St. Thomas More High School to Honor Father Tom Wittliff, the “Bishop of Bay View”
Father Tom graduated from St. Francis Minor Seminary, a predecessor school of St. Thomas More, in 1955 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1964.
Father Thomas F. Wittliff. Photo courtesy of St. Thomas More High School.
Milwaukee, WI (February 7, 2018): St. Thomas More High School will honor Father Thomas F. Wittliff, affectionately known as “The Bishop of Bay View,” on March 24, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. At this event, St. Thomas More will present Father Tom with the school’s Chancellor Award, which commemorates exceptional, continuous support of Catholic education in Milwaukee.
St. Thomas More welcomes members of the community who have been influenced by Father Tom to join us for this special celebration of his legacy as a pastor, mentor, and friend. Bringing back memories of Father Tom’s own days in high school and early adulthood, the event’s theme – “Cavalier Supper Club” – will transform St. Thomas More into a classic, 1950s-style Wisconsin supper club.
Father Tom graduated from St. Francis Minor Seminary, a predecessor school of St. Thomas More, in 1955 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1964. After serving at different parishes and schools across Wisconsin, including Cathedral High School and St. Margaret Mary, Father Tom spent 18 years as pastor at St. Augustine of Hippo in Bay View before retiring in 2006. During his time at St. Augustine, Father Tom earned the nickname “the Bishop of Bay View” for his ubiquitous presence in the south side community.
While serving at St. Augustine and continuing into his retirement, Father Tom visited regularly with St. Thomas More students. Even after students graduated high school, Father Tom remained an important figure for many alumni, presiding over countless weddings and baptisms for members of the St. Thomas More family.
“Father Tom has been the spiritual presence of St. Thomas More for so long and we have been blessed to have him as part of our community,” physical education teacher and 2006 alumnus James Litscher said. “Whether it’s through joking with them during lunch, giving speeches before athletic events or practices, or his extremely memorable homilies during Mass, Father Tom has a unique way of bringing the message of Christ to our students. He simply knows how to relate to the students, and the students appreciate and love that about him.”
All proceeds from Cavalier Supper Club, held at 2601 E. Morgan Avenue on Milwaukee’s southeast side, will benefit St. Thomas More High School, a nonprofit, Catholic college preparatory school. The fundraiser will feature live and silent auction items, supper club-themed mini-games, and after-dinner dancing. All attendees will receive a three-course dinner, and an open bar will be available throughout the night.
To purchase tickets, sponsor the event, and view items available for bidding, please visit tmore.org/2018auction.
About St. Thomas More High School
Located on Milwaukee’s historic and diverse south side, St. Thomas More High School provides young men and women with the foundation to lead humbly, to always seek truth and knowledge, and to answer God’s call to serve. St. Thomas More’s teaching staff includes four Kohl Teacher Fellows, two fellows at the University of Wisconsin Center for the Study of the American Constitution, a Project Lead the Way Master teacher, and the 2017 Wisconsin Art Teacher of the Year. For more information about St. Thomas More High School, please visit tmore.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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