Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

Tomorrow is the first day of summer. I owe my Love One Another (LOA) community a report on our Latrine Project for La Sagrada Familia in the Dominican Republic (DR). We chose this project to assist the bishop in the DR, whose dream it is to create a thousand latrines ($300 a latrine) for the newly-constructed housing in his area. Realize that “housing” means a cinder block dwelling that has no electricity or plumbing. Of course, that means no toilet facility. A latrine raises the dignity of the dwellers. We are blessed in our country, and take for granted the simple things that are available to us, but not available to much of our world.
 
In our Lenten project, I had hoped to offer the bishop a symbolic gesture to begin his dream for those thousand latrines by raising $3,000, which would build 10 latrines. However, the contributions to the project continued beyond Lent. Every time I wanted to report the total collected, another few dollars were reported by our World Mission Ministries Office. Now, the day before summer, I will offer the total collected. Through the generosity of the LOA community, and by extension from some parishes and schools, our total was not $3,000, but instead $53,780.08. We will more than symbolically support the bishop’s dream – we will build 179 latrines with $80.08 left over for soap and toilet paper. I have asked Fathers Esteban Redolad and Juan Manuel Camacho to video record the construction so we can all view the good works done through the sacrifices made for our brothers and sisters in the DR. I will keep you periodically informed of their progress.
 
For fun, I thought maybe we could figuratively name a few of the latrines as a sign of our connectedness to the project.
 
One of the first to respond to the project was Roy and Bobbi Reiman. Roy (publisher of Our Wisconsin Magazine) is a faithful reader and goes through my LOA letter with the fine eye of a copywriter. His comments are always appreciated. He quickly donated $1,000 to the project. I think one latrine should be named ROY’S ROYAL FLUSH (I think he’ll like the alliteration).
 
Jon and Libby Baranko were our Catholic Stewardship Appeal couple. Jon accompanied Bishop Hying to La Sagrada Familia in the DR, and viewed the project first-hand. I previously had mentioned in an LOA that Libby was a great board game player. So, in Libby’s honor, I think an appropriate name could be GAME OF THRONES.
 
My sister, Penny, made a significant donation and suggested that in honor of her brother, the archbishop, the name should be ON THE THRONE WITH JEROME.
 
Recently, my family gathered to offer a memorial Mass for my first cousin, Albert Kasprzyk. We were not able to attend his funeral in Florida, so the family gathered here in Milwaukee. Albert served his country during the Vietnam War. My cousins made a donation in his honor. I think that PRINCE ALBERT IN THE CAN would bring a smile to the relatives, and I know Albert would have liked it.
 
During the Lenten collection, I received a note from Judson McCarthy, who was in the National Guard for years, and reported how important latrines were when they went to the field. He donated enough to build five latrines. I suggest we name his latrine UNIFORM PERSONNEL ONLY.
 
Our Superintendent, Dr. Kathleen Cepelka, made our schools aware of the Latrine project, and a number of schools offered donations. In their honor, we might name their latrine either TIME OUT or RECESS.
 
Of course, a general name in honor of all of us, since it’s a relief to have that special place, something we all seek, might be (RIP) REST IN PEES.
 
I would love to receive any additional suggestions for figurative names. So, please email me. Of course, it is very appropriate that our patron is ST. JOHN.
 
There is a solidarity that we experience with those in need. We offer them our assistance because we “care” and demonstrate that as we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Note: This blog originally appeared as the June 20, 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.