Religion Briefs

From the Journal Sentinel

St. Anthony's expecting large crowds to see statue

Large crowds are expected this weekend at St. Anthony Catholic Church, a largely Hispanic parish on the south side, for the pilgrimage visit from Mexico of what is said to be a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary - the statue of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, or Our Lady of St. John of the Lakes.

The 40-inch statue, made of corn cane, was scheduled to be escorted into the church in procession Friday night. There will be Masses, rosaries and other devotions - some in English, most in Spanish - from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 6 a.m. until the departure Mass begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

If weather permits, the final Mass and farewell will be celebrated on the steps of the church, 1711 S. 9th St. Church officials said 9th St. will be closed from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Call (414) 645-1455.

Ecumenical prayer service to precede Laborfest march

The public is invited to a Labor Day ecumenical prayer service organized by the Faith Community for Worker Justice at 9 a.m. Monday at the American Postal Workers Hall, 417 N. 3rd St.

The service will include Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Baha'i participants. It will last about an hour so that people can participate in the 11 a.m. march from Zeidler Union Square, at N. 4th and W. Michigan streets, to Maier Festival Park for the Laborfest.

The ecumenical service is part of a Labor in the Pulpits effort to forge bonds between labor and organized religion. Many houses of worship will have guest speakers on or near Labor Day weekend.

Welcoming Masses for Archbishop Dolan set

Catholics are invited to welcoming Masses and receptions for newly installed Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan.

The remaining schedule is: today, 4:30 p.m. Mass, St. Frances Cabrini Church, 1025 S. 7th Ave., West Bend; Sunday, 3 p.m. English-Spanish Mass, Milwaukee's Prince of Peace Church, 1126 S. 25th St.; Tuesday, 7 p.m. Mass, St. Dominic Church, 2133 N. 22nd St., Sheboygan; Wednesday, 7 p.m. Mass, St. Francis DeSales Church, 144 Main St., Lake Geneva; Thursday, 7 p.m. Mass, St. Richard Church, 1503 Grand Ave., Racine; Friday, 7 p.m. Mass, St. Rita Church, 2318 S. 61st St., West Allis; Sept. 7, 4:30 p.m. Mass, St. Robert Church, 4019 N. Farwell Ave., Shorewood.

The final welcoming Mass, at 3 p.m. Sept. 8 in the chapel at the Cousins Center, 3501 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis, will be followed by a picnic reception for all Catholics of the archdiocese on the center's grounds.

Cathedral renovation, St. Boniface design win honors

The renovation of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee and the design for St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Mequon have won major national honors for architects at the Milwaukee office of Hammel, Green & Abrahamson. The 2002 Religious Art and Architecture awards are presented annually by Faith and Form, a national non-profit group that publishes a magazine of the same name.

The cathedral project, which included extensive restoration of the 1847 church and a controversial reconfiguration of its interior, was one of three winners of the group's religious architecture/renovation awards. The St. Boniface design, with a striking, copper-clad roof and spire, was one of six given in the category of religious architecture/new facilities. Jim Shields was the design architect for both projects.

Liberty and Truth holding crusade, rally for youth

Liberty and Truth Ministries Inc. is holding its first Youth Empowerment Crusade and Rally at Rehoboth Miracle Temple Church of God In Christ, 2904 N. 29th St. Worship services are at 7 p.m. nightly from Wednesday through Sept. 7, with a youth rally from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 7. Call (414) 462-4420.

Pets to be blessed in commemoration of St. Francis

Blessings of live pets and stuffed toys will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 7 to mark an early commemoration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi at Unity West Church, 4750 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa. Call (414) 464-5130.

Courses on Jesus' messages offered at churches

Alpha Courses - small-group study courses designed to present the message of Jesus in a compelling and non-threatening manner, especially to people with little faith background - will be offered at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, and at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, 3906 W. Mequon Road, Mequon.

Beginning Wednesday, three programs will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at St. Matthew's: Alpha I, a 12-week course titled "The Questions of Life"; the eight-week Alpha II, "The Study of Philippians"; and the 18-week Alpha III course, "An In-Depth Study of the Sermon on the Mount." Alpha II also will be offered from 8:45 to 10 a.m., starting Sept. 6. Call (414) 774-0441.

At St. Boniface, there will be a celebration supper and sample course materials at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12. Sessions begin Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and run for 10 Thursdays. There also will be a "Holy Spirit Saturday" on Oct. 26 and a celebration dinner on Jan. 16. Call (262) 242-2994.

St. Paul's offering free tour of Tiffany windows

A free guided tour of the historic Tiffany windows in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 914 E. Knapp St., will be offered to the public at 11 a.m. Sept. 7 as part of the church's annual Harvest Fare. An organ concert by music ministry director Gretchen Longwell will be at 10:30 a.m.