How long before you noticed?
Week #3 – Same question: “If our church closed tomorrow, how much time would pass before the community noticed?”
Many people would know right away if we were to close. Two weeks ago I wrote about the outreach ministries of our parish. Last week I wrote about the people who come to our parish seeking spiritual and moral help. This week, allow me to highlight groups from outside the parish who trust that St. Willebrord Parish will assist them. These groups would know very quickly if St. Willys closed.
We have two Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) groups which meet on Thursdays, one for those who speak Spanish and one in English. Then another Spanish speaking group meets on Saturday morning, and another on Sunday morning. They also celebrate sobriety anniversaries. I have attended anniversaries of 10, 25, and just last weekend, 30 years of sobriety! They regularly tell me how grateful they are for giving them a safe place to meet.
The Third Order Carmelites use our confessionals for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the church for Adoration, Mass, and Evening Prayer, and then our Parish Center, once each month. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) holds training for their organization which recruits, screens, and trains everyday citizens to be the voices of abused and neglected children in the courtroom, seeking to ensure them safe and permanent homes. Casa Alba Melanie, too, sponsors community outreach and education for families, especially in the Hispanic community and often requests to use our Parish Center.
Green Bay Public Schools occasionally offers informational programming for families at St. Willys. The Immigration and Advocacy Network holds its monthly meetings in our Parish Center. Casa Mexico and Voces de la Frontera use our Parish Center for activities such as immigrant education, visa and passport processes, and other community education activities. The City of Green Bay Water Utility and the Brown County Public Health Department will soon hold an informational meeting about lead pipes. Family Services recently offered a workshop to parents and catechists on sexual abuse.
There are other groups and organizations which use our buildings for community outreach and education. While these activities are not faith or worship oriented, they address the needs of the human person. St. Willebrord Parish seeks to serve all who come to our doors with an open heart.
If our parish closed tomorrow, how much time would pass before you noticed?
Peace, Fr. Andy