History of Our Lady of Good Hope Parish

Founding Pastor

Father  Joseph A Fischer

1950 – In February seventy eight men and women met at Holy Redeemer Parish to hear an announcement by Msgr. J.J. Nellen, Pastor, that Archbishop Kiley had approved the organization of a new parish. This parish would encompass an area bound by W. Tower Avenue to the north, West Mill Road to the south, Green Bay Avenue to the East and 60^th Street to the west. The people were to develop the parish facilities on a ten acre tract of land owned by the Archdiocese of the southeast corner of N. 41^st Street and W. Good Hope Road in the town of Granville. Fr. Joseph A. Fischer would be the spiritual leader of The Good Hope Group.

1951 – The group raised $6,000.00 the first year. Msgr. Nellen donated the facilities of Holy Redeemer Parish for many of the fund raising events held to raise money. Many different functions were held for this purpose, one being the planting of ten acres of flax on the property where the parish is now located. This flax was harvested and sold to raise money.

1952 - The official incorporation of Our Lady of Good Hope Parish took place on April 2^nd of this year. The parish had grown to one hundred fifty families. "Founders Bonds" were sold to raise money. Fr. Fischer motivated the group with the theme, "The Charity of Christ Urges Us On". In June we obtained a building permit for the first phase of the long range Parish Building Program. In July, Mother of Good Counsel Parish donated a building as an all purpose shelter, later becaming the first rectory. In October Archbishop Muench blessed and layed the cornerstone of the first Church and School, a dream come true. In December Father Fischer began the Novena Prayers to Our Lady of Hope for the continued success of the parish efforts.

1953 –  Bishop Roman Atkielski blessed and dedicated the first Church of Our Lady of Good Hope which seated four hundred fifty people. Parishioners had given long hours of work to build and furnish the church. Father Joseph A. Fischer was appointed as pastor in August. The school opened in fall with four grades – three classrooms in the north hall. First graders were transported to the Sorrowful Mother Convent on Teutonia Ave. The first bulletin was published. A fall festival, which continued for many years began. The Ushers Society began and a religious goods store opened. Monthly fish fries and card parties were held. Ladies of the parish cleaned the church each week. This practice continued until the new church was built.

1954 – The St. Vincent de Paul Society was formed in January. Our Lady of Good Hope Feast Day was celebrated with special services. The Credit Union opened and has grown over the years. The new rectory at 7125 N. 41^st was ready for occupancy after much work by the members of the parish. Who also donated most of the furnishings. Parish buses, driven by volunteers , began to transport our 167   students to and from school. The hot lunch program began.Cub and Brownie Scout Troops were formed. We acquired Dominic Savio Hall, a building placed east of the school, for additional classroom space.

1955 – Christian Mothers and Holy Name Societies began. A six classroom addition was completed in September. Church services were held in the north hall until 1959 when the present day south wing was completed.

1956 – Archbishop Meyer blessed the school addition in February. Ladies of the parish sewed gowns for the children who were to be confirmed. Later we rented these out to other parishes, they then became the choir robes and finally ended up as quilts for the missions. The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother moved into the parish house on the corner of 41^st and Good Hope. This eventually became the home of the maintenance engineer and later was sold. Over four hundred children registered for school in fall. The CYO – Catholic Youth Organization – was formed for our young people. Boy and Girl Scout Troops were organized. The Marian Shrine was dedicated.

1957 – Our first associate, Fr. John Rasmann, arrived at the parish. We held a parish mission. One classroom - first and second graders – 102 students. We celebrated the first graduating class from our school. A parishioner donated our electronic bells.

1958 – Cardinal Meyer blessed the new 24 room convent. Nine of the sisters took up residence. Men of the parish built the Scout Cabin. The parish was rapidly growing.

1959 - We took a parish census and formed a visitation committee to contact parish families. The new school addition was completed. Archbishop Cousins dedicated the new church and school and confirmed  one hundred ten young people.

1960 - Father Robert Pusch was ordained in Rome and celebrated his first mass here at our parish on July 17^th. The Tithing Program was introduced as a formula for church support. The rectory garage was built. The parish adopted a Cuban family who lived with with one of our parish families until they could find work and their own living quarters.

1961 – We held a parish mission and introduced Perpetual adoration in May. We prayed a  living rosary with a procession to the Marian shrine.

1962 – The parish had one thousand three hundred and thirty three registered families. We rented a Milwaukee Public School on Good Hope Road to meet the exapanding   space needs of the many children in our school. PAVLA was introduced to the parish and we responded by bringing a foreign student to our area and providing for her college tuition and upkeep. After graduation she returned to help her people.

1963 – The school formed a musical band which represented the parish at area functions for many years.

