Reader looking for recommendations while passing through

From a reader, perhaps folks could chime in on the comments, she did not leave contact info.

Karen Marie Rotter

Two of us, mature female Oblates of St Benedict and members of an FSSP Parish in Tacoma, WA, and pilgrimaging from Olympia, WA throughout Wisconsin, Chicago, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma. My sister and other family members live in Cashton, WI so I have been privileged to visit the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine from the time of its Dedication. We could not find any lodging near the shrine, so it’s the only place we will have to resort to a motel; July 3-10 weekly rate $275 including tax is very reasonable, but we would rather stay at a Holy Place. This is not a vacation, and staying with my family would be too much of a distraction. I know there are residential houses just below the Shrine; do you know if any have room-rentals?

Can you tell me about the Latin Mass in Cashton’s St Mary Ridge, and about the Institute of Christ the King in LaCrosse, and other Holy Places that would be good to visit near LaCrosse. We will arrive by Amtrak and then rent a car for six weeks. We will stay a week at Resurrection Monastery while visiting the approved Apparition Site in Champion, then Holy Hill, Our Lady of LaSalette, and Marytown. We will then drop down into Chicago for a week at Holy Cross Monastery while a priest friend takes us to other Holy Places. We will visit the St Therese shrine in Darien on our way to Des Moines, Iowa, then head for Missouri for a brief stay at Conception abbey and several days with the Benedictine Sisters in Gower. We will then visit a dear Brother and friend at Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, and make a short visit with Mother Miriam in Tulsa before flying home. All of this on a tight budget. We were hoping to offset the major expense of a $1600 car rental through Costco Travel if someone in La Crosse wanted to donate a car to either Clear Creek Abbey or Mother Miriam, we could deliver the car to them via our Pilgrimage.

As to La Crosse, I don't know of any room rentals.  Eventually the Shrine may build guest housing but there is none currently available.

Reader seeking TLM in the Menomonee Falls area

From a reader:

First, thank you for the Badger Catholic blog. I followed it when I was away from Wisconsin. Now that I am home, I read more regularly.

Now to my question. I have struggled to find Latin Mass options in Milwaukee (I live in Menomonee Falls) and recalled having seen a list on your blog. But the page doesn’t look current. I’m hooked on the First Friday Extraordinary Form at St Mary Visitation (Elm Grove) with Musica Oramus, which you’ve mentioned on the blog. Wondering if there are more?

Thanks for reading and welcome back!  Yes, that Mass times listing post was compiled with the help our friends at the TMS of Madison.  Blogging for a million years like me makes me realize that some posts don't age well.  However, it is still helpful to know where there are or have been Latin Mass groups, but keeping up with Mass time changes is not doable. 

On to the question.  Well, a guy like me would be doing what he could to get to St. Stanislaus.  I know it's on the south side, but I would think from most places in Menomonee Falls that you could take 41 and make the trip in about 30 minutes or so.  Even in little La Crosse here it takes us about 15-20 minutes to get to our parish.  Ideally you could find something closer to home though.  The archdiocese website does list Latin Mass times (I didn't realize Sheboygan had one).

I'll reopen comments today.  Feel free to chime in.

Request from Reader: Advice on best Catholic spot to relocate to in Wisconsin

From a reader:

I came across your blog online and was wondering if you could give me some feedback on Catholic parishes in Wisconsin.

I am considering moving to Wisconsin. I have some flexibility in location choice. It looks like north/west of Madison may be a good choice in terms of TLM and/or ad orientem Novus Ordo.  Ideally, the parish community is local and not transient. Thoughts/suggestions?

It's been a while since I posted one of these emails.  I get them a lot and I'm happy to help.  For Wisconsin I generally recommend the Madison area.  Bishop Morlino is setting up a stable and vibrant Catholic area for years to come.  The curia there seems on board with permitting(dare I say encouraging) parishes to establish and maintain a solid Catholic identity and liturgy and not allowing Father Hatchet to come in and tear down the house after Father EnFuego has moved on.

There is the Cathedral parish herself in Madison which features both forms, and also parishes like Fr. Rick's in nearby Pine Bluff that have ad orientem liturgy and very strong music programs.  St Ambrose Academy is a fantastic school in the classical model.  Also there is the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest (different from ICKSP) who serve right in the area mentioned north/west of Madison.  I would likely be at the Cathedral parish were I in that area(please don't throw things at me Pine Bluff) but there's lots of good options. *The previous statement is now in dubium, certainly St. Mary's Pine Bluff in that case.

But always keep in mind that no area is perfect.  I've talked to many people who move to an area and are expecting heaven on earth.  It exists only in our tabernacles.  With that said, look for a place that is in line with what you hold dear and be ready to contribute as well.  The grass is only greener here nine months out of the year.

I would also say that any of the Institute of Christ the King oratories would obviously be solid.  I find that most Latin Mass apostolates generally have large homeschooling groups.  Although we personally do not homeschool that option is much more doable with a solid support group.  In Milwaukee and Green Bay there are also solid schools in the area as well.

Things to like about Milwaukee - St. Stanislaus, The most beautiful church in the state, St. Anthony's parish and school, Trinity Academy in Pewaukee, Holy Hill, Men of Christ, Brewers

Things to like about Green Bay/Fox Valley - The school system has begun to take a very pro-classical  approach, the Cathedral, ICKSP (and to my knowledge not a whole lot liturgically outside of those two), Holy Resurrection Monestary, Esto Vir, OLO Good Help Shrine, not to mention the other Mecca.

On this side of the state there's not a whole lot to mention.  North of the Duffy line even less.  Guadalupe Shrine in La Crosse worth a visit.

Obviously I have to give a very general take here but I hope that sums it up a bit.  Readers feel free to chime in with constructive feedback.