Tuesday, Sept. 1: Mass in St. Joseph Chapel, Green Bay, 11:30 a.m. 

Saturday, Sept. 19: Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, De Pere, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20: Confirmation Mass with St. Joseph Parish, Appleton; St. Paul Parish, Combined Locks; and SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Hortonville; at St. Mary Parish, Appleton, 3 p.m.

Sept. 23-25: Beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, St. Louis, Mo.

Sunday, Sept. 27: 100th Anniversary of Fall Festival Mass, Neva, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3: Mass and Blessing of St. Carlos Acutis Adoration Chapel, Oshkosh, 10 a.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4: Diocesan-wide Confirmation Mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, 2 p.m.

By Scott Cason | On Mission

Bishop David Ricken likes to say that discipleship expands at the speed of relationships. The great strength behind the diaconate’s successful ministerial work throughout the diocese is found in the relationships deacons create in service to Christ.

The lengthy disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic proved a major setback to relationship-building within the diaconate. The annual Diaconate Convocation was created to rebuild the sense of community and collaboration among the active- and senior-status deacons, their wives, and the widows of deceased deacons that was lost during the pandemic.

This year’s Diaconate Convocation was held on Friday, Aug. 14, at Prince of Peace Parish in Bellevue. The event attracted 165 participants for a day focused on bringing the faithful to a deeper understanding of the role the Holy Spirit should play in their work as “Disciples on the Way.”

The event was organized by Deacon Shaun Johnson, diaconate director for the diocese, with help from his fellow staff in the Curia’s Office of the Diaconate; Deacon Jeff Prickett, the pastoral leader of Prince of Peace Parish and the Curia’s Office of Divine Worship.

Deacon Johnson spoke for many of those in attendance when he said, “This focus on the Holy Spirit created a bit of anxiety for me. My first thought was that maybe I don’t want to pray to the Holy Spirit because I know he is bound to drive me to go out and do something that I probably don’t want to do.”

The event was structured around two presentations, accompanying breakout sessions and a midday Mass. During the first session, Fr. Tom Long asked attendees: “What is preventing you from allowing the Holy Spirit to take over your life?” He shared his own faith journey and encouraged attendees to trust the Holy Spirit for guidance as they share Jesus with others.

In the second presentation, Fr. Scott Valentyn shared how the Holy Spirit has challenged him in both his life journey and in his ministry. Fr. Valentyn explained how the Holy Spirit moved him to step outside his natural comfort zone and fully embrace his calling to pastoral service.

Each presentation was followed by breakout sessions in which attendees shared their deep dives into the critical questions discussed by the two keynote speakers.

Michael Jerger of Oshkosh, a fourth-year diaconate candidate, attended the convocation with his wife, Emily. Michael, who works as a pastoral minister at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Neenah, said he felt his vocational calling during his eighth-grade Confirmation. 

“I had no idea what a deacon was in the Catholic Church,” Michael said. “I couldn’t have told you at the time who the deacon was at my home parish in Illinois, but I distinctly remember the Holy Spirit telling me I needed to become a deacon.” 

Emily, who has experienced her own vocational journey as a religious sister, shared that she recognized early in their relationship that Michael’s calling was real and powerful. “I wanted to be there to support him in every way. I could see him being pushed forward behind his own hesitations, and our shared faith moved us both forward on this journey.”

Michael said his major takeaway from the event was hearing the two priests share their vulnerability regarding their relationship with the Holy Spirit. “It showed me that we all have room to grow right up to the end of our days on earth.” 

Emily agreed with her husband’s perspective and said she found it refreshing to get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how each priest’s distinct vulnerabilities and unique personality shape his relationship with the Holy Spirit. “It gave us a lot to discern about our evolving relationship with the Holy Spirit in the days ahead.”

The event also provided the Jergers with an opportunity to connect with and learn from more experienced diaconate couples about the life that awaits them after Michael completes his training and, hopefully, is ordained a deacon in June of next year.

By Scott Cason and McKella Oakley | On Mission

On Sunday, August 23, 18 religious sisters from five different orders gathered at St. Bernard Parish in Green Bay with Bishop David Ricken for the annual Jubilee of the Diocesan Sisters celebration.

• To meet our 2026 Jubilarians, visit Sister Jubilees 2026 – OnMissionMedia.com.
• To see photos from this year’s jubilarian celebration, visit 2026 Sisters Jubilee Mass | Flickr.

