Dear
Faithful of Holy Cross Parish Family,
It
is with great sadness and a heavy heart that on behalf of Abbot Gary Neville,
O. Praem., and in the name of the Norbertine Community of Saint Norbert Abbey,
I announce the sudden and unexpected death of your Pastor and our Confrere,
Father Thomas Hagendorf, O. Praem. When
Father Tom did not show up at 3:30 to prepare for the 4:00 PM Saturday night
Mass, parishioner Mike Reignier discovered that Father Tom had passed away
while hard at work at his desk in the rectory.
Father
Tom and I had lunch this past Wednesday at his favorite get-away, The Mustard
Seed Restaurant, and he informed me that he was extraordinarily happy as a
Norbertine priest and that he loved serving as the pastor of Holy Cross. He envisioned himself ministering at the
parish for as long as he was physically able.
He stated, “I want to be one of
those guys who dies with his boots on!”
Father Tom’s wish was granted: the Spirit of Pentecost, the fulfillment of
Christ’s Easter promise to those who believe, came early for Father Tom! I trust he now rests in God’s loving embrace.
Masses
on Sunday and into the future will be celebrated as scheduled as several
Norbertines have come forward to assist the parish at this time of need. Funeral arrangements are pending through the
joint cooperation of the Norbertine Order, the Green Bay Diocese and Ryan
Funeral Home of DePere. As you keep Father Tom in your thoughts and prayers,
please know that the Norbertine Community of Saint Norbert Abbey will be
keeping you, the Faithful of Holy Cross, in our thoughts, prayers and Mass
Intentions.
Yours
in Saint Norbert,
Very
Reverend James Baraniak, O. Praem.,
Prior—Saint
Norbert Abbey







