Autumn Ordinary Time

November of 2022

Dear Friends,

I realize that I’ve not had an opportunity to preach at the Sunday Masses for a decent period of time.  This is due to having three extraordinarily competent and gifted deacons, as well as making sure you get a good and decent dose of my Confrere, Father Seamus.  I want each of them to have moments to exercise their ordained ministry, and I also want to give you the opportunity to be blessed by their wisdom and God-given grace.  So, I’d like to take this forum to reconnect with you about various issues to keep you updated about activities in parish life at Our Lady of Lourdes.  This is not to suggest that any of this would be shared within the context of a homily at Mass, but whatever chance I have to connect with you and keep you informed, I’ll gladly take such opportunities!

First, I’d like to share with you that I am writing this letter after an incredibly active weekend in the parish.  On Saturday night, many parishioners, especially those associated with our school, gathered at the Automobile Gallery on Adams Street in downtown Green Bay to celebrate, “The Key Event” where the proceeds will support the mission of our Catholic school.  The venue was fascinating; it was my first time at the museum, and I think all involved were impressed by the cars that lined the floor of this unique place.  So much time and talent went into organizing this annual event.  I am grateful for the many members of the “Site Advisory Committee” who helped organize this fun-filled evening; but I cannot overlook the participation of Jeff Young, our principal, and several of our teachers who were in attendance Saturday night.  The bulk of the night’s success is due to the hard work and dedication of Nikki Zwiefelhofer and Sarah Lawler who once again “attended to all the details of [such] hospitality!”   Know of our gratitude, Nikki & Sarah.

Second, on Sunday many parishioners and long-time friends of our parish gathered for the 21^st Annual Packer Tailgate Party held again this year at the Swan Club.  For many years this has been a “sold out” event, and I am aware there is a significant waiting list to enroll new participants, suggesting that many others want to be a part of the fun at this yearly gathering.  While the result of the Packer-Lions game is not what we would have hoped for, our excitement over the West DePere Phantoms continued success is a great cause of our joy; that, coupled with the generosity of those who attended this annual fund raiser, raised the spirit of all in attendance!  The proceeds of this event help support our technological enterprises at our parish – to update, replace, and add to our technological ability to minister to and among peoples in new and innovative ways.   The funds raised at this annual event help us to live stream our Masses, it expands our “bandwidth” in the church, social hall, school and parish center, and such resources allow us to update our security systems across our campus.  Many folks from the parish spent incredible hours of engagement in offering a flawless, fun-filled event for all our participants.  I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our parishioners, Mike Sprangers and Gerry Byrne, for organizing so many others.  I am grateful for the presence of my Norbertine Confreres at this event, and especially Father Seamus Neilson, whose coverage at all weekend Masses allowed me to be more present at these two events than I was last year.  

Third, the activities that took place earlier in the week were simply edifying, from my point of view.  This week the Church invited us to participate in those sacred celebrations of All Saints Day followed immediately by All Souls Day.  Hundreds of attendees at the All Saints Day Masses made it clear that we are not only in need of the blessed support and intercession of all the Saints in glory, but we are also reminded that we are all called to be saints in the making.  May God continue to bless us as we continue to participate in this “school of virtue” that is Our Lady of Lourdes. The All Saints Day celebration solemnly prepared us for ACT II of the solemnity:  All Souls Day.  Two beautiful Masses were celebrated on Wednesday, one in the morning with our middle school students worshipping with our parishioners up at our parish cemetery at Mount Calvary on our city’s northwest side.  The Mass was a wonderful celebration; perhaps an unexpected highpoint was our school children giving “color-appropriate” flowers to our adult worshippers to adorn the graves of their loved ones.  Our students also decorated the graves of those who have passed who were near and dear to our youngest parishioners.  

The celebration of Mass at Mount Calvary was an eight-year dream of our Spanish teacher Señora Lourain Eggart.  God certainly coupled her efforts in providing extraordinarily beautiful weather for the outside Mass! The beauty outside was matched by the wonderful display that adorns our church gathering space for a second year in a row.   Thanks to all the parishioners and children who have placed pictures of their loved ones in this November “shrine” honoring our faithful departed.  Along with these pictures that catch our view and occupy space in our minds and hearts, you are all most welcome to sign the names of your beloved dead in the, “Book of the Dead” near the back wall of our sanctuary in the main church.  With your support, may all these activities that enhance our prayer during the month of November be an annual celebration of our collective, sacred memory and vigilance.

Fourth, writing this letter to you gives me a moment to take a little break from work on the one by One Capital Campaign. Given the size of our parish, the goal assigned to Lourdes seemed awfully daunting. I am happy to report that as of this writing we received pledges equaling 99% of our $1,075,000 goal.  I suspect we will surpass our goal within hours of this writing.   I am so grateful for the generosity of our parishioners who have given so generously to this cause – I am equally grateful for the many parishioners who have helped lead this campaign since 1 July 2022.  I have carved out time this week to hopefully bring my calls to a close, and I will continue to meet “one by One” with parishioners who would like to know more about the campaign and how the proceeds will help support diocesan ministries as well as the three ways your generosity will support projects here at our own local parish.  

