A Forum for Parochial and Diocesan Leaders in the American Midwest
Conference Schedule
8:15 – 9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast (Main Dining Hall)
9:00 – 9:15 AM Opening Remarks (Main Lobby)
9:15 – 9:45 AM Presentation One: “Lessons in Unity from an Inter-Rite Parish” by Dcn. Anton Nickolai (Main Lobby)
9:45 – 10:00 AM Break
10:00 – 11:00 AM Panel Session One: “Building Community Among Communities” by Very Rev. Robert Cook, OFM Conv., Ms. Mayhoua Moua, Very Rev. Alejandro Rodriguez Gomez, SX, Mr. Pearce Pomerleau (Main Lobby)
11:00 – 11:15 AM Break
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Holy Mass: Presider, Most Rev. James T. Schuerman (Sacred Heart Chapel)
12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch (Main Dining Room)
12:30 PM Optional Tour of SHSST (Front Desk)
1:00 – 2:00 PM Panel Session Two: “Transitioning Parish Leadership With International Priests” by Mr. Tom Fredrickson, Rev. Mr. Steve Kramer, DMin, Ms. Monica Misey, Dr. Susan Switalski (Main Lobby)
2:00 – 2:15 PM Break
2:15 – 2:45 PM Presentation Two: “Connecting International Priests with American Congregations” by Dr. Carol A. Walters (Conference Room 201)
3:00 – 3:45 PM Presentation Three: “Synthesis: The Universal Church” by Most Rev. Donald J. Hying (Main Lobby)
3:45 – 4:00 PM Break
4:00 – 4:15 PM Final Discussion (Main Lobby)
4:15 PM Adjournment
Biographies
In order of conference appearance
Very Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ
Father Steve Huffstetter, SCJ serves as the President-Rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology. He majored in sociology at Loyola University of Chicago and earned both his M.Div. and D.Min. from Catholic Theological Union, with a specialization in Cross-Cultural Ministry. Fr. Huffstetter has held leadership roles within the Priests of the Sacred Heart, serving as the U.S. provincial superior and later as Vicar General at the international level. His nine years in Rome enriched his understanding and vision of the global Church. He also brings over 20 years of pastoral experience working with Tribal and rural communities in South Dakota.
Rev. Mr. Anton Nickolai
Deacon Anton Nickolai holds a B.A. from Marquette University, a J.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an M.A. from the Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology. He began his career as a lawyer, but after being ordained as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2018, he decided to leave the practice of law behind to dedicate his professional life to serving the Church. He continued to serve as Parish Director, or non-priest parish administrator, for six different parishes in the Archdiocese. He currently serves as the Vice President for Finance & Administration at the Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology.
Very Rev. Robert Cook, OFM Conv.
Father Bob Cook, OFM Conv. is a Conventual Franciscan Friar and Rector of the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Before coming to Milwaukee, he was the pastor of Mary Mother of God Parish on the Northside of Chicago, which contained three churches with Masses in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese/Lao. Additionally, this parish was the home to Chicago’s Eritrean Ge’ez Rite community and the Burmese Catholics of Chicago. A graduate of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, he also served as its Vice President for Formation and as a member of its Board of Directors.
Ms. Mayhoua Moua
Mayhoua Moua is a member of St. Michael’s Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is a leader in the regional Hmong community. She spent nine years as the Executive Director of the Milwaukee Consortium of Hmong Health and has also served on the City of Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission. As a child, she fled Laos with her family and arrived in the United States as a refugee. She later moved to Milwaukee and has been serving Southeast Asian Catholic communities here for more than 30 years.
Very Rev. Alejandro Rodriguez Gomez, SX
Father Alex Rodriguez is a Xaverian Missionary with nearly two decades of leadership, formation, education, and pastoral service in the United States, Mexico, and the Philippines. He currently serves as Superior Delegate for the Xaverian Missionaries in the United States. He is also Co-Spiritual Director for Students of Christ and is the Diocesan Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Milwaukee. He holds an M.A. in Theology with a concentration in Spirituality from Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, an M.Div. in Cross-Cultural Studies from Catholic Theological Union, and he is currently working pursuing an M.B.A. in Finance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His professional formation includes specialized training in psycho-spiritual formation, formative leadership, community building, vocation ministry, and intercultural ministry.
Mr. Pearce Pomerleau
Pearce Pomerleau currently serves as the International Programs Coordinator at the Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, where he works to advance intercultural education and foster great understanding and support for international priests and seminarians in the United States.
Most Rev. James T. Schuerman
Bishop Schuerman was ordained to the priesthood on May 17, 1986 and was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Pope Francis on January 25, 2017. He holds a B.A. from the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary College, a Master of Theology from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and doctorate in ministry with specialization in spirituality from the Chicago Theological Union. Bishop Schuerman speaks German and is highly fluent in Spanish, which has aided his ministry in the southwestern area of the archdiocese where there is a growing population of Hispanic Catholics. In 2012, he received the archdiocesan Vatican II Award for Service to the Priesthood. He is currently serving as interim Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Mr. Tom Fredrickson
Tom Fredrickson serves as the Director of Missionary Leadership for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Previously, he served the Archdiocese as the Director of Human Resources for Parishes and Schools. His ministry with the Church comes after a distinguished 36-year career with the United States Air Force, from which he retired in 2022 as the Command Chief of the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee.
Rev. Mr. Steve Kramer, DMin
Deacon Steve Kramer was ordained in 1994 for the diocese of Rockville Centre, New York and is now incardinated in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He holds an M.A. in Theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary and a D.Min. in Preaching and Communication from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Since 2014 he has been the Director of Homiletics, Director of Recruitment, and Professor of Pastoral Studies at SHSST. In addition, Deacon Kramer teaches homiletics to the candidates for the Permanent Diaconate Formation program of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Ms. Monica Misey
Monica Misey holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, an M.A. from the Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology and is currently pursuing a D.Min. at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Her dissertation focuses on leadership rooted in love. She now serves as the Director of Dehonian Associates for the United States Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
Dr. Susan Switalski
Dr. Sue Switalski holds a Master of Pastoral Studies (M.A.P.S.) from Catholic Theological Union and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Organizational Change from Tiffin University. Her doctoral research focused on leadership transitions in Catholic parishes, examining the experiences of parishioners during pastoral leadership changes and identifying positive strategies that foster trust, continuity, engagement, and mission-centered renewal through change.
Dr. Carol A. Walters
Dr. Carol Walters has served the Archdiocese of Chicago for nearly two decades, initially as Director for Lay Ecclesial Ministry and now as Director of Extern & International Priests. She holds a J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago, an M.A.P.S. from the Chicago Theological Union, and a D.Min. from the University of St. Mary of the Lake.
Most Rev. Donald J. Hying
Bishop Hying holds a B.A. from Marquette University and a Master of Divinity from St. Francis de Sales Seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on May 20, 1989. He held several pastoral roles and served as Rector of St. Francis de Sales Seminary. He was named as Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2014, he was appointed to be Bishop of Gary by Pope Francis. In 2019, he was appointed as Bishop of Madison. Bishop Hying is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Catholic Relief Services and Relevant Radio and is the Chair of the Board for the Institute on Religious Life as well as the St. Paul Evangelization Society.
