Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

All of us are called to evangelize — to spread the word about the Good News. The biggest challenges we personally face to do this are often limited to a few statements in defense of the Church’s teachings at a business or community meeting. To actually uproot ourselves, however, to travel to a different country, and proclaim the faith is at times beyond our imagination. In my youthful “spiritually romantic” days, I could easily envision myself joining St. Francis Xavier by preaching, teaching and converting, bringing others to Christ and His Church.

For each one of us, God has a path. The religious sisters in my grammar school explained to us that although we might not be able to follow the missionaries on their journey to distant lands, we could join ourselves to their efforts through our own contributions by making sacrifices to support their works to bring far-away brothers and sisters to Christ.

The joy of Easter is celebrating the Living Jesus. During our Lenten voyage, we annually chose as an LOA community an object for our almsgiving. This year it was a family of missionaries. We are connected to the Schmidt family’s Servants of the Good Help through the Diocese of Green Bay. They are native Wisconsinites — one of us — and they evangelize in the jungles of Peru. Their entire family — Mom (Katie) and Dad (Taylor) and the seven children — have taken their faith, nurtured in Wisconsin, and are sharing it generously with the people in the wilds of Peru.

We are also connected to Peru through Fr. Joseph Walijewski (1924-2006), who studied at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse. He established a church in the poorest section of Lima and an orphanage. His cause for sainthood has been put forth. What a blessing to us all. I know that Fr. Joe is smiling upon our efforts.    

When I think of our faith here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, I think of the blessings and conveniences which we enjoy. We have access to Masses on a daily basis, the celebration of Reconciliation and the other sacraments as needed, and times for adoration and devotional prayer. We can gather as a community to celebrate our identity as Catholics. Our refrigerators have milk or other cold beverages, and always contain snacks and other food to eat. We do not hesitate to jump in a car and visit family or friends. We are blessed, but most of the world still waits for these human luxuries.

Our family of missionaries brings the hope offered by Jesus and His Church and the knowledge that there are brothers and sisters who are joined by Baptism to them and committed to the faith, even though they are separated by thousands of miles.

I want to share the joy of Christ’s Easter message that He lives and offers life — His life — for us all. Our missionary family, the Schmidts, reminds our brothers and sister in Peru that they are not alone. Our Lord is with them and so is His Church. Their brothers and sisters in Milwaukee care for them and proclaim that He lives, and we are family because of His love.

I am asking that we extend our missionary responsibility through the works of the Schmidts, and I will add an additional $1,000 of personal funds to those already collected. I am asking you, my LOA community, like the religious sister in my grammar school classroom who would be passing around the missionary bank, to join and make a personal sacrifice and forego that Starbucks caffé latte, or a Leon’s (a real sacrifice for me) or Kopp’s custard and donate to our missionary efforts, becoming a part of the missionary family doing God’s work for our Church in Peru.

Our LOA almsgiving collection will end on Monday, April 29. Thank you to all who have made an almsgiving donation during Lent, and in advance I also want to thank those who recognize the blessings God has bestowed on us, and in His name, wish to share those blessings with others. I know that you will or already have — this is a wonderful way to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Sincerely,

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki

Archbishop of Milwaukee          

Note: This blog originally appeared as the April 16, 2024, "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.