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Pair of Sebastians................................................

Archbishop’s Letter...........................................

Governor’s Letter..............................................

MAyor’s Letter.......................................................

Pastor’s Welcome................................................

We Remember ParishPriests................................................................. ParishSisters................................................................. ParishHistory-BuildingaChurch(1911-1932)............... ParishHistory-BuildingaCommunity(1932-1952)........ ParishHistory-BuildingaSchool(1952-1974)................ ParishHistory-BuildingAnew(1974-2005).................... ParishHistory-BuildingonaLegacy(2005-2011)...........

We Believe MaureenBaddingInterviewwithReinartzes................... Schillers........................................................................ JimO’Brien................................................................... WalterGerke&JaniceHauf........................................... MargoHaig.................................................................. JerryHaig..................................................................... VirginiaLane................................................................ KrisBedalov................................................................. JoanSchafferPope.............................................................. GinneyHaasPauly.............................................................. DanielBiemann,etal.,onKenCote............................... MarilynJozwikInterviewwithMaryVoell....................... MorningMassPeople.................................................... 9/11Retrospective.........................................................

We Celebrate SchoolHistory............................................................... SchoolTheater&Forensics............................................ MusicMinistry.............................................................. SVDP(SocialOutreach)................................................. Teosinte(SocialOutreach).............................................. FaithFormation............................................................. St.Coletta.................................................................... ChristianWomen........................................................... YAC............................................................................. Cabaret........................................................................ BoyScouts..................................................................... GirlScouts.................................................................... StainedGlassWindows.................................................. ChurchBuilding............................................................ FamilyRetreats.............................................................. St.SebastianUniversity.................................................. Home&School............................................................. Historyof theLand.......................................................

Editorial Staff......................................................

Parish Profile........................................................

Donors......................................................................

Contents

©2011 St. Sebastian

11

LETTER FROM THE PASTOR

Introduction100th Anniversary Book

By Fr. Richard J. Aiken

{

AstheninthpastorofthisfaithfamilyofSt.Sebastianinits100years,thehappytaskfallstometobeencouragingofyoutolookintothisgreatanniversarybookandreflect,asyouread,wherewehavebeenasfaith-filledpeopleoverthelastcentury--andwhere,withGod’shelp,wecanmoveinthecenturyahead. Ourforbearsweremostlyimmigrants,fromeverycornerofthisworld. Theymadetheirwaytoournationandthissmallpartofthecityandbroughtwiththemthefaiththattheyheldsacred. Theysawtheneedsthatexistedaroundthem,includingachurchandaschoolandotherfacilitiestosupporttheirgrowingcommunity.Wecurrentlyaretherecipientsoftheirfaith,forwardthinkingandfinancialandtimesacrifices,whichgiveusourwonderfulSt.Sebastiancampusof2011. Thededicationofthoseearlyparishionerstotheirfaithandtotheneedsofallinthecommunityhasbeenhandeddowntousasthelegacyuponwhichwelooktogrowandenhanceoureffortsintothecenturybeforeus. 

Thechallengesaredifferentforusthantheywereforparishfounders.Wefacethedeclineinfaithpractice;thechallengesofkeepingallpeoplesafeinchurchandwithinsociety,ofbeingapeoplethatarefaith-andjustice-driven;andtheloomingjointeffortsofutilizingthephysicalandfinancialresourceswhichpeoplehaveentrustedtous.  ThesechallengesareforallofuswhocallourselvesCatholics–parishionersandnon-parishionersalike—andallwhoarewillingtohelptheeffortsofourparishcommunitytogrow.Growingoutintothefutureisdonetogether,alongwithbeingreadytomeetwhateverchallengeslieaheadsothatthosewhofollowuswillbethebeneficiariesofastrong,vibrantcommunitythatlivesitsfaith. TogetherwefaceournewcenturyinourfaithinJesusChrist.

