Honoring Leadership in the Church
The Archbishop’s Vatican II Awards recognize individuals whose faith, service and leadership strengthen the Church and advance its mission throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The 2026 recipients are being honored in 12 categories representing a broad range of ministry and service.
Recognizes exemplary leadership and service that assists, enables and enhances the Church’s mission through administration, communication, finance, human resources, buildings and grounds or related ministries in a parish or Catholic institution.
Fr. Juan Manuel Camacho
St. Leo the Great Parish/St. Lucy, Racine
“Fr. Camacho has woven a seamless fabric to bring all Racine Catholics together, without dissention, despite our economic and cultural disparities. He is beloved by all. As a theologian, preacher, pastor, missionary, advisor, confessor, executive, sagacious mediator and most importantly, esteemed social friend, Fr. Camacho is highly exemplary among the priests of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.”
— James Pitts, nominator
What does a priest have in common with a good cup of coffee?
As Fr. Juan Manuel Camacho tells it, both take a little time to brew — “to bring out,” as he says, “the great flavors hidden in the heart of the bean.”
Fr. Camacho would know — he grew up on his family’s coffee farm in Colombia, supervising the workers and learning the business. But despite his intentions to go into agriculture, another desire was percolating in his heart: to serve those on the margins. He became a missionary with the Community of St. Paul and ministered in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean while discerning an ever-growing call to the priesthood. In 2008, he entered Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, and he was ordained in 2012.
For the last several years, Racine has been Fr. Camacho’s mission field, as a major collaborative restructuring effort has been underway for the more than 13,500 Catholic faithful there. He began in 2019 as associate pastor (and later pastor) of St. Patrick, St. Richard and St. Edward parishes, adding Sacred Heart Parish to his flock in 2023. In 2024, he became the pastor of Racine’s Catholic Community of Eight parishes, including St. John Nepomuk, St. Joseph, St. Lucy and St. Sebastian, and under his pastoral guidance the community merged to create St. Leo the Great Parish in 2026.
“I feel that this award is not for me alone but for all the people who are part of my life and have helped me grow as a person and a priest,” said Fr. Camacho, who is now the Vicar General and Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. “All the great work we have been able to achieve in Racine has been the work of the Holy Spirit and the unwavering commitment of so many parishioners and staff who opened their hearts to the Holy Spirit and brought about renewal for the church in Racine. In my heart, they are also receiving this award with me, and I will forever be grateful to them.”
By Colleen Jurkiewicz| September 17, 2026
Ernst (Ernie) Muehlenberg
St. Barnabas Parish, West Allis
“[His] efforts have saved the parish tens of thousands of dollars, allowing us to allocate resources more effectively toward our mission and ministries. Beyond [his] technical expertise, [he] exemplify what it means to be [a] lay leader in the Church — humble, faithful, generous and always willing to serve.“
— Fr. Gerardo Carcar, nominator
Sometimes, Ernst Muehlenberg’s wife thinks he has a bunk bed at St. Barnabas Parish with all the volunteering he does at their sites in West Allis.
The level of dedication the retired 74-year-old maintenance and tool room manager gives to the parish both as a leader and in facilities work makes it seem like he lives there. He and two cohorts at the parish seem to know where every nail, screw and fuse resides within each building.
“I work between three to four days a week there, averaging at least probably around six hours a day. It all depends on what’s busted,” he jokes.
Yet that work saves the parish countless thousands of dollars in everything from plumbing to electrical issues, along with a recent floor refinishing job at the Holy Assumption site on Orchard Street.
“It was $36,000, and we did it for $4,800,” he said.
Place that on top of leadership of the parish’s buildings and grounds committees for the better part of four decades, a position on the finance committee, four terms on parish council including double-digit years as its chair, along with five years as festival committee co-chair, and it’s no wonder the word “tireless dedication” comes from St. Barnabas’ pastor, Fr. Gerardo Carcar.
What drives Muehlenberg is the opportunity for human interaction, for seeing where Christ resides in people across various age groups and backgrounds, all working for one goal.
“When you’re part of a festival or fish fry or anything like that, you’re meeting and you’re working at those; meeting other people is the most rewarding,” he said.
“God gave me an opportunity to work. I made a good living. I’ve been married 52 years. So, I feel so blessed that I feel that I should give back to God. This is part of how I’m doing it.”
By Jay Sorgi | September 17, 2026
Thomas Malzewski
St. Barnabas Parish, West Allis
“With tireless dedication, [he has] personally undertaken countless repairs and improvements, addressing everything from minor maintenance to critical large-scale issues. [His] expertise has saved the parish significant resources and ensured a safe, welcoming environment for all … a testament to the power of lay leadership and humble service.”
— Fr. Gerardo Carcar, nominator
Thomas Malzewski used to believe his accomplishments as an electrician, husband to his wife, Lorelei, and father to Adam, Mark and Katelyn were due to his own efforts.
“Now I know it is by God’s grace,” he said. “I see the Holy Spirit delay or upset my plans only to have things turn out better than I imagined.”
He wasn’t always living his life fully for Christ, but while he worked as an electrician, some of his non-Catholic co-workers made him question his faith and life’s path.
“Between the Discalced Carmelites at my parish and Relevant Radio, I caught on fire,” Malzewski said. “Having a relationship with God while living my life helping others is the route for me.”
Malzewski helped merge St. Rita, St. Augustine and Holy Assumption parishes into what is now St. Barnabas.
“It was a challenge,” he said. “The people who don’t participate in parish committees, Mass, or take bulletins were unaware of how each parish could not financially continue to exist on their own. They didn’t see it coming and were the most vocal on why we were going in certain directions. We knew we were going to lose parishioners due to certain decisions on selling properties. Those who stayed understand and are trying to build up a solid, active church and missions.”
Now retired, it seems natural that he serves on the Building and Grounds Committee at St. Barnabas. He assisted with complex facility matters and serves as a hands-on steward of the parish infrastructure, making countless repairs and improvements, from small fixes to large-scale issues.
“We are a new parish of St. Barnabas, so I want to do whatever needs to be done physically,” said Malzewski. “I want to volunteer rather than thinking that someone else will do it.”
“God put me in this place at this time, and I am his servant. I do what Jesus says, such as in filling the water jugs at the wedding at Cana.”
