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Milwaukee's Archbishop Timothy Dolan urges non-violence in southeastern Wisconsin.
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Homilists asked to urge end to violence
By Cheri Perkins Mantz of the Catholic Herald Staff
St. Francis — Concerned about escalating violence in the community, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan has called on priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to use their sermons on June 11 as an intense prayer to call for the end of violence in area homes, yards, streets and parks.
In “Some Seed Fell on Good Ground,” an e-mail correspondence he sent to priests, parish staff and staff at the Cousins Center on Tuesday, he wrote that he is accepting Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s plea to religious leaders regarding this Sunday’s services. Mayor Barrett had publicly asked religious leaders to pray for peace and encourage churchgoers to do the same.
“Hands joined in prayer cannot pull a trigger, stab or punch,” Archbishop Dolan wrote in the column.
He also issued a plea to parish priests.
“… At every parish, at every Mass refer to the crisis in your sermons; pray for a ceasefire in the intercessions,” he wrote.
Archbishop Dolan also expressed hope for this deadly trend.
“Thank God we have not grown used to it,” he wrote. “Thank God we still can muster a sense of horror, of shame, of outrage. Thank God thoughtful people are beginning to say this simply cannot continue.”
The archbishop was recently appointed to an anti-violence task force, proposed by Milwaukee southside Alderman Robert Donovan. Other members of the task force include Holy Redeemer Institution Bishop Sedgwick Daniels, former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske, former school superintendent Howard Fuller and Maria Monreal-Cameron, of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“We’ll be emphasizing nonviolence in various forms,” said Fr. Jim Dammeir, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, Milwaukee. “We’ll offer a reminder that if you lived in the country, you might have needed a gun for safety against an animal, but if you live in the city, it’s not the same case. Many times if someone has been drinking or is angry, those instruments are used incorrectly.
“We’ll also tie in Father’s Day,” said Fr. Dammeir. “We’ll show the importance of the father’s example of how to settle disputes and handle anger.”
Fr. Dammeir said that he has dealt with all kinds of violence when working with his parishioners. One way Prince of Peace tries to stop violence is in the parish K-8 school of about 400 students.
“One of the things we’ve done as a church school is make our school turf nonviolent, totally,” he explained. “From name-calling to physical violence – it’s not tolerated. Here is an example of what the followers of Jesus can produce.”
Father Jose Moreno, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Milwaukee, said that there is also a concern with violence in his parish’s neighborhood. One of those killed on Memorial Day in South Shore Park was a parishioner. Fr. Moreno celebrated the funeral Mass.
“In our neighborhood, we have a really big, big problem with violence,” he said. “Every week I preach nonviolence. We need to do it 52 weeks a year.”
During this Sunday’s sermon, he plans to reiterate what he has already said to his parishioners.
“I tell them that violence is happening because we don’t understand each other,” explained Fr. Moreno. “What really divides us is not the language we speak, it’s a problem of understanding.”
Fr. Jose Moreno, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Milwaukee, said that there is also a concern with violence in his parish’s neighborhood. One of those killed on Memorial Day in South Shore Park was a parishioner. Fr. Moreno celebrated the funeral Mass.
“In our neighborhood, we have a really big, big problem with violence,” he said. “Every week I preach nonviolence. We need to do it 52 weeks a year.”
During this Sunday’s sermon, he plans to reiterate what he has already said to his parishioners.
“I tell them that violence is happening because we don’t understand each other,” explained Fr. Moreno. “What really divides us is not the language we speak, it’s a problem of understanding.”
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