A full life

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

People of good will lost a true friend last week with the death of retired Green Bay Bp. Aloysius Wycislo.

Over his 97-year life Bp. Wycislo's accomplishments could have filled many lives. He began as a young priest in Chicago working with youth to curb juvenile delinquency. Next were graduate studies in social work to prepare him for his next assignment at Catholic Charities.

	Bishop  Aloysius J.  Wycislo  1908 - 2005  • More coverage

The problems of people displaced during and after World War II occupied him from 1943 to 1948 when he helped resettle some 700,000 people. From 1945 to 1955, he also worked with relief and development programs across Europe.

Then, from 1948 to 1958, he worked with the people of South and Central America and Asia as assistant executive director of Catholic Relief Services in New York, while also serving for two years as the Vatican Observer to the United Nations.

Finally, in 1959, he returned to Chicago as pastor of one of the city's largest parishes. Eighteen months later he became an auxiliary bishop.

As auxiliary bishop he attended all the sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), where he began a 40-plus year friendship with the Archbishop of Krakow, Poland - later known to the world as Pope John Paul II.

After becoming the Bishop of Green Bay in 1968, Bp. Wycislo continued what he had started in Chicago - making the vision of Vatican II a reality in the lives of laity and clergy.

If Bp. Wycislo had any regrets - and who doesn't - one of them certainly was not seeing Vatican II become more of a reality. At the same time, he trusted in the Holy Spirit and understood that the transformation would take many years and even then would never be complete.

In our diocese his accomplishments were many. Here is a small sampling: started the permanent diaconate (one of the first in the U.S.); Renew faith-sharing groups; accenting social concerns, including respect life, immigration and resettlement; liturgical renewal, a weekly TV Mass, Hispanic ministry and family counseling.

Even in retirement he continued giving talks to senior citizens about aging and to all interested groups on Vatican II; writing books; confirming young people; celebrating rural life Masses; socializing with friends; praying for people's intentions; yard work; and watching the Packers.

He has truly earned his reward for his compassionate and caring service to the People of God performed with warmth and good humor. Through his example he surely resettled a multitude of the faithful into the Kingdom.