Our Pastors Who Have Joined the Communion of Saints
Our parish has been a gift to our community and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. We have been blessed with a storied founder in Fr. Fran Eschweiler. This saint of Good Shepherd has led us to honor God by honoring the least among us. We have been equally blessed with Fr. Paul Daniels. Both pastors are now among the Communion of Saints. Our parish is grateful for how they showed us that God empowers us as saints to fulfill the Gospel and seek God’s justice.
Fr. Fran Eschweiler
Good Shepherd began with the arrival of their new pastor, Fr. Fran Eschweiler, on June 21, 1957. Fr. Fran or simply Fran as he wished to be known, adapted easily to his fresh environment. Vocationally aggressive, he quickly established his persona when he greeted a new parishioner with the salutation, “Here I am. What’s the challenge? I can handle it.” As part of getting to know his congregation, Fr. Fran visited every home in the parish the first year he was there. Charter member Dan Hanrahan explains, “[Fr. Fran] followed through [on his initial proclamation] from the day he came into Good Shepherd until the day he left.” The “sign of peace,” Good Shepherd style, was introduced July 15, 1957. Fr. Fran opened Mass that day with a prayer, then asked people to “fraternize and greet one another.”
Fr. Paul Daniels
Fr. Fran retired in January 1985 and was able to choose his successor. Fr. Paul Daniels of Racine was chosen for a lot of reasons: He was a people’s person with strong administrative capabilities. A gracious person, he assimilated well into the lay body. Outstanding organizational skills set him apart. His humility shined through in his actions. He had a wonderful sense of humor and could find comedy in the eye of a hurricane. But like St. Joseph, what greater accolade can you offer than “he’s a just man.”
Remember someone from Good Shepherd who has shaped who we are at Good Shepherd. Or think of someone from our parish who has affected your faith. Post that person on our “Saints of Good Shepherd” wall in the narthex. Whether clergy, pastoral associate, youth minister, catechist, communion minister, usher, greeter, faith-sharing member, serving team partner or neighbor in the next pew, we all carry on the tradition and Good News of Christ as the “Saints of Good Shepherd.”