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
Recognizes those who have advanced the mission of Christ and the Church through spirited vision, dedicated work and exemplary service to their parish and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Leticia Campos
Corpus Christi Parish, Waukesha
“She has a remarkable ability to bridge the Anglo and Hispanic communities, fostering unity and teamwork. Her involvement in organizing and animating community events has strengthened parish life, especially within the Hispanic community. She lives her commitment with a strong sense of responsibility and shared mission.”
—Mario Perez, nominator
As a young adult, Leticia Campos went back to confirmation class.
She was already confirmed — that had taken place in her childhood in Guanajuato, Mexico — but she had fallen away from the practice of Catholicism during her college years at UW-Whitewater. Now back in Waukesha, where she lived with her family after moving to the United States, she was taking a renewed interest in her faith.
“I asked if I could take the adult confirmation class just because I was curious to learn more about my faith,” recalled Campos. “In this class, I was given my first and very own Bible, which to this day I still use.”
That was just the beginning of Campos’ spiritual renaissance. Today, she tries intentionally to “not only learn and grow my faith but actually live it on a daily basis,” she said.
Living out her faith daily includes serving her parish of Corpus Christi in Waukesha, where she has been active on the Finance Committee, Worship Committee and ACTS Core team. She is also a regular adorer and an hour captain for the parish’s Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Serving as a translator for parish events, she helps to bridge the gap between the Anglo and Hispanic communities of Corpus Christi.
Professionally, she works as the bilingual department enrollment and communication specialist for the school district of Waukesha. In her job, she gets to do “what many teachers and other staff members did for my family for 23 years as my four younger siblings and I went through the school system: helping and supporting us through our education and beyond.”
Looking forward to a bright future with her fiancé, Manuel Morales, Campos said that serving others “is something I truly and wholeheartedly enjoy.”
“When I was little, I would see how people would help my family and others, and I was always just amazed by them. It truly gives me a great sense of joy, it gives me a purpose in life, and it helps me make great connections with others.”
By Colleen Jurkiewicz | September 17, 2026
Earl Wirtz
St. Leo the Great Parish/St. Sebastian, Sturtevant
“Instrumental in the revitalization of the long-closed St. [Sebastian] School to the new St. [Sebastian] STEM Academy, within the Siena Catholic Schools of Racine. Earl’s efforts included physical building restoration, classroom equipment procurement, and leadership in ensuring financial funding. Earl is a stalwart supporter of the Church’s mission and outreach through parish leadership, the Knights of Columbus Council, and as a Third Order (Secular) Franciscan.”
— Alison Spotts, nominator
Earl Wirtz’s dedication to his faith helps bring life, literally and figuratively, in multiple ways for the Catholic Church through and beyond St. Sebastian Church in Sturtevant, part of St. Leo the Great Parish, Racine.
“He is the go-to guy,” his daughter Julie Lee said. “He’s willing to do whatever it takes.”
Wirtz, a Third Order Secular Franciscan and member of the Knights of Columbus, has played a critical role in bringing new life to what had been St. Sebastian School before its closure, and is now St. Sebastian STEM Academy, which serves students from K-3 through fifth grade.
His work through the Knights of Columbus has also helped secure ultrasound machines to help mothers both locally and at the archdiocesan mission parish in the Dominican Republic, La Sagrada Familia. That comes in addition to the continual hands-on problem-solving presence he gives St. Sebastian, as well as dedication to Franciscan missionary locations in Mississippi and New Mexico.
This level of dedication to the faith has long been part of his life, something Lee has constantly witnessed in her father and something passed down through generations in her family.
“I went to St. Sebastian’s as a child, first through eighth grade,” she said. “I remember my grandfather also being instrumental in the nuts and bolts of the building of the school. My dad, I think, has come full circle and then taken over, kind of per se, my grandfather’s responsibilities.”
Lee said her father’s example has taught her to put others first, an example of what faith really means. “I think it’s just his faith and his willingness to give his time to others. That’s a big part of who he is. He has always been like that,” Lee said.
“It gives him a purpose in life.”
By Jay Sorgi | September 17, 2026
Recognizes significant contributions to educational ministry within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee through exemplary service to Catholic schools and parish formation ministries.
Judy Kysely
St. Jerome Parish, Oconomowoc
“She has spent years volunteering to teach CGS in the parish school and in faith formation on Sundays. ALSO, she has spent her own money and months of time handmaking the materials to fill the atriums for the children to use while they contemplate with our Lord. Her love for our Lord radiates through with each encounter with adults and children of any age.”
— Kathleen Fricano, nominator
If St. Jerome in Oconomowoc has had a touchpoint for helping youth encounter, build and expand a love for Christ over the last 19 years, Judy Kysely has most likely been involved.
“Children already have God’s presence. I matchmake them further to God,” said Kysely, who has done the same for her six children at home alongside her husband.
“Your number one goal is to get your husband to heaven and then for your children, it’s to get them to heaven. And then you got to go broader.”
Kysely has done that through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, confirmation retreats, scouting and American Heritage Girls programs, St. Jerome’s Evangelical and Faith Formation commission for which she is president, and countless other parish events.
“How do we get children to realize that the relationship with God is always there, and he’s always there for you?” she said.
“You have to make it individual with them. Somehow, you’ve got to know the child and know God.”
She notes how when she prayed as a teenager for her confirmation name, she felt confused about God leading her to Gabriel, a man’s name.
“That’s just the messenger of God,” she said. “It’s been very clear to me that my call is to be the messenger of God, so that’s kind of what my life has evolved around.
She says the chance to look back at her extensive resume of relationship-building between God and young people stops her in her tracks with gratitude.
“The main thanksgiving is just for him loving me enough to trust me with his mission and for equipping someone who is not naturally equipped to do this,” she said.
“We’re not alone in this work. God is the one who has provided.”
By Jay Sorgi | September 17, 2026
René Howard-Páez
St. Mary Parish, Hales Corners
“René brings over a decade of experience working in Catholic schools across Milwaukee and previously served as a catechist on the city’s south side, grounding his leadership in lived faith and service. He is known for building meaningful partnerships across Milwaukee that expand opportunities for students, connecting education to real-world experiences and career pathways.“
— Karina Valdes-Garcia, nominator
The over 10 years that René Howard-Páez has in Catholic education is more than a career — it’s a family legacy of service. Originally from the Chicago area, his parents worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago and Howard-Páez got his start in ministry as a youth group leader.
“Mass was a huge part of our life, as was participating in the broader Church community,” said Howard-Páez, who moved to Milwaukee in 2014 to help open Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.
