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	Pope Appoints Bishop to Diocese of LA Crosse By Jeff Starck Wausau Daily Herald June 12, 2010 http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100612/WDH0101/6120472/Pope-appoints-bishop-to-Diocese-of-La-Crosse Some local Catholics aren't familiar with their new leader, but they say they are eager to learn more about him. Pope Benedict XVI on Friday named William Callahan as Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, which includes Wausau. There are 165 parishes and more than 200,000 Catholics in west central Wisconsin, according to the diocese's website. Callahan, 59, replaces the Rev. Jerome Listecki, who became Archbishop of Milwaukee in January. Callahan will be installed at a special Mass on Aug. 11. The Rev. Allan Slowiak of St. Mark Catholic Church in Rothschild said Callahan's first task should be pastoral planning, helping the diocese adjust to a declining membership and shortage of priests. "As we go through demographic shifts, there are parishes that might need to be reconfigured, even the definition of a parish might have to be changed," Slowiak said. Callahan, a Chicago native, was ordained in 1977 and served in parishes in Milwaukee and Illinois, and as director of vocations for his order, the Conventual Franciscans. He was named auxiliary bishop of the Milwaukee diocese in October 2007 and was the administrator of the Milwaukee archdiocese until Listecki was installed as archbishop. Given the opportunity, Mary Ann Mizwinski, 63, of Wausau, said she would ask Callahan how he would handle reports of sexual abuse by priests in the diocese and whether lawmakers who support abortion rights should receive communion. Mizwinski, a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and a Secular Franciscan, said she would respect Callahan's decision on the latter issue. "The Jesus I know, I cannot imagine him refusing the sacrament to someone," Mizwinski said. Almost equally important, Mizwinski said she'd ask Callahan what he does in his spare time. "What does he do? Does he garden, does he play the guitar or hunt?" Mizwinski said with a laugh. The Rev. Robert Thorn of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Wausau said he doesn't know Callahan, but said family members in Milwaukee told him that Callahan is a warm, pastoral, loving and caring man. Thorn said he looks forward to a visit by Callahan to the Wausau area. "I'm just glad to have a new bishop," Thorn said.
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