-Fr.RichardJ.Aiken

SisterClareAhlerwasprincipalfrom1963to1971,adecadeofgreatchangeinChurch,religiouslifeandsociety.Sherecallsitas“atimewhenpeoplewhowerenotonthesamepagecouldspeaktoeachotherrespectfully.” WhenpeopledisagreedabouttheliturgicalchangesVaticanIIoutlined,orabouthowreligiouswomenshoulddressandlive,orabouthowcivilrightscouldbestbeachieved,theydiscussedtheissuesrespectfully.Lookingbackonthe’60satSt.Sebastian,SisterClarerecallsatime“whenpeoplelistenedtoandtrustedineachotherastheywalkedthroughcontinualchanges.Weprayed. Wewouldn’thavemadeitifwehadn’t.”

SisterRoseMartinWeldgenwasprincipalfrom1977to1982.SisterRoseMartinwasbothprecededandfollowedbyalayprincipal. ShewasthefirstOSFwhobecameprincipalatSt.Sebastianthroughahiringprocessratherthanbeingassignedbyareligioussuperior.Duringhertenure, St. Sebastian openedakindergartenwithstrongteamsupportfromtheboard,parentsandteachers. SherecallsSt.Sebastianasaplacewhere“peoplereallycaredabouttheirchildrenandwereveryinvolvedinparishcommittees.” SheadministeredfirstaidandBand-Aidsonadailybasisbecausethesmallplaygroundresultedinmanyscrapedkneesandelbows.SisterRoseMartinmayhavepioneered“pettherapy”ineducationbyusingthesisters’cat,Snookie,tohelpprimarystudentsadjusttoschool.FeedingSnookieorholdingherinthestorycornerhelpedyoungstudentsfeelcomfortableintheirnewenvironment.SnookiepromptedmuchlaughterwhensheunexpectedlyappearedonthealtarduringaschoolMass. 

Three Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi (OSFs) came to St. Sebastian Parish in 1913 when the school opened. Theoriginalschoolhadfourclassrooms.Oneservedasthesisters’livingquartersandtheotherthreewereusedforclasses.Duringtheearlyyearswoodplanksservedassidewalksandfewroadswerepaved,sokeepingtheclassroomscleanduringthemuddyseasonswasachallenge.

Thenumberofsistersgrewalongwiththeschoolenrollment.Thenumberofsisterspeakedat25andtheenrollmentpeakedat1055.Eachyearfrom1931until1966,atleast20ormoresisterslivedattheSt.Sebastianconvent.Mostofthesistersstaffedtheschool.Oneservedassacristan.Twoorthreewerefull-timepianoandorganteachers.SomesistersnotassignedtotheparishlivedattheconventbecausetheNo.31busprovidedconvenienttransportationtotheirschoolorwork.Threeformersisterprincipalsareliving.

SisterJeanned’ArcOmilanservedasprincipalfromSeptember1953toMay1957.DuringhertenurepartoftheconventwasrebuiltandthesistersdecidedtoshareroomsratherthanmovetoSt.Aemilian’sat60thandLloyd.SisterJeanned’Arc’seyestwinkleassheremembersheryearsatSt.Sebastian.“Wehadfunthere.Therewerealotofyoungsistersthatdidn’tcareabouthardships.Agroupthatcangowiththeflowcandoanything.Weneverlostcourageandarestillconnected.”Sisterswhoworkedheretogetherstilllaughinglygreeteachotherwith“GeemerViter,”thoughnooneremembershowthegreetingoriginated.Aparticularlymischievousclasswasnicknamed“AllIsCalm”andwasknownbythatnamefromsecondthrougheighthgrades.Mentioning“AllIsCalm”toanyoftheirteachersevokesmanymemories.

{Eight Decades of ServiceBy Mary Carian

THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

June 7, 1953 (left)SisterRuthAnnandBillyHendersonareshownherewithpriests’garageandoldschoolinthebackground.

Sister at the ready(right)AsisterdistributesconfirmationrobesinaSt.SebastianSchoolclassroomin1955.

