Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey R. Haines of Milwaukee; State Representative Chuck Wichgers from Muskego; and workers from the farming, law enforcement, legal, and teaching professions celebrated the first St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin on May 1 in the State Capitol’s Assembly Parlor.
The celebration followed the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 16 on April 22 by the Wisconsin State Legislature, which recognizes May 1 as St. Joseph the Worker Day each calendar year.
In a statement released on April 30, Representative Wichgers said, “Everyone agrees that a strong workforce is essential for our future. We also agree that good role models are important. It would be difficult to think of a better role model for workers than the foster-father of Jesus Christ.
“Wisconsin’s hard-working men and women love and protect their families and communities. St. Joseph did the same. He is a strong though silent example in Scripture for people who put duty above their natural inclinations and labor to improve themselves and their families.”
At the celebration, Bishop Haines led the opening prayer in front the crowd. Then, Representative Wichgers, who was a co-sponsor, thanked the bi-partisan support to adopt the resolution; mentioned that, following Louisiana, Wisconsin is the second state to honor St. Joseph the Worker annually; and invited lay speakers to share remarks about St. Joseph.
Speakers included farmer Charlie Crave, founder of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese in Waterloo; retired teacher Margie Schels, who taught at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson for 25 years; DeWitt, LLP, Partner Joseph Leone; and Deputy Inspector Patrick Esser of the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office.
Afterwards, Bishop Hying was invited forward for a reflection and closing prayer.
Bishop Hying said, “Catholicism was the first religious culture that didn’t denigrate work, that didn’t diminish work, but lifted it up as an integral part of being human and of being Christian.
“We follow the Master, the Son of God, who, for most of his earthly life lived those mysterious, hidden years of Nazareth, where He simply worked and lived family life.
“There, God Himself worked with His human hands and sanctifies work for us and confers a holiness and a purpose upon it.
“Our work is an integral part of who we are, and so part of becoming holy is to do our work well and to make an offering of our heart to the Lord in the daily tasks set before us and realize that that’s our altar.
“It may be the classroom, it may be the assembly chamber here at the State Capitol, it may be a business office, it may be your kitchen table; but all of us have an altar where we make this oblation of self in our work, in our labor, and in our offering to God.
“When we offer our work to God and ask Him to sanctify it, it becomes holy and makes a permanent contribution to the flourishing of the kingdom of God in our midst.”
To read the resolution, visit docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/proposals/sjr16.