|
ST. FRANCIS — Thirty four priests with ties to the Milwaukee Archdiocese will celebrate anniversaries of ordination this year. This week your Catholic Herald features the men celebrating 65, 60, 50 and 25 anniversaries. The information comes from a biographical form submitted by the priests in response to an inquiry from your Catholic Herald. Not everyone observing jubilees responded to the newspaper’s request for information. Also listed are the men marking 10 and 40 years as priests.
65 years
Fr. William Edward Cox
Born in Janesville to Charles and Catherine, Fr. William Edward Cox attended St. Mary of the Nativity Grade School and Saint Francis Seminary, where he received a bachelor’s degree. He was ordained Feb. 2, 1942 at St. Anthony, Milwaukee.
Fr. Cox served at St. Thomas Aquinas, Kenosha, 1942-1947; and St. Patrick, Fond du Lac, 1947-1963. He then served at St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. Fr. Cox was the founding pastor of St. Paul the Apostle, Racine, in 1963 where he served until his retirement in 1991. Additionally, Fr. Cox served the Catholic Youth Organization from 1942-1947. He was a chaplain of the Daughters of Isabella from 1947-1958 and with the Knights of Columbus.
Fr. Cox’s jubilee celebration was held Feb. 4 at St. Paul the Apostle, Racine.
Fr. Warren J. Schmitt
Born in Milwaukee to Amalia and Edgar, Fr. Warren J. Schmitt attended St. Catherine Grade School, and St. Lawrence Seminary, Mount Calvary. He also attended Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. He was ordained May 1, 1942 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Fr. Schmitt served at St. Rita, West Allis, 1942-1951. He also served at Holy Name, Sheboygan, 1951-1954; St. Dominic, Sheboygan, 1954-1956; Immaculate Conception, Burlington, 1956-1957; SS. Peter and Paul and St. Anthony in Nenno, 1957-1963; St. Matthew, Campbellsport, 1963-1969; St. Gregory the Great, Milwaukee, from 1969-1971; and Holy Angels, West Bend 1971-1977. He then retired to Sun Lakes, Ariz., where he gave Sunday assistance to parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix. He also made hospital visits and arranged funerals for those not registered with any parish.
Fr. Schmitt said that he, along with the late Fr. John Arens, was instrumental in having a Chapel of All Faiths built in Sun Lakes. The chapel served Catholics, as well as those in the Protestant and Jewish faiths.
60 years
Fr. Joseph Baran
Born in Milwaukee to Joseph and Mathilda, Fr. Joseph Baran attended St. Sebastian Grade School. He then attended Marquette University High School, Milwaukee and St. Bonaventure High School, Sturtevant. He received a bachelor’s degree from Saint Francis Seminary in 1944. He was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 1947 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Baran served at Holy Family, Cudahy, 1947-1964. He briefly served at St. Joseph, West Allis, and then served at St. Stanislaus, 1965-1968. He was pastor of St. Wenceslaus, Ripon, 1968-1970, and pastor at St. Clare, Wind Lake, 1970-2006. Fr. Baran served on the priest senate, the grievance committee of the archdiocese, and taught at Notre Dame High School, St. Mary’s Academy and Pius XI High School, Milwaukee. He was the first charter chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Pope Pius XI Cudahy Council and chaplain of the South Milwaukee 1709 council. In 1994 he received the Racine County award for “Man of the Year.”
He writes, “What I value most about the priesthood is the privilege of offering the Mass daily which is why I became a priest in the first place. Everything else can be done by anyone. Making the Eucharist available for people and administering the sacraments is what priesthood is all about.”
Fr. Charles D. Loehr
Born to Anton and Laura, Fr. Charles D. Loehr attended St. Michael Grade School, Do-tyville, St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary, and Saint Francis Seminary. He was ordained June 7, 1947 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Loehr was an assistant pastor at St. Michael, Milwaukee, 1947-1961; St. Mary, Port Washington, 1961-1963; St. Peter, Beaver Dam, 1963-1964; and St. Matthias, Milwaukee, 1964-1967. He was pastor of St. Theresa, Theresa, 1967-1992, when he retired. Additionally, Fr. Loehr was the CYO director for district 12, 1968-1979, and an ordinary confessor at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport. From 1950-1959 he was a religion teacher at Messmer High School, Milwaukee.