Now husband to Alexis, a Marquette University High School teacher, and dad of two girls who attend St. Mary in Hales Corners, Howard-Páez says that “Catholic education is part of who we are.”
“My family is the lens through which I make every decision,” he said. “My wife and daughters have always embedded themselves in the Catholic communities where I have worked, helping me see the fullness of faith in every aspect of life.”
After serving as the founding director of admissions at Cristo Rey, Howard-Páez became the director of diversity and inclusion at Marquette University High School, where he served for five years. After a stint in the corporate world, he returned to Catholic education as the youngest high school president in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee at St. Joan of Antida High School — and the only man of color serving in that role across the archdiocese.
At St. Joan of Antida, Howard-Páez positioned the school for long-term institutional growth through fundraising, capital improvements and increased partnerships with nonprofit, corporate, educational and civic entities across Milwaukee.
He was recently named one of BizTimes Milwaukee’s Inaugural Notable Latino Leaders and serves on the board of St. Anthony School.
“There is a deep fulfillment that comes from serving others, a joy greater than receiving something for ourselves,” he said. “I believe we are called to share our gifts and help others in any way we can.”
By Colleen Jurkiewicz| September 17, 2026
Recognizes an exemplary model of family life and/or significant contributions to family ministry within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, upholding the family as the Domestic Church.
Maria Carton
St. Mary’s Visitation Parish, Elm Grove
“Maria has truly established herself as a “woman of grace,” among all those she has met and helped over the past 30 plus years. Her Catholic faith foundation is steady and strong. The focus is never on Maria, herself, but rather on her family, friends or anyone who would need her help, always nudging them toward the Holy Family.“
— Fr. Gerardo Carcar, nominator
She referred to herself as the “Angel de la casa,” the angel of the house. Born in Colombia, Maria Carton understood the traditional role of the Latin American wife and mother: serve without notice, give up her seat at the table and care for others without fanfare.
“When I heard my mother say this, I felt terrible. I said, ‘Mom, all your life, you didn’t do anything but give to others,’” said Stefanie Tripoli, her eldest daughter. “My mom said, ‘Stefanie, you have it all wrong. That is how I express love, by serving others.’”
Diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer 15 months ago, Carton surpassed all odds, making it to her 78th birthday Aug. 20 and dying five days later. She leaves behind her husband of 52 years, Charles; three children, Nicole, Michael and Stefanie; and 15 grandchildren.
Aside from caring for her family, Carton, an active member of St. Mary’s Visitation Parish and Opus Dei, felt called to establish various girls clubs to help younger women and girls.
“She never became a teacher, but she was a natural one and always had wise advice,” Tripoli explained. “People listened to her, and the girls adored her. Mom always said it was important to combine faith with fun, which the girls enjoyed. She would either give a talk or invite someone to speak, offering action points to help them grow in virtue. Then she would have a snack on her fine China because it was fun and different for them from everyday life.”
During these meetings, Carton served homemade desserts, followed by seasonal crafts and playtime.
“My mom always held similar classes at home on Friday mornings for young moms where she would serve coffee and dessert,” said Tripoli. “She would talk to them about virtue, marriage and help them become confident and holy women.”
True to her calling as a servant, when Tripoli told her mother about the award, she wanted it to go to someone else because she knew she was going to die soon.
“I told her, ‘Mommy, they are still going to give it to you,’” she said.
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
Holly Hallmark
Corpus Christi Parish, Waukesha
“Holly Hallmark exudes a deep love for her Catholic faith and remains extremely humble in her work as a disciple of Jesus. Through her actions, service and leadership, she shares this love not only in what she says but also in what she does. With her strong faith, commitment to building a home centered on God and dedication to her family and marriage, she is a shining example of what it means to build the domestic church.“
— Sarah Murphy, nominator
Growing up on a farm, attending Mass every Sunday and having faith-filled parents formed Holly Hallmark’s faith, but she considers the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy on Nov. 21, 2021, pivotal in deepening her relationship with Jesus.
“Many people watched over me, and it affected my faith, especially during that time. I am more grateful for what I am given each day, and this event gave me hope and light when it was dark,” she said. “Luke, my husband, and our Catholic community at Corpus Christi Parish, from priests to parishioners, gave me such love and a new rebirth of my faith in Christ.”
The couple has six children: Elliott, 13; Ben, 12; Amelia, 10; Charlie, 7; Will, 4; and Mary, 2. They have belonged to Corpus Christi for 14 years.
Hallmark’s background in Early Childhood Education seems to propel her involvement in school activities.
“Luckily, I have had the chance to volunteer with the school in many areas, such as classroom parent, lunch and recess duty, recruitment, ambassador, involvement with school fundraisers and Catholic Schools Week,” she said. “My family and I take time to help wherever it is needed, and it brings joy to our hearts.”
Hallmark is also involved in serving, ushering, greeting, cantoring, Bible camps, Catholic children’s camps and small-group discussions with other families of faith.
“I also feel obligated to meet and greet new people of faith,” she explained. “It is rewarding to share stories and support each other. I also have a small ministry called Pray and Play, a program that brings mothers/caretakers and small children together to play/talk and pray for one another. It has been a true blessing to all of us.”
Hallmark said she finds joy knowing God is with her family and brings them where they need to be.
“The joy is the smiles, the relationships, the positivity, the support; all make us one in carrying our cross together, whether it’s a small obstacle or a big one,” she said.
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
Recognizes exemplary service and dedication in liturgical or music ministries that help the faithful focus on the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Christian life.
Abby Galstad
St. Mary Immaculate Conception, Burlington
“Over the last several years, Abby’s leadership in our director of liturgy and music position has greatly enriched our community’s spiritual life. Our schools and parishes are blessed to have her.“
— Fr. Ryan Ackmann, nominator
As the director of music and liturgy for the Burlington Lyons Tri-Parish Community and the K-8 school, Abby Galstad appreciates serving in the community where she was born and received her sacraments. A member of St. Charles Borromeo, she left after graduation to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, singing at her campus Newman Center. She then returned to teach at Immaculate Conception Parish.
“After teaching for five years, this position opened, and I felt called to apply for the job, and I have been loving it ever since,” she said. “My role allows me to serve in a way that beautifully integrates my talents and education while giving me a profound sense of purpose. I love helping individuals deeply engage with their prayer lives and experience God in every season of life.”
Galstad credits her strong faith to the daily examples from her parents, grandparents and extended family.
