This will be an article with some updates and news about the parish.

First, Fr. Jack MacCarthy had some minor leg surgery at the beginning of August. This resulted in an infection that required a short hospital stay. He is recovering well and we hope to see him back to full strength soon.

We certainly want to see him here on the weekend of September 10-11. That weekend we will have the collection for the Diocese of Green Bay’s Missionary Cooperation Appeal (MCP). “Unique to the Diocese of Green Bay, all parish receipts collected for this appeal are sent to the Catholic Foundation (not given to the speaker) and deposited into one central fund. At the end of the year, funds are equally divided among the 38 mission groups and disbursed in January.” (cited from the Catholic Foundation of the Green Bay Diocese webpage – more information at www.catholicfoundationgb.org). Fr. Jack, Deacon Luis, and I will offer a Gospel message which also highlights the important ministry and health care work in Santa Clotilde, Peru, and the surrounding areas. Fr. Jack ministered there for over 30 years.

Some of you know that I was away Mon-Friday, August 15-19, for a visit to South Central Wisconsin, near Spring Green. My sister and her husband live not far from the Wisconsin River in the so-called “Driftless Area” of the state. This refers to the area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois where the glaciers did not pass. There was an opening in the path of the glaciers and thus the heavy ice did not scrape the rocks and hills to near flatness. Instead, there are hills, cliffs, rock formations, valleys and unique beauty not found elsewhere in Wisconsin. While I was there I viewed the Wisconsin River from several locations, including its sand bar beaches. I also hike in some of the beautiful county and state parks in the area, and went to a play called “The River Bride” at the American Players Theater. Lots of things to do, places to camp, and sights to see in that part of the state.

Some updates on the homeless persons who find comfort here. We continue to offer sandwiches at the rectory door. Our bathrooms get a lot of use throughout the week. While the bathrooms near the church are old and small, it is all that we can offer. Most of the “guests,” our sisters and brothers from the street, are respectful of people and place. Nonetheless, we have had to seek restraining orders on 4 persons this year – one for repeated drunkenness and three others for threatening staff and/or not responding to requests. They cannot come on to parish property for one year, at least. It is hard for all of us involved.

Peace, Fr. Andy