Please join us in congratulating these amazing faithful and devoted women:

Celebrating 75 Years:
Sr. Mark Schilling, SSM

Celebrating 70 Years:
Sr. Clare Simon, OSF
Sr. Francis Bangert, OSF
Sr. Dora Zapf, SDS
Sr. Adele Demulling, RHSJ

Celebrating 60 Years:
Sr. Gabrielle Branco, SSM
Sr. Lois Bush, SSM
Sr. Mary Scheuer, SSM
Sr. Mary Ellen Joyce, SSM
Sr. Caritas Strodthoff, OSF
Sr. Janice Stingle, OSF
Sr. Lois Ann Gosch, OSF
Sr. Rosalyn Muraski, OSF
Sr. Sue Ann Hall, OSF

Celebrating 50 Years:
Sr. Laura Zelten, OSF
Sr. Kathleen Murphy, OSF
Sr. Linda Brandes, OSF

Celebrating 25 Years:
Sr. Hannah Johnecheck, OSF

8/24/26

By Scott Cason | On Mission

DE PERE, WI — Nearly 25 percent of first-year college students do not return for their sophomore year, according to data compiled by the Education Data Initiative. While cost is often cited as a primary driver of this phenomenon, a deeper dive into the data shows that students who chose not to return simply didn’t feel they had found their place on campus. 

At St. Norbert College (SNC) in De Pere, the campus ministry team’s commitment to welcoming new and returning students in Christ is making a difference.

August is an exciting month to be on the SNC campus. Welcome Week events began on August 19 with move-in days, followed by daily engagement and orientation programs for new and returning students. Fall semester classes began on August 24.

For students involved in campus ministry at SNC, the fall term began a week before the official move-in days. Student catechists, those involved in peer ministry, and Bible study leaders, along with the freshmen scholarship community, traveled to Door County for a three-day retreat. Retreat programming included a deep dive into Norbertine charisms that balance active ministry and deep contemplative prayer, including actio, contemplatio, stabilitas, and communio. 

During their time on retreat, the students had time to pray, grow in fellowship, and grow in their knowledge of Christ. They also read Scripture, prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, and learned more about what it means to live as a missionary disciple on campus.

Then, on Sunday night, August 23, the day before classes began, students involved in campus ministry attended SNC’s traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit, where the entire campus community, including families, started the academic year in prayer and worship together. 

Fr. Mike Brennan, O.Praem., pastor of Old St. Joseph Parish and the director of campus ministry at SNC, believes his team’s passion for ministry and discipleship is an essential element in the SNC experience. “It’s a joyful time of year; it’s a humble privilege to walk alongside them, to encourage them to know they are loved, and to witness how they reflect this love throughout the year. As our students arrive on campus, more than anything I want them to know they are loved by God.”

The evening following the first day of classes marked the fifth year of an annual tradition at the college: the “Res Hall Blessing and Bonfire.” 

“While we have already prayed and blessed every building on campus during the summer, we use this first night of the academic year to invite our students to pray together in their res hall, have it blessed by a Norbertine priest, and then head over to campus ministry where we have the bonfire. It’s a beautiful way for our students to meet one another or reunite with friends as they start the year,” said Jennifer Rapavi, the minister of faith formation for campus ministry at SNC.

On Tuesday, the campus ministry student staff hosted a root beer float social in the campus ministry building to help new and returning students feel at home and get to know the people and community that make campus ministry a welcoming and supportive resource for SNC students.

On Wednesday night, the first Knight Mass (SNC’s mascot is the Green Knights) was hosted in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Sensenbrenner Hall. Knight Mass is a weekly tradition at SNC that runs throughout the school year. Then, after the conclusion of the Mass, students made the short walk over to Phil’s Grill for food and fellowship. The priest who led that evening’s Mass usually joins in.

The campus ministry team of Fr. Brennan, Rapavi, and Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Andrew Gehring knows they are making a difference for students and families who choose to begin their higher education journey at SNC. “As a parent, I know what an incredible act of surrender it is to let your child take steps towards becoming who God has called them to be, and I respect the parents of these students so deeply as I watch them say goodbye to their son or daughter at drop-off” Rapavi said. “My hope at the beginning of every school year is that I can make that transition process easier for our students, helping them know they belong, that God loves them, and that he has great plans for them during this next chapter of life.”

Learn more about the world’s only Norbertine college, SNC.

