All Saints Catholic Church

The Story of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Early in the fourth century, Saint Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She razed the second-century Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on that spot. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman.

The cross immediately became an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the fourth century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus’ head: Then “all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on.”

To this day, the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica’s dedication. The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim.

Reflection

The cross is today the universal image of Christian belief. Countless generations of artists have turned it into a thing of beauty to be carried in procession or worn as jewelry. To the eyes of the first Christians, it had no beauty. It stood outside too many city walls, decorated only with decaying corpses, as a threat to anyone who defied Rome’s authority—including Christians who refused sacrifice to Roman gods. Although believers spoke of the cross as the instrument of salvation, it seldom appeared in Christian art unless disguised as an anchor or the Chi-Rho until after Constantine’s edict of toleration.

Saint John Chrysostom | September 13

Born in Antioch in the 4th century, and raised by his widowed mother, Saint John received a rigorous classical education. He was first called to the ascetic life, even spending time as an anchorite living in a cave near Antioch. However, this life of extreme mortification was hard on his physical body, and he eventually returned to the city to recover.

Saint John was ordained in 298. He spent the next 12 years preaching in the Cathedral of Antioch, and it was most likely during this time that he earned the name Chrysostom which means “golden-mouthed.”

In 397 or 398 he was made archbishop of Constantinople against his will. This post placed Saint John in the midst of imperial politics. But he would not be drawn in. He kept a modest household without extravagance and refused to serve the sumptuous suppers for political supplicants that predecessors in the position had. He preached against corruption and decadence and fought for the reform of clergy even deposing corrupt bishops.

Unfortunately, this high moral stance made enemies of powerful people at court and in the Church. They conspired against him and eventually Saint John was exiled to Armenia. He died in exile in 407. He was made a Father of the Church at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1568.

©LPi

Love One Another

September 13, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Whenever I travel the highways of the Hoan Bridge or I-94, I make it a point to look to the west and view the landscape of the city. The horizon, dotted with various steeples and domes of the churches that make up the area, is a mark of the presence of past and current communities of believers who have established their mark on the city in which they settled.

It’s interesting to note that the steeples and domes are of varied sizes and shapes – just as people were of different sizes and shapes that constructed these edifices. The influence that these communities have had in the growth and development of the society is inestimable. They were and still are representations of people of faith, living the Gospel message directed to them to engage their neighbors.

Our public has a very short historical memory. It was these communities that were educating the masses of the society when the government did not have the resources or the infrastructure to do so. These communities were reaching out and caring for the citizens before the government had a plan for welfare. Our religious orders were forming hospitals and treating the needy before medical societal institutions were built. Social communities were organized around a parish before the secular communal organizations were established.

Still to this day, our Catholic schools educate citizens, especially those in economically challenged areas. A wonderful book, “Lost Classroom, Lost Community: Catholic Schools' Importance in Urban America” by Margaret F. Brinig and Nicole Stelle Garnett demonstrates the impact of the loss of a Catholic School on the community. Other private institutions cannot make the same claim.

Recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, our Catholic schools were open for in-classroom instruction before our counterparts in the secular area, and the results indicate the success of the sacrifices made by our administrators and teachers for the benefit of our students.

Our Catholic Charities continues to reach out and expand their services, understanding the teachings of the Corporal Works of Mercy. Catholic Charities is supported by the efforts of our parishes who work in collaboration with Catholic Charities to serve immigrants, the needy and those emotionally challenged who seek assistance to navigate and survive within our society.

Our parishes continue to provide spiritual support and places of social gatherings. They offer an identity to members of the community who take pride in the work accomplished by dedicated parishioners and staff. In the best sense, they celebrate the faith they profess and enjoy the relationships developed through the interactions of the parishes’ social gatherings.

In Middle Ages, the Church was the grand building of a society. When one entered a town, it was the huge steeple that marked the presence of a believing community. Then it was the age of government that gave rise to governmental buildings, which began to replace Churches as the dominant structures. Today, economically it’s cooperate office buildings that tower over all and create the skyline. Faith, however, will always be the force which completes our humanity because it addresses “mystery.”