Fr. Loehr’s jubilee will be held June 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Shepherd of the Hills, W1562 County Road B, Eden.
Fr. John W. Rausch
Born in New Berlin to John and Eva, Fr. John W. Rausch attended Holy Apostles Grade School. He then attended Saint Francis Seminary. He received a bachelor’s degree from the seminary and a master’s degree in education from Marquette University. He was ordained June 7, 1947 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Rausch served parishes including St. Anne and St. Matthias, Milwaukee; St. Mary, Mayville; St. John, Plymouth; St. Thomas, Waterford; and St. Mary, Marytown, and St. Patrick in Erin. He also served as administrator at Dominican High School, Milwaukee, in 1960. He taught at Dominican and Divine Savior Holy Angels for seven years. Following his retirement in 1993, he assisted with retreats at the Schoenstatt Retreat Center, Delafield. He also said Mass for the Tridentine community at St. Mary Help of Christians, West Allis, and St. Stanislaus, Milwaukee.
Of his years in the priesthood, he wrote, “I would do it all over again, but better!”
Fr. Edward F. Sippel
Born in Fond du Lac to Louis and Della, Fr. Edward F. Sippel attended St. Joseph Grade School. For high school he attended St. Lawrence Seminary followed by Saint Francis Seminary. He was ordained June 7, 1947 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Sippel served as an assistant at St. Aloysius, West Allis; St. John Nepomuk, Racine; St. Joseph, Waukesha, and St. Therese, Milwaukee. He was pastor of St. Mary, Juneau, 1968-1971. He was pastor of St. Patrick, Fond du Lac, 1971-1991. Since 1993 he was served as a part time chaplain for the retired Sisters of Saint Agnes.
He writes, “When I began chaplaincy with retired Agnesians in 1993, four of my former grade school teachers were in residence. When the last of these passed away it was a definitive moment in my life and ministry.”
His jubilee celebration was held June 10 at the Holy Family-Sacred Heart site in Fond du Lac.
Fr. Donald N. Weber
Fr. Donald N. Weber, who died May 3, would have celebrated his 65th jubilee this year. Born in Milwaukee, he entered Saint Francis Minor Seminary in 1941 and attended Saint Francis Major Seminary from 1942-1947. He was ordained June 7, 1947 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Weber served throughout the archdiocese. From 1960 to 1975 he was the director of the Catholic Family Life Program. He was the president of the Milwaukee Priests’ Senate from 1974-1978. He retired from his position as pastor at St. Jude the Apostle in Wauwatosa after 13 years in 1995. Fr. Weber’s brother, Fr. Gordon Weber, was ordained a priest in 1952.
Fr. Charles J. Verhalen
50 years
Fr. Robert John Bales
Born in Cudahy to Wilfred and Margaret, Fr. Robert John Bales attended St. Frederick School and Cudahy High School. He also attended Saint Francis Minor and Major seminaries. He was ordained May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
He was associate pastor of St. Joseph, Fond du Lac, 1957-1963; St. Agnes, Milwaukee, 1963-1966; Our Lady of Sorrows, Milwaukee, 1966-1969; St. Anne, Milwaukee, 1969-1972; and St. Jerome, Oconomowoc, 1972-1976. He was pastor of St. Augustine, Milwaukee, 1976-1984; and St. Peter, Slinger, 1984-2001. He also taught religion classes at St. Mary’s Springs Academy, Fond du Lac, and Messmer High School, Milwaukee.
Fr. Donald B. Braun
Born in West Allis to Edward and Martha, Fr. Donald B. Braun attended St. Matthew Grade School, Milwaukee and Pio Nono and Saint Francis Minor and Major seminaries. He was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Braun served as pastor at Mother of Perpetual Help, Milwaukee, 1959-1964. From 1964-1980 he was pastor and administrator of St. Wenceslaus, Milwaukee. He was pastor of SS. Peter and Paul, Milwaukee, from 1980-1989. He served as pastor of St. Mary, Fox Lake, from 1989-1999.
