"Grateful for the Welcome"

January 5, 2010

The Year for the Priest

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting.

I am so grateful for the tremendous welcome, prayers and good wishes offered by so many on the day of my installation as the eleventh Archbishop of Milwaukee.  I realize that the Lord has brought us together to further the work of His Church.  With this sense of the Lord’s mission I welcome the task before us.

As your new archbishop, I first thank you for your devotion to the Catholic faith, the source and strength of our ministry.  Leadership, exercised in communion with the Church, reflects Christ’s presence in a world that hungers to know Christ.  In assisting others to understand how gracious our God is to offer His Son as sacrifice for our sins demonstrates the extent of God’s love.  There is no mystery to the fact that we should love God.  The Mystery is why God so loves us.  Yet, He does!  When confronted with unconditional love we must give thanks for we know we haven’t earned it nor do we deserve it.

I look forward to exploring with you the ways we can best serve our Church.  I am anxious to examine with you the stories of faith which have inspired evangelization and resulted in conversion, to proclaim the teachings of the Church as they form the lives of our faithful and to promote works of charity fulfilling the gospel mandate.

Have patience with me as I learn to be your archbishop.  I am blessed to have the assistance of Bishops Callahan and Sklba, who through their knowledge and example have offered me insight into the archdiocesan family.  As good pastors they have earned the love and respect of this community.  I pray that with your help I also may earn the love and respect of this archdiocese which together we serve.

Please pray for me and know that I pray for you. God Bless You.

Sincerely yours in Christ

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki

Archbishop of Milwaukee

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