Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
At this time of year when the sound of the fireworks is silent, and the fourth of July is in the rearview mirror, it always seems like summer is on the downslope. I am tempted to get the earmuffs and gloves out of the closet. It’s the Midwesterner in me that always feels like winter is just around the corner. But there is still much left to summer and then comes my favorite season, autumn.
In this day and age, when everything costs a family “an arm and a leg,” many families look for something inexpensive to do. For families, going to a ballgame costs a good amount for tickets, parking and some refreshments, yet it costs but the price of gas to visit one of the beautiful churches or shrines in our area. We are the recipients of some terrific religious eye candy. Some of our churches are so beautifully decorated that they become stories in themselves. The stained-glass windows usually depict a saint or some aspect of our Lord’s life. A visit can be both eye appealing and a religious education.
I have a few suggestions for the rest of the summer. Make a trip to Holy Hill at 1525 Carmel Road in Hubertus. It’s always a great sight, and walking the grounds fills you with a sense of pride. Just seeing that basilica (Our Lady Help of Christians) perched on the top of the hill is one of the wonderful visuals in our territory. Recite the Rosary and walk the stations. Just think of the efforts by so many, prior to modern machinery, who constructed this church. I knew of Holy Hill when I was growing up in Chicago, and it remains a religious attraction for the entire Midwest. Every Catholic should make a visit. A couple of other churches in the area that are also extremely beautiful include The Basilica of St. Josaphat at 2333 S. 6th St. in Milwaukee, and St. Stanislaus at 524 W Historic Mitchell St. in Milwaukee. They will lift your spirits and move your eyes to the heavenly realms.
Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for a 9 a.m. Sunday Mass celebrated by me or one of the bishops. The cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese, so all Catholics are automatically members of the cathedral. It is good to have a sense and connection to the mother church. Pictures of the prior archbishops adorn the top of the church. My picture will be there in a year or two, so we won’t be able to say “adorn” after that moment.
Say a family Rosary at the Archdiocesan Marian Shrine located at 141 N 68th St. in Milwaukee. The mysteries of the Rosary are depicted in bas reliefs, and soon the luminous mysteries will be added. Watch for the date of the of the dedication.
The new statue of Mary Mother of the Church is at the archdiocese pastoral center at 3501 S Lake Drive in Milwaukee. Take a drive, pack a lunch, and after reciting the Rosary, you can picnic across the street on the Lake Michigan shore.
With a few weeks of summer left, and a couple of warm fall weeks, there are some beautiful religious sites that families may take advantage of growing in prayer, expanding knowledge and enjoying the privilege of family. Always check the website for visiting hours and any restrictions.
Our visits to religious sites and shrines help to strengthen our relationship with God and family, directing us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Note: This letter originally appeared as the July 11, 2023, "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki.