how we treat our most vulnerable, from the young in the womb to our families, youth, the elderly, and deceased,” he observed.
He gave a shout-out to Catholic families for the “sacrifices they make for their children. They are a school of virtue for our future mothers, fathers, and priests.”
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.