“My faith has been shaped by a beautiful tapestry of people throughout my life, including church musicians who taught me that everyone belongs and that no contribution is too small,” she explained. “I was also deeply impacted by my childhood parish priest, whose classroom visits and personal stories made faith feel accessible and real.”
Most meaningful for Galstad is engaging the parish’s youth and ensuring a welcoming space for anyone who wants to actively participate in Mass.
She sees God most clearly within the life of the various choirs.
“I see him in the way my adult choir members care for one another, and in how my youth choir kids cheer each other on as they engage with the music at Mass,” she said. “I see him in the children’s choir — where even when they forget to face forward, the pure joy of singing fills their entire bodies. I deeply value creating an environment where people feel permitted to try new things without the pressure of perfection.”
Galstad and her husband, Tyler, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. The couple has four children: Eva, 16; Scarlett, 15; Mikey, 13; and Liza, 11.
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
Thomas Ortman
St. Agnes Parish, Butler
“He serves as a trusted right hand to Fr. Sergio Rodriguez, as an acolyte and sacristan, assisting with reverence and care, most recently throughout all the Triduum liturgies and activities. His commitment ensures that the celebration of worship is both dignified and welcoming, encouraging the full, conscious and active participation of the faithful.“
— Paula Pikula, nominator
Thomas Ortman has a long and varied resumé, featuring experience with the United States Air Force, large retail outlets, and companies like AT&T and Gateway Computers.
But all those different jobs can be summed up quite simply, with just one word: service. A sense of service has defined Ortman professionally, starting with his 21 years in the Air Force, and it also defines him personally as a devoted dad, grandfather and volunteer at his parish.
It’s something he learned from his mother, said Ortman, who lives now in Brookfield but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest of eight children.
“We had nothing growing up. What we had was each other, so we took care of each other and anyone we came in contact with,” he said of his family. “We all still do that. We give everything we have because we remember what it was like to have nothing.”
At St. Agnes, Ortman’s gifts of time, talent and treasure manifest in many ways. He serves as the parish trustee secretary and as a member of the stewardship and parish environment committees. Every weekend he can be found at one, two or all three weekend Masses preparing the church for worship, like assembling orders of worship, or as a sacristan, reader, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion or acolyte.
The job that makes him, at the same time, “proudest and humblest” is that of acolyte.
“I get to walk up the three steps leading to the sanctuary, which I call ‘my heaven,’” he said. “I get to bring the bread and wine to the priest and then I witness the priest speaking the words of Jesus and calling upon the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, the Holy Eucharist.”
It doesn’t get any better than that, said Ortman — until it comes to receiving the Eucharist, the true food of every servant: “Now, that is the ultimate reward.”
By Colleen Jurkiewicz | September 17, 2026
Recognizes a permanent deacon whose exemplary service witnesses to sacrificial love in family, work and parish life, particularly through service to others and those most in need.
Deacon Wilson Shierk
St. Mary Parish, Kenosha
“Wilson is a leader in Kenosha to various organizations like St. Vincent de Paul and the Shalom Center. He has been an excellent leader to these organizations over many years.“
— Ronald Lesjak, nominator
“Just remember, it is all part of the dying and the rising,” Fr. Gerald Brittain told Deacon Wilson Shierk as they processed from the nave following the priest’s final Mass at St. Mary in Kenosha.
“He had been there 13 years, and we have a custom that the choir sings ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ when a priest celebrates his last Mass. I just looked over at him and asked if he was OK, and he made that comment,” said Shierk, voice breaking. “I always remember that. It is so powerful in the worst of times and in the most joyful times as well. It is all part of the Spirit’s movement in life. He made such an impact in my life.”
Ordained in 1996, Shierk has worn many hats; in addition to serving St. Mary Parish, he has served as an educator and principal at two middle schools and two grade schools. Shierk has led 19 trips to the archdiocese’s sister parish, La Sagrada Familia, in the Dominican Republic. He also oversees St. Mary’s Human Concerns Ministry, which includes jail ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, Elizabeth Closet, Shalom Center and numerous other outreaches.
“The thing that probably is responsible for my sensitivity to the needs of the poor is that my dad died young and my mom had to raise my two brothers and me. We were welfare kids until she passed away,” Deacon Shierk said. “If I had not had these experiences, I probably would not have been aware. I also learned before I was 10 that my dad was always willing to reach out and help others and did this often. This is part of the reason it comes naturally to me.”
A recent widower, Shierk, 89, lost his wife, Sylvia, of 50 years in March. They have eight children, 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
“God has blessed me with happiness in the diaconate work I’ve done,” he said. “I am so fortunate to be at St. Mary’s and working with wonderful people who are outgoing, affirming and giving.”
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
Deacon Richard Stanula
St. Anne Parish, Pleasant Prairie
“Richard’s ministries [include] the homebound, nursing homes, hospitals and especially Hospice Care. Richard is also serving on the Deacon Personnel Board. When Richard was sick, he made sure that all the people he ministered to were taken care of.“
— Deacon Terry Maack, nominator
Deacon Richard Stanula was driving home from ministering at a Kenosha hospital when he felt an unmistakable pull to stop at a nearby hospice. He was late for a family commitment, but the feeling persisted.
Nurses told him about a woman nearing death who had no family. Stanula went to her room, held her hand and began praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
As the prayer continued, her labored breathing calmed. Moments after the final prayer, she died peacefully.
“I thought to myself, ‘That’s God,’” Stanula said. “Jesus wanted me there to do that with her.”
That encounter captures Stanula’s ministry: “You have to be willing to follow where God leads, even when it takes you somewhere you never expected,” he said.
Stanula, ordained in 2012 at age 65, responds wherever his presence is requested. He has brought Communion, prayed the Rosary, contacted priests when someone needed the Anointing of the Sick and devoted entire days to visiting those in need.
Although hospice ministry had not interested him during formation, an early visit changed his heart. After learning how rarely some patients received visitors, he knew he needed to return.
Though health concerns have limited some activities, Stanula continues to visit hospice patients and bring them the Holy Eucharist. He also writes a weekly reflection for the parish bulletin and ministers at Holy Family Catholic Bookstore, where he blesses religious articles and listens to people seeking guidance.
Stanula credits his wife of 58 years, Alice, and their five children for making his ministry possible. Alice encouraged him to respond even when calls came late at night, while their adult children scheduled family gatherings around his ministry.
