May 3, 2022 (Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles)

Dear parishioners and friends of Gesu,
Several parish updates are in order as we celebrate the Easter Season of the liturgical year.

• Thanks to all who assisted with our celebration of Holy Week and the Triduum. It was a very solemn, joyful and grace-filled experience for the parish as a whole! Especially noteworthy for me was our Palm Sunday outdoor procession at the 10:30 am Mass.

• Johanna Lee will join the parish staff, beginning in June. She will succeed Barbara Macpherson as Direction of Child and Family Formation. More about Johanna when she arrives. Thanks to the Search Committee which included parishioners and catechists Nancy Cruz and Joanna Galezowska.

• We are revisiting the job description for the Director of Human Concerns in anticipation of hiring for the position.

• Gesu will host a workshop “Empowering the Laity” on Sunday, May 15^th, from noon until 3 pm. This is presented by members of the Marquette University Theology Department. This event is free and open to the public. If interested in attending, please contact Jerri von den Bosch at [email protected] or call 414-288-7412.

• Our three MU student interns, Sarah, Ally and Josephine, are finishing their semester and time with us. As it was a positive experience for them and us, we will host three new interns in the Fall Semester of 2022.

• Our wedding season has begun. We are fully subscribed with more the 60 weddings to celebrate until we conclude the season in December.

• On Tuesday, May 24^th at 7 pm, Bishop Jeffrey Haines will confirm 25 young adults from the downtown parishes at Gesu. Please join us for this celebration.

• We hope to initiate a coffee and rolls gathering during the summer months. This will take place between the two Sunday Masses, once or twice a month. We also plan to meet outside as weather permits. If you are available to volunteer, please contact Jerri von den Bosch at [email protected]

• On Saturday, June 11^th, 5 Jesuits will be ordained as priests. The celebration begins at 10 am and is open to the public.

• One of the newly ordained, Stephen Molvarec, SJ will serve at Gesu for four weeks or so, beginning on June 13^th. He is eager to begin his priestly ministry Gesu. More about Stephen as the date of his arrival draws near.

• We are close to hiring a campaign consultant and church architect for the upper church renovation project (previously announced). Thanks to the Steering Committee which includes parishioners John Callen, Wendy Luljak, Mike McCormack, and Stacey Young.

• Mass attendance for Sunday and weekday liturgies continues to increase as we emerge from the pandemic. The Sacrament of Reconciliation also grows in numbers of penitents.

• As previously announced, I will formally resign as pastor on June 30^th and Fr. Ben Osborne will succeed me, beginning July 1st. Fr. Ben is well prepared to begin this ministry! And Fr. Thomas Anderson, SJ will join him this summer as Associate Pastor.

• In August, I will move to Loyola University in Chicago for my next assignment as Director of First Studies (for our Jesuit scholastics) and to teach philosophy on a part-time basis. Until then, I have weddings at Gesu until August to keep me somewhat busy!

Thanks, as always, for your ongoing support of the parish. It has been my privilege to serve as pastor during these past 7 years!

Easter blessings!
Fr. Jim

Forgive us for war, O Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners!
Lord Jesus, born in the shadows of bombs falling on Kyiv, have mercy on us!
Lord Jesus, who died in a mother's arms in a bunker in Kharkiv, have mercy on us!
Lord Jesus, a 20-year-old sent to the frontlines, have mercy on us!
Lord Jesus, who still behold armed hands in the shadow of your Cross, have mercy on us!

Forgive us, O Lord.
Forgive us, if we are not satisfied with the nails with which we crucified Your hands, as we continue to slate our thirst with the blood of those mauled by weapons.

Forgive us, if these hands which You created to tend have been transformed into instruments of death.
Forgive us, O Lord, if we continue to kill our brother;

Forgive us, if we continue like Cain to pick up the stones of our fields to kill Abel.
Forgive us, if we continue to justify our cruelty with our labors, if we legitimize the brutality of our actions with our pain.

Forgive us for war, O Lord. Forgive us for war, O Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Song of God, we implore You! Hold fast the hand of Cain! Illumine our consciences;
May our will not be done;
Abandon us not to our own actions!

Stop us, O Lord, stop us!
And when you have held back the hand of Cain, care alsol for him. He is our brother.
O lord, put a halt to the violence!
Stop us, O Lord!
Amen.

 

Dear parishioners and friends of Gesu,

I hope this message finds you well and staying healthy as we deal with this recent surge of the Covid-19 virus.

As you know, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is conducting a capital campaign, “Love One Another.” In past parish updates, I mentioned that Gesu is in the “first wave” of parishes involved. Indeed, during the last several months, we have participated in meetings with the Archdiocese and its consulting firm. We also identified a case or project for our parish, i.e., replacement of flooring and pews in the upper church.

In conversations with the Archdiocese, we learned that Gesu is not obligated to participate in the “Love One Another” campaign. The reason is that our governing structure is different from the typical parish of the Archdiocese. Nonetheless, Gesu will make a significant financial contribution to the campaign. We also encourage you to contribute, as you see fit.

This new scenario, however, allows us to envision a capital campaign of our own in which 100% of donations will go to the parish. The project of replacing the flooring and pews in the upper church remains the same. Depending on the funds raised, we may be able to make additional renovations, as well.

In the coming weeks and months, Gesu will communicate more details concerning the campaign. The success of the campaign will help sustain our remarkable worship space for generations to come.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the parish!

Fr. Jim Flaherty, SJ

Pastor