1964 – The Mission Co-op Plan was put into effect with1% of our weekly income going to the missions. The parish sent and supported a member of our community to St. Vincent, West Indies to work in the missions for PAVLA. The parish had grown to fifteen hundred families.

1965 – "Voice of Hope" the parish newsletter began publication. Envisioning the construction of a new church, a building committee initiated the planning process. Fr. Fred Bistricky was ordained on May 29^th and celebrated his for first mass at OLGH on May 31^st. Lectors, commentators and cantors were began serving the parish at Sunday Masses. The school had an enrollment of fourteen hundred students in twenty nine classrooms. We honored the volunteer bus drivers for their work some with six to eight years of service.

1966 – Mission Co-op Plan  increased to 2% of income. The first full time maintenance engineer was hired. Families scheduled to present the offertory gifts during mass had their names listed in the bulletin as a way to get people to know each other. Fr. Reginald Foster, OCD was ordained in Rome on April 27^th, and celebrated his first mass at OLGH shortly after this date. Our PAVLA volunteer returned from the West Indies and a new volunteer was supported in her work.

1967 – The parish formed three new groups: the Legion of Mary, a parish advisory committee, Operation Welcome, a group to visit new parishioners. Fr. John Waldbauer was ordained on May 20^th and celebrated his first mass here the following Sunday. Our new pastor, Fr. Anthony J. Beyer arrived in June.  

Father Anthony J. Beyer

1968 –The parish held a  Husband & Wife evening of reflection was held. Work on the  new church progressed to the point where liturgical services began in the basement on June 23, with the blessing of the cornerstone on November 3^rd.

1969 – Archbishop Cousins dedicated our new church May. The cost was $1,168,816.32. The first Saturday evening mass was celebrated at 6:30 p.m.on June 21^st.

1970 – Fr. Joseph Pierron, our second associate, tragically died in a motorcycle accident on May 22^nd. Religious Ed classes were held on Saturdays and the home group classes were intiated.

1971 – We formed the  first parish council, with the by-laws being approved on May 2^nd.

1972 – Twenty seven adult and six high school students were candidates for parish council election. Father Jerome Rinzel was moderator of the all volunteer religious ed program. We started to use pledge cards for parish stewardship.

1973 – This was a controversial year with bulletin announcements urging action to be taken to ban abortion, stop the bill that alowed sale of contraceptives to minors, and to drop sponsorship of the advertisers of the television show "Maude". The fiscal year for the parish ran on the calendar year with total income of $320,451.84 and expenses of $297,527.37 leaving a surplus of $22,924.47.

1974 – The Sisters of the Divine Savior leased our convent as a home for retired nuns.

1975 – George Doerr received the order of acolyte and served as a communion distributor before his ordination to the permanent diaconate on December 26^th He served the parish until June of 1977. Sarah Roesch became the new choir director.

1976 – The Debt Reduction program began as did the Knights of Columbus. We celebrated a special Mass for all parish high school graduates followed by a reception. The refund room was started to raise money for the parish.

1977 – Our Lady of Good Hope celebrated its twenty fifth anniversary with a special liturgy followed by a dinner dance at the Nightingale Ballroom. The graduating seniors' Mass was in May.   Fr. Beyer’s celebrated his fortieth anniversary of ordination. The St. Gall’s meal program began as did the Sunday 7:00 PM guitar mass.

Fr. Kenneth J. Derfus

1978 – Father Ken Derfus arrived as our new pastor. Our Lady of Good Hope was the host site for an Ecumenical Service celebrated on Palm Sunday at 7:00 PM. Vince Kobida served as a transitional deacon before his ordination in June. Sister Marietta joined the pastoral staff, visiting all the homes in the parish boundaries. The Debt Reduction program attempted to raise the money to pay our $600,000 debt.

1979 – The Senior Citizens Group was started. Our first youth minister, Marie Hern, joined the pastoral staff. The concept of Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure began.

1980 – NAIM – a support group for widows and widowers began. A new parish census was taken. The Saycocie Family, refugees from Laotia, received housing and assistance from the parish. There were119 baptisms, 118 first communicants, 57 wedding and 35 deaths this year.

1981 – Fr. Ken Derfus celebrated his twenty fifth ordination to the priesthood in May. Renew began. The Sharing Trees, a collection of Christmas gifts for the poor, started.

1982 – The second session Renew received a great response. Fr. Bernard Luedtke was ordained in Rome in August.

1983 – The Jewish/Catholic Dialogue sessions began  as did the youth room. Parish Council formulated and adopted the first mission statment.   Our Lady of Good Hope and St. Adalbert’s Parish helped resettle a refugee family from Poland .

1984 – Archbishop Weakland ordained four permanent deacons from the parish on June 9^th: Michael Cesarec, Joseph Kastenholz, Robert Schieffer and Carroll Sinden. All will serve at Our Lady of Good Hope Parish.

