St. Francis de Sales Church – “Your Spiritual Home”

I am glad to be assigned to St. Francis de Sales in Lake Geneva. I have been a part of the Lake Geneva Community for almost twenty-one years as a part-time resident. I grew up in Chicago and attended St. Ignatius College Prep, where under the guidance of the Jesuits, came to love Chemistry and Religion, an interesting mix.  I attended the University of Illinois, University of Chicago, St. Meinrad Seminary and the University of Notre Dame, with degrees from Chemistry to Scripture.  I have served in seventeen parishes, ten high schools and two colleges. This has led to serving in Seven Archdiocese and Diocese. In five of the assignments, I was involved in the largest parishes of the Arch/diocese, one being over 7,000 families.

I have been teaching in grade school, high school and college, along with coaching high school varsity and junior varsity basketball and football for forty-three years. Many times, I was not in the role of pastor so I could teach and coach. Just this past year I coached varsity football at Marquette U High. However, in this case I was the Pastor of Holy Family and St. Robert, each being a little over a thousand families. What a joy!

My deep love of education influences the way I serve in my many parishes. After teaching in college for the past few years in Chicago, as well as leading parish groups studying the Church Fathers, Scriptures, Church History and Liturgy, I felt it was time to settle down. In many places I was assigned numerous times to fix situations or guide the community in the direction they wanted to go. Respectfully I am now coming to a parish that I call home and especially with significant family in the area. I am here to serve the people of St. Francis de Sales. As St. Paul states in his letter to the Romans, I am one who is still struggling to become what God calls me to be. Therefore, with all this background, I want to conclude my introduction with my role of ministry in the parish with a story from my graduate studies. 

It was the second day of class at Notre Dame and I was proud that I was one of fifteen accepted in the scripture program. Sitting in class Prof. Blenkinsopp asked us a question on Amos one of the minor Prophets. One of the sisters who was the provincial of her order in Austria answered the question quite powerfully. Prof. Blenkinsopp looked at Sister and asked her what she did before joining this class. Her response revealed she was directing over 5,000 people in her order. I was impressed to be in her presence. Then our professor said something I will never forget, “Sister I don’t know how you lead, but we are not in this class to share ignorance.” There were more words he shared, but in that moment Professor Blenkinsopp taught me that no matter how much I know, there is so much more I don’t. Consequently, coming to St. Francis I hope to learn much about life from all of you as we serve our Lord Jesus by serving one another.

Blessings and prayers to all. Fr. Ray Guthrie