By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
GREEN BAY — Bishop David Ricken will ordain Greg Mohr, Peter Schlegel, David Westenberg, Robert Wetzel, Henry Wildenberg and Thomas Younger to the diaconate for the Diocese of Green Bay on Saturday, May 18, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.
Parish assignments for the six new deacons will be announced at the Mass, which begins at 10 a.m. The Mass will be livestreamed at www.gbdioc.org/live.
Greg Mohr, St. Thomas More Parish, Appleton
Greg Mohr said his call to the diaconate arrived at an unlikely time while he was in his 20th year of serving the people in the Town of Grand Chute as a police officer.
“I started to become more aware of religious artwork in homes, an increased awareness of Christ within most victims of crime and, within a two-week timespan, was told by both Catholic and non-Catholic people within my life that I should think about becoming either a deacon or minister/pastor.”
Mohr began his diaconal aspirancy during his 21st year in law enforcement. He said he soon realized that he couldn’t balance a career as a police officer with diaconate formation, so he retired in 2016.
“A driving factor to this realization was the potential need to use force at a critical law enforcement incident,” he said. “I felt this internal transformation within myself that would prevent me from using force during a critical incident.”
After his retirement as a police officer, Mohr worked two years in the insurance industry before beginning his ministerial career in January of 2018 at St. Thomas More Parish in Appleton. He is the liturgy and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) coordinator at the parish.
“I work with some amazing people and can openly speak to people of all ages about Christ,” said Mohr about his parish position. “I enjoy praying with people, watching the light of Christ grow within those who are young and old, and hearing laughter.”
Mohr was born in Madison and grew up in Sparta, Wis. His family belonged to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Following graduation from Luther High School in Onalaska, Mohr said that he developed questions about his faith and stopped going to church.
While studying criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he met his wife, Becky, who was from Kimberly. She invited him to attend his first Catholic Mass.
“Eventually, I went through the OCIA (RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, at that time) process at St. Augustine Parish (Newman Center),” he said. “Becky is my OCIA sponsor. I received the sacraments of initiation in the spring of 1993.”
The Mohrs have been married for 29 years. They have three adult children: Ben, Adrianna and Luke.
“During my law enforcement years, I routinely worked with 3% of the population,” said Mohr. “Now that I’m away from law enforcement, I can develop relationships with 97% of the population. Hopefully, when my work in carrying out the mission of Christ is done, 100% of the population will come to know Jesus Christ.”
Peter Schlegel, St. John Parish, Antigo
Reflecting on his journey to the diaconate, Peter Schlegel recalls a man he met a few years ago. They only had one conversation, but the man’s story “inspired me to bring Jesus to everyone that I can and do it with sincere love for them,” he said.
“He let me know his pain and hurt that he has had in his life,” Schlegel continued. “He is, through all of it, very much grateful to God for all that he has blessed him with and shows that through his generosity of himself.”
Schlegel, who grew up as the seventh of nine children on a farm in Corcoran, Minn., was introduced to a deacon role model during his youth.
“When I was a teenager, our parish had a deacon that was a blessing as we went through some hard times,” he said. “Deacon Bob inspired me to want to become a deacon. …That desire stayed with me, but didn’t grow much until I started working in the parishes and felt my calling to be a deacon and to serve my community and family in a more deeper way.”
Eight years ago, Schlegel began his work as the bookkeeper and the facilities manager at the Antigo Catholic parishes — SS. Mary & Hyacinth and St. John. His ministry involvement has included teaching faith formation for 25 years, serving as a small group discussion leader and as a member of the parish council and other parish committees. He has also been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 25 years.
“No matter which group or committee I’ve been a part of in the parish, each one has shown me the importance of how coming together and supporting each other allows God to show us his love for each of us through each one of us,” he said.
Schlegel said that as a deacon he looks forward to “serving at the Mass in a very different way.”
He added, “I hope to increase my involvement in adult faith formation. I very much look forward to fully surrendering to God’s will for my life.”
Schlegel and his wife of 28 years, Missy, have four children, a granddaughter and a grandson on the way.
“(Missy) and our children have challenged me to be the person God created me to be,” said Schlegel about his family’s faith influence.
“They have helped show me what a loving parent can be. They have shown me how to be courageous in my faith. They have shown me what God’s love for me looks like and feels like,” he said.
David Westenberg, Holy Trinity Parish, Oconto
David Westenberg’s current ministries include teaching both second grade and 11th grade religious education classes, visiting homebound parishioners from Holy Trinity Parish, Oconto, ministering at the Oconto County Jail and serving as an acolyte at both Sunday and funeral Masses.
He and his wife of 32 years, Cindy, serve as a FOCCUS couple (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study for couples in marriage preparation) at the parish.
“As a deacon, I hope to continue the ministries I’ve been doing and I’m open to other ministries as I am needed,” he said.
Reflecting on his faith journey, Westenberg said he is thankful for those who have guided him.
“I have been blessed with many priests, deacons and laypeople who have been so supportive of me during this journey and helped form me and my faith,” he said.
Westenberg was born in Racine and grew up with his three brothers on a small hobby farm in Oconto. He and Cindy have owned Westy’s Trucking LLC in Oconto for 20 years and they now have their own small hobby farm.
“I raise beef and chickens,” he said. “The hobby farm gets rid of my stress. Unfortunately, I can’t spend enough time there.”
Their family also helps take care of the farm, said Westenberg. They have two children — Christy and David. Christy and her husband, Justin, are parents to a son, JJ.
