Author: Helen Koronka

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new pastor of St.
Matthias parish. Having been a priest for 32 years, I have “been
around the block” and have done a wide variety of ministries. I
grew up in the city of Muskego. We belonged to Sacred Hearts
Parish (now St. Martin of Tours, Franklin) until I was in 7th grade.
We then moved and switched to St. Leonard Parish. I attended
Muskego High School, Cardinal Stritch College and then entered
St. Francis de Sales Seminary.

I was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1990 and was
assigned to St. Alphonsus, Greendale, where I served for five
years. Next, I served at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School for
seven years before being tapped to serve as the priest-secretary
for Archbishop (now Cardinal) Timothy Dolan. In 2007 I became
the pastor of St. Monica parish in Whitefish Bay and the
following year I also became the pastor of St. Eugene parish in
Fox Point. After ten wonderful years as a pastor, I returned to
work at the Archdiocese as the Vicar for Clergy, which I have
been doing for the past five years.

Archbishop Listecki appointed me to be the pastor of St.
Matthias beginning August 1, 2022, but has also asked me to
continue in my role as Vicar for Clergy for a bit longer. I am very
excited to be serving as your pastor, but I would ask for your
patience. Because I will be doing double duty for a while, I will
not be able to be as active as I would hope to be at St. Matthias.
I have a lot to learn, I have many people to meet and I will do
my best to fulfill the demands of being a pastor with my limited
availability.

I am very grateful to Deacon Stan Lowe, Father Chuck Schramm
and Father Dave Cooper for their willingness to continue to help
at St. Matthias. I have been meeting with each of the staff
members, learning how things work at our parish. I look forward
to meeting each of you, but please repeat your name to me
multiple times. I will do my best to remember, but there is only
one of me and thousands of you, the parishioners of St.
Matthias that I need to get to know. With God’s help, I look
forward to serving as your pastor for many years to come.

I am most pleased to announce that The Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee has appointed Very Reverend Jerome G. Herda to be the next Pastor of St. Matthias Parish. Father Jerry, who presently serves as the Vicar for Ordained and Lay and Ecclesial Ministry, will assume his new responsibilities on or about August 1. I will stay on until then. From the moment that I heard last fall that Fr. Jerry would be stepping down as Vicar, I have prayed that he would come to St. Matthias. I think that this is a match made in heaven. You will learn more about Father Jerry in the coming weeks.

Blessings,
Deacon Stan

The Holy Father has reached out to Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki to send his assurance of his spiritual closeness to the archbishop of all those impacted by the Waukesha parade attack. Pope Francis sent the remarks through his Secretary of State. The message reads:

TO THE MOST REVEREND JEROME E. LISTECKI, ARCHBISHOP OF MILWAUKEE:

THE HOLY FATHER ASKS YOU KINDLY TO CONVEY THE ASSURANCE OF HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS TO ALL AFFECTED BY THE TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT RECENTLY TOOK PLACE IN WAUKESHA. HE COMMENDS THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO DIED TO ALMIGHTY GOD’S LOVING MERCY AND IMPLORES THE DIVINE GIFTS OF HEALING AND CONSOLATION UPON THE INJURED AND BEREAVED. HE JOINS YOU IN ASKING THE LORD TO BESTOW UPON EVERYONE THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH WHICH TRIUMPHS OVER VIOLENCE AND OVERCOMES EVIL WITH GOOD (CF. ROM 12:21).
 
CARDINAL PIETRO PAR OLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Source

Archbishop Listecki’s Christmas message is now available on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee website. You can read this inspiring message for the New Year here.

The budgets attached represent the amount of revenues we expect next year as well as what we expect to spend maintaining services to the parish and school, staff and grounds upkeep.

The School budget is balanced albeit very tightly. As in years past, the school accepted several additional students over the summer months. We are anticipating the same will happen again this summer. Tuition for those additional students have not been included in the budget. In total, all budgets for school associated activities are positive.

The Pandemic has negatively impacted the financial picture of the Parish. Two years in a row we have not had a Festival. Net revenue from each festival has not been less than $50,000 each year. Envelope contributions fell and weekly offertory cash was off significantly this last year. In addition, there is an increase in salaries due to replacing several legacy staff members. Accounting for these changes results in a $125,000 loss to the parish. This is the first time in many years that St. Matthias has submitted a deficit budget to the Archdiocese.

To offset some of this deficit, included in the July/August envelope packet will be a special envelope for Festival donations. Please use this special envelope to share with the Parish whatever monies you would have spent at the Festival. You can also contribute online through the parish website, www.stmatthias-milw.org. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Give Online”. We also ask that you keep this deficit in mind as you discern your weekly contributions to the parish.

Finance Council