Luxembourg Fest Mass, Pageantry, & Sheepshead
Sunday, August 10, 2025
10AM – 3PM
Community Park – 106 Beech Street, Belgium, WI
All are welcome to attend our traditional Luxembourg Fest mass. This year’s mass will be presided over by Father Kramer from Harmon, Illinois. Mass music will be provided by the Luxembourg Fest Choir.
Schedule of Events:
10 am: Mass
Immediately following Mass: The 2025 Fest Pageantries, crowning the Fest Duke and Duchess, Michael & Anne Calteaux, and honoring the Burmesch family.
Lunch will be available for purchase after pageantries.
NEW: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Stick around for family fun and a Sheepshead Tournament! (Hour long sessions starting at the top of each hour 12pm, 1pm, 2pm. $2 per person-per session.
Sheepshead Tournament – A Classic Luxembourg-American Game
Sheepshead is back this year! Starting right after the Sunday Mass, join us for a fun-filled afternoon of exciting sheepshead played the traditional Luxembourg-American way. Enjoy the camaraderie with other avid and beginner sheepshead players alike. All skill levels are welcome to join. Hour-long sessions will be held at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm. $2 entry fee per person, per session. Compete for prizes while playing this classic Luxembourg-American game. Registration for the tournament will take place day of event.
Presiding Over Mass: Fr. Richard Kramer
Sunday’s Catholic Mass will be presided over by Fr. Richard Kramer of Harmon, Illinois, who has been in ministry for 59 years since his ordination on May 28, 1966. Father Kramer has served in many parishes including his home Parish, in Harmon, IL. During his time in the ministry, he also specialized in media, presiding over Sunday Mass on television from 1973-1981. His favorite memories in the ministry always include interacting with and meeting new people. Father Kramer cherishes the relationships he’s built, sharing, “Meeting everyone is like one large extended family.” This is especially the case for Luxembourg Fest where he has been involved for over 8 years. He is looking forward to Fest traditions as he shares it’s a, “Real honor and privilege to be asked to do this. I look forward to meeting all the people again at fest and the celebration of mass.” He shared he is excited to enjoy some mustripen and taking part in the parade. Father Kramer’s Luxembourg ancestors immigrated to Random Lake, WI in the early 1800s and were later buried in St. Nicholas Church Cemetery in Dacada, WI. Father Kramer visits there when in the area for Luxembourg Fest and feels a strong connection each time, as he is thankful for his Luxembourgish Ancestors.
Meet your Fest Duke and Duchess- Michael & Anne Calteaux
This year we will be crowning Michael & Anne Calteaux as our Fest Duke and Duchess.
This year we will be crowning Michael (Mike) and Anne Calteaux as our Fest Duke and Duchess. Mike and Anne are dedicated Luxembourg-Americans whose journey together began when they first met in college at Marquette University. Together, they have since explored their Luxembourg heritage and have become more involved in the Luxembourg-American community. As their research grew, so did their love and they were engaged in October 2021, at the Roots and Leaves Museum, near the photo of Michael’s ancestors on the Family Tree. This proved a special moment for them as it was through their ancestors, who immigrated from Bigelbach, Luxembourg and Bourglinster, Luxembourg, that they were able to reclaim their Luxembourgish citizenship in mid-2022. They also had the opportunity to visit the hometowns of their ancestors while on their honeymoon trip to Luxembourg. They have since successfully assisted in the efforts to reclaim citizenship for 31 relatives in their extended Calteaux and Walch families. Together they are looking forward to meeting new people at Luxembourg Fest as they shared, “Looking ahead to Luxembourg Fest, we are excited to share our love of our Luxembourg heritage and support the connection to its culture.”
Our 2025 Honored Family: The Burmesch’s
In 1846, 179 years ago, Franz Burmesch (1803-1879) immigrated to Belgium, WI with his children, including Michael Burmesch (1842-1932) from Weiler-la-Tour, Luxembourg. While in America, Michael met and married Mary Jungers who immigrated to America in 1852. Together, Michael and Mary had 10 children who continued on to add to the large Luxembourg-American-Rooted Burmesch family tree.
Michael & Franz’s descendants, the Burmesch family, will be recognised following Sunday’s Luxembourg Fest mass (August 10th at 11:00 am) as this year’s Honored Family. The Burmesch family will host the “honored family” booth on Saturday August 9th from 11:30 am – 4:00 pm including genealogical research going back 6 generations including hundreds of people.
All Descendants of Michael & Mary (Junger) Burmesch are welcome to join together for a large family reunion at Fest! For more information on the Burmesch Family Activities, contact Mileana & Angie at burmeschfamilyreunion2025@gmail.com.
Click below to see all Luxembourg Fest Week events!
Questions? Contact the LACS Office at info@lacs.lu or 262-476-5086.