Page 10 - Summer 2021 Chronicles

PASTORAL SUPPORT
at Catholic Memorial High School

Fr. John Gibson Fr. Mark Niehaus

Fr. John Gibson’s entrance into the CMH community after being We would like to introduce the Catholic Memorial Community to Fr.
named Chaplain in 2017 was seamless. He came from St. Dominic Mark Niehaus, new Chaplin for the 2021-22 school year replacing Fr.
Parish in Brookfield, so he had a great connection to a large group John Gibson who was assigned to St. Jerome Parish in Oconomowoc,
of CMH families even before he took on the role. WI. Fr. Mark comes to CMH from St. Patrick Catholic Church in
Whitewater, WI where he served as Pastor for a little over six years and
“What I will miss most about CMH is the people. Seeing our worked with the Catholic Campus Ministry for UW-Whitewater.
students, faculty, and staff each day was a great privilege. There
are a lot of really fantastic people at CMH—individuals who inspired “I am excited to interact and
me or who taught me a great deal,” said Fr. John. pray with CMH students and
community and build strong
His willingness to jump in and connect with students, faculty and relationships,” said Fr. Mark. “I
families was felt immediately, leading Masses, Reconciliation, have been active within youth
Prayer services, chaperoning field trips, attending the auction, ministry for the past 16 years so
hosting events, playing in the faculty vs. student basketball game I’m looking forward to
and much more. He also brought on new traditions with continuing to serve.”
inspirational videos.
In addition, Fr. Mark is the
“I think my favorite memory was hitting a three pointer in the Delegate Superior of the
student-faculty basketball game, and then rubbing it in by Schoenstatt Fathers in the
celebrating in front of the student section. It’s a fun tradition at United States, leading a
CMH to be a part of, the community of twelve other
game brings such great priests at the service of the
energy.” Schoenstatt Apostolic
Movement. This religious
We are so happy that even organization, under the Pope in
as he transitions to the role Rome, works mainly with married couples and youth, educating them
as Pastor at St. Jerome on the importance of a strong relationship to both Jesus and Mary
Parish in Oconomowoc, he through small group meetings and retreats.
will continue to serve on
the CMH Board. He passes We are very excited to welcome Fr. Mark and as he becomes acquainted
the torch as CMH Chaplain with the Catholic Memorial Community.
to a very dear friend in Fr.
Mark Niehaus.

“There are 4 priests in my Fr. Dan Janasik
life who were particularly
impactful and helpful in Fr. Dan continues his support of the CMH community with his calling to
my discernment to the the priesthood after graduating from Catholic Memorial in 1997. He has
priesthood—Fr. Mark is one of them. He was the chaplain of the served on the CMH Board of Directors for the past five years along with
Newman Center at UW-Milwaukee when I was a student there and leading St. Leonard Parish in Muskego as their pastor since 2012.
he was the first person to answer some of the deeper questions
that I had as I began seriously discerning the priesthood. I cannot “I had a great experience as a student of CMH,” said Fr. Dan. “I
overstate how much of an impact he has had on my life. CMH will developed my ‘holy habits’ as a student that gave me direction, strong
be well taken care of.” values and spiritual presence.”

Fr. Dan’s familiarity with the local community runs deep after attending
grade school at Holy Apostles in New Berlin, high school at CMH and
10 college at Marquette University, where he double majored in