The “Franklin Force,” a girls fast-pitch softball team, has a new home: Bisgrove Field on the grounds of St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI. Dn. Chuck Schneider blessed the field on May 22. “Fr. Charlie Bisgrove was the person behind the development of the field when he was pastor,” said Dn. Chuck. “It hasn’t been used in recent years and I had hoped to see it brought back to life. When we learned that the Franklin Force was seeking a new home, it was the perfect fit. They renovated the field [which includes two diamonds] and even had a new sign made.”
Dn. Chuck is pictured above with members of the Franklin Force, cutting the red ribbon to officially open the renovated field.
Fr. Charles Bisgrove, SCJ, died of a stroke in 2011. He was pastor of what was then Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish when it merged with nearby Holy Assumption and then became the first pastor of what is now St. Martin of Tours parish. Fr. Charlie later went on to serve as a chaplain with the Franklin Fire and Police Department. In 2001, he became certified to serve as a chaplain with the National Transportation and Safety Board. Just a few weeks later, he was called to duty and assigned to Ground Zero in New York City, following the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.