We Remember 19

Beginninginthe’50s,thecongregation’smothergeneralhadtorepeatedlyinformthepastorthatfewersisterscouldbeassignedtoSt.SebastianSchool.ThenumberofOSFsistershaddecreasedandthoseremainingbegantoassumeresponsibilitiessuchasparishministryorchaplaincies.By1992onlyonesistertaughtintheschool.Bythelate1990sonlyfoursisterslivedattheconvent;theyleftin1999.ThebondbetweensistersandparishionerswasevidentaseightparishionershelpedthesisterspackupOSFbelongingsaccumulatedovereightdecades.AcouplesistersmaintainedtheirparishmembershipandSisterMarieColetteRoyledtheTuesdayCommunionservicefrom2005to2008.DuringtheiryearsatSt.Sebastian,theSistersofSt.FrancisofAssisitaughtthousandsofchildren,gavethousandsofmusiclessons,helpedestablishaCatholicdayschoolforchildrenwithspecialneeds,

engagedinparishministryandhelpedtheparishimplementtherecommendations

oftheSecondVaticanCouncil.SeveralStSebastianstudents--includingErnestaFoster,AngelynDriesandCeilStruck--madefinalvowsasOSFs.

Nearlyadecadeago,whentheparishgatheringspacewascompleted,astatue

ofSt.FrancisofAssisiwasinstalledtohonorthesisters’almost90yearsofservicetoSt.Sebastian.ThestatuehadpreviouslystoodinfrontoftheSt.Sebastianconventandmanysistersreturnedforitsrelocationceremony.Sixnuns--SistersClareAhler,ColettaDunn,Jeanned’ArcOmilan,JustinePeter,MarieRosePetrieandEileenWendt–returnedfortheparishcentennial

Massandreception.

St.Sebastiansisters’house–59554thStreet

(beforerenumberingin’30s)

Sr.DonBosco(right)takestimeoutfrom

picnickingforaphoto,circa1955.

ThestatueofSt.FrancisofAssisistandsinthechurchgatheringspace.

SisterswholivedattheSt.Sebastianconventrememberitfondlyasthesceneofmanypracticaljokesperpetratedbyyoungnuns.Large,heavystatuesmysteriouslyappearedinunexpectedlocations;sistersdressedforHalloweenandwenttrick-or-treatingatthebishop’shouse(theparishhouse);apuppywashiddenintheconvent;andsisterssleepingontheroofduringaheatwavewere“accidentally”sprinkledwithahose.

St.Coletta’sDaySchoolforchildrenwithcognitivedisabilitieswasfoundedin1956bySisterFrancisBorgiaHofschulteandagroupofparents.Theschoolhasoperatedindependentlyoftheparish,buthasbeenhousedinparishfacilities.SisterVernaKayserassumedleadershipoftheschoolin1961.Shetaughtatandadministeredtheschooluntil1991.SisterVernaalsoparticipatedinparishlife,servingasaEucharisticminister.

SisterdeLellisAlbertmovedtotheSt.SebastianconventwhensheassumedteachingresponsibilitiesatCardinalStritchUniversity,andbecameanactivememberoftheparish.SheremembersSt.Sebastianasaplacewith“lotsoffaith-filledpeopleandmarvelousliturgies.”FatherChuckHanelaskedhertotakeacoursetoleadcommunionservices.HerbackgroundasanursepromptedBobStingltoaskhertoparticipateinfuneralministryandmeetwithgrievingfamilies.SisterdeLelliswasalsoinvolvedinChristianWomenandfrequentlygaveorwrotereflectionsforthatgroup.

{ }Dedicated serviceIn1979,SisterHonorawashonoredfor60yearsofservice,including19yearsatSt.Sebastian’s.Shewasmostproudofthefactthat16ofherformerpupilsbecamepriests.

His seminary studies completed, Frank Kleser was ordained a priest by Francis Xavier Katzer, third archbishop of Milwaukee, July 2, 1898. Fr. Kleser’s early days at St. Sebastian indicate that today’s relatively common “shared pastor” concept isn’t exactly new to the archdiocese. Fr. Kleser simultaneously organized St. Bernard’s, approximately two miles southwest of St. Sebastian, in the Wauwatosa Village. (Despite his extensive involvement, he did not hold the title of “pastor” at St. Bernard; Fr. John H. Fitzgerald was the first who did, in 1912.) Post-St. Sebastian Kleser pastorates included parishes in South Milwaukee and Hartford.

