International Twinning Partner Update

Missionary Fraternity of Mary in Guatemala

Our Ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee 
There have been recent changes in assignments for Fraternity priests, who have served in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for several years.  A number of these priests are familiar to Lumen Christi parishioners.

• Father Max Tzul, who served as pastor at the Tri-Parish Community of St. Rafael, Prince of Peace, and St. Vincent de Paul was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Colton, California in the Diocese of San Bernardino.  Fr. Max previously served as Associate Pastor at Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac for over seven years before his assignment in Milwaukee at St. Rafael Parish where he served for 3 years.  Fr. Max is most familiar to a number of parishioners who helped him learn English over 12 years ago.  They also helped him assimilate into our culture in preparation for doing mission appeals for the Fraternity as well as subsequently coming to the Archdiocese to serve in ministry.  We wish Fr. Max many blessings in his new assignment and he said that one of his regrets in leaving Wisconsin was, “I am going to miss the snow.” We promised to send him an occasional bucket of the fluffy white stuff!
• Father Fabian Rodas is also familiar to a number of parishioners who helped him learn English and assimilate into our culture.  He served in ministry in Fond du Lac for over 3 years and in Milwaukee for 2 years as pastor at St. Rafael before returning to Guatemala in early February where he has been appointed rector at the major seminary in Guatemala City.  This move was not his choice, but he has been caught up in an unfortunate delay by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the processing of his R1 Religious Visa renewal that was submitted in 2019.  Currently, DHS is processing applications from 2018, and Fr. Fabian was forced to leave the country for one year and one day, if he is to have any chance of securing such visa renewal in the future.  His spirituality, leadership, and ministry approach will be missed.  God willing ,he may return in the future but clearly his role is set for at least the next year.
• Father Jaime Charuc has been serving in a dual role within the Archdiocese serving in pastoral ministry at St. Anthony and St. Hyacinth Parishes and additionally as the Director of Development for the Fraternity handling multiple responsibilities in promotion of the Missionary Fraternity of Mary within the US. Unfortunately, Fr. Jaime has been caught in the same situation as Fr. Fabian Rodas and been advised that he must leave the country for one year and one day before he can hope for renewal of his Visa.  He will return to Guatemala in mid-May and will take on special assignments for the General Moderator of the Society as well as continue in his role as Director of Development in promotion of the Society in Guatemala as well as continuing to the best of his ability within the US working through the many contacts he has made over the past several years.

Continuing in ministry within the Archdiocese will be Father Erick Cassiano, Fr. Alejandro Umul, and Fr. Onildo Orellana.

• Father Erick has been appointed as pastor at the Tri-Parish Community on the south side of Milwaukee with St. Rafael as the rectory which will be occupied by all 3 priests.  
• Fr. Onildo Orellana will leave his parishes in the Beaver Dam area and will be given a new assignment in Milwaukee but will reside in community with his fellow priests at St. Rafael.  
• Fr. Alejandro Umul will be associate pastor at St. Rafael and the other two parishes and will assume some of Fr. Jaime’s duties regarding promotion of the Fraternity within the USA.

Plans are in place for Fr. Milton to join the team in Milwaukee and we are awaiting approval of his visa application upon which he will immediately leave Guatemala for Milwaukee.  It appears that the bulk of delay in approval of R1 Religious visa is for renewals and original visa applications may be processed in a timelier manner.

Please continue to pray for these priests as they continue to provide needed ministerial outreach to many of our communities within the Archdiocese.