While his involvement in ministry has been important in his vocation to the diaconate, Westenberg points to a time of hardship that fueled his desire to serve.
He recalls ministers giving up their weekends and evenings to help him.
“I couldn’t get over how people would give up their time,” he said. “It broke my heart that I would never do that.”
That outreach stuck with him and opened his willingness to serve, he said.
“That’s what the Lord wants us to do,” said Westenberg. “I missed that whole part when I was growing up.”
Robert Wetzel, Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Ashwaubenon
Bob Wetzel said he first felt called to the diaconate 20 years ago, but due to family and job responsibilities, it was not the right time. He credits a group of prayerful women at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Ashwaubenon who helped to reopen that door.
The women, described as “prayer warriors at the parish” by Wetzel, about eight years ago told him he should become a deacon. He decided to apply.
Reflecting on formation, Wetzel said that it required “a lot of perseverance. You felt like someone is helping you along.”
He added, “We have a very close group of men. We’ve shared a lot.”
Wetzel was born in Fond du Lac. His family moved to Ashwaubenon when he was in third grade, so he has a long history at Nativity of Our Lord Parish. Wetzel and his wife of 36 years, Rae, have two grown children, three grandchildren and a grandchild on the way.
Ministry involvement for Wetzel has included RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and “every committee that’s ever been in the parish over the years,” he said. Wetzel, who works in sales, has been active in the Lions Club and has been the Nativity of Our Lord Parish representative for the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing.
Wetzel said that the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen, known for his preaching and work on television and radio, provided his introduction to the faith.
And then there was an impactful, impromptu conversation at the parish that became life changing.
“A very holy lady, who I had been discussing the faith with, said, ‘We have a new priest coming and when he comes here, you need to get to know him immediately,’ So that’s what I did,” said Wetzel. “He picked up my faith journey and gave it a huge boost.”
That priest was Fr. John Girotti, vicar general and moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Green Bay.
Wetzel recalled how Fr. Girotti organized a small group of men to discuss the faith at Relevant Radio. The group helped spur the start of the Esto Vir men’s group.
Wetzel said that he will embrace all ministries as a deacon.
“We are here to serve,” he said. “Whatever the parish needs, whatever the priest needs, I will do.”
Henry Wildenberg, St. John Nepomucene Parish, Little Chute
Henry “Hank” Wildenberg describes his journey to the diaconate as “nothing miraculous, but rather a simple response to God’s love and mercy.”
He said that he attempted to respond to the call to be a deacon many times over the years, but life events, including the adoption of his daughters and a job loss, prevented it from being the right time.
But, the call “was never extinguished,” he said.
“I feel that St. Faustina has been on this journey with me because I have always loved the message of Divine Mercy,” he said.
Wildenberg, a Little Chute native, joined the Marine Corps after high school and served four years as an aircraft mechanic. He then entered college and took flying lessons. Wildenberg is currently a pilot for Southwest Airlines.
Wildenberg and his wife, Nancy, were married at St. John Nepomucene Church in Little Chute, where he received all his sacraments. In 1995, they adopted their three daughters: Rosanna, Juliet and Alma, biological sisters from the Philippines. They have three grandchildren and one on the way.
The Wildenbergs have shared several ministries at St. John Nepomucene, including FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study for couples in marriage preparation), visiting the homebound and serving as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, sacristans and lectors.
“Our passion has always been RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and working with adults,” said Wildenberg. “It’s such an honor sharing our Catholic faith and watching the candidates and catechumens enter fully into the Catholic Church.”
Wildenberg said that he will embrace all deacon ministries, but especially looks forward to baptisms.
“This sacrament has always been close to my heart and what a gift it will be to bring one of God’s little ones in his family,” he said. “At this time, we will remain open to all possibilities of ministry and follow where the Lord leads us.”
Thomas Younger, St. John the Baptist Parish, Howard
Tom Younger credits his late mother, ClaraBelle, for guiding him in the faith.
She “taught me to pray and constantly prayed for me, and I am sure (she) is praying for me in the Lord’s presence today,” he said.
Younger grew up in Stiles where he was a member of St. Patrick Parish. He said that his love for the Mass grew from his experience as an altar server. He met his wife, Susan, in first-grade religious education class.
“Other than baptism, we have celebrated all our sacraments together,” he said. “Without her love and encouragement, I never could have made it this far.”
They have two children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Younger has been involved in many ministries and civic organizations over the years. He served as a mentor for confirmation at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard and taught Theology of the Body to sophomore boys. His outreach also includes prayer ministry, the worship committee, the buildings and grounds committee, Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul.
“God was calling me to the diaconate for many years,” said Younger, who works as an energy advisor at Wisconsin Public Service Energy Efficiency Services, “but, I said, ‘Why me God?’ and the answer I received was, ‘Why not you?’ Once I said ‘yes,’ he brought me into a deeper relationship with him through prayer and service to his people.”
Younger points to Deacon Manny Torres and Deacon Nick Williams, who both serve at St. John the Baptist, as role models.
“If I can be half the deacon these two men are, I will be doing well,” he said. “Fr. Jim Lucas (pastor) has also been a great influence on my journey. He has encouraged and guided me from when he first came into the parish.”
Younger said that he will continue to work with the poor, mentoring youth and in ministries that help build up the parish.
“I also look forward to serving the Lord in my role as deacon,” he said, “especially service on the altar.”
