Fr. Patrick Heppe expected his life to slow down six months ago. The Holy Spirit had other plans.
Until last September, Fr. Heppe was pastor of the Catholic Community of Waukesha, Wisconsin, consisting of St. Joseph, St. Mary, St. John Neumann, and St. William parishes. Fr. Matthew Widder was the parochial vicar. Beginning Sept. 1, the two priests traded roles.
Serving the Waukesha Catholic Community was initially a surprise for Fr. Heppe, who at age 7o thought his previous assignment as pastor of Holy Angels in West Bend would be his final assignment before retirement, according to the Catholic Herald, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
“Little did I know the Holy Spirit had a different plan for me, and I would be needed elsewhere,” he said. “When the archbishop asked if I would come here to Waukesha, he knew this move would be a perfect fit, and he was right — or should I say, the Holy Spirit was right.”
Perhaps the Holy Spirit was simply anticipating the need Waukesha would have for a mature priest to help its Catholic Community deal with one of the deadliest tragedies in recent American history.
On November 21, 2021, the driver of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) killed six people and injured sixty-two others by hitting participants and observers at the annual Christmas parade in Waukesha. The alleged driver of the vehicle, thirty-nine-year-old Darrell E. Brooks, was arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
Such an event would be a shock to any community. For the quiet community located along the shores of the Fox River, 15 miles west of Milwaukee, it was devastating and seemingly senseless. Things like this simply don’t happen in a place like Waukesha.
As the seventh-largest city in the state with close to 72,000 people, Waukesha is the manufacturing hub of Waukesha County and home to many of the area’s largest employers. The city’s website claims the city strives to provide a diversified work environment, balanced housing stock, and strong business opportunities. The City has a thriving historic downtown boasting concerts, a farmer’s market, a scenic Riverwalk, and festivals. The location on the river, historic buildings, and strong artist culture all contribute to the unique character of the city. Waukesha also includes great neighborhoods, excellent schools, and an award-winning park system with recreation programs for the whole family.
And there is the annual Christmas Parade.
Fr. Patrick Heppe got to experience the tragedy up close and personal. He was not only at the parade – along with many of his parishioners – but was among the dozens of people injured and hospitalized. In fact, he had promoted the Christmas Parade as a way for members of the church to build community spirit and about 50 turned out to march in the event representing the Catholic community.
When the attack occurred, Fr. Pat says he neither heard nor saw anything and assumes he was knocked unconscious. He found himself lying on the ground.
“There were people all around, lying on the ground,” he recalled. “There were people helping people.
“We were looking for something to bring the community together but nobody ever expected anything like this.”
A police officer took him to the hospital where he found himself in a waiting room with many of his parishioners: “It was overwhelming.”
Fr. Pat had a concussion but was able to leave the hospital the following day. While, in the hospital, his three fellow priests from the community prayed with him and offered him the anointing of the sick. He still gets choked up talking about that experience.
Others, including some parishioners, had more serious injuries and continue to recover. For many, recovery is not only physical but mental or spiritual.
During his stay in the hospital, one of the nursing staff asked Fr. Pat if he was angry about what had happened. He admitted that he isn’t a person who really gets angry but he was disappointed and frustrated by what happened. And he speculated that the person responsible had mental health issues.
He stressed the importance as time went on for his parishioners to talk about what had happened, to share their feelings, and process the experience.
Going to the Christmas Parade had the aim of bringing people together. Despite the horrible loss of life and many injuries, the unexpected horror of that night did bring people together in faith, prayer, and willingness to help one another.
“Many times, the question that we ask in these moments is: Why?” Waukesha Pastor Fr. Matthew Widder said from the pulpit the Sunday after the parade. But really, what many are asking, Widder said, is how they can move forward after a terrible tragedy.
The first step is to mourn. The second, he said, is to show up for others.
“That’s what being in this community means,” he said. “We’re not meant to do this on our own.”
Pope Francis on November 23, 2021, said he was close to the victims of the Waukesha incident.
The Pope’s thoughts came in a telegram sent by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee, which is the diocese in which Waukesha is located.
Statement from Archbishop Listecki on Waukesha Parade Incident
