It’s Been a Joy to Serve You!

Every spring, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee announces new priest placements for the upcoming year. In a couple of weeks, I will be taking on the role of  pastor for St Kilian (Hartford), St. Matthew (Neosho), and St. John (Rubicon). At the same time, you will be welcoming Fr. Matthew Ferch as your new shared associate pastor of St. Anthony and St. Mary. 

There are many reasons why priests are moved from one parish to another: For one, it keeps us fresh. We have to tackle a new set of circumstances, opportunities and challenges, and that helps us to grow, be creative, and avoid becoming stagnant in our ministry. In the same way, it keeps parishes fresh and growing when new priests come with new energy. From a practical perspective, I think having the flexibility of assigning priests enables the Archbishop of Milwaukee to more effectively manage the whole archdiocese and not just one parish at a time. He can move a  priest who has a specific skill set or strengths to a parish that might need those specific strengths at a specific moment. 

That being said, moving priests is not a matter of revealed doctrine; it’s simple practice of the Church. It has and can change. But, as it is the practice that we have now, we can trust that God is at work through it and in it. 

Serving St. Mary and St. Anthony parishes the past seven years has been such a great joy for me. I want to thank all of you whom I’ve gotten to know for your love, for your prayers and for your encouragement. Please continue to pray for me in the weeks and months ahead and please know that I will be praying for you; you have helped me become the priest that I am.

Hopefully I will see many of you again around the Archdiocese. If I don’t, hopefully we will see one another again in heaven and rejoice forever in the love of Christ with all the saints. I ask Mary to bless you and to protect you, and to draw you ever closer to her son.

Farewell Receptions For Fr. Linn

Please join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude and bidding a fond farewell to Father Andrew Linn, who has faithfully served our parish as Associate Pastor for the past seven years. Receptions will take place after all three Mass at the parish designated on the following weekends: We hope to see you there!

• June 7-8 at St. Anthony 
• June 14-15 at St. Mary