Many people embrace their retirement years as a time to reflect and experience life as more free individuals. Some people travel, some take a nap every day. Still some golf and spend time with family and friends.
We all know people who keep working or explore new work as a second calling. But, what about priests? Are their experiences of retirement any different? Is it once a priest, always a priest?
MADISON — All of us have been blessed to receive the sacraments in our lifetime by a faithful priest serving in our parish. The impact our parish priest has on our lives has shaped us into the Catholics we are today.
The Bless Our Priests collection gives us the opportunity to give back to those priests for all they have done for us throughout our lives.
As more and more of our diocesan priests reach retirement age, the need for support continues to grow. Not only do they need your continued prayers, but your financial support of the Bless Our Priests collection.
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.
Fr. Henry Kalscheuer, retired priest of the Madison Diocese, died on Monday, March 18, 2013, at the age of 79, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.
MADISON — Bishop George O. Wirz, retired auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Madison and native of Monroe, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, at his residence at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.
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Dear friends in Christ,
This year the entire Church celebrates a special Year for Priests, as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father reminds us that the gift of the ordained priesthood flows directly from Christ’s heart. Theirs is a vocation of humble-selfless love, imitating Christ Himself. They are consecrated to serve you, the faithful, with complete fidelity to Christ and His mission, in constant union with Him, inviting you to have a “heart to heart” encounter with Jesus. Each day our priests strive for holiness and each day they pray for you.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino has accepted Fr. James Lins’ request to retire from pastor at St. Matthew Parish, Shullsburg; Our Lady of Hope Parish, Seymour; and St. Peter Parish, Elk Grove; to Pastor Emeritus, effective September 1, 2009.
Msgr. William DeBock, pastor emeritus, residing at the Bishop O’Connor Center, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a Mass and reception on Sunday, May 24, at 3 p.m. at St. James Parish, Madison. All brother priests and friends are invited to attend.
On the weekend of December 13 and 14 we encourage all to reflect upon the great impact our priests have had on our lives here in the Diocese of Madison.
