By Kelley Kepler
Catholic Herald

Superior Diocese welcomes three Franciscan priests

ASHLAND --Since July, three new Franciscans have been serving in the Diocese of Superior.

Fr. William Rooney was appointed as pastor at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Ashland, and Fr. Andre Schludecker was named parochial vicar. Together they replace fellow Franciscan Fr. Vernon J. Olmer, who was transferred to a parish in Teutopolis, Ill., after serving for 16 years in Ashland.

Fr. Michael Jennrich is an artist in residence in Bayfield and a member of the Friar team serving northern Wisconsin. He is not assigned to a particular parish, but fills in whenever Holy Family, Bayfield; St. Ann, Cornucopia; St. Joseph, LaPointe; St. Francis, Red Cliff and St. Louis, Washburn, need an extra hand. "The friars are always looking for new ways to do ministry, and I hope that my talents can help people discover new ways of looking at things," he said.

Rooney and Schludecker work closely to share the ministry at Our Lady of the Lake Parish. "We work together to serve the people," Schludecker said. He described his role as mainly an associate pastor to "help Fr. Bill minister to the people in the community." Rooney said his goal is to "lead the community forward and bring them into communion with God and one another."

For Schludecker, moving to Ashland was like coming home. He had been pastor at Our Lady of the Lake for nine years, from 1978 to 1986, before Olmer took over the ministry. Schludecker said he accepted an offer to return to Ashland because was familiar with Bishop Raphael M. Fliss, many of the priests and a number of people in the community. In his 38 years of priesthood, Schludecker has worked in many different cities. This is the first time he has chosen to return to one of them.

Schludecker said his biggest challenge as a priest involves "trying to be present in the lives of the people you serve and helping them grow, given the problems that life can present." However, growth is a mutual thing, he said. Over the years, he has discovered again and again that "people help me grow in my ministry through their care and support."

During his 28 years as a Franciscan priest, Rooney has ministered in many places including Chicago, St. Louis, Texas, Brazil, Mexico and Ireland. Before coming to Ashland, he spent four years in Memphis, Tenn. where he worked at St. Mary's, a "historic, downtown church built during the Civil War." When this oldest ministry in Memphis, one that had been there for 130 years, was assigned to another priest, Rooney was sent to Ashland without a say in the matter.

Rooney noted what a strange coincidence that was. While in graduate school, he had lived in Ashland for a summer and enjoyed spending time in the area. When he found out he was to be reassigned, Rooney's first thoughts were, "If I can't stay in Memphis, the only other place I'd be interested in working is Ashland, Wis."

Each new assignment has its challenges, said Rooney. And the experience of culture shock and the sense of starting all over again is something he cannot ignore. "Coming to know, understand and appreciate northern culture, and winter" will take time, he said. This is also Rooney's first time working at a parish with a school. Covering this educational aspect, especially in regards to starting up religious education programs, is a challenge he feels prepared to meet.

Jennrich has been a friar for 20 years, and he focuses his ministry around art. Weaving is his passion, and he especially loves making tapestries. Before moving to Bayfield, Jennrich spent seven years as a hospice worker in New Orleans, where he helped AIDS patients through art therapy. He then spent four years running a retreat center in New Mexico. During his first year in New Mexico, Jennrich learned the art of weaving and discovered a talent for it. After the retreat center closed, Jennrich was invited to set up a studio in Bayfield.

Now Jennrich is in the process of getting organized and trying to generate funding for his work. "I am still trying to find my rhythm here," he said. In the wilderness of New Mexico, he found it easier to focus on his artwork. He now feels pulled in many other directions and is still trying to set up a regular schedule for his weaving. He is also networking with artists in the area, and his goal is to bring them together to promote spirituality.

As Franciscans, Schludecker, Rooney and Jennrich have a strong sense community. There are nine Franciscans in the area, and Schludecker said they are "bonding as a community." Franciscans "are called to live in common and share all things," said Rooney. Their salaries go into a common fund, and they pray together and share household duties.

Schludecker and Rooney live together with other Franciscans in Our Lady of the Lake's friary, and Jennrich lives in Bayfield with the three Franciscan friars assigned to that parish cluster. Another Franciscan lives in Iron River.

Jennrich was elected as guardian of the Franciscans. This means he stays in regular contact with the other eight Franciscans in the three friaries and keeps track of everyone's well being. The others come to him with problems or concerns and contact him in case of emergencies. Rooney serves as a backup if Jennrich isn't available.

Rooney added that Franciscans are called to live itinerant lives. "They are always on the move. They possess nothing and nothing possesses them." He said Franciscans are normally reassigned every six to eight years to discourage them from becoming too attached to people and places. Even then, he admits, Franciscans find it difficult to leave the people they form friendships with.

Schludecker and Rooney became Franciscans because they grew up in Franciscan parishes and felt drawn to Franciscan life.

For Jennrich, the path to becoming a Franciscan took more soul searching. Originally, he said he wanted to become a monk because he felt strong tendencies toward the cloistered, monastic lifestyle. However, after interviewing at a Franciscan parish, he became convinced that God was pulling him toward Franciscan spirituality and communal life.

"I believe things happened that wouldn't have happened in people's lives if I wasn't there," Jennrich said. For instance, he worked with AIDS patients during the time when little was known about AIDS and more people feared those who had AIDS. "Most of these people wouldn't have been helped if the friars hadn't stepped forth," he said. Jennrich sees himself as a peacemaker and tries to follow St. Francis by "bringing reconciliation and peace" to those around him.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002