Fr. Braun’s jubilee celebration was held June 10 at Annunciation Parish in Fox Lake.
Fr. Paul A. Daniels
Born in Brighton to Max and Elizabeth, Fr. Paul A. Daniels attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School, St. Mary/Catholic Central High School, Burlington, and Saint Francis Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1959.
Fr. Daniels served as an associate at St. Matthias, Milwaukee, 1957-1964; Holy Redeemer, Milwaukee, 1964-1965; Holy Name, Racine, 1965-1969; St. Joseph, Waukesha, 1969-1970; and St. John the Evangelist, South Milwaukee, 1970-1976. From 1976-1984 he served St. Patrick in Racine as an administrator and team leader, and he was pastor from 1984-1998 at Good Shepherd in Menomonee Falls. Following his retirement in 1998 he became the chaplain of St. Monica Senior Home in Racine. Fr. Daniels was also the chaplain for Christian Family Movement and Young Christian Worker. He was a member of the archdiocesan commission for worship and prayer, the commission for interfaith and ecumenical affairs, and the Priest Alliance Convening Council.
Fr. Daniels’ jubilee was held May 27 at St. Paul the Apostle, Racine.
Fr. John H. Endejan
Born in Fond du Lac to Herman and Emma, Fr. John Endejan attended St. Mary Grade School. He attended St. Mary’s Springs High School for one year before transferring to St. Lawrence Seminary. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Saint Francis Seminary, and a master’s degree in education from Marquette University. He was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Endejan served at St. Anne, Milwaukee, 1957-1962. He served as the director of Catholic Youth Organization from 1962-1981, while he was a resident and team member at Old St. Mary’s, Milwaukee. He was pastor of St. Matthias, Milwaukee, 1981-1991, and pastor of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 1991-2001. Fr. Endejan was also the archdiocesan chaplain for the Girl Scouts, 1958-1981; the chaplain of Catholic Family Life Insurance, 1973-2001; and a member of the Saint Francis Seminary board, 1991-2001.
Fr. Endejan’s jubilee was held May 20 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Fr. Paul M. Esser
Born in Milwaukee to Joseph and Anna, Fr. Paul M. Esser attended St. Lawrence Grade School, Milwaukee, and Marquette University High School. He received a master’s degree in education from Marquette University, and attended Saint Francis Seminary. He was ordained May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Esser served as an associate at St. Catherine, Milwaukee, 1957-1961. He served on the faculty at Catholic Memorial High School, Waukesha, 1961-1967. He was principal of Messmer High School, Milwaukee, 1967-1970, and principal of St. Joseph High School, Kenosha, 1970-1973. He was the founding director of the Permanent Diaconate Program, 1973-1980. He was pastor of Mary Queen of Heaven, West Allis, 1980-1991. He was pastor of St. Paul the Apostle, Racine, 1991 until he retired in 2005. Currently, Fr. Esser is the archdiocesan coordinator of the Hurricane Katrina Relief Program. He is also currently a member of the speakers’ bureau of Catholic Relief Services.
Fr. Esser’s jubilee was held June 3 at St. Paul the Apostle, Racine.
Fr. Andrew L. Nelson
Born in Appleton to Henry and Dor-othy, Fr. Andrew Nelson attended high school and two years of college at Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz. He attended Saint Paul Seminary from 1952-1954. He earned a licentiate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained July 14, 1957 at the Church of Saint Alexis in Rome. He later earned a doctorate in religious studies from Marquette University.
Fr. Nelson was assistant pastor at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, 1958-1963. He was a chaplain at Winnebago State Hospital, 1963-1970. He served as pastor at Sacred Heart, Oshkosh, 1970-1972. He was an instructor at Marian College and St. Norbert College, 1974-1978. From 1974-1976 he was the chaplain at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Agnes, Fond du Lac. He was pastor of Good Samaritan, Oshkosh, 1976-1978, and was co-director of Continuing Formation for Priests in the Green Bay Diocese. From 1978-2001 he was a professor of moral theology at Saint Francis Seminary, as well as vice rector and academic dean. He served as the seminary’s rector 1995-2001. He was incardinated into the archdiocese in 1988. He was an assisting priest at St. Paul, Milwaukee, 2002-2006.
