references

FORMER PASTORS

Rev. Lyle Schulte, Rev. Al Burkhardt, Rev. Jerzy Rebacz

Rev. Jerry Morris, First United Methodist Church.

FORMER DEANS

Rev. Dennis Lynch, Rev. Don Przybylski, Rev. Robert Schaller, Rev.John Potaczek, Rev. Tom Lindner.

OTHER

Rev. Placid Stroik, OFM, director of Franciscans Downtown, a drop-in hospitality center where I have been volunteering as a host since its opening in June, 2014.

Other than siblings and grade school friends Rev. John (Don) Keegan, SJ has known me the longest and perhaps the deepest. I met him at Cranwell Prep where he served prior to his ordination as a Jesuit priest. After college he directed me at the summer Cranwell House of Prayer in a 30-day Ignatian retreat, which has been an enduring source of spiritual sustenance for me.

When I was DRE at St. Joseph Parish Lynn Meyer was my associate on parish staff, and then my successor. We were fellow students in the Loyola Masters program (LIMEX). I have stayed in touch by attending DRE and DARE meetings, helping with the VBS, and serving on the parish education committee. My long relationship with Lynn qualifies her to share her perspective of my vision and ministerial skills, strengths and weaknesses.

NOTES

In 1979 Fr. Schulte came from seminary and university teaching to his first parish, and hired me as parish DRE at St. Joseph Parish where I served thirteen years. I consider this long collaboration with a gifted pastor a very blessed and privileged time in my ministry career.

As dean Fr. Lynch suggested to Janet, my wife, to consider chaplaincy ministry; she served as a chaplain in the Spiritual Services Department of Saint Michael Hospital 1990-2018.

Fr. Lindner is familiar with my service to the deanery, work for the Brother Miller lecture series, and my facilitation of a formal, two-parish consultation Bishop Burke requested regarding possible merger of St. Stanislaus and Newman University Parishes. At Fr. Tom’s invitation I served twice as a spiritual director in the annual Busy Students’ Retreat at Newman University Parish.

My six-year service with Pastor Jerry Morris was congenial and rewarding. I have learned much working with the pastors, staff and members of this Methodist congregation who exemplify an ecumenical openness and have always respected my Catholic identity as we built on common ground. I also admire their emphasis on service and social justice, and well-established norms and practice for ordained and lay collaboration, including staff-parish relations.