The office is quiet at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Friday mornings. Most parish employees take the day to rest or work from home, preparing for the weekend services ahead.
But social justice director Steve Szymanski — rather than starting his end-of-week mornings with a leisurely cup of coffee as he would prefer to — zips up his coat and heads into downtown Milwaukee to fulfill a personal commitment.
The Milwaukee School of Engineering’s campus is noticeably louder than Szymanski’s parish office. Passing drivers lay on their car horns, some in support and others in opposition of an ongoing protest on the sidewalk. Families occasionally make their way in and out of the doors at 310 E. Knapp St. for varying appointments…