St. Thomas More Lawyers Society of Wisconsin

No First Friday - November '08

2008-11-03T18:58:00.002-06:00

There will be No First Friday Mass, Breakfast, or speaker for November, due to the close proximity of the Red Mass. We thank all of those who attended the Red Mass, and hope you will plan to join us for the upcoming Ethics CLE on 12/5/08.

2008 Red Mass - October 30, 2008

2008-09-30T12:50:00.003-05:00

The Society is pleased to annouce the 2008 Red Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on October 30, 2008. A rather nicely done annoucement is now available for Download. The Most Reverend Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan will celebrate the mass, and a reception and dinner will immediately follow at the gracious University Club. The dinner portion of the program will also feature the presentation of the Society's 2008 Faithful Servant Award, which will be presented to Christopher Wolfe, Phd..

This annual gathering of members of the judiciary, lawyers, elected officials, and other community leaders is, admittedly, an enjoyable event and social occaision. However, attendees also offer their prayers to God and support for each other in the hope that we will thereby have the guidance, strength and judgment to serve justice as we make the tough decisions which inevitably arise in our respective professional duties.

Tickets for the dinner are $50 per person, and table sponsors may purchase a table of 8 for $500. To RSVP, please use the attached registration form, and send to

Justin Longley, Treasurer
St. Thomas More Lawyer's Society
c/o 3600 South Lake Drive
St. Francis, WI 53235

We hope you will join us!

Further particulars:

Procession of Judges—5:55 pm
Mass—6 pm
Reception & Dinner, The University
Club—immediately following Mass

Cathedral of
St. John the Evangelist
812 North Jackson Street
Milwaukee

The University Club
924 East Wells Street
Milwaukee
(complimentary parking available)

2008 CLE PROGRAM - SAVE THE DATE - 12/5/08

2008-08-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

Please mark your calendars for December 5, 2008, for the St. Thomas More Lawyers Society CLE program. The CLE will follow the First Friday Mass and will be conveniently located at the Marquette Memorial Union. Stay tuned for additional details regarding scheduled speakers and topics.

August '08 First Friday - Vicki Thorn - Project Rachel

2008-08-01T08:42:00.003-05:00

We are pleased to welcome Vicki Thorn as our guest speaker at the August '08 First Friday Gathering. Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

Ms. Thorn is the foundress of Project Rachel and the executive director of the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation & Healing located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She served as the first Respect Life Director for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee from 1977 to 1988. She has a degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a certificate in Spiritual Direction. She is a bereavement facilitator trained by the American Academy of Bereavement and a prenatal loss facilitator certified by Resolve Through Sharing Prenatal Loss. She also holds a certificate in Trauma Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a long time member of the Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health.

Ms. Thorn is an international speaker and author on the topics of abortion’s aftermath in women, men and others as well as the process of post-abortion healing. She has spoken in Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Poland, Chile, Hong Kong and China. She is the primary author of the “The Priests Manual of Post-Abortion Ministry”, published by the Pro-Life Secretariat of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

More information about Ms. Thorn's work can be found in the following article in the the St. Anthony Messenger or from the website for the National Office for Post Abortion Reconciliation & Healing.

We look forward to seeing you there!

40th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae Event - July 26, 2008

2008-07-06T09:21:00.002-05:00

Our friends at the Nazareth Project for Marriage and Family Formation, a part of the John Paul II Center of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, have invited members of the St. Thomas More Lawyers Society to a very special event marking the fortieth anniversary of Humanae Vitae. This is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2008. A 9:00 a.m. Mass with Bishop William Callahan, OFM. Conv., will be followed by a presentation by the renowned Rev. Tadeusz Pacholcyk, Ph.D., Director of Education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center on "Stem Cell Research in Light of Humanae Vitae."

Space is limited and registrations are requested no later than July 26, 2008. Attached to this email please find a letter invitation from Lydia LoCoco, director of the Nazareth Project, a brochure on the event, and a registration form. Please contact Lydia with any questions regarding the event at LoCocoL@archmil.org, or 414-758-2214.

July '08 First Friday - (hiatus)

2008-07-06T09:09:00.001-05:00

The Society maintains its traditional First Friday hiatus for the month of July as we celebrate our our Nation's independence.

June '08 First Friday - Dr. David Lodes - Catholic Schools & the Faith in Our Future program

2008-06-02T13:02:00.005-05:00

Our speaker this month will be Dr. David Lodes, the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Dr. Lodes will speak to us about the Strategic Plan for Faith in Our Future the Office of Schools and the impact of the program on that Plan.

