Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

I ask your prayers for the priests of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as they meet in the Spring Assembly, studying and discussing the topic, “In Christ there is No East or West: Embracing our Diversity and the Social Message of Jesus.” This is an important topic for the Church. The four marks of the Church are One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. We pray this in our Creed every Sunday. Catholic is the universality of our nature as Church.

This past weekend, we read in the Acts of the Apostles of the difficulty within the early Church, which needed to decide whether or not the Gentiles would be held to the Judaic Law. “We have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind.” The early Church resolved that issue by accepting the new converts and not laying upon them any additional burdens. This openness to the surrounding communities marked the outreach of the message of salvation and demonstrated faithfulness to the mark of the Church’s catholicity.

We have not always been a welcoming community to the strangers among us, ethnic and racial divisions have marred the Christian approach to our brothers and sisters. Yet we know by the very Gospel mandates themselves that we are to treat others as we would treat Christ (Matt. 25: 31:46). Father Michael Bertram, OFM Cap. (Spring Assembly Chairperson) and Father Jerry Herda (Spring Assembly Vice Chairperson) and their committee, have assembled wonderful speakers who will present and react to various themes.

The assembly will be privileged to be addressed by Father Stephen Dudek, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Wyoming, Mich. He holds a Doctorate in Ministry in Cross Cultural Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Most importantly, he is a pastor who has worked promoting and implementing cultural diversity. His wealth of knowledge and experience will provide interesting insights and suggestions on how we as ministers may respond to bridging the separation that occurs in diverse communities. Our own priests, Father Steven Avella and Father Bryan Massingale, will offer their reflections which will offer an exciting interchange of ideas.

We also will be celebrating the anniversaries of our priests with a special Mass this evening (Tuesday) at 5 p.m. at St. Benedict Parish in Fontana. This Assembly is always a special moment in the year for me to have the opportunity to spend time with the priests of the archdiocese and thank them for their dedicated service to Christ and His Church.

Fashioning our communities as welcoming signs of Christ’s presence among us helps us as Catholics to fulfill His mandate to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Note: This blog originally appeared as the May 7, 2013 "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.