|
A native of Eden and then Marytown, in the Fond du Lac area, Father Carl had entered the Saint Lawrence Seminary in 1955. He then joined the Capuchins Friars and graduated with a B.A. in philosophy and education from the Capuchin Seminary of St. Mary Crown, in Point, Indiana. He entered the Capuchin seminary in Marathon for two years of theology. Then his life path changed. Father Carl was assigned to Saint Elizabeth’s Parish in Milwaukee in 1965, and he became a witness to the white flight in the inner city of Milwaukee. From 1965-1970, while at St. Elizabeth’s, he sponsored and invigorated the CYO teen club, integrating and bringing in neighborhood teens. He also worked with Arlene Skwierawski to establish a gospel choir. During this time, he encountered Brother Booker Ashe, Dorothy Day, and was a witness to the baptism of one of Michael Cullen’s children by (Father) Daniel Berrigan. In 1970, Fr. Carl left the Capuchin order . He became more involved in Milwaukee activities as an editor for the Milwaukee Star for a short time. His employment history then took him to non-profit agencies: the American Lung Association and the United Way. At Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin he served in a role as financial resource development director. He married in 1976 and divorced in 1986, which he often reflects on. In the ‘80’s, Father Carl became a consultant for Parish Development in Hyde Park, Illinois. He did financial resource development designed to make churches more responsive to the needs, wants and values of its members. In this capacity, he was a consultant for over 150 churches. The Milwaukee based organization became known as Genesis Associates. Since becoming a priest in 2002, Father Carl Diederichs has served at Saint John’s Cathedral, Milwaukee, where he started the Open Door Café, a daily lunch program for poor people. This project served over 50,000 lunches in 2003 and has involved the volunteer efforts of Milwaukee corporate business neighbors. Father Carl is guided by the words of a fellow priest friend, recently departed, “You need only take two things to the inner city—the Beatitudes and humility”. |
Fr.
Carl's Weekly Homily
| © 2008 All
Saints Catholic Church.
All rights reserved Web development donated by ArtGals.com |