Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Thelen
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/20/2020
Going The Distance For His Parishioners (Fr. Thelen – 2020)
Greeting from Father Dan Thelen, pastor of Immaculate Conception, St. Joseph – Fairview and St. John Cantius Catholic Churches in Jackson and Clark Counties, from Sechlerville Road off CTH FF. (Contributed photo)
By Lori Johnson
The coronavirus pandemic and measures to protect everyone from it has changed the way we do things. Restaurants are limited to take-out and delivery; gatherings are limited to less than 10 people; businesses are either closed or by appointment. Folks are urged to practice social distancing and just plain “stay home.”
For the faithful around the area, nothing hit harder than the cancellations of church services. Now that Sunday worship is absent, the impact of this loss has never been more deeply felt, even if it is only temporary and being done for the health and safety of the people. Yes, there were ways to keep the faith. Modern technology enabled church leaders to celebrate Mass even if without a full church and televise it via social media, so that was a huge comfort to churchgoers. Other church activities could be managed with voice chats, conference calls and other ways of communicating.
To Father Dan Thelen, pastor of Immaculate Conception, St. Joseph – Fairview and St. John Cantius Catholic Churches in Jackson and Clark counties, the isolation of his parishioners was a real concern, and he wanted to do more for them while still keeping to the guidelines of safety. Then he came up with a plan. It involved something not done by too many people – bicycling around the perimeters of his parishes, a good 90 to 100 miles. His parishioners live in Alma Center, Hixton, Merrillan, Fairchild, Hatfield, Osseo and Humbird, and this would be a way to bless and make them feel like they were not alone.
“We’ve been through a lot of upheaval these past few weeks,” shared Pastor Dan. “As a pastor, I worried how I would keep our parishioners connected. I also wanted to do what I could to ask for our Lord’s blessing upon our communities. Then, about a week ago, the idea emerged to bless the perimeter of our parish cluster. The archbishop in Milwaukee did a similar thing some weeks prior by driving the perimeter of his archdiocese and blessing as he went. I love to bicycle and thought I could do something similar. Though I love bicycling, it also is a lot of work. I wanted to offer this ’suffering’ for our parish and united it with prayer by extending blessings wherever I went.”
Father Dan started his journey at a parishioner’s home south of Merrillan. From there, he went west, cutting across back roads until reaching Green Acres Road and Sechlerville. “From there I headed north to CTH FF. Then I continued on CTH FF through Northfield, taking CTH G north to Augusta. From Augusta I headed to the WAXX/WEAU tower, then down to Fairchild. From Fairchild, I headed east to The Highground Veterans Memorial. Then the back roads along the Black River led me to Hatfield where I was blessed with a delicious meal waiting for me on a parishioner’s porch. Here I caught up with the latest news while keeping a safe 15-foot distance before leaving for the final miles back to the parishioner’s home south of Merrillan where I started from.”
During his 100-mile trek, Father Dan stopped and blessed most intersections he passed on his trip. “With a holy water bottle, I simply sprinkled holy water on the ground and made a sign of the cross over the spot. I also combined this with the prayer of the precious Blood Litany at major ‘corners’ of our parish cluster – at the parishioner’s home south of Merrillan, at Charcoal Road and CTH A by Black River Falls (here I also blessed I-94), at Green Acres and Sechlerville Road, at Northfield, on CTH G south of USH 10 by Osseo, at the old St. Anthony Catholic Church (now a home) in Augusta, at the WAXX/WEAU tower north of Fairchild, in Fairchild, The Highground (here I said a prayer of thanks for our military men and women, STH 95 and Sherwood Road northeast of Hatfield and Highways 12/27 and Kenny Road south of Hatfield. Although parishes no longer have defined borders, all of these spots roughly mark the southern, western, northern and eastern edges of my parish.”
Father Dan spent the hours on his bike, offering prayers for protection and blessings, asking his Lord to protect his parishioners and communities and also asking for the gift of faith for everyone that is needed so badly right now. He also offered thanks for the teams of doctors, medical staff and all those who are heroes during this difficult time.
There might have been little social interaction during this day-long trip, but at the end, his parishioners knew that they had been given a special gift and were more than grateful for Father Dan’s efforts, according to the appreciative comments received.
“It was a very welcome blessing. Thanks much.”
“You are amazing! Thank you for all that you do for our parishes. We are so lucky to have you! Hope you feel OK tomorrow!”
“You are a blessing Father. What a wonderful gift!”
“Wow … amazing … we are so blessed … you are an inspiration to us all.”
“Thank you Father Dan! Your endurance of suffering and commitment to the parish and humankind is a light in the darkness.”
“What a wonderful blessing! Ride on Fr. Dan – we are here with you in prayer.”
The world needs inspiration, hope and positive thinking right now, and after Father Dean’s bicycle “circle of blessings” trip, there were many who were heartened by his actions, feeling that even during this time of isolation, they were not alone.
“I was happy to be able to do this,” shared Father Dan. “It was a great way to feel connected with people while keeping to the health guidelines. We might feel isolated and distant, but at the same time, moments like this bring us closer together in spirit. God be praised. He gave me energy to do this and it was a beautiful day for a bike ride.”
For a look at his comments during the trip,
check out Father Dan at
(video #1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwhzN-trvd8k
and (video #2) https://www.youtube.com/watch/v+DIG31ttkW4A
