Winter 2004

St. Patrick Preservation Fund Update - Town of Erin Winter 2004

We have three exciting news updates . . .


First, it’s hard to believe that the 150th Anniversary of the founding of St. Patrick Church is just 11 short months away! Nancy Henke is working diligently on our history book. If you have not already submitted a family tree and/or have pictures or information you would like to share—please contact Nancy at 262/673-5219 for details. History book pre-order information will be available in the next Town of Erin Newsletter.

Secondly, we have started a petition to show support for the local Tridentine Church Community’s interest in using St. Patrick’s Church for regular Latin Mass. As previously reported the Zignego family has written to Archbishop Timothy Dolan with this request. If you support this wonderful idea to preserve this beautiful, historic church in the Town of Erin, you can sign the petition at the Erin Town Hall, Millikin’s Church Road Gas Station or contact Maureen Fitzsimmons-Vanden Heuvel at 262/670-0975. In the January 1, 2004 Catholic Herald there was a great story regarding the Tridentine Community’s celebration of its first Confirmation presided over by Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican. You can also view the article on our web site at www.savestpatrick.com. Should you wish to write to Archbishop Dolan regarding the historic and spiritual impact St. Patrick has had for you, your family and our community, letters may be sent to:
The Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of Milwaukee, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, P.O. Box 07913, Milwaukee, WI 53207-0913. You may E-mail him at:
archbishopdolan@archmil.org or fax him at: 414/769-3388.

Lastly, we are pleased to report that Wisconsin Senate Bill 335 has been introduced by Senator Robert Wirch amending Wisconsin State Statute 187.19 (11). This bill is very important because under current state law the Catholic Church has been allowed to dissolve civil corporations without the vote of the Board of Directors, (which includes two trustees from each parish). We feel it is vitally important that the voices of parishioners be heard in the disbursements of parish assets and the tightening of this statute would guarantee this vote thereby ensuring that the hierarchy must listen to the concerns of the parish that is to be dissolved. Please write to State Senator Dave Zien, Room 15 – South, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 and let him know that you would like a public hearing on Senate Bill 335.

For continued updates on our progress, please visit our web site at: www.savestpatrick.com or join us the second Tuesday of each month at the Erin Town Hall at 7 p.m. Coffee, dessert and catching up with family, friends and neighbors follow the meeting. Please consider becoming a member of the St. Patrick Preservation Fund, Inc., reasonably priced at $5.00/Single and $10.00/Family. Please contact Nancy Henke for details.