MILWAUKEE, WI [DOM] – Archpriest Thomas Mueller, the former Rector of Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, WI, was recently honored at an event held by close family and friends commemorating his 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
Ordained on November 19, 1972, in Boston, Massachusetts at the Albanian Orthodox Cathedral by Bishop Stephen, Fr. Thomas served at St. Elia Albanian Orthodox Church in Jamestown, NY from 1972-1975. He then served in the Diocese of the Midwest in Royalton, IL; Lublin, WI; Mentor, OH; and finally in Milwaukee, WI since 1984. During that time, he served as Dean of the Chicago Deanery from 1987-2018, and as Chancellor of the Diocese from 1988 to 1993 and again in 1995. Fr. Thomas worked with diocesan missions and parish development in particular.
During his time as Rector at Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, he successfully fought to keep the parish in the city, welcomed several waves immigrants who could easily access an urban parish, and connected the Church to many charitable and faith-based urban advocacy organizations. Fr. Thomas currently serves two chapel outreach ministries of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Waukesha and Plymouth, WI. He still serves as president of the Pan-Orthodox Milwaukee Orthodox Christian Clergy Association.
At a small local celebration on October 2nd, many people recalled all this work and their own personal connections with Fr. Thomas. For many years Father has been known as a rousing preacher of the Gospel and a firm and supportive presence in the Deanery and Diocese, and a repository of the history of the local church.