Attending the Mass of Dedication of the new St. Cecilia Church in Wisconsin Dells was a very emotional experience for me and my husband.
As friends of St. Cecilia’s late pastor, Msgr. Felix Oehrlein, we were so happy to see his dream of a new church become a reality.
Much like Jesus’ Ascension into heaven — celebrated on Sunday, May 17 — the 5 p.m. Mass at St. Cecilia Church on that day was more than an ending, it was the beginning of a new journey.
In 2003, the Diocese of Madison had only six seminarians studying to be priests. With the number of ordinations decreasing and retirements of many active priests looming, the future didn’t look very promising.