Fr. Nelson writes, “My many years in formation ministry under Archbishop Weakland with my colleagues at the seminary and with so many exemplary students as they have prepared for ordained and lay ministry has been a singular blessing. Now under Archbishop Dolan, celebrating the Liturgy at the Cathedral and neighboring parishes regularly, classroom teaching and lecturing in parishes, continue to be both challenging and highly rewarding, as the opportunities arise. I also try to serve as a resource person in the areas of bioethics, preaching and spirituality.”
Fr. Nelson’s jubilee is scheduled for July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 831 N. Van Buren St., Milwaukee.
Fr. Charles A. Scheuerell
Born in Milwaukee to John and Emma, Fr. Charles A. Scheuerell attended Saint Francis Minor and Major seminaries. He was ordained May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Scheuerell was an assistant at St. Mary, Port Washington, 1957-1962; St. Mary, Hales Corners, 1962-1963; St. Jude, Wauwatosa, 1963-1969; and Corpus Christi, Milwaukee, 1969-1976. He was pastor of St. Matthew, Milwaukee, 1976-1983; and St. Patrick, Beaver Dam, 1984-1998. Since retiring in 1998, he has been assisting at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, North Lake and Monches.
He writes, “I always, over the last 50 years, enjoyed serving the Lord as a priest. The people that I served over the years have been a great source of support to me in countless ways.”
Fr. Scheuerell’s jubilee celebration was held May 20 at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam.
Fr. Edward Wawrzyniakowski
Born in Milwaukee to Edward and Josephine, Fr. Wawrzyniakowski attended St. Hyacinth School, and Notre Dame High School. He then attended Saint Francis Minor and Major seminaries. He was ordained May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee.
Fr. Wawrzyniakowski was an assistant at Holy Family, Cudahy, 1957-1958. He served at SS. Cyril and Methodius, Milwaukee, 1958-1959; and St. Vincent de Paul, 1959-1975. He was pastor of St. Francis Borgia, Cedarburg, 1975-2002.
Fr. Wawrzyniakowski said, “I have been greatly blessed in receiving the sacrament of holy orders and the opportunity to serve my parishioners for the past 50 years. I cannot say enough about the great love, cooperation and support that I have received from my family and friends, the people in the parishes, and children in the schools. A great deal of joy and pride comes from being ordained with the great priests in the class of 1957. My great appreciation goes out to the 14 priests who were my very, very dedicated and dependable weekend helpers for 20 years. It has been a wonderful life.”
Fr. Wawrzyniakowski’s jubilee celebration will be held Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. and Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. at St. Francis Borgia, 1375 Covered Bridge Road, Cedarburg.
Fr. Donald F. Zerkel
Born in Chicago to Joseph and Julia, Fr. Donald F. Zerkel attended grade school at St. Nicholas of Tolentine and St. John Cathedral, Milwaukee. He attended Saint Francis Minor and Saint Francis Major seminaries. He received a master’s degree in education from Marquette University. He was ordained May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Zerkel began his priestly ministry at St. Andrew, Delavan, 1957-1964. He served St. Kilian, Hartford, 1964-1965; and St. John School for the Deaf, St. Francis, 1965-1983. He served again at St. Andrew, 1983-1991; and St. John, Byron and St. James, Oakfield, 1991-1999. Since retiring in 1999, he has served as a temporary pastor at St. Andrew; St. Theresa, Kenosha; St. John Neumann, Waukesha; Tri Parishes, Reeseville; and St. James, Mukwonago.
Of his years of ministry he writes, “I went to the seminary right from grade school. I sometimes wonder if I would be a priest today if I had attended Messmer instead. Probably not. I’m so glad it worked out this way. I don’t think I’d have had so full and happy a life other than as a priest. May it go on and on and on... Thank you, Lord.”