“I give kudos to my wife and my children for everything I may have done,” he said.
Stanula considers himself a vessel through whom God works.
“Trusting God means allowing his will — not our own plans — to shape what we do.”
By Kristen Kubisiak| September 17, 2026
Recognizes a Roman Catholic priest who has demonstrated exemplary pastoral care, service, faith, love and leadership in his parishes and throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Fr William Stanfield
Clement Manor, Greenfield
“He continues to be active in ministry assisting at Clement Manor and several other churches throughout the diocese. He has helped at the St. Bakhita Worker House celebrating Mass and is a trusted friend to many at Clement Manor.“
— Deacon Thomas Brefka, nominator
Over five decades of priesthood, Fr. William Stanfield’s ministry has taken him from Milwaukee parishes to rural villages in Tanzania and from seminary formation to serving older adults at Clement Manor. Across those assignments, one conviction has remained constant: “Love God and love the people.”
Fr. Stanfield, who celebrated 50 years of priesthood in May, is being recognized for his pastoral care, service and leadership.
The oldest of seven children, Fr. Stanfield was raised in Waukesha. He first considered the priesthood at St. Mary Grade School, where the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity encouraged vocations. By the end of college seminary, he felt certain God was calling him. He was ordained in 1976.
His parish assignments included Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Boniface in Milwaukee, St. Joseph in Waukesha, St. Matthew in Oak Creek and St. Teresa of Calcutta in North Lake and Monches. He also directed continuing formation for clergy, served as a formation director at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary and, after retiring, became a priest chaplain at Clement Manor.
Fr. Stanfield’s most memorable assignment was in Tanzania, where he served from 1990 to 1997 as a missionary associate with the Maryknoll Society.
He learned Kiswahili and served alongside local priests at St. Michael Parish in Sirari, which included 18 small Christian communities. Reaching them often meant traveling rough, muddy roads to celebrate Mass in surrounding villages.
The experience reflected a concern that has shaped his priesthood: serving God by responding to others’ needs, particularly those with fewer resources.
Fr. Stanfield has often recognized God at work in unexpected ways. Encounters that seemed ordinary to him sometimes deeply affected someone’s life.
Surprised to receive the award, Fr. Stanfield believes many other priests are more deserving. He views the recognition as belonging to those who have shared his ministry.
“They are certainly a part of forming who I am and what I’ve done as a priest,” he said.
By Kristen Kubisiak | September 17, 2026
Fr. Edward Cook
Congregation of the Great Spirit, Milwaukee
“Fr. Cook has served the Catholic Native American community for over 40 years, many of them as pastor of the Congregation of the Great Spirit. He has also worked ecumenically with other ministers/leaders of various Christian denominations. He has been present at different events, such as Pow Wows to show his support for the culture and traditions of the Native Americans.“
— Thomas Demse, nominator
The people he serves inspire him to live as Christ did. For more than 45 years, Fr. Ed Cook has served as a priest of the Milwaukee archdiocese, and for the past 37 years with the Congregation of the Great Spirit.
“Right now, that is the Milwaukee Native American Community, of which our parish is an active part,” he said. “The elders tell me that the person responsible for my work in the Indian Community is my grandfather. I am the oldest grandchild, and he exposed me to the Native culture at a very young age, which he loved dearly.”
Fr. Cook was ordained in 1967, and his first assignment was at Mary Queen of Heaven in West Allis. After this assignment, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and UW-Milwaukee, earning his graduate degree in art. He was then assigned to the Archdiocesan Office of Worship as an art consultant, where he served for ten years.
After that, he was assigned to the Archdiocesan Office for Native American Ministry, where he worked with Sr. Margaret Troy. She began ministering to the Native American community in 1979.
“She was a pioneer in Native American ministry,” Fr. Cook said.
Archbishop Weakland founded the Congregation of the Great Spirit in 1989 for Catholic Native Americans, their families and those who respect Native American culture. The parish has a special devotion to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the patron saint of Indigenous Americans.
“He appointed me as the first pastor,” said Fr. Cook. “I have seen God at work in the Milwaukee Indian community and in the volunteers and parish staff who keep the Congregation of the Great Spirit alive.”
Since he began serving as pastor of the Congregation of the Great Spirit, Fr. Cook has attended various Native American events to show his support for their culture and traditions.
“Even though I am not Native American, I am privileged to have participated in traditional dance at powwows and continue to sing at our drum for Sunday Masses,” said Fr. Cook.
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
Recognizes a leader who, with fidelity to Church teaching and tradition, has contributed through exemplary teaching, research, discovery and/or publication in a theological field.
Richard Fehring, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Christ King Parish, Wauwatosa
“Dr. Fehring has devoted his life to research of and access to natural family planning, specifically in his development and pioneering of the Marquette Method of NFP.“
— Doug Ulaszek, nominator
In the summer of 1968, in his landmark encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” Pope St. Paul VI called upon “men of science” to study the natural cycles of fertility and infertility, so that married couples might have means of “controlling birth in a way which does not in the least offend the moral principles (of the Catholic Church).”
With those words, Richard Fehring — then a young biology student at Marquette University — was summoned.
Fifty years later, Dr. Richard Fehring has become that man of science invoked by “Humanae Vitae.” After service as an officer with the Army Nurse Corps, he received master’s and doctorate degrees in nursing from The Catholic University of America. Returning to Milwaukee, he spent 46 years at Marquette University, becoming a tenured professor.
In 1999, Dr. Fehring developed the Marquette Model of natural family planning and has since studied its effectiveness. He has also worked for greater acceptance of natural family planning in healthcare, publishing more than 200 academic articles and book chapters.
Today, hundreds of nurses, APNPs, physicians and physicians’ assistants provide Marquette Model services in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.
“I take satisfaction in developing a system of natural family planning that is very effective and easy to learn and use for family planning purposes, so that couples can live out their faith and married lives in peace,” said Dr. Fehring. “I also take great satisfaction in mentoring nursing students and other health professionals in research that impacts married life and our faith.”
His life’s work, said Dr. Fehring, reflects the following quote from Pope Benedict XVI, offered in 2008 upon the 40th anniversary of “Humanae Vitae”: “The truth expressed in ‘Humanae Vitae’ does not change; rather, in light of the new scientific findings, its teaching becomes even more up to date and induces reflection upon its intrinsic value.”
