The Reverend Frank E. Wismer, III
Vicar
The Reverend "Colonel" Frank Wismer, a recently retired senior Army reserve Episcopal chaplain first visited Christ Church to lead the congregation in worship for a special Veteran's Day program in November 2007. He returned for Christmas Eve worship that year, and hasn't left. In that time, he has become affectionately known as Father Frank.
Father Frank has been an Episcopal priest for more than thirty years, beginning his ordained ministry at St. Matthew's in Wilton, Connecticut. He served parishes in several locations, including the Dioceses of Western Massachusetts and Vermont, and has spent several years on active duty with the Army.
Father Frank is a veteran of Desert Storm, Operation Joint Forge (Bosnia), Operation Iraqi Freedom-Baghdad, and he recently returned from a year at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
According to Episcopal Life newspaper, the colonel celebrated the Eucharist in the ornate palace where Saddam Hussein lived before he was driven from Iraq by American troops. His small, growing congregation was made up of civilians and service personnel: Iraqi, American, British, Korean, and South African.
Father Frank is also a published author. His book, War in the Garden of Eden (Church Publishing, Inc.), is a memoir of his time in the middle-east. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to assist with the ministry of St. George's Anglican Church, Bagdad.
During his time at Christ Church, Father Frank has developed a number of traditions, one of which is the procession of the palms, on Palm Sunday. The idea began when he wondered with the congregation how it might look like, at the roadside, if Jesus rode into the city today. Annually, the procession includes confetti, streamers, and balloons. Also, on a weekly basis, Father Frank gathers the children at the chancel steps for a children's homily-more dialogue than sermon that relates to the item in his bag-that is, of course, only AFTER they have guessed what it is.
Father Frank is married to the Reverend Canon Patricia Coller, Senior Executive Vice President of the Church Pension Group. Canon Pat is often found in the soprano section of the choir pews, but on occasion, when called upon, we find her at the altar. As Father Frank would say, "two priests-no waiting."
Each month we try to include an "Ask Father Frank" question in the Parish Visitor newsletter. He answers questions, from children and adults alike, rooted in faith and its mysteries, sometimes they are even regarding the symbolism and polity of the church. If you have a question that could be answered in such a forum, please feel free to click here and Ask Father Frank.
