Fr. Breitbach

MILWAUKEE — Fr. Richard C. Breitbach was born in Milwaukee on Dec. 10, 1935. He attended North American College in Rome, from February 1959 to 1960 and was ordained a priest in Rome on Dec. 18, 1960.

After returning to the Milwaukee Archdiocese, his first assignment was as temporary administrator at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Brighton until 1961 when he was transferred to St. John de Nepomuc Parish in Milwaukee as assistant pastor. In 1964 he began work in the archdiocesan tribunal as advocate for matrimonial cases. In 1965, he was appointed part-time instructor at St. Francis Major Seminary in Milwaukee. In June 1971 he moved to St. Francis de Sales College until 1974 when he became the Pro-Synodal Judge. In 1979 Fr. Breitbach joined the faculty at Cardinal Stritch College. In 1999, he returned to pastoral work as pastor of Resurrection Parish, Allenton. In 2002, he became pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, St. Lawrence where he served until his June retirement. From 1990 to June 1999, Fr. Breitbach served as chaplain to the archdiocesan Tridentine Community.

Fr. Cerpich

RANDOM LAKE — Fr. Richard J. Cerpich retired from active ministry in June. After completing courses at Saint Francis Major Seminary, Fr. Cerpich, whose home parish was SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Sheboygan, was ordained on May 27, 1961 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. He was appointed as assistant pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Milwaukee, a post he held for five years. In 1966 he joined the faculty at Pio Nono High School, Milwaukee. In 1971 he transferred to De Sales Seminary, and from 1975 to 1979, was principal at the seminary. After one year at St. Eugene Parish, Fox Point as associate pastor, he became pastor at nearby St. Robert Parish, Shorewood from 1980 to 1992.

He also served as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Random Lake and St. Nicholas in Dacada, and as administrator for St. Patrick Parish in Adell. From 1995 to 2003, Fr. Cerpich was the dean for District 9. In 1996, in addition to his above assignment, he assumed the role of administrator of St. Mary Parish in Cascade and St. Michael Parish. When the parishes merged in June 1998 to become Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Random Lake, Fr. Cerpich was its first pastor.

Throughout his ministry, Fr. Cerpich has served on numerous boards, was an archdiocesan consultor for two terms and was chaplain to several organizations including the Serra Club of Milwaukee from 1976 to 1980 and the diocesan priests’ mothers guild from 1975 to 1979. Even in retirement, Fr. Cerpich is active in the Random Lake Clergy Interfaith.

Fr. Esser

RACINE — Fr. Paul M. Esser retired from active ministry this June. After completing studies at Saint Francis Major Seminary from 1951 to 1957, he was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Catherine Parish in Milwaukee. In 1961 he became a faculty member at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha. From 1967 to 1970 he was principal at Messmer High School, and he later became the principal at St. Joseph High School in Kenosha. In 1973 he became the director of the Archdiocesan Permanent Diaconate Program and in 1977 he was appointed executive secretary to the Priests’ Personnel Board. He served as pastor at Mary Queen of Heaven in West Allis from 1980 to 1991. By August of 1991 he was transferred to St. Paul the Apostle in Racine where he served as pastor until his recent retirement. Since 1998, he served as dean of district 2.

Fr. Richetta

KENOSHA — Fr. John J. Richetta retired from active ministry in June. A native of Milwaukee, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1955 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Racine. Six years later, he transferred to Old St. Mary’s Parish in Milwaukee and while there he became the Newman Club Chaplain at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1966 he was appointed administrator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Kenosha. In 1972 took over the title of pastor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, a position he held until his recent retirement.

Fr. Wester

LE ROY — Fr. Charles H. Wester retired from active ministry in June. After studying at Saint Francis Minor and Major seminaries from 1947 to 1959, Fr. Wester was ordained to the priesthood May 30, 1959. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception in Barton. In 1966, he held the same position at St. Andrew in Delavan until 1973 when he was appointed director of Catholic Campus Ministry. From 1975 to 1977, he was an associate pastor at St. Catherine in Milwaukee while also serving half-time on the archdiocesan priest personnel board. In 1977 he became pastor at St. Joseph in Waukesha. In 1980, he became pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish, Milwaukee and in 1987, he transferred to pastor of St. Edward Parish, Racine. After a three-year sabbatical at the North American College in Rome, he returned in 1993 to become pastor at St. Mary Church, Mayville. While in this post, he became dean of district 7. He served at St. Andrew Parish, LeRoy from 1998 until his retirement in June.