The Faith in Our Future program is a campaign drive to attain $105 million to support the needs of the Archdiocese. A minimum of $6.85 million is for schools to fund development of best practices and strengthened accreditation standards, to enhance academic performance and professional development for teachers, the expansion of marketing/development services and grants for facility and technology needs.

Dr. Lodes has masters degrees in science (UW-Oshkosh) and education administration (UW-Milwaukee); and a PH.D from Marquette (Strategic Planning). Dr. Lodes began his education career as a science teacher (Chemistry, Physics, etc.). After serving as assistant principal and principal, he became superintendent of the Arrowhead School District, a position he maintained for fourteen years. During his tenure, the district grew from 800 to over 2300 students. In October, 2007, Dr. Lodes was named the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

May '08 First Friday - Fr. Harak - MU Center for Peacemaking

2008-05-01T20:32:00.003-05:00

The speaker for our discussion group will be Fr. Simon Harak, S.J. Fr. Harak is the director of the recently created Marquette University Center for Peacemaking. Fr. Harak will speak about the Center and related issues.

An interview with Fr. Harak which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in November, 2007 may also be of interest.

Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

April '08 First Friday - St. Anthony's School and School Choice

2008-04-01T20:43:00.003-05:00

Our speaker this month is Terry Brown, who is the President of St. Anthony's School and will speak to us about the school and about the state of the school choice program in Milwaukee. With 1,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, St. Anthony's is the largest grade school in Milwaukee -- including MPS schools. It is the largest school in the voucher program, and one of the largest Catholic grade schools in the country.

For more information, see the recent Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story on Terry Brown's stewardship of St. Anthony's School.

Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

Midwest Regional Biomedical Ethics Conference - April 26, 2008

2008-03-04T07:49:00.003-06:00

On Saturday, April 26, 2008, our friends at the Milwaukee Medical Guild are sponsoring the Fourth Annual Midwest Regional Bioethics Conference in Madison. The Guild has put together an outstanding faculty for this event. In addition, the Guild has applied for 3.5 hours of CLE credit with the State Bar. The brochure for the event is attached as a pdf Document. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Chris Zainer by email - at czainermd at wi dot rr dot com

March '08 First Friday - Kevin O'Brien - Men of Christ Catholic Conference

2008-03-04T07:31:00.004-06:00

We are pleased to announce that our First Friday speaker this month is Kevin O'Brien. Kevin is the founder and president of the Men of Christ Catholic Conference, Inc. (Website link) which is the organization that sponsored last weekend's Men of Christ Conference for 3000 men at State Fair Park. Kevin is a former NFL linebacker who refound his faith after he left professional football. Drawing on his experience in organizing a men's conference in Massachusetts, Kevin and a small group of friends hosted the first Men of Christ Conference in February of 2007. The organization has grown since the first conference and is presently reaching out to assist groups presenting men's programs in other locations. Kevin is passionate about this ministry and is an engaging speaker.

An article describing Kevin and his vision for the Men of Christ mission appeared in the Catholic Herald on February 21, 2008. The February 28, 2008 issue of the Catholic Herald contains an article reporting on the 2008 conference (Weblink).

See also, 2/23/08 JSOnlne Article; and, the Men of Christ website.

Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

February '08 First Friday - Fr. Nathan Reeseman - "Catechism and Coffee"

2008-01-31T07:31:00.000-06:00

On December 7, 2007 our First Friday gathering will again meet - Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

Our guest celebrant and speaker for February is Fr. Nathan Reesman. Fr. Reesman serves as the Associate Pastor of St. Mary's Visitation Parish in Elm Grove. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Fr. Reesman was ordained in May, 2006, and is the youngest priest in the Milwaukee Archdiocese. A dynamic and engaging speaker, Fr. Reesman developed the highly successful "Catechism and Cocktails" program at St. Mary's this summer. For the First Friday discussion, Fr. Reesman will speak on vocations and will reprise the Q&A format of "Catechism and Cocktails" -- call it "Catechism and Coffee". Fr. Reesman will be ready to field any questions you ever wanted to ask a priest.

STMLS White Paper - Abuse Case Statute of Limitations

2008-01-23T12:21:00.000-06:00

From the Executive Committee:

- January 23, 2008 -

To the Members of STMLS:

Greetings. We are providing as a PDF attachment to this email an advance copy of a white paper that was authorized by the Board of Directors at its last meeting. The paper addresses proposed legislation that would prospectively abolish the statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in Wisconsin and create a window during which claims now barred by the statute of limitations could be revived. Depending on one’s perspective, the legislation is referred to as “window”, “look-back”, or “reviver” legislation. The white paper speaks for itself. It was authorized by a unanimous vote of those present at the most recent Board meeting and later reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee. The paper is being circulated to members of the appropriate Senate and Assembly committees.

