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We are pleased to share another update on the construction projects taking place on campus this Summer.
I was born in Milwaukee and raised in New Berlin. My two brothers and one sister live in the area and have six children among them. Those so inclined come to my house on Sunday nights to play ping pong in the garage. Thanks to a propane heater we play all Winter. I graduated from Thomas More High School and spent the next ten years in college and graduate school in Cincinnati, Madison, and Chicago. I entered the seminary in 1994. During my studies I served a parish internship at St. Paul Parish in Genesee Depot and did Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at St. Luke Hospital in Milwaukee. I was the only priest ordained for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1999. When I served at St. Leonard 18 years ago I lived at Holy Assumption Parish in West Allis. Since 2015 I have lived in the house I grew up in. I got used to the 44-mile round trip between my house and St. Matthew Parish in Oak Creek, but I don’t mind that my new commute to St. Leonard is only 10 miles. I served as pastor of St. Matthew from 2008-2025 and as pastor of St. Mary by the Lake Parish, Racine from 2016-2024. Being responsible for two parishes kept me fairly busy. For five years I had a Saturday night and Sunday morning Mass at each parish every week. I usually got to the second parish with about 15 minutes to spare. I learned that I was coming to St. Leonard when I got a phone call in O’Hare Airport on my way home from Ireland. In the three months since then I have done a lot of packing and said hundreds of goodbyes. I’m getting too old for both. My main hobbies are reading and listening to Irish music. I play my guitars when I get the chance and speak as little as I can get away with. Those are the basics. Let me know if there is more you want to know!
We are excited to update our faith community on projects that will take place at our school this Summer. Construction will take place from June 2, 2025-August 29, 2025. We are grateful to have the sources of funding to make these important projects possible. Thank you to our parishioners who have contributed to our offertory and Love One Another campaign. We are also grateful to have received a Non-Profit Security Grant. As announced in the bulletin on February 16, 2025, St. Leonard was awarded a FEMA Non-Profit Security Grant in the amount of $150,000 for security enhancements at our school. After consultation and planning with Symphony Consultants, Catholic Mutual Group and Local Safety Professionals from within the Muskego Police Department, the following projects will be completed this Summer to upgrade the safety features of our school: Building of a secure, locking vestibule for guest screening Installation of additional surveillance cameras around the school building Utilizing security consulting services to update our Emergency Operating Procedures and related policies Installation of protective window coating/lamination Through parishioner donation and volunteer efforts, we installed a fence along the South property lot line to improve security. We will be completing a full renovation of the school bathrooms courtesy of Love One Another campaign funding and parishioner support. As stated in our Love One Another campaign case, the bathroom fixtures (except for the stall dividers and sinks) are over 60 years old and need complete replacement in order to be 100% ADA compliant. The bathrooms still use the original 1957 plumbing and cause many recurring problems. Also, after a major water leak and temporary repair, we are ready to do a full replacement of the maple wood gym floor . While these projects are underway, we are still here to serve your school needs, including enrollment and virtual tours! You can contact our Principal, Laura Bisher at 262-679-0451 ext. 29, and our school’s Administrative Assistant, Brianne Van Acker at 262-679-0451 ext. 28. Click here to contact us online . They will be working in the Parish Office throughout the Summer until construction is complete and are happy to help you with any questions you may have.
