During the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, November 26, Bishop James T. Schuerman, auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, installed Fr. Andrzej Sudol, SCJ, as pastor of St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI. Fr. Andrzej has been serving the parish since July.
“Although I have been serving as pastor for the past few months, I am happy to share in this moment with fellow members of my religious community, seminarians from Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, guests from the Diocese of Joliet –– where I previously ministered, and the parish community of St. Martin of Tours,” said Fr. Andrzej. “Thank you for being with me during this special day. I am blessed to begin this completely new chapter in my life as a Dehonian.”
Dehonians have pastoral responsibility for St. Martin of Tours, including the Vietnamese Catholic community of Milwaukee, which is a part of the parish family. The Dehonians’ largest ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Originally from Poland, Fr. Andrzej, 52, professed his first vows in 1990, and was ordained in 1996. He served as a missionary in India and the Philippines before coming to the United States in 2014 for a sabbatical. At the end of his sabbatical studies at Catholic Theological Union and SHSST, he was asked to stay and serve on the formation team for the US Province.
Before being named pastor of St. Martin of Tours, Fr. Andrzej was postulancy director and associate novice master. He was also a formation director at SHSST; he continues serve on its Board of Directors. On the weekends, Fr. Andrzej often ministered with the Polish community of St. Mary Immaculate parish in the Diocese of Joliet. And in-between these ministries, Fr. Andrzej completed doctoral studies at Catholic Theological Union, and last year successfully defended his doctoral thesis on interculturality and formation.
Besides Fr. Andrzej, the parish team at St. Martin of Tours includes Fr. Son Nguyen, SCJ (associate pastor), Dcn. Charles Schneider, Dcn. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, and Dcn. Linh Bruno Nguyen.
PHOTOS: Click here to view an online photo album from the installation.