By Colleen Jurkiewicz | September 17, 2026
Christopher Chan
St. Monica Parish, Whitefish Bay
“Over the past decade, he has single-handedly launched efforts to help other Catholics with autism, and parents of autistic children dealing with meltdowns and other debilitating conditions, supporting them through encouraging sensory-friendly Masses, launching an online support group, educating through social media, and speaking at conferences and on podcasts.“
— Jeanette Kirchner, nominator
For much of his life, Chris Chan knew experiences others took for granted — including attending church — could become overwhelming. An autism diagnosis at age 28 helped him understand why and inspired him to use scholarship, writing and advocacy to help others feel welcomed.
Chan earned a doctorate in U.S. history from Marquette University and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He teaches online college courses while pursuing a master’s degree in English and creative writing.
Confirmed in 2015 at St. Monica Parish, Chan said his Catholic faith brings an important perspective to his work. His scholarship recovers overlooked stories and examines marginalized voices.
His research has explored Catholic opposition to the eugenics movement in Milwaukee and racial violence toward the city’s Chinese community in the late 19th century. He also contributes to Gilbert!, the magazine of the Society of G.K. Chesterton, and writes mystery fiction addressing injustice.
Chan’s experience with autism also informs his work. His book, “The Autistic Sleuth,” examines how television mysteries portray autistic-coded characters. His play, “Our Mothers Are Not Refrigerators,” confronts a discredited theory that blamed mothers for their children’s autism.
Within the Church, Chan advocates for Catholics with autism and their families. “If no one else is helping, maybe I should,” Chan said. His pamphlet, “Twelve Things to Know About Parishioners with Autism,” helps parish leaders understand sensory challenges and create more welcoming communities.
“The more you know, the more you understand where other people are coming from,” Chan said. “Studying these stories is a way of humanizing people and building empathy.”
Receiving the award left him surprised and grateful. He sees it as encouragement to continue using his gifts in service to others.
By Kristen Kubisiak | September 17, 2026
Recognizes innovative, collaborative and pastorally sensitive leadership beyond the walls of the Church, making a positive local, national, global or ecumenical impact through evangelization, service, charity and love.
Erika Pyzik
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee
“Erika has worked to help the community there develop a stable, self-supporting medical clinic, through many mission trips to the Dominican Republic. Erika is also a board member for the Office of World Missions and the Society for the Propagation of Faith. Erika is an excellent example of someone able to fully live her faith and support greater work outside of the local Church.“
— Sofia L. Thorn, nominator
Raised in a family where Mass on Sundays was a must and bedtime prayer a beloved routine, Erika Pyzik’s life of faith reached a new level when she attended Marquette University.
It was there that she learned the Jesuit motto — Ad majorem Dei gloriam or “for the greater Glory of God.” More than words, this phrase is a mindset, and Pyzik fell in love with it — the idea of doing all things for the glory of God.
“It drew me to my faith in a way that I had not experienced before,” she said. “It has shaped the way I approach my everyday life since that time.”
About 15 years ago, while working in pediatric neurology, she was invited to join a medical mission trip to Haiti. She said yes — and it changed her understanding of “what it means to be part of a global Church.”
Since then, Pyzik, who is now a physician assistant at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Division of Pediatric Genetics at Children’s Wisconsin, has made mission work a huge part of her life. She co-chairs the Sister Parish Commission at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and has worked extensively with La Sagrada Familia Parish in the Dominican Republic. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Office of World Mission and the Society of the Propagation of the Faith with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
In receiving this recognition, Pyzik said she is “surprised and humbled.”
“It’s not my award alone, but rather the cumulative effort of all those that I have and continue to work with on these missions,” she said. “Mission work does not occur in a bubble. This award is about communities of people coming together to be part of the global Church — not just welcoming the stranger but seeing Christ in each person we encounter.”
By Colleen Jurkiewicz | September 17, 2026
Matthew Gizelbach
St. Charles Parish, Hartland
“The love he receives from his relationship with the Lord overflows past the walls of St. Charles to our sister parish in the Dominican Republic, La Sagrada Familia. As an Outreach Services Team member in our parish, he has organized several mission trips to the Dominican Republic to facilitate medical and social mission work. Matthew has been an incredible example of charitably giving his time to both local and global efforts in walking with others on their faith journeys.“
— Allison Caswell, nominator
It could be said that Christ is most present first in the Eucharist, with a close second being the face of each human being we meet, particularly those with the greatest needs.
Matthew Gizelbach’s mission at St. Charles Church in Hartland is to lead others to encounter the Lord in both ways and lead fellow missionaries to do the same.
“My charism [is] mercy,” Gizelbach said. “That’s head on with what I do, not only in my role at St. Charles but a number of other things.”
“Five years ago, I wouldn’t have known what adoration was.”
Now, he’s the parish’s Eucharistic Adoration lead coordinator, inviting, fostering and scheduling 125 consecutive hours of human presence before the Lord.
Since 2023, Gizelbach has also led the core team of the parish’s twinning relationship with La Sagrada Familia, a parish two hours from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While leading and fundraising for volunteer teams of eight people each year, he has also helped raise money for a health center at La Sagrada Familia.
Their next journey there will involve a medical mission, partnering with Holy Apostles Parish in New Berlin to offer health and dental care to parishioners through the new clinic.
Gizelbach also volunteers in hospice care for those with less than six months to live.
He said that a 2025 pilgrimage to the final destination of the Camino de Real in Spain, Santiago de Compostela, confirmed his current missionary calling.
“I had a priest who laid hands on me there, and he told me that the Lord was telling him that he’s proud of me, and it was really impactful for me,” Gizelbach said.
“That really made me feel like the path that I’m on is a path where he wants me to be.”
By Jay Sorgi | September 17, 2026
Recognizes an exemplary leader who embodies the vision of the Second Vatican Council through innovative ministry, faith-filled passion for the Church and attentiveness to the “Signs of the Times.”
Erin Cobb
Holy Family Parish, Fond du Lac
“Erin is one of our best leaders in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The breadth of her outreach via Holy Family is unparalleled. She leads her parish to respond to a vast number of social justice issues.“
— Susan McNeil, nominator
Recognizing Christ in others begins with responding to their needs with compassion. Whether offering a meal, accompanying a grieving family or welcoming someone in need of shelter, Erin Cobb approaches each encounter as an opportunity to honor the God-given dignity of every person.
“My faith has taught me that every person has dignity and worth,” Cobb said. “Faith is not just about what happens inside the walls of a church. It is about how we live our faith every day.”