Highlighting the summer of 2026 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion

By Ashley Ebben | For On Mission

CHAMPION, WI — For generations, Catholics have made pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima and Guadalupe, all sacred places where the Blessed Mother appeared, and places that to this day still draw people closer to her Son. As a lifelong member of the Diocese of Green Bay, I love that we have such a treasure in our own backyard: the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. The shrine is increasingly becoming a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Catholics from our diocese, the nation, and the world.

More than 200,000 pilgrims visit the shrine each year; around half come from outside our diocese or from outside the state of Wisconsin. This summer, the quiet farmland once again became a gathering place for thousands of pilgrims seeking something the world cannot always offer: peace. And here in our own diocese, 128 parishes, schools, and groups made pilgrimages this summer.

Thousands walk together in faith

The pilgrimage season began in a powerful way on May 2, when over 10,000 participated in the 13th annual Walk to Mary. The 22-mile pilgrimage began at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in De Pere and concluded at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.

This event is a public expression of our Catholic faith in Green Bay, as thousands walk along highways and country roads, carrying crosses and statues, and praying the Rosary.

Discovering the Saints of America

As the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary, the shrine created its very own Catholic Saints of America exhibit, honoring the saints, blesseds, venerables and servants of God who helped shape America.

Pilgrims came and learned that saints are not merely figures from distant centuries and countries. As they toured the exhibit, visitors learned that these historic and revered figures were ordinary people who led lives of extraordinary virtue in Christ. They also left knowing that the path to sainthood can begin here in the United States, and that God’s call to discipleship knows no national borders.

Anniversary of the death of Adele Brice

In January, Bishop David L. Ricken opened the Cause for Canonization of Servant of God Adele Brice, seer of Our Lady of Champion. On July 5, pilgrims celebrated the 130th anniversary of her death, after which Bishop Ricken led a procession to Adele’s flower-covered grave on the shrine grounds, where they gathered to pray that she may one day be named a saint.

Continuing a tradition begun by Adele

On August 15, the shrine celebrated its oldest and most beloved tradition, dating back to 1861 and beginning with Adele herself: the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Generations of families have since made their way to Champion to honor the Blessed Mother on her feast day. This year, Bishop Donald J. Hying of the Diocese of Madison celebrated Mass, followed by the shrine’s historic Eucharistic Rosary Procession and annual family picnic.

Pilgrimage continues

You too can join thousands of pilgrims gathering October 7-9 to celebrate the anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Champion.

On October 8 at 7 p.m., thousands of candles will illuminate the shrine grounds during a beautiful Rosary procession commemorating the Miracle of the Fire. On October 9 at 11:30 a.m. Bishop Ricken will celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady of Champion.

You are always invited to come to the shrine as part of a group, attend a major celebration, or come by yourself or with your family to spend a quiet afternoon on the grounds. Our Lady’s invitation remains the same: come closer to her Son.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is located in Champion, Wisconsin, just northeast of Green Bay. The shrine is open year-round and welcomes individuals, families, parish groups and pilgrims for Mass, confession, adoration, prayer, and pilgrimage. Visit championshrine.org  to learn more about the shrine, its story and upcoming events.

Sunday Readings for August 29 and 30, Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Lyn Zahorik | For On Mission

The first line in this Sunday’s reading from Jeremiah always makes me stop and smile — not because it’s funny, but because it’s so painfully honest. Jeremiah says, “You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped” (Jer 20:7). He sounds like someone who enthusiastically volunteered for a church committee, only to discover it meets every Tuesday at 6 a.m. It’s the cry of someone who didn’t sign up for the fine print of discipleship, who thought he was joining a joyful ministry and instead got handed a spiritual mop and bucket.

Most of us know that feeling. We all have moments where we feel “duped.” We start following Jesus, thinking it’s going to be peace, joy, and maybe a few inspirational sunsets. Then life happens. The path gets heavy. The cost gets real. We discover that following Jesus sometimes means carrying burdens we never expected, loving people who are hard to love, forgiving when we’d rather hold a grudge, or standing for truth when silence would be easier. We wrestle with the gap between what we thought serving God would be and what it actually requires.

And yet — and this is the heart of it — we stay. We stay because His love has marked us. We stay because His voice still burns in our bones. We stay because, even when discipleship feels costly, it is also the place where we discover who we truly are, and who God is shaping us to become.

