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| Msgr. Gerard Healy |
STOUGHTON — Msgr. Gerard Healy will retire in July as the pastor at Stoughton’s St. Ann Parish. He served there for the past 24 years, and an additional 28 years as a priest at five other parishes throughout southwestern Wisconsin.
A celebration will be held in his honor on Monday, May 27, at St. Ann Parish grounds, 323 North Van Buren St., from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., with a pig roast from 4 to 6 p.m.
He’s not done yet
The twinkle in his Irish eyes, however, implies his work for God isn’t yet complete.
“While I don’t know what I’ll be doing, I do know that I won’t be retiring from being a priest,” he shared, smiling.
Eileen Heinrichs, a long-time St. Ann’s parishioner, said that Monsignor Healy has made an impact on many. “His heart is bigger than the outdoors, especially when it comes to serving others.”
She added, “One indelible mark he made was forming a committee to get our local St. Vincent De Paul store up and running, connecting people who believe in helping others with those who need assistance.”
Goes the extra mile
Kelly Maly, social worker at Nazareth House Rehabilitation Center, said, “I can’t imagine Nazareth House without Father Healy. He stops by daily to check in and visit with residents and staff. He has a way, with his wonderful sense of humor, of uplifting people, and always sees the good in them and their situations.”
Paula McKenzie, director of pastoral care at St. Mary’s Hospital, added, “We are grateful for Monsignor Healy’s support of hospitalized patients from his congregation. He was always willing to go that extra mile to come to St. Mary’s for them.”
Looking back, Monsignor Healy said he feels blessed for his health and is also truly grateful for the encouragement and support given to him throughout his life, from his parents and family members, to wonderful parish leaders, as well as past and current parishioners who embraced coming together for a common spiritual purpose.
“It’s been so encouraging over the years to see people rise to the occasion, putting their various talents and treasures into apostolic action, whether it be building a new church to worship in, creating a neighborhood faith group, organizing a retreat, ministering to someone in need in our community, or helping low-income people that are hundreds or even thousands of miles away,” he said. “They’ve used their hands, hearts and voices to be heard, and made a huge impact in the process.”
With his future free time, Monsignor Healy plans to sharpen his technology skills and to read several great books, as well as reflect on the purpose of his pilgrimage.
From Ireland to Wisconsin
After he committed to the Diocese of Madison and was ordained a priest in 1961 in Ireland, Father Healy flew to Wisconsin and began serving as an associate at Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Beloit. A few years later, he moved to St. Dennis in Madison, and then a few years after that, was asked to return to the Beloit area to help build a new church and parish in Clinton named St. Stephen. From there, he moved to Bloomington and St. Mary Parish. Following that, he served for 10 years in Cross Plains at St. Francis Xavier Parish.
Years in Stoughton
In 1989, Father Healy became pastor at St. Ann Parish in Stoughton. Local historian and St. Ann parish member Carl Sampson said, “During the early 1990s, the population of Stoughton was about 12,000 and St. Ann’s was bursting at the seams with a waiting list to get into the school. Father Healy conducted many listening sessions with parishioners to find a way to accommodate the growing needs of the church, school and the parish community.”
After a parish survey was conducted, a long-range planning commission formed, and pledges made to finance half the cost of a new church, the Diocese of Madison gave approval to construct St. Ann’s new church. It doubled the size of its previous facility while remaining within the available land.
“We’ve been fortunate to have dedicated parishioners who believe in stewardship and sacrificial giving and have been loyal to their financial commitment. It allowed us not only to expand our church space, but also make important upgrades to our Catholic school including adding classrooms, a library, and technology lab,” said Monsignor Healy.
The first Mass was held in the new church on June 6, 1999, and was dedicated by Bishop William H. Bullock on May 14, 2000. Permission to work on the lower level began shortly after and was immediately put to use for retreats, funeral luncheons, and religious education. It was officially dedicated in 2005.
Building faith
Looking back, Monsignor Healy admitted that while the physical building of the church brought people together, just as important is its spiritual growth.
“There are so many people to thank over the years for helping to lay a solid Catholic foundation here in Stoughton, including the Sisters of Nazareth, who were the first teachers at St. Ann’s school.”
He added, “Seeds were also planted during the Renew Faith program in 2000 that took root and continues to bloom today.
“I treasure watching our youth take part in our school’s religious education program and Vacation Bible School, seeing teens roll up their sleeves and work during summer mission trips and attend World Youth Day, and watching adults take part in various commissions and Christian Experience Weekends.
“With God’s help, people can accomplish some pretty amazing things,” he said, concluding with one of his favorite St. Luke passages in which our Lord said: “When you have done all that you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”