1985 – Fr. James Flynt served the parish as transitional deacon prior to his ordination to the priesthood in June. He then was appointed as associate pastor at Our Lady of Good Hope.

Fr. Edward H. Hussli

1986 – The Share Food Program began. Fr. Edward Hussli arrived as the new pastor. Debra M. Sciano took her final vows as a School Sister of Notre Dame on April 8^th at OLGH. Fr. Ed baked fruit cakes as a fundraiser.

1987 – The Parish offices moved from the rectory to the present location. A new parish census updated the files.

Fr. Peter P. Carek

1988 – Fr. Ed Hussli left and Fr. Peter Carek became the new pastor. The "Stir the Spirit" Program began in August as did the RCIA program. Sr. Francine Goodman becomes the Pastoral Associate in September.

1989 – The Archdiocesan Chrism Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Good Hope during Holy Week. The priests' offices moved over to the school building. Fr. Jeff Prasser was ordained to the priesthood on May 20^th and celebrated his first mass at Our Lady of Good Hope on May 21^st. The parish youth performed the play "Godspell". The Ecology ladies presented theVerdin bells and chimes as a gift.

1990 – Fr. Peter conducted a parish retreat during the first three days of Holy Week. Fr. John Kolanko celebrated his fiftieth year of priesthood. Some Capuchin Priests rented the convent building when the Sisters of Divine Savior moved. Priests of neighboring parishes exchanged pulpits in September. Fr. Peter Carek celebrated his thirtieth year of priesthood.

1991 – Special masses for peace were celebrated on Monday evenings during the Gulf War. Las Vegas Night was held in January. Fr. Peter again preached a holy week retreat. The Stewardship Committee began as did another parish loan program to pay for capital improvements.

1992 – Loretta Mendoza was certified as a lay minister of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in May. Bereavement Ministry started in May.

1993 – Four year kindergarten was started at Our Lady of Good Hope School.

1994 – The Strategic Planning Group began envisioning the future ans conducted an opinion. A survey was taken of parishioners thoughts about the parish. The Mission Co-op program ended.

1995 – An all school alumni reunion was held in May. Sr. Francine left and Dr. Joseph Behr became the Adult and Senior Citizen Outreach person. Archbishop Weakland visited the parish to hold listening sessions. The Marie Carberry Room,where RCIA met, was dedicated in November, and we hired the first business manager.

Fr. Paul A. Stanosz

1996 – A parish mission was held in February. Fr. Paul Stanosz arrived as pastor in June. Barbara Krieger became the religious education director after Gary Heun left. The Outreach Program, formerly Mission Co-op, is reinstated at 1% of envelope income. The Ministry of Praise program, a network of prayer and fellowship for elderly and sick parishioners, began is introduced to parishioners.

1997 – Father Joseph Fischer, founding pastor of the parish, died in May. Six parishes celebrate confirmation at our parish. A new business manager, Bryan Martin was hired.

1998 – A tri-parish mission occured. The Franciscan Sisters, who were renting the convent after the Capuchin Fathers left, moved out. A parish prayer network began. Tri-parish collaboration in the areas of school and evangelization moved forward. Wendy Stachnik joined the pastoral staff as our parish nurse.

1999 – Fr. Donald Hying was installed as pastor on March 7^th. The New Hope Center, the former parish convent, opened to care for senior adults during the day. Eucharistic adoration began on Wednesdays as did a daily 5:30PM Mass and weekly Reconciliation. Parishioners bought a new set of Fontanini creche figures for the Christmas season. The Family Perspective program began with adult and child formation on Sunday mornings. Volunteers began donating supplies and service to the Guest House, a local homeless shelter, on a monthly basis.

2000 – We celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Hope with a special Mass, ethnic pot luck and cultural entertainment. Father John Kolanko celebrated sixty years of priesthood. A romantic evening for couples, complete with dinner and a speaker, was held on Valentine's Day. Dr. Joe Behr and the school principal, Nancy Behr, retired. Michael Taylor became the new school principal. Chris Pie' became the new business manager. We compiled a parish photo directory, completed the handicaped access project, raised $53,000 for the poor of Haiti as a Jubilee gift, undertook a parish pilgrimage to Holy Hill  in October, and revived the Legion of  Mary. Our three permanent deacons celebrated their retirement and we began taking cooked meals to Casa Maria.

2001 – The offices of the school, the principal and the parish underwent a renovation as did the school library, the youth room and the cabins. Wendy Stachnik began Care Team Ministry, a new way to effectively serve the elderly and sick. The parish choirs sang at the Festa Italiana Mass in July. We built and dedicated a new Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in the former choir room, polychromed the stations of the cross and the statues, erected a new parish sign, installed a new crucifix in church and began preparation for the fifieth anniversary of the parish.