"Our work starts now."

Below is a letter from Very Rev. Timothy Kitzke in response to the Peace Mass celebrated August 18, 2016.

Dear Friends,

Thanks to all of you who joined us either by presence or prayer across Milwaukee at All Saints Parish to pray for peace last Thursday.  As I said then, and I repeat now, this must be a springboard from prayer to action, so, “Let’s put our hearts and our heads and our minds together that we can begin the work needed together. Thanks be to God for the rich tradition in social teaching our church has given to us. Now, everyone, let’s get to work.”

One resource that our social teaching gives us is the important reminder of the “both/and” approach. To quote Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, “Catholicism, somewhat simplistically, has always been considered the religion of the great “et et” {both-and}: not of great forms of exclusivism but of synthesis.” In other words, to quote Fr. Stiefvater’s homily, we need to be bridge builders because it is not black or white, rich or poor, city or suburb, but both black and white, both rich and poor, both city and suburb. Our work needs to be both short and long term. It needs to be both individual and community-based.

In the short term, we need to continue our support for organizations working in the community, such as:

• Catholic Charities
• House of Peace
• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Project Return
• Dominican Center for Women

In addition to these Catholic organizations, there are several secular organizations that are doing strong work in the community, including:

• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
• Walnut Way
• Running Rebels

I am a firm believer that the only long term solution is a strong education system and that means all the different types of schools that serve our children in the Archdiocese. Both Messmer Catholic Schools and Seton Catholic Schools and the great efforts of the Jesuit and Notre Dame Schools serve children in the affected areas, as well as Catholic High Schools. We also need to support our public system.

In terms of “quick hit” action, please keep in your prayer “All Things In Common,” an initiative sponsored by the City of Milwaukee in which All Saints Parish is participating as a hub for accessing public service help in all sorts of ways.

Please continue to support our central city parishes. We are working on plans to partner up in substantial ways with All Saints, St. Martin de Porres, St. Michael, St. Rose, St. Francis, St. Benedict the Moor and St. Catherine parishes. The Black Catholic Commission is working very hard on a pastoral plan. We’ll keep you informed.

Let us commend our city to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary! As I mentioned at the Mass, all starts in prayer, is sustained by prayer but leads us to the grace-filled action God is calling us to! Stay Tuned!

Sincerely,


Very Rev. Timothy Kitzke, V.G.
Vicar General for Urban Ministry

One more thing – whenever I mention individuals at Mass, I inevitably leave someone out. I was so grateful for the presence of the permanent deacons and their wives, who work so diligently in service. Pray for those to be ordained on September 10.