Retreat experts honored for jubilees, years of insights

OSHKOSH -- Sr. Marie Schwan, CSJ, and Fr. Eugene Zimmerman, SJ, were honored at the Jesuit Oshkosh Retreat House annual picnic for their more than 100 years of service in religious life.

Normally, the day is set aside to thank retreatants for their support of the retreat house, but this year picnickers expressed their thanks to Fr. Zimmerman and Sr. Schwan.

"I'm not used to the attention," said Fr. Zimmerman, who joined the Jesuits in 1938 and celebrated 50 years as a Jesuit priest on June 14. "This is quite an honor."

Sr. Schwan is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her first vows as a sister of St. Joseph of Medaille.

"A jubilee is a time to remember, a time to give thanks. And especially it is a time to celebrate the faithfulness of our God," Sr. Schwan said. "I will always hold in memory the faces of the more than 600 retreatants, co-workers, sisters, and friends who gathered on Sunday for Eucharist and a picnic. As I stood before them to do the Call to Worship, I was deeply moved by the thought of how they are all part of the fabric of my life."

Sr. Schwan was born in St. Paul and raised in Somerset, Wis. She has been at the retreat house since 1988 and is the associate director. Prior to that she was on the parish renewal team in the Diocese of Crookston, Minn. She has served as provincial superior and formation director for her order.

She has written five volumes for the "Take and Receive" series, a guide to the Spiritual of Excises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which she co-authored with Jacqueline Bergan.

Fr. Zimmerman, a native of Wesphalia, Iowa, served at the retreat house 1992-95 and now since 1998. In between he was director, superior and pastor at St. Stephen Mission Wyoming.

He has served at Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, and as pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Prairie du Chien and Ss. Peter and Paul in Mankato, Minn. In 1979-85 he worked among the Lakota people as superior of Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge, S.D.

The Oshkosh festivities began with an outdoor Mass concelebrated by Fr. Zimmerman, Fr. John Schwantes, SJ, of the retreat house staff, Fr. Dick McCaslin, SJ, former retreat house director, and new director Fr. Michael Morrison, SJ.

After Mass, Frs. Morrison and McCaslin dedicated a new fountain in a small inlet off Lake Winnebago just outside the retreat house. A modest monument with a plaque recognizing Fr. McCaslin's 12 years of service at the retreat house was also dedicated.

In large part, however, the day belonged to Sr. Schwan.

"I've been coming to Oshkosh for more than 20 years," said Rosemary Auer of Sister Bay. "One of the things I truly appreciate about Sr. Marie is that she brings a feminine quality and presence to the retreat house in both a physical and spiritual sense. To hear her read and speak about scripture from a feminine perspective is very important to me and spiritually uplifting."

People also waited their turn to sign a guest book that was given to Sr. Schwan.

"Thank your for your ready smile and gentle spirit," one wrote. Many others expressed similar sentiments.

(Nero works in public relations for the Wisconsin Province of Jesuits.)