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| Fr. Delbert Schmelzer meets Pope John Paul II in 1981 at a meeting of diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies held in Rome, just two weeks before the Holy Father was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca. (Contributed photo) |
MADISON — Jesus told his disciples before he ascended into heaven, “As the Father has sent me, so I also send you” (John 20:21).
Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer believes all baptized Christians have that same mission. “We, too, are sent to bring good news to the poor to the ends of the earth,” he emphasizes.
Monsignor Schmelzer has been encouraging people in the Diocese of Madison to support the missionary work of the Church for over 46 years.
He retired in July from his position as diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Fr. Chad Droessler, pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Lodi and Dane, has assumed the position.
Vital work of the Church
In an interview, Monsignor Schmelzer discussed the vital missionary work of the Catholic Church led by the Holy Father. “The Holy See has the obligation to extend the Church to the whole world. We are doing the Holy Father’s work throughout the world in over 1,150 mission dioceses. They couldn’t exist without our support,” said Monsignor Schmelzer.
Began work in 1968
Back in 1968, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell asked then Father Schmelzer to assist Msgr. Edward Auchter with the Pontifical Mission Societies work in the diocese.
“I was his associate director for 13 years,” noted Monsignor Schmelzer. “In 1981, I became the director. It’s an honor to be given this job.”
Monsignor Schmelzer did the mission work while also serving as a pastor, most recently in Verona and Paoli, where he served from 1981 until his retirement from parish work in 2001.
He has continued as director of the Pontifical Mission Societies since then, in addition to helping at some 80 parishes throughout the diocese by celebrating an average of four Masses each weekend.
He is also currently a member of the Presbyteral Council and St. Raphael Society Board, as well as chaplain for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He also celebrates Mass regularly at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison and with the Cistercian Nuns in Prairie du Sac.
“As long as I’m healthy, I enjoy doing what I can,” he said.
He was honored in 1998 with the title of Prelate of Honor and in 2009 by being named a Protonotary Apostolic, a rare papal honor and the only such honor currently held in the Diocese of Madison.
Bishop Morlino thanks Monsignor Schmelzer for years of service |
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Bishop Morlino thanks Monsignor Schmelzer for years of service Bishop Robert C. Morlino expressed his gratitude to Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer: “I can’t thank Monsignor Schmelzer enough for his many years of service both to our diocese and in helping us to assist others throughout the world. “For nearly 47 years, he has aided our parishes and our priests in serving countless others, and to affect good through the ministry of those who make missionary appeals in our diocese. “His tireless work has been a shining witness to the mercy of God and the universal nature of our Church.” |
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Four mission programs
Monsignor Schmelzer explained that the Pontifical Mission Societies include four programs: the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Missionary Childhood Association, the Society of St. Peter Apostle, and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is perhaps the best known. It seeks prayer and sacrifice for the world’s missions, now some 1,150 dioceses in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and remote regions of Latin America.
Help is offered for pastoral and evangelizing programs, for catechists and catechetical work, to build churches and chapels, for the work of Religious communities in health care and education, and for communication and transportation needs.
Monsignor Schmelzer was in charge of the annual Mission Sunday Appeal, until it was recently merged into the International Combined Collection. He also used to send out mailed appeals at Christmas, Lent, and in the summer. “I used to send thank-you notes for all those appeals,” he recalled.
Now, the national office in New York City handles those appeals directly.
Mission Cooperative Plan
However, the diocesan director still handles the Mission Cooperative (Co-op) Plan. This involves reviewing about 200 appeals from missionary groups and selecting about 20 per year to speak in the diocese.
“We assign each of them to about six parishes,” explained Monsignor Schmelzer. “They usually visit parishes in the summer at dates agreed upon by the local pastor. The checks come to the diocesan office by the end of the year and they are distributed to the missionary groups. It’s a big help to the missions.”
For the past two years, Pat Born has served as secretary for the diocesan mission office. “Pat has been so helpful,” said Monsignor Schmelzer.
Involved at national level
Over the years, Monsignor Schmelzer has enjoyed working with the national directors of the mission societies. He started under Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who he said was “very inspiring.”
He has also liked attending national conventions, including two in Rome. “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II in 1981, just two weeks before he was shot. I was able to talk with him, and he told me he remembered giving a talk in Stevens Point.”
Monsignor Schmelzer met again in Rome in 2002 and shook Pope John Paul II’s hands, which this time were more shaky with the effects of his Parkinson’s disease apparent.
Conventions were held in major cities throughout the country, which gave Monsignor Schmelzer an opportunity to celebrate Mass in many cathedrals. “I also gained a deeper understanding of the mission needs in Africa, South America, and Oceania.”
Importance of mission work
Monsignor Schmelzer observed that the zeal for mission work has been emphasized by the Church in more recent times. He noted that the Second Vatican Council in Ad Gentes reminds us that the Church is missionary by its very nature. “Mission is the greatest and holiest work of the Church,” he said.
“Popes have continued to speak of the importance of missionary work. Pope Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi tells us that the world needs witnesses as well as teachers. Pope John II said that we are a ‘sick and incomplete Church’ if we are not missionary. He stresses this urgently in Redemptoris Missio.
“Pope Benedict XVI in Porta Fidei says that today, as in the past, Christ sends us through the highways of the world to proclaim his gospel to all peoples of the earth.”
Pope Francis, too, has emphasized the missionary nature of the Church, saying that all of the faithful are called to be missionaries.
Welcome to Father Droessler
Monsignor Schmelzer welcomed Father Droessler as the new director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Diocese of Madison. “I have told him what a special privilege it is to be involved in this work.”
“It’s been wonderful,” he said. “The Lord has given me the strength to do it for over 46 years.”