Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II

31/07/2026

21/06/2026

Across generations and across continents, the influence of a faithful priest is often measured not in what is built, but in the lives quietly shaped through years of accompaniment. This Father's Day, we remember Servant of God, Father Joseph Walijewski, Father Sebastian Kolodziejczyk, and Monsignor Joseph Hirsch – three priests whose spiritual fatherhood has touched communities across Bolivia, Wisconsin, Peru, and beyond.

Father Joe's path as a missionary priest was marked by one constant – wherever he went, he lived among the people he served, in daily life, in struggle, and in hope.

Families turned to him when they had nowhere else to go. People found in him an example of what a life given to God and others could look like. The communities he served came to understand that human dignity was not simply preached – it was experienced in the way Father Joe treated them each day.

At Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, his presence shaped the home itself. He was not an administrator who visited, but a father who stayed. The children who grew up there knew they were seen and loved by a man who had given his life to them.

That example did not end with Father Joe. It was handed on.

Before his priesthood, Father Sebastian came to Casa Hogar as a missionary volunteer and maestro, serving alongside Father Joe in the daily life of the mission before entering seminary. What he witnessed there shaped everything that followed. A priesthood lived close to the poor and fully present to each person became the model he carried into his own vocation.

In 2000, Father Sebastian returned to Peru as a priest and became director of Casa Hogar. For more than thirteen years, he continued the mission with the same faithfulness he had witnessed firsthand, deepening relationships within the community and building upon the foundation already laid.

Today, Monsignor Hirsch continues that mission as director of Casa Hogar. His ministry extends beyond its walls into surrounding communities affected by natural disaster and extreme poverty. Through relief efforts and accompaniment, he has helped ensure the mission responds not only to the children at Casa Hogar, but to families outside it who have nowhere else to turn.

In doing so, he fosters what might be called a mission within the mission. The children of Casa Hogar do not simply witness service – they participate in it. By serving others in need, they begin to understand that their own lives are a call to mission.

These three priests reveal the same mission carried forward across different times and places. Father Joe laid the foundation. Father Sebastian used what he had learned from Father Joe and built a team through his leadership. Monsignor Hirsch continues it today, connecting Casa Hogar to the wider needs of surrounding communities with the same spirit from which it began.

We give particular thanks for these three men, who embraced their spiritual fatherhood in the truest sense – giving themselves to the people God placed in their care.. Their example reminds us that fatherhood is not defined only by biological family, but by the willingness to give oneself to others. We are grateful for all who embrace that calling, and especially for all our priests who carry it forward each day through their ministry and service.

16/04/2026

Many people have asked where Msgr. Joseph Hirsch will be for the remainder of his time in Wisconsin.

His parish schedule is:

April 25 & 26 -
Sacred Heart, Nekoosa
St. Alexander, Port Edward's

May 2 & 3 -
Holy Family, Prairie du Chien

To get Mass times, go to www.diolc.org/parishes and search for the parish.

Msgr. Hirsch hopes to see you there!

30/03/2026

❤️ Help Bring Joy to the Children at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II!

Every child deserves to feel celebrated, cared for, and remembered - and YOU can help make that happen.

We are gathering donations of everyday essentials for the kids at Casa Hogar, including school supplies, clothing, medical supplies, and other items that support them throughout the year. Every contribution - large or small - makes a meaningful difference.

📋 How to Help:
Casa Hogar has created a list of needed items that can be downloaded and shared at www.frjoesguild.org. When shopping, check the sales and clearance sections first - since we are in opposite seasons, clothing is frequently available at reduced prices!

Prefer a simpler option? Shop the 2026 Casa Hogar - Helping the Kids registry on Amazon. Items ship directly to us, and the registry also serves as a handy reference when shopping locally.

🎁 Don't Forget the Birthday Closet!
The Birthday Closet ensures that every child at Casa Hogar receives a gift on their birthday AND at Christmas - so that each child is celebrated, remembered, and given a moment of joy on their special day.

