CALLING SAINT DISMAS: Any Milwaukee Area Employers Out There?

Narrative: The story of this criminal, St. Dismas, who suffered crucifixion with Christ on Calvary, teaches the depth of Christ’s willingness to redeem those condemned. In this icon, St. Dismas stands in his prison cell with the words, “St. Dismas, The Compassionate Thief,” coarsely scratched into the wall. The icon presents those words in the color of blood to express the anguish of imprisonment. Unaffected by the bars of the cell, Christ in the light of his glory blesses St. Dismas and releases him from his human imprisonment.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal [St. Dismas] rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

By: Lu Bro of Bridge Building Images

As I have alluded to in earlier posts, I often wonder who reads this stuff. I sometimes have answers to this question when people write here in the public forum, or when I hear from those who email me, addressing their thoughts via my college email. The folks who usually check in are parishioners, students, family members and folks from the Packer organization. Occasionally I will hear from complete strangers from across the country -- that's always an interesting and intriguing experience! Not surprisingly though, I have yet to hear from some of the inmates from GBCI! Nevertheless, in past blogs I have written about some of my encounters at the maximum security prison -- and at one point, I even wrote about a specific inmate. Tonight I am wondering if there are any employers in the Milwaukee area who are looking for a laborer to hire? Let me explain....

Today I was engaged in a phone call conversation with that very person, Luis: a former inmate at Green Bay Correctional Institution who was paroled earlier this past summer after time well served. As I mentioned in a previous post as well as in a spring-time homily, I have kept Luis in my thoughts and prayers for some time, hoping that he would adjust well in the transition from prison life to life back on the streets in his native homeland, Milwaukee. I had hoped that Luis would remain in Green Bay after his release, so that there could be any number of people that would keep an eye on him to keep him on a righteous path. Further, I would do my best to help Luis seek and find a job that would help get him on his feet.

But as you can probably understand, Luis wanted to be closer to his family. I trust that they will be a supportive influence on his new-found freedom.

Since his release, I have been in contact with his parole officer, and as I said earlier, today I was engaged in a conversation with Luis himself. On all accounts, Luis seems to be doing very well. He was so engaging on the phone and he freely shared some of the ups and downs he's experienced along the way. But then there's employment....... ...... That has not been going quite as well! It seems as though people are very hesitant to hire someone with a checkered past. Luis understands the potential employers' concerns.

Towards that end, I have begun a bit of a 'novena' to Saint Dismas, the patron saint of inmates, with the hope that someone out there will give this guy a second chance, just as Christ gave "The Good Thief" a second chance given his sincerity of heart. That's easy for Christ to do -- being all knowing and all loving; perhaps it's not as easy for us humans to do.

Nevertheless, if there is someone reading this who is willing to take such a chance and would like to know more information, I would be more than willing to speak with you and vouch for this man's character. For those of you who are not Milwaukee area employers, please keep Luis in your thoughts and prayers. Through the intercession of Saint Dismas, may this good young man have a chance at a second chance at getting it right!

In imprisonment and in freedom, "God's flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd's care!"

Father James Baraniak, O. Praem.

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Giving Credit Where Credit is Due!

Having read the 'comments' feature on this blog earlier today, I read the following note:

Father Jim -
That is such a GREAT photo of you in your blog! Who took it? Had to have been a good photographer.

Well, I kind of think it was the photographer himself who wrote the kind note; in fact, given the "RG" that appeared in my personal email, I am willing to place my monthly stipend on the hunch -- just enough to purchase him a new role of film. And because it was a digital camera, a gift from BF, he won't be needing the money. (And I'm grateful the picture did not show the spaghetti sauce on the white habit!)

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Feeling Any Older Today? ... Or Just Getting Better With Age?

Many people in Wisconsin and Mississippi are aware that today is Brett Favre's Birthday. While he's beginning to catch up to me [age-wise!], he seems to be turning back the clock in so many ways this NFL season. I wish him the very best today -- his 38th!

But he's a mere youth, compared to the other birthday we celebrate today. Today marks the 109th birthday of Saint Norbert College. It was on this day -- 10 October 1898 -- that the then Father Bernard Pennings began teaching Latin to a couple of neighborhood boys in the Saint Joseph Rectory kitchen. That was the birth of what we celebrate today and each day we experience the joys of SNC!

But how did it all begin? Back in 1893 Father Pennings arrived in America (in the Belgian Peninsula) at the request of Green Bay's Bishop Sebastian Messmer. He wanted Dutch speaking priests to come and serve the Belgian population in the Kewaunee - Door County area. However, Father Pennings knew that he would need to seek a larger canvass if he were to build a school that would have a lasting mission. So before that fateful day back in October 109 years ago today, this is what lead up to obtaining [Old] Saint Joseph Church and the surrounding areas -- thus giving birth to Saint Norbert College!

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Delwich
Thursday of Holy Week, 1897

Dear Right Reverend Abbot,

I had thought to put off the writing [of this letter] a little longer, but perhaps one of my confreres may inform you, or has already written to you, and then my silence [in the matter] could be misunderstood. We are negotiating to buy a property for a convent. The Bishop and his consulters have decided to transfer the Saint Joseph Church (French) in West DePere to a religious Order, because they do not see any other possibility of ever paying off the debt on this property. As soon as I knew that the decision had really been made, I wrote to the Bishop, but he had already offered the location to the Redemptorists, who have now consulted with their General, because the location is outside their province (for they belong to the Canadian provinces and cannot come into the United States.) Much will depend on their decision, at least if the Bishop does not accept us before they have reached a conclusion.

This week I went with Father Lambert and his brother Alphonse Broens for more information, but our trip miscarried in part because of bad weather: we could spend only one hour in Green Bay; and because the Bishop is sick again, we could only speak with the Vicar General Fox. We thought we could infer from his words that we still had a chance to succeed, but you can not rely on everything [you hear]! It does appear somewhat strange to us that it was not offered to us but the Redemptorists; however, if it is possible, I am going to Green Bay next week, because we must try to undercut the Redemptorists. And now, what kind of location is it?

The property consists of a church (very lovely), a rectory and a Sisters’ house, with a school; in addition another house and five building lots. There is a debt of $4000 on the church, and the other house with the lots is for sale for $2800. The location is splendid, right on the Fox River, between East and West DePere, about five minutes from the main bridge; it is also very favorably situated, 5 miles from Green Bay, with two important railroads and an electric streetcar line. The parish itself is nothing special, approximately 80 families, French Canadians and Belgians. But the most important thing is that it comes with the Archconfraternity of Saint Joseph and a periodical “Annals of Saint Joseph.” That alone assures adequate income, because of the many Masses and stipends etc.

The magazine at present has about 1000 subscribers, and that can be increased to 8 or 10 thousand, it is thought. It is precisely because of the Archconfraternity that no secular priest can run the place. After considering all this information, I am not afraid of buying the entire property for the incumbent debt, it could be paid for in a few years, and we will not easily find anything as beautiful again. Let us pray in honor of Saint Joseph that it may all work out favorably for us.

Respectful Greetings, Rt. Rev. Abbot, from your obedient confrere,

Bern. H. Pennings, Prior

Taken from: Letters Written in Good Faith, Alt Publishing, Green Bay, 1996

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BRIDGING OUR COMMUNITY: With a Little Help From Above!

PHOTO: Turba Photography

With the new Claude Allouez Bridge now open, traffic is rolling a bit more smoothly throughout the city of DePere -- but only after a pretty impressive Dedication Ceremony and all day party on Saturday. When I was asked to offer the prayer of dedication for the event, I recalled that in our Church's liturgy for the Dedication of a Church, while the prayers do hint at blessing brick and mortar, dedication prayers actually reflect the dedication of one's self -- those who will use the church for sacred rituals. I tried to capture that same spirit in the Bridge Dedication Prayer. In case you missed it, here's the prayer to which people acclaimed "Amen:"

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Normally, when a member of the clergy finds a text that is quotable, it was often written about 2000 years ago by a guy named Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. But in honor of this occasion, I will use a text that was written just 12 years ago, as the dreams for this new bridge were just beginning. In 1996, REO Speed Wagon reminded us of what it takes to “build a bridge.” I will spare you the melody, but borrow their lyrics for your consideration. May the song on their lips be the prayer in your heart this day:


Father to son, husband to wife

Brother to sister, black man to white

Living together, falling apart

Looking for the common ground in every human heart:

It all comes down to each of us

Yeah this is where we start:


We are building the bridge!

One small stone at a time

With a lot of love

And some help from above

From your heart to mine.


There's a land of justice, cities filled with pride

A mountain of hope, just on the other side.

Across a river of indifference, and a valley of despair

There's towers of courage, piercing through the air

I have a dream for our children, I want to take them there


And we are building the bridge

One small stone at a time

With a lot of love

And some help from above

From your heart to mine.


As we seek out understanding

As we learn to forgive

When we open up our minds;

When our words are true and kind:

We are building the bridge!


In that spirit of hope and as a people of thanksgiving,
we bow our heads and pray for God’s blessing:


Good and Loving God,
we thank you and praise you for the blessings of this day,
and we thank you for the many ways you empower us
as individuals and as fellow citizens of DePere
and the great State of Wisconsin
to be a blessing to one another.

In particular, we gather today to give thanks
for Mayor Mike Walsh and our leaders
in local and state-wide government
whose vision and wisdom –
together with the construction workers
who worked tirelessly over these past 15 months –
have given birth to the bridge we dedicate right here, right now.

We pray that this bridge will serve as a companion
to our citizens and our visitors on their journey –
empowering us to make our destinations in safety and peace.

And we pray even further
that this bridge will serve as a metaphor for us
of a greater call to be a people of radical hospitality.
May this impressive structure remind us of our need
to dedicate ourselves to the task of bringing and bridging people together:
friends and strangers, DePere citizens and visitors alike
in an attempt to be one in mind and heart together
on our way home to God.

In the Spirit of Father Claude Allouez and his Jesuit Companions,
we make this prayer to our good and loving God,
through Christ and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.

May our Almighty God bless this bridge +
And all those who benefit from its contribution to our community:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

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Safe travels, friends; enjoy the new view!

Father James Baraniak, O. Praem.

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