Rev. Msgr. Philip Joseph Heslin

Reverend Monsignor Philip Joseph Heslin, age 87, died peacefully on December 13, 2019 at New Perspective Senior Living in Superior Wisconsin. Msgr. Heslin was born on January 9, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Charles and Cecilia (Treinen) Heslin.

He attended Ascension Catholic Grade School in Oak Park, Chicago, graduating high school at the Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary for one year before transferring to the Pontifical College Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio where, in 1957, he was ordained a Catholic priest by the papal nuncio, Amleto Giovanni Cicognani.

He arrived in the Diocese of Superior in 1957 and has faithfully ministered to the diocese under five Bishops. He taught religion at Cathedral High School, and was Director of Vocations for his Deanery (1957-59). He assisted at several parishes, including Cathedral Christ the King, St. Louis Parish of Superior, St. Patrick in Minocqua, he was Chaplain of Nazareth on the Lake Motherhouse, Supervising Pastor of St. William Parish in Foxboro, Temporary Parochial Administrator of Holy Assumption Parish, Superior, and Supervising Pastor of St. Anthony Superior and Lake Nebagamon.

In 1960 Bishop Hammes requested Fr. Heslin continue his education at Loyola University of Chicago to earn a master’s degree in social work and in 1962 go on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Minnesota.

He served the diocese as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities Bureau for 27 years, where he played an integral role in the growth and expansion of services and programs supporting men, women and children in over 16 counties of Northwest Wisconsin.

In addition to his priestly ministry, he taught scientific methods of research at the University of Minnesota Duluth for twelve years before leaving to serve as the Moderator of the Curia under Bishop Raphael Fliss. He was invested as a Monsignor in the Diocese of Superior on June 27, 2010 and retired as a consultant in 2010 under Bishop Peter Christensen. His last assignment before permanently retiring in 2015, was as Chaplain at Essentia Health, St. Mary’s Hospital, Duluth, Minnesota.

He was very active in the Church and community assisting many organizations including: Wisconsin Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program Development Committee, Superior Social Development Commission, he was a Pro-Synodal Judge of Tribunal, Assistant Chancellor, Diocesan Director for the Campaign for Human Development, Chairman of the Planning and Research Committee of Diocesan Pastoral Council, Board of Douglas County Guidance Center, Chairman of Coordinating Committee for the War on Poverty, and a member of the State Mental Health Advisory Committee for the Ashland District, and Catholic United Financial (CUF).

He was preceded in death by his parents; several aunts and uncles, special aunt, Loretta Heslin, special cousin Ronald Bell and several brother priests from his beloved class of 1957 of the Pontifical College Josephinum.

He is survived by cousins, Lawrence Doody, St. Petersburg, Florida, Thomas Heslin, Chelan, Washington, Mary Lou Griffin, Brushton, New York, longtime colleague and friend, Brian Soland, Superior, Wisconsin, other cousins, brother priests and friends who will cherish many memories.

Thank you to the staff at New Perspective Senior Living Memory Care Unit and to Essentia Hospice Care for your care and support.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 East 5 ^th Street, Superior, Wisconsin, with a Rosary to begin at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Cathedral of Christ the King, 1111 Belknap Street, Superior, Wisconsin, and will continue until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial with the Most Reverend James P. Powers, Bishop of Superior as celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery’s Priest Circle, Superior, Wisconsin with a luncheon following in Kress Hall at Cathedral of Christ the King.

Memorials can be made in his name to the Diocese of Superior Seminary Endowment, 1201 Hughitt Ave, PO Box 969, Superior, Wisconsin 54880.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit our website at www.lenroot-maetzold.com .