The July 19 weekly bulletin from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Milwaukee included a letter of gratitude from longtime minister of faith Cathy Krol, who is retiring after a quarter century of service.

“It has been an enormous honor to have been entrusted to share in the faith lives of thousands of children, youth and adults over the last 25 years,” Krol wrote. 

Krol served an integral role in helping individuals and families celebrate first reconciliations, communions and confirmations, and walked with many families and parishioners over the years. She wrote that while it may be common to measure success by numbers, she prefers to measure success by the souls that are touched and how much those individuals following Christ have enriched the world.

While there were challenges along the way, Krol said that the Lord always provided in whatever ways were needed. 

“I have been blessed with so many co-workers in God’s vineyard that have made my time here so rewarding,” Krol wrote. “I hope I have thanked you along the way and, if not, please accept my gratitude as you are all ‘good and faithful servants of our Lord,’ from Matthew 25:21.”

Krol wrote that she had seen the person of Christ through the work, faith, love and steadfast devotion of so many parishioners and co-workers over her time at St. Charles Borromeo. 

“As with endings comes a feeling of sadness for the people and work that I will miss, but also joy for the time I will spend with Bob, my husband of 42 years, Andrew, Kaytlin, Natalie and Ajay, my two adorable and busy grandsons Carter & Benson, and of course tending to my gardens and friendships,” Krol wrote.

Krol wrote that God has blessed the parish with many faithful servants and she is filled with gratitude for her time at the parish and God’s faithfulness to furthering His kingdom in Milwaukee.