Greetings everyone,

After 11 years as pastor at St. Mary and St. Raymond Parishes, I am receiving a new assignment, effective July 4. Bishop Callahan is launching a 3-year initiative entitled “Rebuild My Church.” Bishop has appointed me to be the Director. This 3-year initiative will include the overseeing of Pastoral Planning efforts as well as providing support for the wellness, wholeness, and holiness of our clergy.

Leaving these two parishes after 11 years is emotional for me – as I know it will be for some of you. But if I am going to leave, I can’t think of any better reasons. I have had a burning passion around both of these issues for a long time.

Our diocese stands in serious need of updated Pastoral Planning. The status quo of maintaining our existing structures has been standing in the way of our vitality as a Church. Many have been calling for renewed Pastoral Planning efforts, but little progress has been made. Eventually it became clear to Bishop that if he doesn’t set someone apart to lead these efforts, the needed change will never happen – or it won’t happen well. To be sure, Pastoral Planning needs to be a group effort. The gathering of data and discussion of solutions will involve priests and people throughout the diocese – but someone needs to be coordinating all of the collaboration; someone needs to ensure outstanding communication; someone needs to provide ongoing resources when it comes to implementation. That someone will be me, God willing with lots of help and support.

Meanwhile, clergy health and well-being has been a serious concern. More and more has been asked of our priests, with little willingness to change how things are done, and with few supporting resources. Some have stumbled and fallen; many have suffered and struggled. The exciting part is that there are many of our priests who are very interested in healing and renewal. When I returned from sabbatical, I offered zoom presentations, joined by over 20 priests. This past fall, I was the main speaker at our Fall Ministry Conference. I shared some of my own healing journey and invited further conversation. There was enthusiastic response. I’ve been wanting to follow up on those conversations, but have been having trouble finding enough time. Bishop Callahan is hoping this new assignment will allow more time and space to pursue these important efforts. We priests cannot shepherd our people through the valley of darkness into green pastures if we have not been willing to go on that journey ourselves!

I will also be assisting with weekend fill-ins throughout the diocese. It has become increasingly challenging for priests to get away for rest or prayer – even more so for those with Spanish Masses. This past January there were multiple parishes in the diocese that had no choice but to post a sign that Sunday Mass was canceled due to no available priests. That is one of so many symptoms showing that Pastoral Planning is desperately needed. As the old Chinese proverb goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. 

In the months ahead, you will hear much more about the “Rebuild My Church” Initiative. St. Francis of Assisi will be the patron. He is already the secondary patron of our diocese, together with St. Joseph the Workman. Some of you know the story of Jesus speaking to Francis from the Cross and telling him, “Francis, go and rebuild my Church, which as you can see, is falling into ruin.”

Are those words not true in our own day and age? The early stages of this initiative will involve gathering extensive data so that we can take a humble and courageous look at the scoreboard. We will allow Jesus to show us the ways we are flourishing as well as the ways in which we are falling into ruin. Once we see more clearly what things are really like, and what we can expect the next decade to be like, we can pray and deliberate together as a diocese and allow God to show us the way. Whatever the solutions are, they will involve dying and rising with Jesus. Saint Francis understood that point so well!

Even though I am so excited about the ways God has suddenly opened up this path, it is also quite hard for me. Even the best changes in life (marriages, birth of children, graduations, or retirements) involve massive transition. With transition comes much loss and much uncertainty. I will miss you and will miss these parishes. I will shed many tears before and after leaving. I will also go through waves of uncertainty or even panic about the new and unfamiliar path I will be walking.

 

This Christmas will be the 800^th anniversary of St Francis presenting the town of Greccio with the first Nativity Creche – which he composed of living humans and animals. We plan to begin the “Rebuild My Church” Initiative by remembering the Crib. The initiative invites all of us, like the baby Jesus, to trust and be vulnerable. It invites us, like the Wise Men, to leave behind what is comfortable and familiar and trust that God will lead us somewhere really good. I am just as uncomfortable and afraid of change as everyone else. I feel drawn to Saint Francis, his radical poverty, his trust and surrender to a Good Father in heaven. Please pray for me, for our Bishop, and for the Diocese of La Crosse during these coming three years and beyond.  I will surely be praying for each of you.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Fr. Derek Sakowski

Pastor