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Blessed Brother James Miller Day

Friday, February 13, 2026
Sacred Heart Church, 7379 Church St., Custer 54423

Schedule

11:00 AM – Mass celebrated by Bishop Gerard Battersby

12:30 PM – Lunch in the Parish Hall
1:30 PM – Expert panel: “Remembering Blessed Br. James, Model of Missionary Love”

  • Louise Shafranski, the sister of Blessed Brother James Miller.
  • Brother Larry Schatz, Vice Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Br. James Miller and former Provincial of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest District.
  • Tom Lindner, Pastor of Resurrection, St. Michael and St. Anne Parishes in Wausau, member of past and present leadership teams for Brother James Miller Day, and leader of pilgrimages to Guatemala where Br. Miller served as a missionary and was martyred.
  • Alan Guanella, Judicial Vicar for the Diocese, former Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Polonia, and member of the Speaker’s Guild on the life of Blessed Br. Miller.

2:30 PM – Closing Prayer Service at Blessed Br. James’ graveside in St. Martin Cemetery
(weather permitting).

Blessed Brother James Miller

A native of Stevens Point and a De La Salle Christian Brother and missionary, Brother James was gunned down while repairing a wall at the school where he worked in Huehuetenango, Guatemala on Feb. 13, 1982. He was declared a martyr and beatified by Pope Francis on Dec. 7, 2019. He stands as an example of fidelity to the Gospel and humble and fearless service on behalf of the poor and the vulnerable.

Learn more about Blessed Brother James Miller:

Brother James Miller, America’s Newest Blessed – by Fr. Roger Landry

Pope Francis, in his 2018 exhortation on holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate, wrote about the “saints next door,” and in many ways Blessed James is an all-American holy neighbor. He was born in 1944 and grew up working hard on his family’s dairy and chicken farm in Custer, Wisconsin, praying at home, and wanting to be priest. He was fascinated by other countries, reading an encyclopedia from cover to cover to get to know foreign countries and regions where he hoped to bring the faith.

Read more of Fr. Landry’s blog in the National Catholic Register….

Read Bishop Callahan’s blog on the life, death and beatification of Blessed James Miller.

See Fr. Alan Guanella’s reflection on the significance of Blessed James Miller for the people of central Wisconsin, where he grew up and where he is buried.