"Bishop William Callahan" 

 
June 15, 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There are a few experiences in our life that can be joyful and sad at the same time. Last week, I, and others, experienced just such a moment. The Holy See announced that Bishop William Callahan had been named the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse.

I knew from the first moment I was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee that it would only be a short time before we would lose Bishop Callahan. His pastoral ability and administrative skill made him a desirable choice for any open diocese. I had hoped, selfishly however, that I would be able to have him as an auxiliary for at least a year. The learning curve for the position of bishop, and even more so for an archbishop, is truly steep and an experienced advisor and collaborator like Bishop Callahan makes that curve less daunting.

When I met Bishop Callahan I knew that he thought and acted with the heart and mind of the Church. He skillfully administered the Archdiocese of Milwaukee when Archbishop Dolan was appointed to New York. Losing a popular archbishop like Timothy Dolan is difficult, to say the least, yet Bishop Callahan handled the situation and new responsibility with characteristic grace and leadership. Therefore, I inherited the fruits not only of the efforts of Archbishop Dolan, but also the careful attention given to the needs of the archdiocese under the leadership of Bishop Callahan.

Now we are asked to give our best, Bishop Callahan, to the Church that we love. The needs of the Church do not end at the boundaries of a parish, or a diocese, or even an archdiocese. I have often preached that we are not congregational but Catholic. This means that we view ourselves intrinsically connected to the universal Church. Now, it is the universal Church that needs Bishop Callahan in La Crosse.

I know that the Holy Spirit will guide him as he assumes his new responsibility. At the same time, I know that the same Holy Spirit that directed Bishop Callahan to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will help us to discover faithful leaders to fill the loss created in our Archdiocese by Bishop Callahan’s departure.

So, it’s sad that I now lose a brother bishop and the archdiocese loses a caring shepherd. But I am so joyful that the priests, religious, deacons and the lay faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse will receive our best as they confront the challenges of living for Christ and His Church in our secular society. One consolation is that Bishop Callahan will continue to share his gifts with the faithful in Wisconsin.

As the former bishop of La Crosse, I can tell you that I grew to dearly love the Diocese of La Crosse. I know that Bishop Callahan will feel the same and that the people will quickly come to love and respect him. May God bless Bishop Callahan who served us in love and who now leaves for the sake of his love for the Church.

Let us remember that we celebrate the mystery of Christ’s love for us when we realize that we are called to love one another.

See you at Mass!

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee

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