Already, given your generosity, much work has been generated to update and renovate the parish center, the former convent built in 1961 to house the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet who once taught in our school.  Bit-by-bit, the building is nearing completion.  Once the project is finished, we will celebrate a liturgical dedication of the new building, and we will be pleased to offer an “open house” for all who would like to see our “new digs!”  I envision making you some chili for the event -- if you promise not to spill on the new carpet!!!  Eventually, our focus will shift to the updating and enhancement of the Father Conrad J. Kratz, O. Praem. Social Hall.  That will come only when pledges are fulfilled, and when we have a chance to catch our breath after the current project has ended!  I cannot express how grateful I am that our parish staff has navigated the ever-evolving demands that working amidst a construction zone has placed upon us. It has not been easy for our staff, but our folks have rolled well with all the added activity in the parish center.  

Fifth, regarding our staff, I have a very bittersweet announcement to make.   Our dear friend Katie Summers has accepted an invitation to apply her skills in comparable ministry at the Green Bay Catholic Diocese.  Katie did not seek such work, and she has resisted two diocesan offers that came her way; she finally accepted the third opportunity that was presented to her.  I must admit, I am sad to lose Katie because, in working with us for such a short period of time, she has led so many innovative and creative programs that has engaged parishioners of all demographics.   I am not at all surprised that the diocese has identified her gifts and that they think she would be most effective in sharing her talents on a much larger canvas.  However, I am given solace that while she will no longer be an official minister here at Our lady of Lourdes, she will continue to bless our church with her cheerful presence as a much beloved parishioner.  Please keep her in prayer amidst her ministerial transition.  

Sixth, may I offer a little personal information about myself?  On Sunday, 27 November 2022 I will be leaving you for a two-week stint in the Holy Land and in Rome, serving as chaplain and spiritual director for the members of Ss. Edward & Isadore Parish in Flintville.   I have been asked by the parish to step in for their pastor during this pilgrimage.  While I was most grateful for the invitation, my immediate response after prayerful reflection was “no.”  This answer was offered due to the timing of the pilgrimage more than anything else:  1.  It is the beginning of Advent and Advent is one of my favorite times of the year.   Like last year, I’d love to spend this time with YOU!  2.   This comes right at the end of the capital campaign.  I want to see this campaign come to an end, in an appropriate way, and in a spirit of gratitude for your kindness toward this cause.  

However, after being approached by two Norbertines who encouraged me to take this opportunity, a couple of other issues came to my mind: 1. The diocese will allow me to close the campaign immediately upon my return from Rome.   2. I will rest assured that you will be cared for extraordinarily well with full Norbertine coverage of the parish during my 14-day absence.  I am most grateful for Father Seamus Neilson, O. Praem. and Father Timothy Shillcox, O. Praem. who will be handling all parish public, pastoral and sacramental obligations during my absence.  3.  As some of you know, I made a public oath as a Canon of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem that I will visit the Holy Land given the care for the sites of the Holy Land is the singular focus of the Equestrian Order’s missionary activity.  Our Lieutenant and Lourdes parishioner Tom Olejniczak has made provisions for the Primate of Jerusalem to acknowledge my presence by presenting me with the Order’s “Pilgrim Shell.”  (I can share more about that at a later date.)   4.  The 14 days is completely funded by the tour organizers!  Honestly, I would never be able to personally finance such a trip given my vows in the Norbertine Order; that concern is completely alleviated by the organizers’ generosity!  5. While at the Vatican, I will be meeting with a “postulator” who is working on the “cause of beatification” of my Great Uncle +Archbishop Antoni Baraniak, SDS who is in official consideration of Sainthood.  I have been invited to delve into the inner-working of this process -- his “cause” -- and I am proud to have this opportunity to do so.   I will return to DePere on 11 December 2022.  I will then get the ball rolling to offer ample opportunities for Advent Reconciliation and to be re-settled in just as Christmas dawns.  I hope this experience, especially in Bethlehem during Advent, will animate and motivate my Christmas preaching among you!

And finally, Seventh, last Advent and Christmas was such a beautiful time for all of us at Lourdes, I believe.  This year, the dynamic will be changed radically as both Christmas (Eve and Day) and New Year’s (Eve and Day) land on Saturdays and Sundays.  Given this unique calendaring, we will gather at church less frequently than we normally do, but I am most confident that we will all bring great passion, energy, joy and blessed thanksgiving into our church during this festive time of the year.  Only in the “fullness of time”  when the perfect moment dawned, in the darkest sky and coldest temperature, did Christ our Light and Warmth pierce the Earth. May we continue to celebrate that Light and Warmth as we journey “with all holy men and women of every time and place” through the conclusion of our liturgical year.  

Fraternally,

Father James Baraniak, O. Praem.

Pastor