Our Lady of Guadalupe & St. Patrick's Parishes

Spreading the Gospel on the South Side of Milwaukee

June Newsletter

Message from Fr. Rick Abert, S.J.

I recall meeting with a family to help them prepare for their father’s funeral. They shared the gift of his life with me, then chose the Gospel passage, John 14:6-10, a popular choice among families for its gentle remembrance of Jesus’ remarks to his disciples at the Last Supper: “Do not let your hearts be troubled . . . in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.”

One of the daughters reminded us that what she cherished most about her father was that he came to the U.S. as an immigrant years ago, bringing with him the skills of being a gifted carpenter. As a result, he purchased and fixed up a house for his family to call home. In that process, he recognized that in the neighborhood surrounding them other immigrant families were sharing houses and therefore needed their own family home. That realization led him to a new occupation of finding families in need and welcoming them by fixing up and providing comfortable housing for them at lower rates. Indeed, it was his way of reminding people in words similar to those of Jesus’s, “Do not let your hearts be troubled . . . in my Father’s ‘heart' there is space for all.”

Happy Father’s Day to all dads who welcome us to God’s large and generous heart.

We wish Father Ryan Ackmann every blessing in his transition to ministry in the parishes of St Charles Borromeo, St, Joseph, and the Immaculate Conception in Burlington, Wisconsin. Well done, good and faithful servant, go in peace. You can contact Fr. Ryan at rackmann@sfs.edu.

First Mass of Two Newly Ordained Jesuit Priests

Fr. Aaron Pierre, S.J.

Fr. Dan Dixon, S.J.

Two Jesuits, Dan Dixon, S.J. and Aaron Pierre, S.J. will be ordained to the priesthood on Sat June 10 @ 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Gesù located on 12th and Wisconsin Ave. This is a public event. All are invited. The next day, Sun June 11, the new priests will celebrate their first Mass, together, at the 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Welcome, Fr. Aaron Pierre, S.J.

I was born and raised in Green Bay with three siblings just two miles from Lambeau Field. Before 9th grade my family moved to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a place I still call home. I learned to speak Spanish and to love tacos al pastor when studying abroad for a semester in Puebla, Mexico. Before joining the Jesuits, I worked for one year with a non-profit organization in Guayaquil, Ecuador. During the last ten years of Jesuit formation I have moved around from Chicago to Pine Ridge, South Dakota, to Kenya in East Africa where I lived and worked for seven months. While completing my theology studies this past year, I had the pleasure of serving as a deacon at St. Mark’s Parish in Richmond, California, a largely Mexican migrant community. I love camping and exploring the outdoors, listening to live music, and being uncle to six nephews and one newborn niece. I look forward to joining the Sister Parishes at the end of June!

FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION, June 2nd

Eucharistic Adoration @ 5:30 p.m.

Mass (bilingual) @ 6:30 p.m.

at St. Patrick’s Church.

The tradition of First Fridays is connected to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the intentions of the Pope.

Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network

Upcoming Events

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Friday, June 16

St. Patrick's Church

Holy Hour (Eucharistic Adoration) @ 5:30 p.m.

Bilingual Mass to follow.

God Our Father,

In your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless the fathers, godfathers, and foster care fathers of the Sister Parishes. Strengthen them so that they may become more fully the loving and caring men whom they are meant to be by the grace of Jesus Christ, though the intercession of St Joseph. Amen.

Save the Date

Fr. Rick Abert, S.J., will turn 80 on July 5th.

We are going to have an early celebration for him on Friday, June 30.

Mass @ 5:30 p.m. at St Patrick’s with a party to follow in the church parking lot.

Summer Camp

July 10 - August 2

Summer camp is for children entering 3rd grade to 8th in the fall, from ages 8 to 13.

Camp takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12:30-5 p.m.; and on Wednesdays, field trip days, from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The registration fee is $40 per child.