Featured Stories | April 14, 2026
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“I hope to foster communion and collaboration among the diverse religious women and men’s congregations”
-Sr. Diana De Bruin, OSF, Vicar for Religious for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
On April 14, over 80 representatives of religious congregations in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee gathered at the US Province Conference Center in Franklin, WI, to spend a morning with Archbishop Jeffery Grob, as well as Auxiliary Bishop James T. Schuerman. The event was organized by the Archdiocese’s Vicar for Religious: Sr. Diana De Bruin, OSF. Appointed by Archbishop Grob in September, 2025, she filled a position that had been vacant since 2010.
“It was my privilege and honor to be named the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Vicar for Religious seven months ago,” said Sr. Diana. “I hope to foster communion and collaboration among the diverse religious women and men’s congregations. Together we can join in deepening our love for the Church here in the archdiocese and help enrich God’s presence and love through our various ministries.”
Among those working with Sr. Diana on the planning committee for the April gathering was Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ, provincial secretary of the US Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The SCJs offered use of the Province Conference Center for the event.
“I pray that you never get tired of me saying thank you”
There are currently 60 religious congregations in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: 38 women’s congregations (ten headquartered in the archdiocese) and 22 men’s congregations (six headquartered, including the US Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart).
The gathering was an opportunity for Archbishop Grob to share his vision and mission for the archdiocese, but more so, to express his gratitude for the many religious sisters, priests and brothers who serve in it.
“This is an extremely happy day for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee,” said Archbishop Grob. “I cannot tell you how happy I am, how thrilled, how excited I am to have all of you together to see the representation of what’s taking place across the 10 counties that comprise the Archdiocese of Milwaukee…
“We live in a time where the gloom continues to grow and wants to permeate and wants to silence and wants to segregate and wants to disrespect and wants to set aside individuals. We can’t allow it. We must remain true to who has called us to our vocation and to religious life and to His service.
“I pray you never get tired of me saying thank you for who you are, for what you’ve done, for what your communities have done from the beginning of this archdiocese…
“This connectedness is so incredibly important. Consider this the ‘Hello’ to an ongoing conversation. I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to do it without you. I need you. This local church needs you.”
The changing role of religious
Sr. Barbara Reid, OP, spoke on the topic “The Prophetic Nature of Religious Life.” A Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies, Sr. Barbara is the former president of Catholic Theological Union, which she has served at since 1988. She is also past president of the Catholic Biblical Association and is an internationally acclaimed speaker and writer. Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, is pictured above, welcoming his former professor to the podium.
Sr. Barbara noted that the role of religious has changed since the time that many in the room professed first vows. “Many of us remember when schools were filled with religious sisters; we were the ‘worker bees for the Kingdom.’ But that is not what the Church needs right now.”
“I see an abundance of hope in the next generation of our sisters and brothers,” continued Sr. Barbara. “They are very much intent on connectedness. They see possibility. They are fearless amidst the uncertainty. They are eco-conscious and have a cosmic dimension to their spirituality. They’re very keen on interculturality, both intercultural living and intercultural exchange in their ministries and mission. They find commonalties in their charisms and with lay partners as well…
“They see themselves not as a large labor force, but as critical yeast for the Church.”
Next gathering
As the archbishop said in his introductory comments, this gathering was meant to be a “Hello” at the start of a long-running dialogue. The next gathering of Milwaukee religious leadership with the archbishop will be on November 23, 2026.
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