One faith community, two worship sites
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
04 February 2022 Volume 110
February 2, 2022
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
This is Catholic Schools Week, and I will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with our grammar school and high school administrations, faculty and students. It is an opportunity for us to pause and give thanks for the contributions made by so many to provide for Catholic formation and excellence in academic preparation.
 
I will always be grateful for the education that I received at the hands of the sisters who were my teachers in my formative years. I was in grammar school in the fifties and graduated in the early sixties. I admit that I, like many of the community of young students, took for granted what was being provided to me. The sisters offered me a vision of the world that was filtered through the lens of the Catholic Church. We prayed daily, we were challenged to contribute our services to our local community, and we were reminded of the needs of the larger universal church and the need for our support (remember the ransoming of those pagan babies). Ironically, I did not have a lay teacher until I entered the minor seminary. I was formed in a Catholic world, and I owe much to the sisters who created the environment.
 
Catholic education would go through several changes from the sixties to the present age. The loss of the religious in our schools was replaced with dedicated Catholic lay women and men. The number of schools decreased as well as the number of students. Catholic education increased in costs. However, even with these challenges no one could refute the importance of Catholic education.
 
My own sister Mary (Penny) returned to teach in the very grammar school that she and I attended. She also graduated from our parish high school. It must have been strange to collaborate and conduct classes with the order of sisters that formed her. She, as a dedicated lay woman, was a part of that Catholic transition. It was always comforting for me to come home from the seminary and find young boys or girls around our home just wanting to be near their favorite teacher.
 
There was an investment that the lay teachers were making in their students to the development of the community. A work that would highlight that development was “Lost Classroom Lost Community” by Margaret F. Brinig and Nicole Shelle Garnett. As a result of the closing of a parochial school, the community seems to suffer an increase in poverty and crime and a loss of civic responsibility. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in his address at Templeton University (1983) stated that the problem of our modern society is the loss of God. The committed Catholic school administrators and teachers are owed our gratitude for holding the importance of God before their students. This not only offers direction in life for the students but also a sense of hope for our society.
 
Dr. Kathleen Ceplka who is the superintendent of our Catholic schools will be retiring at the close of this school year. Kathleen has assisted the Catholic Schools of Milwaukee in significant achievements. In the face of modern struggles, she has maintained quality education with a strong emphasis on Catholic identity. During her tenure we have opened two new Catholic high schools and developed innovative approaches which assure the availability of Catholic education into the future. She is ably supported by her long-time staff of Sue Nelson, Bruce Varik, John Soper and Janelle Luther. We have been blessed by her leadership and the work of the staff.
 
As I celebrate with various schools, I will remind them of the contributions made by so many and especially to God for the gift of faith which needs to be promoted and defended.
 
If you get a chance please visit your school, text your appreciation for their work and say a prayer that our schools remain strong and viable. In our schools the basis of our teachings is founded on the two great commandments Love God and LOVE ONE ANOTHER.       
 
Sincerely,

 
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee  
This Weekend's Mass Worship Aid
Bulletin correction

Please note the Mass change below. The Sunday evening Mass at St Thomas Aquinas will be this Sunday February 6 at 6pm to coincide with the Faith Formation class change below.

THERE WILL BE NO EVENING MASS ON SUNDAY FEB 13.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Looking for more St Thomas greeters at the weekend Masses - 2022.  

We have a great team of greeters at St. Thomas but we would love to have more volunteers. Duties include:
  • Arriving 30 minutes before mass starts
  • Wearing a mask is encouraged
  • Name tags will be available

You can sign up thru the church office – call 262-534-2255
Or contact Pat Koszuth – call 262-514-3788
or email – horvat@tds.net
Please include name/names, phone #, your email, and
Preferred Mass time. 

Thank you in Advance!
Catholic Central News

Have you had a chance to see our new, beautiful Guardian Angels that stand watch over Catholic Central on our main school building? Catholic Central High School would like to thank all of the generous donors from our member parishes for their help in realizing this very special accomplishment!
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On Sunday, February 6th, at 10:30 a.m., Catholic Central will participate in a Holy Mass at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Parish in Burlington and then walk over to the school for a special blessing of the angels by Fr. Jim Volkert. Following the blessing, all are welcome to a coffee and cake reception in the Marion Activity Center (MAC).
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Attention All 8th Graders!
Now accepting applications to Catholic Central High School for the 2022-23 school year. Our next placement testing exam will be Saturday, February 12, 2022. Find out more or register online: Click here to register
 
Contact the Admissions Department at 262-763-1506 or by email at Click here to email Catholic Central with any questions.
We would like to highlight and thank a few of our loyal sponsors in each email.
St. Thomas and St Clare thanks you very much!
A complete list of all our sponsors can be found on our website. Please support them whenever possible
St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Clare of Assisi parishes
Waterford and Wind Lake, WI.