This past Sunday, Fr. James Lobacz and I traveled to St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse, Wisconsin to celebrate its restoration. This was my former diocese. Bishop William Callahan and the rector Msgr. Richard Gilles did an amazing job preserving the beauty of the cathedral and ensuring its presence in the community for the next 100 years. Through the encouragement of parishioners, the cathedral established lights for the tower which now acts as a beacon of hope – Christ’s light for the world to see.

Viewing those steeples and domes, I always offer a silent prayer in gratitude for those who have sacrificed so much to make our Catholic presence known. I pray that we might be worthy recipients of their legacy. Traveling Highway 100, I view the emerging construction of the towers of St. Charles in Hartland. It is a statement of the witness and identity of a community dedicated to Christ and His Church. There will be others in the future who will see these steeples of faith and be challenged to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Sincerely,

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee

Patriot Day

Heavenly Father, Creator of All,
You have created the
human person as good.
You have placed us in the
world as one human family,
as sisters and brothers.
We pray today for all victims
of violence across the world,
for the healing of their mind and body,
for their mourning family members,
for the repose of their souls.
Jesus, You have told us to
love our enemies,
and to pray for those
who persecute us.
Give us the strength and
courage to forgive.
Remove all lingering desire for revenge.
Holy Spirit, reveal to us
the mercy of God.
Give us the gift of Your peace
that surpasses all understanding.

Amen.

Welcoming Sinners

Fessahaye Mebrahtu

Today’s readings point to us to human tendencies acting on our own lead us to slippery slopes of idolatry, ignorance, self-righteousness, self-indulgence, jealousy, anger, etc. Despite our human failures and lack of gratitude for God’s providence and grace, God’s love to us remains unconditional.

In the first reading, Moses pleads with the Lord on behalf of the Israelites, who went back to their old practice of idolatry when they were enslaved in Egypt. The English saying, “Old habits are hard to die” rings true in this situation of the Israelites, who in the desert sliding back to the habits they acquired from a dominant culture, Egypt. The Israelites are physically out of Egypt but culturally and spiritually have not fully liberated themselves.

Moses pleads with God on behalf of Israelites, liberated from slavery with wonders and miracles. Such intercession on behalf of people is typical for a prophet, who is in tune with God’s way. We witness Abraham, who pleads on behalf of S***m and Gomorrah, later centuries Hebrew prophets continued to plead on behalf of their people remind them “not to harden their hearts.” A call for conversion and change of hearts from old habits, to free us from anything that negates God’s grace in our life. For example, Prophet Isaiah delivers the message saying, “Come now, let us thing right says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though the be crimson red, they may become white as wool” (Isa. 1:18). God’s mercy is unconditional, welcoming sinners.

In today’s Gospel precisely highlight the welcoming of the sinner, challenging the Pharisees’ self-righteous approach as if their external acts of devotion and keeping statutes alone would gain them favor before God. Their statement, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke underlines three parables speaking to God’s mercy and compassion to a single person to come back from his/her sins.

Jesus also challenges those who kept the law scrupulously. He tells them that they are as guilt as the public sinner because they create obstacles for the sinner to seek mercy or be jealous for those who have changed their lives to in sync with God’s mystery of salvation. The conversion of St. Paul is a prime example. He was a Pharisee, who scrupulously kept the law and zealously protected it frow would be abusers to the point of dragging them to jail and even killing them. After his conversion, St. Paul says, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason, I was mercifully treated so that in me, as the foremost, Christ might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.”

In the Gospel reading, the rebellious son after hitting rock-bottom, he could not even access the food given to the pigs he was herding. For a Jew to descend even lower than the level of the pigs, is the most degrading condition. Yet even in that condition that unconditional love of his father was latent in his conscience and the Gospel says, “Coming to his sense he thought, … I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father I have sinned against heaven and against you’.” The merciful and loving father did even wait for his son to come to him, he went to receive and welcome him. He was filled with compassion and enveloped him with an embrace of his love. No matter in what state of human weakness or self-righteous virtue we are, God is unconditionally loving, and compassionately merciful to us for he has send his son to save the world not to condemn it. Jesus, whose name means savior, redeemer, healer, he came to save us from our sins and to heal us from our illness.