A graduate of St. Mary’s Springs Academy, Cobb has served Holy Family for nearly 20 years. In pastoral care, she helped grieving families plan funerals. Through Christian formation, she prepared children for First Communion and First Reconciliation and assisted couples preparing for marriage.
Her current ministry encompasses trauma, grief, illness, divorce, addiction, human trafficking, respect for life, long-term care and prison ministry.
Under Cobb’s leadership, Holy Family launched Blessed Bites, providing weekly meals and hygiene supplies; Summer Bites, offering free summer lunches; and an annual Thanksgiving outreach distributing approximately 400 meals.
In 2023, Cobb oversaw the opening of the Holy Family Warming Shelter. Operating nightly from Nov. 1 through April 30, it offers adults experiencing homelessness a warm place to sleep, meals, hygiene services, community resources and compassionate care.
Cobb credits her parents with modeling an active Catholic faith. She is also grateful for the priests at Holy Family, whose trust and support have given her the freedom to develop ministries that respond to the needs of the community’s most vulnerable people.
She and her husband, Peter, have passed on that commitment to their children, Nathan and Lauren, who frequently assist with parish programs.
“Sometimes God puts a need directly in front of us not because we are expected to solve everything,” Cobb said, “but because we are being asked to respond in some way.”
By Kristen Kubisiak | September 17, 2026
Joe Meyer
St. Gabriel Parish, Hubertus
“Attuned to the ‘signs of the times,’ he recognizes that many who have drifted from the Church still long to care for creation — and he provides a bridge back to Christ through that shared desire. In doing so, he fosters authentic evangelization that is both accessible and transformative. His work consistently reflects the mission of connecting people more deeply to Christ, his Church and his creation, bearing lasting fruit across the archdiocese.“
— Margaret Rhody, nominator
Holding a monarch butterfly before releasing it on its journey to Mexico, a mother and daughter experienced a sense of wonder that Joe Meyer hopes every visitor will discover at the Catholic Ecology Center.
“Their childlike wonder was palpable,” Meyer recalled.
The moment occurred during a fall program in which participants help catch and tag migrating monarchs, providing scientists with information about their movements. For Meyer, it also demonstrated how creation can open hearts to its Creator.
Meyer is the founder and executive director of the Catholic Ecology Center and a science teacher at Marquette University High School.
“It is truly humbling to be recognized in this way,” Meyer said.
Starting the Catholic Ecology Center required him to say yes to the Holy Spirit despite uncertainty. Five years later, the center reaches thousands of people.
“This award represents what God can do with us — any of us — when we say our ‘yes’ and better conform our lives to his will,” he said.
Meyer’s scientific training helps him appreciate the intricate relationships found in nature, while his faith allows him to approach creation with gratitude and wonder. He sees no conflict between sound environmental science and Catholic teaching. Instead, he promotes an “integral ecology” that respects creation and the dignity of every human life.
Meyer believes nature can provide a welcoming path for people who feel disconnected from the Church. People are naturally attracted to truth, goodness and beauty, he said, and the beauty of creation can draw them toward God.
“There is a hunger to be part of something meaningful and bigger than themselves,” Meyer said.
Through teaching and the Catholic Ecology Center, Meyer believes he is combining the gifts God gave him with the mission for which he and his family were created.
By Kristen Kubisiak | September 17, 2026
Recognizes a young Catholic, age 14-22, who demonstrates exemplary leadership and involvement in the Church and is making a positive impact on its present and future.
Miquel Sosa
St. Leo the Great Parish/Saint John Nepomuk, Racine
“But all of that background doesn’t really tell you who Miguel is at his core: He is kind, gentle and unapologetically Catholic. While others might feel awkward in front of the school in a cassock, Miguel walks in like he was made to wear it. He is honest, bold, and possesses a strong relationship with God that he is incredibly comfortable sharing with others.“
— Kristen Dahlgren, nominator
At St. John Nepomuk (now part of St. Leo the Great Parish) and St. Catherine High School, Miguel Sosa is known as the kid who will volunteer for any job.
A longtime altar server, as a high school student he could always be depended upon to set up for Mass at school if the campus minister couldn’t be present. A theater enthusiast who loves to tell stories, he not only headlined school plays but lent his acting skills to the Living Stations of the Cross. Involved in mission work, he spent summers participating in the Dominican Preaching Conference, Rock the Block Week of Service in Racine and Alive in You Catholic Mission trip.
“I enjoy the connections I am able to make by serving others,” said Sosa, age 18, who is now a student at Milwaukee School of Engineering. “I’ve gotten to meet so many people through serving and mission trips that I wouldn’t have met otherwise — people who I’ve formed a connection with in serving with them as well as people I have served who are grateful and some of the kindest individuals I’ve met.”
During high school, Miguel served at Mass every week and said he was inspired by the example of the faithful adults around him, especially his father.
“Many of the priests I have been able to serve with have also been a great shoulder of wisdom to go to when I needed it and have really shown me how I can live closer to how I should,” he said. “My dad has been the biggest push in my faith life. He’s always been the spiritual leader of my household, ensuring we went to Mass even as I was a kid — which, while I may not have appreciated then, has now formed a great deal of importance for me going to Mass now.”
As a college student, he still serves every weekend he can. “Altar serving is something I will always want to keep doing, and I hope to continue doing so wherever I end up,” he said.
By Colleen Jurkiewicz | September 17, 2026
Alexander Slawny
St. Leonard Catholic Church & School, Muskego
“Xander has also taken on a shepherding role, reaching out to those without a strong faith background and guiding them with compassion and conviction. His commitment is evident in his enthusiastic decision to serve as a Confirmation sponsor for two young people preparing to enter the Catholic Church.”
— Bethanne Maus-Schaefer, nominator
At an age when many teenagers hesitate to talk openly about their faith, 17-year-old Xander Slawny is eager to start the conversation. Whether leading a Bible study, recording his podcast or sharing his testimony before a crowd, the Catholic Memorial High School senior feels most at home speaking about Christ.
That confidence began developing around the family dinner table. Slawny’s mother is Catholic and his father is Lutheran, giving him opportunities from an early age to discuss Christianity and ask questions about the differences between their traditions.
When his father raised a question Slawny could not answer, it motivated him to learn more.
“It forced me to dig more and to really understand,” he said. Those conversations helped him develop both a deeper knowledge of Catholicism and the ability to speak with others about Jesus.
