Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

As you read this Love One Another (LOA), I will either be landing in, or will have just arrived in the Dominican Republic (DR). It is sunny and in the 80s. Please know that I will go to any extreme to represent and defend the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I will administer sunscreen and subject myself to insect repellent. I will shed my winter coat, put on a short-sleeved shirt, and fight the rays from the sun with sunglasses. Although I would love to rub it in, the forecast in Milwaukee will be in the 40s – not bad for January in Wisconsin.
 
I am traveling to the DR to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of our mission parish, La Sagrada Familia. This relationship finds its roots in then-Father James Harvey, now Cardinal Harvey, a Milwaukee priest who was assigned to the Apostolic Nunciature in the Dominican Republic. Father Harvey heard the pleas of the bishop for assistance, and contacted then-Archbishop Rembert Weakland of his home archdiocese, Milwaukee, to see what might be accomplished. At that time, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee had just closed its mission in Paraguay.
 
I recently found out that Archbishop Weakland had a special affection for the Dominican Republic through his father, who had been stationed there during his military service. Archbishop Weakland told me that it seemed like a direction from the Holy Spirit. A “who’s who” of archdiocesan priests staffed the mission for many of the early years. It was during Archbishop Dolan’s era that the archdiocesan community of St. Paul assumed responsibility for the mission, which currently serves over 30,000 parishioners. 
 
La Sagrada Familia is our parish, and the missionary Community of St. Paul belongs to the archdiocese. The members of their community provide care and support for the people of the Dominican Republic. In addition to religious education in Scripture and catechism, members of the parish also provide programs, such as: basic job training for women, a make-shift pharmacy with over-the-counter drugs, and an enculturation program for Haitian immigrants seeking a better life, just to name a few. 
 
We will have some pilgrims traveling with us, many who have already visited our mission in the DR. We will celebrate daily Mass, re-establish relationships and participate in the 35th anniversary celebration. Antoinette Mensah, the director of the World Mission Office, will be leading the pilgrims, and Letzbia Laing-Martinez, from our Intercultural Ministry, will be assisting our journey. Father Ricardo Martin will act as my MC and translator, so that I do not create any “international incidents” through mispronunciations. Father Dick Aiken, a senior priest and former pastor, will be our spiritual guide.
 
While there, we are planning to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Altagracia, the patroness of the Dominican Republic. I will be asking her to protect the people, religious and clergy of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as well as the parish family of La Sagrada Familia, so that we may be an instrument of God’s love in our communities.
 
I will look forward to greeting Frs. Esteban Redolad and Juan Manuel Camacho, Pastoral Associate Dolores Puertolas, and members of the St. Paul Community, who do such a fine job representing us in the DR and helping us fulfill our missionary obligation. In the future, if you or your children could ever have the opportunity to go on a missionary trip to the DR, please do it – it is a life-changing and faith-expanding experience. We celebrate with our brothers and sisters because we LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the January 17, 2017 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.