The Story of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Church has celebrated Mary’s birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.

Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s birth. However, the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value, but it does reflect the development of Christian piety. According to this account, Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child who will advance God’s plan of salvation for the world. Such a story, like many biblical counterparts, stresses the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the beginning.

Saint Augustine connects Mary’s birth with Jesus’ saving work. He tells the earth to rejoice and shine forth in the light of her birth. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the birth of Mary’s Son as the dawn of our salvation, and asks for an increase of peace.

Reflection

We can see every human birth as a call for new hope in the world. The love of two human beings has joined with God in his creative work. The loving parents have shown hope in a world filled with travail. The new child has the potential to be a channel of God’s love and peace to the world.

This is all true in a magnificent way in Mary. If Jesus is the perfect expression of God’s love, Mary is the foreshadowing of that love. If Jesus has brought the fullness of salvation, Mary is its dawning.

Birthday celebrations bring happiness to the celebrant as well as to family and friends. Next to the birth of Jesus, Mary’s birth offers the greatest possible happiness to the world. Each time we celebrate her birth, we can confidently hope for an increase of peace in our hearts and in the world at large.

September 6, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The end of the Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, as many students return to school and families with summer homes begin to close up their cottages. It marks a new beginning for some, and for others, to pick up where they left off.

Labor Day reminds us of the accomplishments of the labor movement and the workers in the United States. All achievements come through a concerted effort of many. Although it is often a leader who receives the attention, historically, I do not know of any war that was ever won by the generals alone.

Our entire nation is built on the collaborative labors of all its citizens working together for the common good. It’s important that we recognize the contributions of so many who continue to create the successes that we enjoy. There is a certain excitement about this new moment of our personal history. We have a chance to achieve objectives, to grow in understanding and to instill a sense of cooperation. But we must realize that we cannot do it alone.

The Offices of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will renew its commitment to serve the parishes within our 10 counties. Each office has a particular purpose which assists the archdiocese in formation and education of our parishes. Members educate and challenge themselves in the areas within their charge. They generate a spirit of support in order to achieve office objectives, as well as the greater objectives of the archdiocese.

At the archdiocese, we depend upon each other. In a sense, it’s like a family – each doing their part so that the family may develop, and that each member feels the support of the other members. In establishing the Church, Jesus called us to be responsible for each other. There is a saying which reminds us all about doing our part. “In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Contributing our labors is important – each one of us has been given a task to proclaim and promote the Church in the name of Jesus. The Book of Revelations states: “I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ said the Spirit, ‘let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.’” (14:13)

A new moment is upon us, and greater opportunities to labor for Christ and His Church as we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Sincerely,


Most Revered Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee

Discipleship Means No Excuses

Dr. Rosemary Murphy

Recently, a friend and I were talking about attending the funeral of another friend, when she asked me if I would call a woman, who lives on my street, and offer her a ride. I already would have one handicapped person in the car and did not want to offer another elderly person a ride. I came up with several excuses for not making the call and when I finally did call, I did it at a time when I knew I could leave a message! I am not proud of myself! And now, I write a Gospel reflection about disciples not excusing themselves from good works!

In today’s Gospel from Luke, there is no question that discipleship makes great demands on our availability, our abilities, and our assets. If, through our sacramental life in the Church, we accept Jesus Christ the Son of God and our Savior, then we must be prepared to give up every earthly thing we hold dear to gain something more precious − unity with Christ in God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus offers three invitations which constitute a “how-to” of discipleship:

First: Jesus invites us to live in a relationship with his Father that is primary above earthly relatives. Discipleship does not mean denying our feelings for our family; rather it is lifestyle of consistently choosing to act and make choices for the kingdom of God. And, as we model good works and the attitude that God is all, we also lead those we love into the kingdom.

Second: Jesus’ invitation to carry the cross is a prophetic call. If we act and choose a closeness to God above all else, then we must expect hardship. We are called to disentangle ourselves from the people, possessions, and power that distract us from pursing life in God’s kingdom. We expect daily trials that challenge our desire to put God first. However, disciples consistently make the effort.