As you may know, Archbishop Dolan testified against this proposed legislation last week. A copy of his testimony along with a position paper submitted by the Catholic Conference are posted on the archdiocesan website.

We have taken this step after much prayer and reflection. It is not often that the Society ventures into the policy realm, but we feel that speaking out about this important issue is appropriate and in keeping with the example of our patron, perhaps especially because our position will not be uniformly popular or accepted.

Lastly, we thank those of you who volunteered to work on this project. Due to the legislative calendar, we had to get something out the door quickly, if at all, and there was not time to seek input or assistance from all those who volunteered. In the event this legislation becomes law, there will likely be a case testing its constitutionality. At that time, it may be appropriate for the Society to consider filing an amicus brief with a more extended analysis of the legal and constitutional issues presented.

Yours in Christ,

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jonathan Koenig, President

James Carrig, Past President

Tom Hruz, President-Elect

Bruce Arnold, Secretary

Justin Longley, Treasurer

January '08 First Friday (Hiatus)

2008-01-02T21:40:00.000-06:00

There will be no First Friday gathering for January 2008.

Be sure to plan to join us in February!

December '07 First Friday - Paul Hohl - School Choice and the state of religious & Catholic primary instruction

2007-12-05T06:18:00.000-06:00

Green Bay Diocese asserts First Amendment right to operate homeless shelter despite (temporary) lack of City zoning approval

2007-11-06T20:49:00.000-06:00

"I die the King's faithful Servant, but God's first."

True to the above ethic of St. Thomas More, and with temperatures set to drop below freezing tonight across the state of Wisconsin, the Diocese of Green Bay has opted to go ahead with its' plans to operate a homeless shelter at the former St. John the Evangelist Parish school building despite the lack of proper occupancy permits and other City approvals.

A report from the Green Bay Press-Gazette indicates the permit was not approved due to neighborhood objections, focusing around concerns regarding safety and public nuisances associated with the persons that the shelter would attract. Both the City of Green Bay and the Diocese continue to work toward a solution that will permit the shelter to operate within City Ordinances, but the Diocese was clearly undeterred from its mission even if forced to operate in formal violation in the interim.

The website links to the Archbishop's letter to the Mayor of Green Bay, as well as the press release from the Diocese. See the following forceful excerpt from Archbishop Dolan's letter to the Mayor of Green Bay:

"I also understand that, regrettably, the St. John facility did not receive the zoning variance for which it petitioned. We know and respect the diligence that you and others have demonstrated in trying to find common ground to serve the homeless. Our current action is being taken only because the homeless have no other place to turn. Further, I believe that our action is consistent with the First Amendment rights of the Catholic Church to fulfill its essential ministry, and am advised that there is judicial precedent to protect that (cf. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2002)."

Milwaukee's Archbishop Timothy Dolan approved the above action, acting as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Green Bay in the wake of the departure of Bishop Zubik.

November '07 First Friday - Freemasonry and the Catholic Church

2007-10-30T23:32:00.000-05:00

Our First Friday Speaker for this Friday, November 2, 2007 is Attorney John Salza. Mr. Salza will speak about "Freemasonry and the Catholic Church". A short biography of Mr. Salza appears below.

Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells), with the speaker / discussion to follow (roughly 8-9am). For more information see our First Friday page.

John Salza was baptized Catholic and attended Catholic grade school and high school. He grew up having a strong relationship with God. However, during his college years, John began to pursue secular interests and grew lukewarm in his faith. After he graduated from law school, a family member introduced John to Freemasonry. The Masonic Lodge was presented to John as a means of establishing special contacts in the business world. As a young attorney, such an idea appealed to John. John also had no idea that the Catholic Church opposed his membership in the Lodge. However, upon discovering this fact, John quit the Lodge.

