Diocese celebrates 40 years of mission
Relationship started in 1963 with Fr. Ray Conard and continues
By Fr. Mike Seis
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ELÍAS PIÑA, Dominican Republic -- This year marks
a special anniversary for the Green Bay Diocese. Forty years ago,
Fr. Raymond Conard received permission from Bp. Stanislaus Bona to
work in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic.
That tradition of friendship and cooperation continues to this
day.
Fr. Conard arrived in 1963 and started his work in the border
town Banica, an old village that has its roots in colonial times.
Its parish was founded at the turn of the 16th century.
Fr. Conard worked in Banica from 1963 until 1971. In 1965, Fr.
(now Msgr.) Donald Rose arrived in Banica to accompany Fr. Conard.
He worked there until 1966, when he went to another parish in the
diocese in the community of Cabral, where he stayed until 1969.
In 1969, Frs. Donald and David Van Straelen arrived in Cabral
and worked there until 1972. In 1972, Fr. Rose returned to Cabral,
where he stayed until 1973 when he went to work in Elías
Piña; he ministered there until 1979, when he returned to
the U.S.
In 1974, Bp. Aloysius Wycislo visited Elías Piña.
In 1975, Fr. John Vanden Boogard was assigned to Elías
Piña, where he remained until 1976.
In 1978, Fr. Gary Crevier began a 10-year assignment in
Elías Piña and is well remembered by members of the
community. In 1979, Fr. Jerry Bourassa joined Fr. Crevier and
stayed until 1982.
In 1983, Fr. William Hoffman began the Green Bay Diocese's
longest assignment in the Dominican Republic - 15 years - in
Elías Piña. In 1988, Bp. (now Card.) Adam Maida came
to celebrate 25 years of friendship between the two dioceses. In
1998, Fr. Hoffman left Elías Piña to work at the
Cathedral of San Juan until 2002 when he returned to minister in
the Green Bay Diocese.
Fr. Paul Radetski joined Fr. Hoffman in Elías Piña
from fall 1987 until spring 1988. In 1990, Fr. Thomas Reynebeau
joined Fr. Hoffman and worked in Elías Piña until
1994. In 1993, Fr. Philip Dinh Van Thiep arrived and stayed until
1995.
In 1996, Fr. Michael Seis joined the team at Elías
Piña and continues as pastor to this day.
Bp. Robert Banks visited the Dominican Republic in 1995, 1997
and 1999 and he will attend the 40th anniversary celebration.
Besides the priests, several lay people from the Green Bay
Diocese have assisted in this missionary endeavor: Herb Holschuh,
1967-1969; Richard and Sara Richardt, 1975-1976; and Dcn. Howard
and Margaret Bricco, 1983-1984.
A big celebration is planned for Oct. 15, the feast St. Theresa.
The people are excited about the celebration and waiting to see
some of the priests who gave a good part of their pastoral service
to this impoverished area.
(Fr. Seis, a native of Antigo, has served at Elías
Piña since 1996.)
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