Third: Jesus’ invitation to give up possessions. Many of us have experienced how things can become our gods − e.g., cell phones and other devices with accessory upon accessory. Giving up possessions leads us to faithful stewardship to directing our material gifts to the service of the Gospel, to the care of our brothers and sisters, and to the protection of the resources of God’s creation.

The hard reality of today’s Gospel passage is that for the disciple, there are no excuses for not accepting Jesus’ invitation. While my neighbor had a ride to the funeral, I missed an opportunity to be generous. Discipleship is all about daily choices to put God first in our lives. And, always our efforts are supported by the graces that help make our good works possible.

Love One Another

August 30, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This last Sunday represented as “passing of the guard” as I installed the 20th rector of Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. Fr. Luke Strand became the new rector, replacing Fr. John Hemsing. In the 10 years of Fr. Hemsing’s tenure, the seminary grew in numbers to the extent that every room in the main building of the seminary was occupied, which necessitated the reconfiguration of Meyer Hall, the building across from the main structure. Saint Francis de Sales Seminary became a Provincial Seminary, meaning every diocese in Wisconsin is represented.

The seminary spirit was reestablished through the hard work of then-Fr. Don Hying, now Bishop Hying of the Diocese of Madison. In his years as rector, Bishop Hying worked mightily on the formation and vision of men entering the seminary. He visited every bishop in Wisconsin, offering his vision and plan for Saint Francis De Sales Seminary. When he was appointed the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the challenge was to find someone who could be just as attentive to the potential growth. Fr. Hemsing was the right man for the right time.

His love for the buildings and grounds, his attention to the historic importance of the seminary, and his collaboration with the vocation directors established a vision for the promotion and expansion of the seminary. It truly was a new day for the Archdiocesan Seminary. Fr. Hemsing now bequeaths an exciting community of administration, faculty and seminarians desiring to serve the people of God and in love with the Church.

Fr. Strand is no stranger to the promotion of vocations in the archdiocese and has served as vice-rector for several years. He has worked tirelessly to challenge men to consider priesthood as a response to God’s call. He has been single-minded in his love for the Church, and the importance of prayer in building a personal environment open to God’s voice. Among the many tributes expressed about the new rector, the highest was describing him as a “man of prayer.”

This last Sunday’s Gospel proclaimed the importance of the virtue of humility. Pride is the great sin and humility is the antidote to pride. The virtue of humility is the source of all other virtues because it is through this virtue that we understand that all comes from God, and we build our personhood by offering ourselves as His instrument in the world. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart…” (Matthew 11:29)

The way of the Lord is obedience to the Father, whose love is unconditional. Prayer establishes our relationship, keeping our vision always focused on God. A mark of a spiritual community is a sense of joy that one receives from an encounter with its members. There is a wonderful statement about “JOY”: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last – Humility reaps JOY.

It is a wonderful moment for Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. I am grateful to God for the blessing, in the fact that He has permitted me to be a witness to this exceptional transformation, and now, under Fr. Strand’s leadership, I know that the sacrifices and efforts made by so many in the past will be utilized to create an environment that will form men in the likeness of Christ, whose humility embraces the cross and invites others to follow in His footsteps, in a life giving service to our brothers and sisters. Fr. Strand will preach and teach Jesus’ love for us and our responsibility to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Sincerely,


Most Revered Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee

August 23, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I prepare this week’s Love One Another (LOA), I am literally packing for the Region VII Bishops’ Retreat which will take place at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House on the grounds of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. I spent 25 years of my life at this seminary, but I left over 22 years ago. The physical beauty of Mundelein Seminary is unparalleled, and it is always an “eye candy” treat to return.

I have always participated in the yearly Region VII Bishops’ Retreat. Many would believe that as bishops, we are in constant contact with one another. But the truth is that, apart from some critical issues, we rarely have an opportunity to share our thoughts, and certainly never in an informal setting. This retreat offers us an opportunity to exchange ideas, support one another, reminisce, and praise the good works happening in our archdiocese or diocese.

