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We Are Part of a Family

Written by Aidee Boesen on . Posted in From our Pastor:.

one by One, God creates us, loves us, calls us, and gives us gifts and talents to serve others. God is inviting us now to use our love and gifts for a greater good. It is time for us to take some bold steps in order to grow the Body of Christ.

The Church is strong, in one sense, because the Holy Spirit remains present and active. However, there are many who live at the margins of the Church. They have lost touch with God and the community of faith. They are not as alive in the Spirit as they can be. We are being invited to live the Gospel and prepare ourselves to reach out to those who are struggling, to approach gently those who are afraid, to welcome home those who have gone away, to offer healing and forgiveness to those who are in pain. And, we are to take these steps one by One.

Our parish family is part of the diocesan family. Without a Diocese of Green Bay, there is no St. Willebrord Parish. Our “church family” is large and diverse. The members of our family live in a region from FonduLac to Upper Michigan, from Wausau to Lake Michigan. While many church members live in big cities like Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh, there are others who live on farms, at crossroads in rural areas, and in small towns. All of us, from large city to small city to country farm are part of one large family of the Diocese of Green Bay. What a rich, beautiful, and capable Body of Christ is our diocese!

Through the one by One Campaign, we are invited to build up our parish family and the whole family of faith in the Diocese of Green Bay. God is calling us to take bold steps:

1. To support parish families in order to be vibrant and alive;
2. To strengthen our Catholic Schools;
3. To make Catholic Charities more responsive to human needs throughout the diocese;
4. To evangelize and make new disciples of Christ;
5. To support vocation ministry and seminary training of priest candidates, and to support current clergy;
6. To use effectively modern communication and technology, especially with youth and young adults.

Our parish and the whole diocese will benefit from a successful campaign as we raise funds and organize efforts to complete the six elements of a strong and vibrant Church. Pray and stay alert to see how you can participate.

Peace, Fr. Andy