Since 1999, John has been a well-respected and highly-skilled Catholic apologist. He is the author of the following books by Our Sunday Visitor: The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith (2005); Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge (2006); The Biblical Basis for the Papacy (2007); and, The Biblical Basis for the Eucharist (2008). John is a frequent speaker on Catholic radio, appearing on such shows as Catholic Answers Live, Kresta in the Afternoon, and The Drew Mariani Show. John also has his own radio show on Relevant Radio called “Relevant Answers,” a daily apologetics spot on how to explain and defend the Catholic faith using the Bible. John is the creator of www.ScriptureCatholic.com, one of the most popular Catholic apologetics sites on the Internet. John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and a Doctor of Law degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Wisconsin Law School. John is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the American Catholic Lawyers Association, the National Italian-American Bar Association, the Justinian Society of Lawyers, and the Saint Joseph’s Society.

October '07 First Friday - Prof. Christopher Wolfe - On founding a new catholic university

2007-10-25T07:19:00.000-05:00

We were pleased this month to have Prof. Wolfe of Marquette University as our featured speaker for the October '07 First Friday gathering. As described in the recent Journal-Sentinel article linked above, Prof. Wolfe has undertaken an effort to establish a new university based upon the teachings and intellectual approach of Thomas Aquinas.

See this previous post for general information about First Friday, including location, times, directions, etc.

Archbishop Dolan offers Homily at 2007 Red Mass in Washington, D.C.

2007-10-07T12:36:00.000-05:00

For the interest of our membership, the homily of our own Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the occasion of the Red Mass in Washington, D.C. has been posted and is available for Download as PDF.

The Archbishop reflects upon the founding principles of the United States, noting the consistencies with our calling as Catholics to recognize and protect the inherent dignity and sanctity of humankind. His prayer for guidance of lawyers, politicians, judges and public servants calls upon us to abide these principles as we work to build and protect "... the city set on a hill..."

2007 Annual Meeting - Oct 18, 2007

2007-09-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

Please join us for the Society's annual meeting, on Thursday, October 18, 2007. A brief flyer and RSVP form is attached.

5:30pm - Mass - Old St. Mary's Church (Kilbourn & Broadway)
Immediately thereafter - appetizers and cash bar at Flannery's (Jefferson & Wells)

For those of you who have never attended, the event is to be highly recommend. Following mass, attendees gather for fellowship and cameraderie over food and drink, and our new officers are installed at the brief business meeting.

Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with your colleagues and renew your connection to the Society.

We look forward to seeing you there!

September '07 First Friday - Reflections on a Trip to the Holy Land

2007-09-04T22:31:00.000-05:00

This month we are pleased to have as our speaker George Kersten, member of Kersten & McKinnon S.C. and a long-time member of the Society. George will speak on his trip to the Holy Land last year where he celebrated Christmas.

See this previous post for general information about First Friday

August '07 First Friday - Ron Zeilinger - Catholic Prison Ministry

2007-07-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

First Friday resumes this August 3, 2007. We will offer mass at 7:30am, followed by our featured speaker at 8:00am, Ron Zeilinger. Ron is founder and executive director of Dismas Ministry, a Catholic outreach whose mission includes outreach to Catholic inmates in local, state and federal prisons. Begun in 2000 in Wisconsin, it has grown to include 30 states and over 400 jails and prisons in its area of service. Mr. Zeilinger will speak on Catholic prison ministry and its effect on the lives of inmates.

See this previous post for general information about First Friday

July '07 First Friday - (hiatus)

2007-07-04T09:44:00.000-05:00

The Society maintains its traditional First Friday hiatus for the month of July as we celebrate our our Nation's independence.

Fr. Jim Connell - Farewell Celebration

2007-06-21T07:13:00.000-05:00

On June 21, 2007, join us to celebrate the service of the Society's outgoing Chaplain, Fr. Jim Connell.

A mass will be celebrated at Old St. Mary's Church at 5:30pm, followed by a dinner reception at Flannery's.

Seating is limited. Please using the linked form to RSVP.

June '07 First Friday - The Mission of Catholic Charities

2007-06-04T07:29:00.000-05:00

Our speaker this month will be Hannah Dugan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities who was recently appointed to this position by Archbishop Dolan in January. After graduating from University of Wisconsin Law School in 1987 Hannah spent 19 years with Legal Aid Society of Wisconsin and then Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee representing low-income families. She will speak on the mission and strategies of Catholic Charities.

As usual, the St. Thomas More Lawyers Society of Wisconsin First Friday Group will meet Friday, June 1, 2007. Mass will begin at 7:30 A.M. in the Chapel of the Holy Family located on the 2nd floor of the Marquette Memorial Union (15th and Wells). Mass will be followed by a meeting and discussion from 8:00 - 9:00 A.M. over a continental breakfast (suggested donation $4.00). Parking is available on Wells Street or in one of the nearby campus lots.