We are blessed in Wisconsin to have bishops who not only work well together, but truly like one other. At an ad limina (visit to Rome) during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI as the metropolitan, I remarked to the pope that not only do we work well together, but we like each other. He smiled and said, “Wonderful not only collegiality but fraternity.” Having been a bishop for over 22 years, I have a working relationship with almost every bishop in Region VII, and a number I had as students when teachings Moral Theology and Canon Law at Mundelein Seminary. I now must pay for the “sins” of my teaching life and “suffer” the memories of classroom antics.

The retreat is a welcomed interruption in the busyness of life, giving us an opportunity to listen to a retreat director’s insights and challenge our personal lives to grow in the Lord Jesus. A theme that I always carry into a retreat is gratitude. I have been blessed to have been a part of great communities of faith; during my tenure, I encountered some wonderful people who have witnessed their faith. Because of their witness, I have grown in my love for the Church.

During my talk at the 25th anniversary of my priesthood, I proudly said, “I love the Church.” I explained that it was not the brick and mortar that I loved, although sometimes very beautiful, or the programs, which could be very exciting. No, it is the people who have made me feel like family wherever I find myself in the world.

Some of these individuals have become life-long friends, while others I met just for a brief time, and still others have gone home to God. They have all had a profound impact on my life, and I know that they were placed in my life by God because with them I was able to celebrate His presence. They have been embedded in my heart and memories forever, and during the retreat, I will resurrect those experiences and realize how blessed and enriched my life has been.

My LOA friends, I include you in my prayers. You give me a gift in reading this LOA, and I am grateful for the comments you write or convey to me in person. You are part of the family which is the Church. Please offer a Hail Mary during your daily prayer for the success of the Region VII Bishops’ Retreat. After all, we are joined together by a common brother, Jesus, who tells us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.


Sincerely,


Most Revered Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee

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Gathering Nations of Every Language

Fessahaye Mebrahtu

The people of Israel have been scolded by the prophets for taking for granted their being chosen or excluding others from the free gifts of God. The first reading reminds us that God is a universal God over all nations and languages. Prophet Isaiah reminds the people of Israel that other nations are their brothers and sisters on equal footing before the Lord. Their very being will be considered “as an offering to the Lord.” There are several Christian hymns that invite us to come before the Lord, “Come as you are" or “Just as I am, I come broken.” We are those who came before the Lord, the people Prophet Isaiah referred, “the distant coastlands that never heard of my fame or seen my glory.” The responsorial for Psalm 117 today is “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News (Mk. 16:15).

Preaching the Good News is not without challenges and resistance. Observing such challenges someone poses a question to Jesus, “Lord, will only few people be saved?” The example of the “Narrow Gate” Jesus brought as an example helps us to understand the challenges and the discipline needed to be a true follower of him. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us, “Endure your trials as ‘discipline.’” St. Paul uses the analogy of training for sports, indicating the rigor and endurance required to be a disciplined competitor. Our faith is a gift and privilege, yet we cannot take it for granted. It requires of us to have the discipline of living and practicing our faith. We cannot be saved by membership association or cultural affiliation.

Historically, Catholics of European descent in the US by and large practiced their faith as exclusive club, preventing people of African Descent and Native Americans from participating in the sacraments of the church as equals. The legacy of such exclusion is still operative in our institutions, the low number of African American Catholics and the lack of adequate vocation to priesthood and religious life that could serve the population. Both the first reading and the Gospel tell us that God does not show favoritism, rather “people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.” We all have part in excluding others from the table of the Lord by passing our own judgment and biases on people by othering them because they do not conform to our human and cultural values.

Recently, the Office of Black Catholic and Ethnic Ministries hosted to big conferences: The National Association of African Catholics – Midwest Conference and Karen American Catholic Community – Youth Retreat. Over 500 people total have attended both events. These events were the true “gathering of nations and every language.” These were what the Gospel refers coming from the four directions of the world or Prophet Isaiah calls, “they shall proclaim my glory among the nations.” To correct past shortcomings, there are efforts to be inclusive in hiring practices, and appreciating diversity as an asset. The resistance we still notice are contrary to the prophetic calls and Gospel values we are expected to live by and practice.