✈️ How do donations get there?
All items are transported directly to Casa Hogar by mission teams and volunteers. We are blessed to have groups traveling in May, June, July, and August who will carry donations with them. Each visitor is asked to bring a checked bag filled with donated items - and thanks be to God, nearly all teams are willing and able to do so!

🚗 Drop-Off & Pick-Up:
If you've purchased items or collected donations locally, drop-off or pick-up can be arranged by calling 608-791-2677. Amazon purchases ship directly to us.

Thank you for considering a way to support these children. Your generosity provides not just items - but dignity, celebration, and hope. 🙏

22/03/2026

Seventeen-year-old Mariana arrived at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II in September 2025 from Huachipa, where she had been living with her aunt. From the beginning the it wasn’t like she had imagined. She feared there would be mistreatment and it would be a place she might be stuck in whether she liked it or not.

What she found instead was Father José. Kind teachers. Thursday dinners. Saturday movie nights. Family outings. Choir practice. And a guitar waiting to be learned. 🎸"I like learning to play guitar, making bracelets, and being part of Casa," she says now.

Teachers describe her as diligent, cooperative, and genuinely appreciative - someone who sees what Casa offers and chooses, every day, to lean into it. She's thoughtful and reflective, the kind of teenager who takes the opportunities in front of her seriously.

At 17, Mariana is in one of the most important seasons of her life - and she's spending it in a place that is helping her grow, belong, and discover who she is becoming.

🙏Consider Sponsoring Mariana

🎶 Mariana came in expecting the worst and found something worth staying for. Your sponsorship helps keep that something going. Visit frjoesguild.org or call 608-791-2677.

21/03/2026

She left. She missed it. She asked to come back. That says everything you need to know about Luna - and about Casa Hogar. 💛

Ten-year-old Luna first arrived at Casa in 2022, left in 2025 to live with her mother, and then – in her own words – she missed Casa and all the good things it offers. So she came back in January 2026, to the open arms of the Casa family her and sisters, Kim and Anjhely – needless to say, she was missed!

Luna loves the wide-open space at Casa, making it possible for a of 🌙 tag and 🏐 volleyball almost every night. She also likes time in the family with a board game or a good game of 🃏 Uno. She delights in 💃dancing, drawing, running, listening to K-Pop, and eating ceviche.

Her teachers describe her as fun, cheerful, and full of laughter - someone who brings joy into the room and and brightens the days of those around her. She sees Casa as a place where she can learn, grow in her faith, and continue building relationships with her sisters and friends.

She had a choice. She chose to come back. 🌟 And we’re all very glad she did.

🙏Consider Sponsoring Luna

💛 Luna knows Casa is worth coming back to. Help make sure it's always here waiting - for her and for every child who needs it. Learn more at frjoesguild.org or call 608-791-2677.

20/03/2026

Ten-year-old Ana María had been living first with her mother, then with her aunt in Lima, until her aunt could no longer care for her and brought her to Casa - where her cousins José Carlos and Estrella were already living. Family, already waiting. 💛

Teachers remember her expressive face when she arrived – especially the fear and uncertainty she carried – and how observant she was, quietly taking everything in. Her short hair stood out at first, something uncommon among the girls, reflecting her uniqueness. There were many changes in those first few days, but day by day, Ana Maria grew in comfort and confidence.

Adjusting also meant learning structure. At first, she noticed how many rules there were. Over time, those rules began to feel less like restrictions and more like part of belonging. Today she says she is grateful to be here because she feels like family and knows she can study and receive help with her homework.

🏀 Now she's all about basketball, Uno, and arts and crafts. 📚 Her favorite subject is Communication - fitting, for a girl who chooses her words with such care. 😊 And she will gladly tell you, with complete confidence: "I am kind."

She is discreet and thoughtful, careful with her words, especially when speaking about her family. In a place rooted in faith and encouragement, Ana Maria is slowly growing in confidence. What once felt unfamiliar is becoming home.

🙏Consider Sponsoring Ana Maria
🙌 Ana María didn't expect Casa to feel like family - and it surprised her in the best way. Help make sure that surprise keeps growing. Visit frjoesguild.org or call 608-791-2677.