April 26Specific location for new congregation revealed, and name chosen, during clergy/laity meeting at St. Michael Parish (24th and Cherry) chaired by archbishop’s representative.

May 8St. Sebastian Parish incorporated. Founding parishioners, representing 15 families: William Best, Charles Clauss, John Deppies, August Haberer, John Haertl, Joseph Hirt, Mrs. L. Hormuth, Mathias Knapp, John Kroha, Mrs. J. Nehrbass, Casper Reichl,Nicholas Petesch, Mrs. Theodore Stuesse, Michael J. Winter, Frank J. Zodrow, Jr.

Presumably, most founders and other early St. Sebastian parishioners had previously been members of Holy Cross Church (now St. Vincent Pallotti) to the south, St. Anne (now defunct) to the northeast, St. Thomas Aquinas (also defunct) to the southeast, as well as St. Michael to the east—all well within three miles of 55th and Washington Boulevard.

1911August 15Fr. Kleser resides in building on northeast corner of 55th and Vliet (today housing Wonder Bar); original parish Mass celebrated in building’s store flat, with altar boys, choir from St. Michael’s participating. Building lacks heat, run-ning water (water’s brought in from nearby Ne-Ska-Ra spring), so December will see founding pastor moving to flat at 2033 N. 48th St.—and turning living, dining rooms into worship space, bedroom into confessional.

EarlyWonderBar

November 27-30Bazaar fundraiser in Schmidt’s Hall at 27th and Vliet.

Soon, Christian Mother&Altar Society will hold first card party EVER in Milwaukee Auditorium.

April 6Archbishop Messmer assigns Fr. Francis Kleser of Brighton, Wis., to form parish on Milwaukee’s far west side—one of 20 parishes started in archdiocese between 1910-19.

New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire claims 146 lives.

1911 - 1932LIFEIN

GENERAL

PARISH

LIFE

building a church

“St.SebastianCongregation,incommonwithotherparishesofcontemporaryorigin,hadfirstitsperiodoffoundersandpioneering,thestruggleofsmallnumbersandmea-germeans,entailingmuchpersonallaboranduncertainfuture;then…theeraofhope,rapidgrowth,andthedutyofwiseleadershiptoundertakequicklyandcourageouslythetaskofprovidingthenecessarymaterialelements,sothatthespiritualbenedictionofchurchandreligiouseducationmaynotsuffer.”-ArchbishopSamuelA.Stritch

January 7First parish funeral (Marian Greulich).

January 28First parish christening (Donald Sebastian Francis Halaska).

AprilConstruction of first parish structure, rectory on site of current church, completed at approximate cost of $6,500. Doubles as church: services held in parlor.

Parish population up from 15 toabout 40 families.

May 1First wedding (Charles Ott, Mary Schuh).

Parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference organized.

January 6Staffed by three Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Sebastian School on North 54th Street welcomes original 32 students. One of four classrooms serves at first as convent: living quarters for Srs. Ida (superior), Cortelia, Alvina.

TheKleser&SchiltzPastorates

We Remember 21

1912 1913

1914

1915

August 11Archbishop Messmer officiates at cornerstone setting ceremony for St. Sebastian’s second building, $20,000 combination church-school. Service features use of Latin, English—and German.

CornerstoneCeremony

Christmas DayMass said for first time in church-school structure—in basement chapel, for which parish men have built pews, altar.

Fifteen-hundred perish as supposedly indestructible Titanic sinks off Newfoundland coast (three years before German torpedoes sink another British liner, Lusitania, killing nearly 1,200).

Grand Central Terminal opens in New York.

Milwaukee considered America’s most German city as World War I begins—and many Milwaukeeans said to sympathize with German Kaiser.

D.W. Griffith’s controversial film “Birth of a Nation” released.

St. Sebastian first parish in city to receive Holy Name Society charter.

Sr. Mary Herman succeeds Sr. Ida as superior.