Fr. Dennis C. Klemme
40 years
Fr. Edward J. Cook
Fr. Gerald J. Hessel
Fr. Edward J. Hussli
Fr. William E. Kohler
Fr. James P. Loehr
Fr. Roy A. Mateljan
Fr. Robert J. Richter
Fr. Gregory M. Spitz
Fr. Russel J. Stommel
Fr. James A. Strupp
Capuchin Fr. Al Veik
25 years
Carmelite Fr. Fred Alexander
Born in Chicago to Louis and Ruby, Carmelite Fr. Fred Alexander attended St. Clare Grade School, and Mt. Carmel High School. He attended DePaul University earning a bachelor’s degree in political science, and The Catholic University of America from which he received a master of divinity degree. He was ordained to the priesthood Oct. 2, 1982 at St. Florian, West Milwaukee.
He served at St. Florian from 1981-1985, and then went to the Common Retreat House in New Hampshire from 1985-1988. He was the vocations director for the Midwest from 1987-1993, and served at Holy Hill from 1988-1993. Fr. Alexander also served in African American ministry in Milwaukee from 1993-1995, and in Washington, D.C. from 1995-1996. He was pastor of St. Mary of the Hill, Hubertus, from 1996-2002. He then was named provincial delegate to secular Carmelites in the Midwest region until 2005. Fr. Alexander is currently the pastor of St. Mary of the Hill. Throughout his priestly ministry, Fr. Alexander has been a speaker at Secular Carmelite congresses, a scripture instructor in black lay leadership programs, an editorial board member of Horizon Magazine, and a provincial councilor from 1996-1999.
Fr. Alexander’s jubilee will be held July 14 at 11 a.m. at the Basilica of Holy Hill, 1515 Carmel Road, Hubertus.
Fr. Stephen J. Lampe
Born in St. Louis to John and Margaret, Fr. Stephen Lampe attended Santa Maria del Popolo Grade School and Carmel High School for Boys, both in Mundelein, Ill. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Marquette University, before entering Saint Francis Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood June 25, 1982 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee.
Fr. Lampe began his priestly ministry as associate pastor of Holy Redeemer in Milwaukee, 1982-1986. He studied in Rome, 1986-1991. He was a faculty member of Saint Francis Seminary, 1991-2005. He was the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, Milwaukee, 1995-2000. He was assistant priest at St. Patrick, 2001-2003, and assistant priest of St. Peter Claver, Sheboygan, 2003-2005. He has been an adjunct professor at Cardinal Stritch University since 2006, as well as pastor of St. Joseph, Grafton.
His jubilee celebration will be held the weekend of June 23-24 after all weekend Masses at St. Joseph, 1619 Washington St., Grafton.
Fr. Michael F. Moran
Born in Milwaukee to Howard and Catherine, Fr. Michael F. Moran attended Holy Angels Grade School. He attended St. Lawrence Seminary and Capuchin Seminary of St. Mary and St. Joseph College in Indiana and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He attended Saint Francis Seminary and graduated with a master’s of divinity. He was ordained June 15, 1982 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Fr. Moran was associate pastor at Holy Angels, 1982-1984; associate pastor at St. Mary, Sheboygan Falls, 1984-1986; and associate pastor at St. Mary, Fond du Lac, 1986-1989. He was administrator of St. Matthew, Campbellsport, 1989-1995. He received his first pastorate at St. Mary, Sheboygan Falls, 1995-2000. From 2000-2005 he was pastor of St. Joseph, Waupun. Since 2005 he has been pastor of St. Mary Immaculate Conception, West Bend.
Of his years of ministry he writes, “The majority of my education and spiritual formation was with the Capuchin Franciscans of the St. Joseph Province. I will always be eternally grateful for all I have received from them. Each day I find I draw upon something from my time with them for my life and ministry.”
Fr. Moran’s jubilee celebration will be held 10 a.m., July 1, at Immaculate Conception Church of St. Mary, 1610 Monroe St., West Bend.
Fr. Jean-Pierre Kabongo Mukundo
10 years
Fr. Michael E. Nowak |
