REEDSBURG — More than 50 years ago, a Capuchin priest gave his cousin, Nancy Lietz, a relic of St. Francis of Assisi.
Today, Lietz is 76 years old. For the majority of her long life, she’s held close to that relic.
Through the ups and downs of life, seeking the intercession of St. Francis has guided her in her relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.
In the last couple of years, Lietz became worried about what would happen to the relic if she passed away without first finding the relic a new home.
For more than a year, she has been praying that the Lord guide her in gifting the relic to another.
Search for a relic
More than a year ago, when plans commenced to expand the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Camp Gray, efforts to obtain a relic of the chapel’s patron began in earnest.
Fr. Luke Powers, camp chaplain and the parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo, reached out to Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison who was happy to pen a letter to Assisi in search of a relic.
The Franciscans that oversee St. Francis’ tomb could only offer the suggestion that the bishop reach out to Rome, and so he did but did not a receive response.
The hope was to obtain a relic prior to the dedication of the expanded and improved chapel at Camp Gray.
The day came and went this past fall, and sadly, no St. Francis of Assisi relic could be found. Despite that, it was a beautiful dedication.
Bishop Hying celebrated the Mass, and the chapel, doubled in size, was full.
This past fall, the Knights of Columbus at Lietz’s parish hosted a Sunday afternoon pig roast.
Bishop Hying was in attendance, celebrating Mass for the faithful of Edgerton.
Lietz has always liked to sing. She taught herself how to play the guitar, and though she has no formal training, she writes music, as well.
She cantors at the weekend Masses at St. Joseph Parish in Edgerton.
Lietz was nervous when she found out she’d be cantoring at a Mass celebrated by the bishop.
However, if anyone would have a suggestion of where her relic should end up, it would be the bishop.
After Mass, she found Bishop Hying and told him about the relic.
When she asked him if he had any suggestions on who she should gift the relic to, the bishop explained to Lietz that he had recently dedicated the expanded St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Camp Gray.
Perhaps her relic would be a perfect addition to Camp Gray.
That’s how it came to be that on a random Tuesday morning in late October, Camp Gray Senior Director Tim Chaptman received a call from a kind woman named Mary Lietz.
It’s not every day that the folks at Camp Gray receive unsolicited calls from people offering to donate the relics of immensely popular 800-year-old saints.
Lietz had never heard of Camp Gray. She asked if she could visit so she could meet the staff and see the newly dedicated St. Francis of Assisi Chapel.
A new home
A couple of weeks later, Lietz and her sister arrived at Camp Gray with St. Francis in tow. She said she felt at peace right away.
“All those smiling and joyful people seemed so excited and grateful. I just knew the relic should go to Camp Gray,” she recently shared.
For nearly an hour, Lietz spent time in the chapel with the Camp Gray crew.
She shared stories of her family, spoke about the relic, and told of her long and winding journey of faith that led her to that moment.
Additionally, she brought her guitar and played a beautiful song she’d written, because nothing accompanies such a wonderful moment better than angelic music.
Father Luke made sure he was around, as well. For more than a year he’d worked to obtain a relic of St. Francis.
All along, a kind woman in Edgerton was looking to give her St. Francis of Assisi relic to a worthy home.
Sometimes it can seem as though the answer to a prayer is “No.”
Perhaps more often the answer is, “Not yet.”
It would have been a beautiful blessing to have a relic of St. Francis of Assisi placed within the altar of Camp Gray during the dedication Mass.
Instead, a proper reliquary is being built to display this most generous and wonderful addition to Camp Gray.
Lietz summed it up well saying, “I truly believe it was an answer to both of our prayers.”