News

Bishop remembered as leader, priest, friend

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

	FINAL FAREWELL: Bp. David Zubik intones prayers as the pall is placed over the coffin of retired Green Bay Bp. Aloysius Wycislo Oct. 15 in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Bp. Wycislo's sisters (left), look on. The pall shows Bp. Wycislo's membership in the Knights of the Holy Seplucher, which he joined in 1944. Bp. Wycislo, 97, served as Bishop of Green Bay from 1968 until 1983. (Rick Evans photo)

"We give thanks to God in a very special way this morning for a priest, a bishop, a friend and steward," said Bp. Robert Morneau at the Mass of Christian Burial for Bp. Aloysius Wycislo, Saturday, Oct. 15 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay.

Bp. Wycislo, 97, died Tuesday, Oct. 11 at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.

Bp. Morneau opened his homily with condolences to the Wycislo family before injecting humor into the celebration.

"I was beginning to think, in the last several years as bishop (Wycislo) aged, that those Wycislo genes were going to bury Bp. (David) Zubik, myself and surely Bp. (Robert) Banks," he said.

In preparing to honor his dear friend, Bp. Morneau said he was inspired by an e-mail he received from a member of Holy Family Parish in Brillion. It read "Bp. Al taught us so many lessons."

"The first lesson he taught me was to say yes," said Bp. Morneau.

He explained how Bp. Wycislo said yes in baptism through his parents, to ordination to the priesthood, to being ordained a bishop in Chicago and how "he saw the light and said yes to Green Bay."

"There were some tough years, but Bp. Al said yes to doing God's will to serve this church from 1968 to 1983, a traumatic, yet beautiful time," he said.

The yes to retirement was a difficult one for Bp. Wycislo, continued Bp. Morneau. He also noted a change in 1986.

"He had an accident, (put) his hand in a mulcher, he lost his thumb and half his index finger and half of his middle finger," he said. "He mellowed. It was indeed transformative."

	Bishop  Aloysius J.  Wycislo  1908 - 2005  • More coverage

Bp. Wycislo said yes to using a cane, a walker and on his deathbed, added Bp. Morneau.

"He died at 8:45 Tuesday evening, saying yes to the Lord all the days of his life," said the auxiliary bishop.

Bp. Morneau also praised Bp. Wycislo for teaching a willingness to change. His participation in Vatican II served as an example of that process of change, he said.

The third lesson was his motto Caritati Instate, "Be steadfast in charity, be firm in love." Bp. Morneau not only made reference to Bp. Wycislo's work with Catholic Relief Services where he helped resettle 700,000 people following World War II, but also his charity locally.

Here in Green Bay through Catholic Social Services, he put those practices and principles into action," he said.

Bp. Zubik served as the principal celebrant at the funeral Mass. Concelebrants included Cards. Adam Maida and Francis George, Bps. Morneau, Banks, Mark Schmitt and Abp. Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee, other bishops, priest friends from Bp. Wycislo's priest support group who served as pall bearers, representatives from religious orders, diocesan and religious priests and deacons.

Bp. Zubik remembers

"All of us have Bp. Wycislo stories, many memories of how he touched our lives" said Bp. Zubik. "One will remain with me forever. When I would visit him, he always gave me a blessing. He did so with a great deal of joy, a great deal of love and a great deal of support. When he finished the blessing, there were two strong taps on the head. It was a sign of encouragement."

"In one sense, I'm going to miss his presence because I always liked to get his advice," he added. "But in another sense, I think he's going to be helping us from heaven in a way he couldn't from here."

Card. Maida plays a role

Card. Adam Maida, archbishop of Detroit who succeeded Bp. Wycislo as bishop of the Green Bay Diocese, offered the final commendation at the funeral Mass.

"He (Bp. Wycislo) was a mentor," said Card. Maida. "His living here in retirement was a great testimony of his love for the church. We kept in contact periodically. When I passed through about two years ago, when he was failing a little, I visited with him for about an hour. It was a delightful visit. As you go on through life, you remember the things you did and some things you shouldn't have done. We reviewed our history. It was just a great, great visit. We embraced one another and just thanked each other in mutual support."

Card. George and Packers

Card. Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, also spoke at the Mass. He said Bp. Wycislo made a complete conversion as a Packer fan.

"He was really devoted to the team," said Card. George. "He followed it. He loved it. Now, unfortunately, that the Packers are beginning to act more and more like the Bears, I would suspect that Bp. Wycislo will speak to the Lord and ask for little extra help for Lambeau Field."

Card. George added that Bp. Wycislo's love for the Packers and love for the poor were united in the annual Bishop's Charities Game. He also praised his work with Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities.

"Bp. Wycislo had a very important role in creating these structures," he said, "making charity of the church, charity of the Lord, present to the poor in our country and throughout the world."

In the recessional, the casket was taken down the center aisle of the Cathedral, up the side aisle and through the Wycislo Center.

"That was intended," said Bp. Zubik. "It was important to make sure that he came through the people he served and the center that bears his name."

Those served up front

The people served by Bp. Wycislo filled the Cathedral pews. He was a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher for more than 60 years. During his 15 years as bishop of Green Bay, he created the permanent diaconate and increased the involvement of laity in the church. In 1983, prior to his retirement, he helped establish A New Genesis as a Pious Union, now known as an Association of the Faithful.

The members of A New Genesis will be forever grateful for his guidance, said Sr. Carmelyn Gentrup, ANG.

"He was instrumental in giving us the direction, the steps to take," she said. "It was a wonderful tribute that (Bp.) Morneau gave in his homily. He has that gift to bring it all to a head and say so clearly what we are thinking and feeling. We (A New Genesis) will keep that spirit of Bp. Wycislo alive. In some ways, we were his chosen few. We appreciated his advice. He was pastoral yet directive. He was a good friend."

Following the funeral Mass, Bp. Zubik took another moment to reflect on Bp. Wycislo, whom he first met almost two years ago to the day.

"He was a gem," he said. "Instantaneously, we had a friendship. He really helped bring Christ to the world. He was able to mix his faith, his intellect and his humor all together. He's been an inspiration to so many of us, especially to me."