Farewell, Father

It was a bittersweet weekend for Father Mulligan. He performed his final masses at the Catholic Churches of All Saints, New Richland, on Saturday, June 24, and at St. Joseph, Waldorf, and St. Ann, Janesville, on Sunday, June 25.

Starting July 1, Mulligan will be serving the Newman Center at Minnesota State University-Mankato to coach aspiring priests and deacons in their journey through the priesthood. This change was arranged by Bishop Robert Barron, who says it is his mission to double the number of priests in the Winona-Rochester diocese over the next five years.

After the 10 a.m. mass at St. Ann, there was a farewell reception at the St. Ann Parish Center in Janesville. Refreshments were served alongside a large cake which read, “Thank you and future blessings, Fr. Brian!”

Around 80 people, nearly all St. Ann congregants, gave their thanks, farewell, and good wishes to Fr. Mulligan. In addition to sending him off, St. Ann trustee Brady Adams presented him with a surprise.

“When I heard Father was leaving, I was trying to come up with a gift idea,” Adams said. “But I couldn’t figure out what to do. I talked to a few parishioners.”

When Fr. Sylvester Brown left the church a couple decades ago after being part of the church for nearly 20 years, he was given a car. “How do we top that?” Adams said. “I thought, ‘Well, Fr. Brian’s been with us for three years. Maybe we can start him off with a one-wheel.’”

Fr. Mulligan was quite surprised to receive a brand new one-wheel, an electric balancing board with one large central wheel which moves the rider forward or backward.

Since being part of the parish, Mulligan was often seen propelling on a one-wheel in parades and festivals like Hay Daze and St. Ann Fall Festival. Fr. Mulligan spent the next ten minutes downloading the app to his phone to make it work properly. He then took it for a test drive in between tables in the parish center.

Fr. Mulligan shared some final words during his last mass in Janesville. “Thank you all for making these past few years of my first pastorate great,” he said. “It’s been great getting to know all of the families here. This I will certainly miss.”

In his bulletin, he said that “change is the only constant in life” and that Jesus Christ is the “only stable relationship for us.” He then referenced Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”

“I am excited to see what this next adventure will be for me,” Mulligan said.

The final mass of Janesville marked an end to the Communion of Saints parish of Janesville, Waldorf, and New Richland. Janesville will now officially join St. Clair and Madison Lake’s parish cluster, with Fr. Robert Schneider leading the Janesville mass for the first time at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 2.

St. Joseph, Waldorf, will switch from Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. to Saturdays at 5 p.m. starting July 1.  Fr. Swaminatha “Swamy” Pothireddy will serve the community as part of the new quad parish of Waldorf-Mapleton-Good Thunder-Vernon Center.

New Richland will switch from Saturday evening masses to Sunday at 8 a.m. starting July 2. Fr. Glenn Frerichs will serve the community along with taking on duties at Sacred Heart in Waseca with Father Thé’s departure.