By Jody Lowe {House of PrayerA Beautiful

CHURCH BUILDING

Dedicated in 1930, St Sebastian Church – which has been called one of Milwaukee’s most beautiful houses of worship – was designed in French Gothic style with American adaptations.

Builtbyskilledcraftsmen,St.Sebastian’ssymmetricaldimensions,pointedarches,highceilingandabundantstainedglassarecharacteristicofGothicchurches.Thisarchitecturalstyleencouragedmorelight,andthenaveisdesignedtobeashighaspossible,allowingworshipperstofeelthepresenceofthedivineastheceilingreachestowardheaven.

InanaddresstotheparishHolyNameSociety,architectWilliamG.Herbstdiscussedhisdesign: “Asthebuildingofthisstructureadvancedstep bystep,asitschastelines,itsinterestingsilhouette, itsmajestictowerwererevealedtotheinterested passerby,thequestionsweremanyandfrequent ….Wehaveendeavoredtoinjectindividuality andimaginationintoitsdesign.Wehavealsotried forinterestingmassandsilhouette.Weaimedfor adaptabilitywithoutarchaeologicalaffectation. WehavelookedtotheMedievalGothicfor inspirationand,withoutendeavoringtomake aslavishcopyofit,weletitinspireus.”

Thestoneexteriorismarkedbyaloftytower,leadingone’sgazeawayfromtheearth,towardheaven.Theexteriorisdecoratedwithleafandvine,repeatedthroughoutthedesign,symbolizingtheChristianthemeoflifethroughtheVinethatisJesus.Themainentranceconsistsofthreearches,symbolizingtheTrinity.

Theinteriorprovidesarefinedbutsimpleandmajesticatmosphere,conducivetoprayer.Thesanctuaryisdistinctive,withmarblethroughout,andfilledwithsymbolism.ThealtaristheoutwardexpressionoftheSacramentoftheLord’sSupper.Thefontindicatesthecongregation’s

beliefinbaptism.ThecandlessymbolizeJesusChrist,theLivingLightoftheworld.Thebeautifulstainedglasswindows–includingthemagnificentwindowfeaturingChristtheKing–areacentralarchitectural

featureofthechurch.Inaddition,theedificeprominentlyfeaturesStationsoftheCrosscarvedofBotticinomarble.

Thehighaltartooiscoveredwithvinesymbolism,aswellassymbolsofthesevensacraments.Theleafmotifiscarriedthroughthewindows,withthelilyservingtosymbolizepurity,baptismandresurrection.

Abovethehighaltaristhekeystone–anornatewheelthatholdstogetherthearchandribbingatthecenteroftheceilingvault.

Thebuildingcost$200,000in1930.Thecostofwindowsandfurnishingsapproached$50,000.Thepipeorgancostjustunder$14,000.Manygenerousgiftsfromindividualsandgroupshelpedmakethebuildingpossible.Forinstance,whatwasthenknownastheChristianMotherandAltarSocietydonated$8,500forthehighaltarand

$4,000fortheCommunionrail,whiletheSeniorSodalityoftheBlessed

VirginMarydonated$600forfoursmallsanctuarywindowsand

$2,500fortheBlessedVirginaltar.

ProminentindividualdonorsincludedbrewerFredMillerandpastorFr.JohnSchiltz.

We Celebrate 109

The cornerstone of the church was laid on Oct. 6, 1929, less than three weeks before the great crash that would plummet our nation into depression?

A bust of the archbishop can be found in a niche at the front entryway of the church?

St. Sebastian was chosen as patron saint of the church to honor then Milwaukee archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer?

Did You Know...

Circa 1950 (top, left) St. Sebastian’s several altars are visible in a sanctuary whose central feature is a magnificent stained glass window depicting the patron’s martyrdom. The Christian Mother and Altar Society donated the high altar.

Confirmation night (bottom, left)St. Sebastian is filled to overflowing in this pre-Vatican II photo. Evident are the church’s Gothic characteristics: lofty ceiling, pointed arches, preponderance of stained glass. Particularly arresting are the Stations of the Cross, at right, carved of Botticino marble.

100th Anniversary Mass, January 23, 2011 (top, right and bottom, right) Celebrated by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki