Strengthen Your Brethren, Fr. Louis Bulletin Letter – October 22, 2006
Thank you to John Krupka and the committee that organized last weekend’s “For Pete’s Sake Fun Night” at Michelle’s Restaurant. And what a fun night it was! As your Pastor, I always enjoy those opportunities to spend time with you in a relaxing and informal atmosphere. With regard to all the games and raffles that night, I can report that my luck has not changed since being named your Pastor. I did not win a thing!
Speaking of being named your Pastor, it is hard to believe that this past week (October 18) marked the first anniversary of my installation by Bishop Listecki. With gratitude I recall that Mass in which so many of you participated offering your prayerful support and encouragement. During his homily that night the Bishop revealed that he almost did not send me to Saint Peter as he contemplated keeping me on his staff in La Crosse where he had assigned me from April through June 2005. I sure am glad he did send me to you! The Lord through Bishop Listecki has entrusted you to me. Relying above all on God’s grace and also on your prayers, your generosity and cooperation in our common mission, your patience with my foibles, and your forgiveness for my faults, I seek to do that which the Bishop exhorted me during the installation Mass: “Always be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do.” Let us pray for one another!
Please remember in prayer the young people of our parish preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation to be celebrated by Bishop Listecki at 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 29. All of you are most warmly welcomed and encouraged to attend this special Mass. The ones to be confirmed (confirmandi) have been readying themselves to receive that strengthening of the Holy Spirit by prayer, study, and the exercise of charity. Last weekend several women of our parish led a retreat for the girls at the Lions’ Camp. On Saturday night Phil Lawson and I spent several hours with them. During Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament I heard their Confessions and then celebrated the Mass. After Mass and the veneration of a relic of the twelve-year-old virgin and martyr, Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902), the girls convinced Phil and me to stay and play a round of charades with them! This weekend the boys are on retreat. We’ll see what they have in store after the Saturday Mass!
I am happy (and relieved!) to welcome Mr. Haesi Fanizius as our new Director of Sacred Music and Organist effective November 1. Haesi (pronounced hay-zee) comes to us from Waterford, Wisconsin, with an incredibly rich and varied career in church music. He began as a student and assistant organist in Laufen-Leipzig, Germany, in 1946. Since 1956 Haesi has served in Illinois and Wisconsin at a number of Catholic parishes as well as several Lutheran and Episcopal congregations. Given the historical ethnic heritage of Saint Peter, he will feel right at home insofar as he formerly served as Organist and Choirmaster at Polish parishes in Chicago and Milwaukee! In fact, at Saint Casmir in Milwaukee Haesi directed the choir for their Sunday Mass in Polish! His background includes playing the organ, harpsichord, and piano, directing choirs (for both adults and children), and teaching music at a parochial school, besides composing music for voice and handbells. Into many of the congregations he has served Hasesi has introduced handbells. In the last decade in the Milwaukee area he founded and developed a chamber orchestra of high school students to perform classical sacred works. Haesi has been a member of national organizations of organists in both the United States and Canada. He is of Egyptian descent and is a Coptic Orthodox Christian. Haesi is very knowledgeable about music in the Divine Liturgy and has incredible energy and infectious enthusiasm. Please consider becoming a partner with him in this fresh start of sacred music at Saint Peter. Haesi will meet with current and prospective choir members, cantors, and any interested parties in the choir loft at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 7. Please give him a warm welcome!
The Catholic Bishops of our State have asked us to affirm Wisconsin’s 153-year commitment to human life by voting “NO” on the upcoming advisory referendum to restore the death penalty. Also, they urge us to vote “YES” on a proposed amendment to the State Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Watch this bulletin each week for accurate information to assist you in the formation of your conscience and political judgment according to our faith – especially in what pertains to the natural moral order established by God in creation.