Ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1977, Fr. Witczak, 50, served as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Waukesha, Wis., from 1977-80, before leaving parish work to pursue liturgical studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. He returned in 1983, joining Saint Francis Seminary as director of worship and assistant professor in liturgical studies, and has served as vice rector since 1997. In addition to his seminary duties, he has assisted with pastoral and sacramental ministry at St. Jerome Parish in Oconomowoc, Wis., since 1991.

"I am honored that Archbishop Weakland has asked me to serve the Archdiocese and the Seminary in this capacity," Fr. Witczak said. "I accept the challenge of this new responsibility with enthusiasm, yet with the knowledge that all is done well only with God's assistance and with the help and support of others. For the future, our top priority must be to continue recruiting new students preparing for the priesthood and also to invite more candidates for formation as lay ministers within the Church."

An expert in liturgy, Fr. Witczak earned his doctorate in sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at the Pontifical University of St. Anselm in 1986. He has published numerous articles and reviews, as well as two books - The Mass: Understanding What We Say and What We Do and The Celebrations of Baptism.

In making the appointment, Archbishop Weakland recognized Fr. Nelson's years of service and noted the need to continue to build upon the archdiocese's strong seminary tradition. Fr. Nelson resigned as rector and is taking a sabbatical, with plans to return to teaching at the Seminary on a part-time basis in fall 2002.

"I want to thank Fr. Andy Nelson for the wonderful zeal and enthusiasm he brought to his work," Archbishop Weakland said. "He has left the seminary on solid ground, making a leadership transition so much easier.

"I have great confidence in Fr. Witczak. He has strong knowledge of the seminary's history and traditions, as well as knowledge of the present needs of the Church and our archdiocese. As a well-known and brilliant scholar, he has already shown his ability to analyze the current trends in both Church and society. I am sure the seminary's Board of Trustees and staff will work with Fr. Mike to build a clear and positive vision for the future."

A native of Shorewood, Fr. Witczak grew up as a member of St. Robert Parish in Shorewood. He attended De Sales Seminary High School and St. Francis de Sales College, entering St. Francis School of Pastoral Ministry (Saint Francis Seminary) in 1973.

In addition, Fr. Witczak is a member of various national and international organizations and committees. He has served as a member of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission for 12 years and as a member of the Archbishop's Consultation for Theologocial Issues for three years. He is a member of the alumni boards of both Saint Francis Seminary and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute. He is also a faculty member of the Liturgical Institute, returning to Rome each year to teach courses in liturgy.

Founded in 1845, Saint Francis Seminary is one of the oldest operating seminaries in the United States and the oldest training facility for priests in the Midwest. The Seminary also prepares men and women for lay leadership positions within the Church.