Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

“Soup's on! Soup's on!” That was the call to announce that lunch was ready. You hustled in from playtime if you were a child or stopped your chores if you were older. This is Lent and in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, soup's on! It is time for our annual Catholic Charities Lenten Luncheon.

The traditional Catholic Charities Lenten Luncheon began in 2015. We felt a need to highlight the splendid work of Catholic Charities and the Charitable works exemplified in an individual, corporation and religious community. Fr. Anthony J. Brankin was commissioned to create an appropriate award which embodied the spirit of charity in the tradition of the Catholic Church. Fittingly, the figure of St. Lawrence was chosen.

As a deacon, the emperor ordered that St. Lawrence place before him the “treasures of the Church.” The next day, St. Lawrence appeared before the emperor with widows, orphans, the physically challenged and the poor. Incensed, the Emperor ordered St. Lawrence’s execution by being burned alive over an open pit. There is no doubt that the treasures of the Church are those who are in need (Matthew 25), and we needed to recognize Catholic Charities and others for their charitable examples.

In keeping with the spirit of Lent, a simple luncheon of soup, salad and cookies brings people together at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. I do not know if you could characterize any soup created by Nick Litscher and Tom Zielinski as simple – unless we can call it “simply delicious.” With the assistance of sponsors, the Lenten Luncheon is a great “friend” raiser.

Since 2015, the Lenten Luncheon has grown under the direction of the Vicar for Catholic Charities, Fr. David Reith. By 2017, the success of the Lenten Luncheon maxed the occupancy at the seminary. This caused Fr. Reith to examine spreading the “joy” and extending the Lenten Luncheon to two other areas: Kenosha/Racine (Tri-Counties) and Sheboygan/Fond du Lac (Quad-Counties). But just as these new sites started to grow, we were hit with the COVID-19 pandemic. This placed a damper on the Lenten Luncheon, but not on the acts of charity.

In 2020-2021, not wanting to lose the opportunity of recognizing the great works of charity, a ceremony was conducted at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. Although denied the ability to share a lunch, we did manage to bestow the Treasures of the Church award to worthy recipients who represented that charitable spirit.

This year we are back on track and have added the Lake Country, which was held at St. Anthony on the Lake last Monday, March 14. I enjoyed being with Fr. Tony Zimmer and his staff as they hosted a wonderful beginning. The beauty of the Lenten Luncheon is that it is a community affair with support from Catholic high schools, parish staffs and generous caterers.

Charity is an effort shared by many to produce something for Jesus, His Church and the greater good. I could not be more pleased to see the celebration of those works of charity exemplified in our recipients as they shine a light for others through their charitable witness.

The following have been past recipients:

2015 | Ann Marie Wick – Wheaton Franciscan Health Care – Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi Milwaukee 

2016 | Patricia Barnard – Mobile Legal Clinic – Capuchin Franciscan Friars St. Joseph Province   

2017 | James F. Luther – Northwestern Mutual – School Sisters of St. Francis United States Province 

2018 | (Milwaukee) The Honorable Beth Ermatinger Hanan – Catholic Financial Life – School Sisters of Notre Dame; (Quad Counties) Dr. Bob Weber – The Salvation Army – Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes; (Tri Counties) Jeff and Aurora Simonelli – Jockey Being Family – Sister Mary Emmanuel, Apanites Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus

2019 | (Milwaukee) Sister Patricia Rogers OP – Town Bank – Sisters of the Divine Savior Congregation; (Quad-Counties) Robert and Arlene Ramstack – Anchor of Hope – Knights of Columbus District 64; (Tri-Counties) Rev. Edward Carroll – Snap-On Inc. – Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ

2020-2021 | (held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee)

(Milwaukee) Ann and Christopher Swain – Husch Blackwell LLP – Saint Francis de Sales Seminary; (Quad-Counties) Frank G. and Frieda K. Brotz Family Foundation – Holyland Food Pantry – Hospital Sisters of St. Francis; (Tri-Counties) Pauline McTernan – Shalom Center – Rev. Michael Newman; (Lake Country) Kay Redmond – Faith Coalition Against Sex Trafficking – The Redemptorists Denver Province

2022 | (Milwaukee) Mary Ann and Art Wigchers – Franciscan Peacemakers – Wheaton Franciscan Sisters; (Lake Country) Marianne Miller – R & R Insurance – Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary; (Quad-Counties) Julie and Rick Leonhard – Sheboygan Food Bank – Rev. Matthew Widder; (Tri-Counties) Heather Connolly – St. Vincent de Paul Kenosha County – Deacon Rich Stanula

We all share together in the works of charity. As Catholic Charities, individuals, organizations, and religious communities, we respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters following Christ’s command to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.           
 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the March 22, 2022 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.