Retired Bishop Bruskewitz to mark anniversary of ordination at Chrism Mass
By Deacon Matthew Hecker, Ph.D.
for the Register
At the April 14 Chrism Mass in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, priests marking jubilee anniversaries of their ordination will be honored, including Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz. He will celebrate the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood this July.
In 1960, after completing theology studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Bishop Bruskewitz was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Following ordination, he served the Archdiocese as an assistant pastor for five years.
In 1965, Bruskewitz returned to Rome and earned a doctorate in sacred theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University. From 1965-1967, he taught dogmatic theology as a faculty member at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee. In 1969, he was called back to Rome to serve at the Vatican, as a staff member for the Congregation for Catholic Education. He remained at his curial station for 11 years.
Retuning to Wisconsin in 1980, Bruskewitz – now a monsignor – served as pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Wauwatosa, an appointment he held for 12 years.
On March 24, 1992, Pope St. John Paul II appointed him as the eighth Bishop of Lincoln. On May 13, in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Msgr. Bruskewitz was ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln. His was the first episcopal ordination held in the Diocese of Lincoln. Each of our other bishops, including Bishop James Conley, were ordained to the episcopacy prior to being installed as Bishop of Lincoln.
“I only wanted to be a parish priest,” Bishop Bruskewitz said. “I had no thought of serving in Rome or being a bishop.”
However, serving in the Holy See, his gifted intellect, his fluency in various languages and his prodigious work effort were not unnoticed. As a result, he was a friend of many cardinals and archbishops, or priests who would one day soon hold those distinctions. He was an eyewitness participant in many important events, including sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He counts having held personal conversations with seven different popes, two of whom are now canonized saints; John XXIII and John Paul II.
Bishop Bruskewitz faithfully and courageously served as the Bishop of Lincoln, until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. On Sept. 14, 2012, Pope Benedict accepted the retirement of Bishop Bruskewitz. He remained as apostolic administrator of the diocese until Bishop Conley’s installation Nov. 20, 2012.
When asked to reflect on what he would recommend for the people of God in the pews, based on his lifetime of experience, he replied simply.
“Pilgrimages, the extent that people can do it, especially within the diocese, might be a good place to start,” he said. “Also, we have wonderful opportunities for studies within our diocese – the Emmaus Institute, for example – and they are very helpful and useful to have.”
He added that many diocesan parishes have very good study groups and visiting lecturers “that would be very helpful to enhance your Catholic education.”
“I also say parents should have a very serious obligation to not just look at the beautiful smiles of their children,” he added. They are going to face challenges, and they won’t be able to meet them unless they are well educated.
“As children go off to their careers and lives,” he said, “it’s very helpful to have a good background of Catholic education.”
Congratulations to Bishop Bruskewitz for his 65 years of very loyal service to the Church as a priest of God.
