At age 70, I felt it was time to retire. I moved to Madison for a few years where I helped out at different parishes.
Also, I got to know members of the offices of the Diocese of Madison at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center. I occasionally celebrated Mass there which I enjoyed more than I can express.
After a few years, I moved to Sinsinawa Mound and lived at the Academy Apartments to be closer to family. There I occasionally celebrated Mass for Academy residents and parishes in the area.
Then, I moved and lived five months at All Saints in Madison. From there I moved to an apartment in Platteville, and I had a knee replacement.
I was supported and helped by Darlington’s Holy Rosary Men’s Group, especially by a doctor friend; by the manager of numerous restaurants; by John Berg, a Platteville University librarian friend; by my first cousin; by another friend; and others.
They helped me to down size and move out of my apartment into assisted living at Sienna Crest. They and others visit me and help me with the internet, apartment care, and other needs. They are true friends.
Helping 70 parishes
After considerable reflection, I was surprised to discover that I helped out at around 70 parishes before but mostly after my retirement. Since I spent 20 years in high school work and was not in a parish, I was able to help out on weekends but tried to limit help outs to the Janesville-Beloit area.
When I moved back to southwest Wisconsin from All Saints, I helped out at parishes. A few years later, I developed arthritis in my legs. This ended 42 years of coaching baseball. I wrote articles for the Catholic Herald and other newspapers. Tim McKearn, a former student, helped me write a book called Seeing with Jesus Eyes.
Thanks to pastor Fr. Dave Flanagan, I offered my 50th anniversary Mass at St.
Patrick’s, Benton, my first pastorate. Though it was sixteen months late because of the Covid, I thank St. Patrick’s parishioners and their pastor for their generosity. (Better late than never.)
A new home
Presently I am living at Sienna Crest, my second stint of assisted living. Like me, the residents are elderly, and a few are in hospice. We receive excellent care from the staff who often put our needs ahead of theirs! I celebrate Mass once a week, play noodle ball and occasionally participate in one of the many activities offered.
I hope and pray the Covid and the flu become more manageable and lockdowns end so we can have more visitors, helpers, and, if permitted, maybe even an outside participant in our weekly Mass.
These are just a few of many aspects of my retirement years. Many priests have different needs and aspects of their retirement which may differ from mine.
Some priests die before they can enjoy retirements’ blessings! I hope and pray that God welcomes them into Heaven and they pray for us on earth to join them eternally!
Please continue to pray for and help us retired priests! Let us keep praying for vocations to priesthood, and also pray that active priests respond to graces God offers them in these challenging times.
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.