Although raised Catholic, he said a mission trip to Britt, Iowa, transformed his faith from something familiar into a personal relationship with God. Serving people in need showed him where Christ could be encountered.
“If you want to feel closer to Christ, you should serve others,” he said.
After joining a Bible study for young men, Slawny felt called to create one for students his own age. He later launched a podcast, began serving as a lector and shared his testimony during another mission trip.
Slawny acknowledges that practicing the faith as a teenager can be difficult, particularly amid the pressure to fit in. He hopes the award encourages young Catholics to live their faith confidently. “I want to show people that it’s not weird or ‘cringe’ to be faithful,” he said.
Outside of ministry, Slawny enjoys volleyball, pickleball, fishing, hunting and time with friends. Looking ahead, he hopes to become a Catholic speaker and continue helping others encounter Christ.
By Kristen Kubisiak | September 17, 2026
Payton Wysocki
St. John XXIII, Port Washington
“Payton is one of those young people you want to replicate. Since the moment she became involved in our youth ministry, she has carried herself with an infectious joy and love for Christ that radiates out to all around her. Her faith has even inspired her parents to become more involved and be confirmed as adults!”
— Maureen Rotramel, nominator
Sometimes, the simplest service in Christ’s love leaves the most profound legacy, both within the served person and the one giving of themselves.
Payton Wysocki, a freshman at St. Norbert College who belongs to St. John XXIII Parish in Port Washington, discovered that in three mission trips while in high school.
“We went to Montague, Michigan. I helped this lady and her husband [who] was a hoarder. I had to declutter her basement and her garage, and I got so much closer to all the people that I worked with.”
Trip two brought her to Nashville, doing simple weeding work at a community farm and a neighborhood with under-resourced people. Her third journey of faithful service led to the Niagara Falls area, where she encountered a family with two children with life-threatening illnesses who simply needed weed removal because the parents couldn’t care for their property while caring for their kids.
Their work helped the family put in a playground for those kids.
“It was really cool just getting to hear her story and about her life and how we were there answering her prayers,” she said. “It’s been just such a ‘faith high’ being surrounded by so many different people who are all there for the same reason.”
Wysocki turned that into leading people as young as kindergartners and as old as her parents, whom she sponsored for their Confirmation, in their faith development.
This life of service has molded the kind of worldview that led her nominator to call Payton “one of those people you want to replicate.”
“I base decisions off of what would be better for other people around me,” she said, “to glorify God through my actions.”
By Jay Sorgi | September 17, 2026
Recognizes a leader who initiates and implements ministry promoting peace and justice in the Church, society or world according to Catholic tradition and teaching, demonstrating exemplary leadership, perseverance and lasting impact.
John Waymel
St. Dominic Catholic Parish, Brookfield
“His life is a powerful testament to the Gospel in action — marked by humility, compassion and unwavering trust in God. John Waymel’s dedication, leadership and joyful service have blessed both his parish and the wider archdiocese, making him a most worthy recipient of this award.”
— Deacon. Jim Matthias, nominator
Sometimes for John Waymel, the call is to give an ear and a heart to listen and pray. Sometimes, the call is to give a kidney. But always, God’s calling for him is to give completely.
“It’s all in or all off. That’s why I try, and live my life,” the Brookfield resident and St. Dominic parishioner says. “You can’t do things half.”
Waymel has gone all in on compassion and service to God and people for at least 30 years, dating back to when he began with ministry for incarcerated people, now with the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s St. Dismas Jail Ministry.
“I’ve been caught in numerous situations where somebody asked me a real tough question,” he said. “I just think about it and I dig deep. I said, ‘What does the Holy Spirit want me to say?’”
Waymel now visits and trains fellow volunteers on the ministry of presence, something he actively gives in his parish’s GriefShare and bereavement ministry programs, along with two weekly men’s faith groups.
One of those faith group discussions spawned God’s calling him to give the gift of life.
“Would you donate a kidney to save somebody’s life if you were asked?” he was asked.
“I went upstairs in the chapel, sat down before the tabernacle and just stayed there until I had an answer, thinking that there’s got to be something in scripture that’ll get me off the hook. And [I saw] John 15:13, ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’”
One of John’s kidneys ended up in another man’s body, giving that man 13 extra years of life.
“I have a prayer in the morning. It’s a prayer of surrender. ‘Lord, I give my life over to you. Do with me what you want,’” he said.
“All in.”
By Jay Sorgi | September 17, 2026
Manny Torres
Divine Mercy Parish, South Milwaukee
“Manny Torres is a very dedicated member of our Divine Mercy community, and he has a strong desire for every person he encounters to know how much God loves them. Manny is a man who steps up and helps in matters without being asked, and he has been a leader in several areas of our parish, mainly our parish school, St. Vincent de Paul Meal program and our outdoor grounds upkeep. Through these ministries, Manny has integrated the church’s teaching on upholding the dignity of the human being, and each person he serves leaves knowing that they are a gift in God’s eyes. “
— Fr. Joe Sebastian, nominator
Behind the scenes, Manny Torres works faithfully to help wherever needed at Divine Mercy. Whether through the St. Vincent de Paul meal program, grounds upkeep or teaching gym to students in the parish school, he sees a need and steps up.
“If I am going to complain about something, I will do what I can to better it,” he said. “It is important to give back a portion I have received.”
In his physical education classes, he begins with prayer and writes a Scripture verse on the board, which the students recite together. He reminds the children that they are created in God’s image and should care for their bodies so they can do his work.
In addition to serving the poor through two SVdP monthly meal programs, Torres coordinates outdoor cleanup during the spring, summer and fall.
“We call it After Dark, and it is a monthly landscaping to beautify the exterior of our church and school,” he said.
Torres assembles groups and volunteers to “adopt a plot” to keep the campus clean and tidy. He emphasizes that caring for the grounds reflects their devotion to God and his creation. Through his encouragement, parishioners who otherwise wouldn’t be involved have stepped up to help.
Torres is pleased with how the parish and school grounds have improved with the help of his volunteers.
“It is important to make the church exterior beautiful, so it matches the inside, which makes our church more inviting,” he said. “It also provides opportunities for people to volunteer and do good for others.”
Though he has a strong Catholic Faith, he wants to grow ever closer to Christ.
“I have been like Jonah most of my life,” Torres said. “I want to become like Amos and God-willing, become a St. Paul.”
By Karen Mahoney | September 17, 2026