This Sunday’s Gospel pairs perfectly with Jeremiah’s mood. Jesus tells the disciples He’s going to suffer and die, and Peter — bless his heart — tries to talk Him out of it. Peter wants a Messiah who does miracles, not a Messiah who talks about crosses. He wants a job description with no fine print, no heavy lifting, and definitely no suffering. Jesus responds with words that sting: “Get behind me, Satan” (Mt 16:23). Not because Peter is evil, but because Peter is trying to deflect Jesus from the very mission that will save the world.

Then Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24). There it is — the fine print. Not the soft, comfortable version of faith we sometimes prefer, but the real invitation: to follow Jesus even when it stretches us, challenges us, or leads us into places we would never choose on our own. And somehow, we choose to stay.

Why? Because, somewhere deep inside, we know that life without Christ is empty. Faith is not always easy. Love is worth the cost, and following Christ is about being transformed.

So yes, maybe we’ve all been “duped” a little — drawn by God into a life deeper, holier, and far more beautiful than anything we imagined. But it comes with a cross — not optional, not decorative — but also a cross wrapped in grace and a promise: Walk with me, and you will become who I made you to be.

The readings for Sunday, August 30, can be found at Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.

A back-to-school primer for the parents of college students

By Fr. Zack Weber | For On Mission

The college years can be some of the most transformative seasons of a young person’s life — filled with new friendships, ideas, struggles, and questions about who they are and who God is calling them to be. 

One of the greatest gifts a parent can offer during these years is not another lecture, but a listening ear. Learn to truly listen. Try to understand your student’s point of view, even if it seems to shift. 

Students want to know that their parents truly love them and care about how they are doing. College is full of temptations to abandon the faith, but there are practical ways you can help them remain faithful even amidst those temptations. 

One parent noticed that his son was struggling during his first semester of college, facing temptations to sin. The parents encouraged him to begin each morning with prayer. The student later told me how much that simple practice helped him. His story inspired me to write this list of practical do’s and don’ts if you have a child or grandchild in college.

1) Talk with them — not at them. 

Set up a weekly phone call and put it on the calendar. If possible, establish this routine before they leave for college.

Do ask open-ended questions that invite real conversation: ”What’s been the most interesting thing you’ve learned this semester?” “What’s weighing on your heart right now?” or “What’s the vibe like on campus?”

Don’t lead every call with questions about grades, money, prayer habits, or career plans. Especially during the first year or two, try not to pressure your student about what they are going to do after college or with the rest of their life. 

Your goal is not to fix everything — it’s to stay connected so that, when something serious comes up, they trust you enough to bring it to you. Offer advice only if they ask for it. 

College students will be tempted to define their worth by their grades or accomplishments. Remind them that their worth has already been given to them in their identity as a beloved son or daughter. If they struggle with losing peace over their grades, invite them to pray with Mark 1:11.

2) Stay connected without smothering: Presence matters, even from a distance. 

A weekly check-in call can help a lot. If you ask good questions, you will receive better answers. Remember that conversation is not a one-time event but something to circle back to throughout the year. You are a conversational partner, not a quizzer.

Do keep them informed of life at home. Remind them they are loved and missed.

Don’t panic when they call home in a moment of stress. If your student calls in a panic, try not to panic yourself. Give it a day and call back. Sometimes inviting them to take three deep breaths is all they need. 

Above all, anchor every conversation in prayer – but pray with them, not just for them. It might feel strange at first, but over time you may be surprised by how much God can work through you when you pray with your child. 

End a conversation by asking, “How can I pray for you?” Then listen to what they say and end in prayer with words inviting God to help your child in the ways they asked for. Over time, you can even invite them to pray out loud and ask God for whatever graces they need. Keep it simple. Start with the words, “Come, Holy Spirit,” and then let the words come as God moves you.

3) A special note about student-athletes

For a college student who is also an athlete, the demands can be exponentially greater — early mornings, road trips, physical exhaustion, and the pressure to perform can make them feel pulled in every direction.

Do ask about their sport with genuine curiosity. Ask about who they are making friends with, not just about wins and losses. Ask how their body feels, how their team feels, and how their soul feels. 

Freshmen athletes are learning to find healthy rhythms for studying, eating, exercising, friendships, spirituality, fun, and downtime. Give them room to process their own energy levels. 

Freshmen often do not get much playing time, so ask them how they support and encourage their teammates.

Don’t tie your affirmation of your student to athletic performance. Don’t go over everything they did wrong in the game. Their identity is not found in a scoreboard. It is found in being a beloved child of God.

In my experience as a chaplain, the most important part of college is building authentic friendships. Pray that your student finds friends who believe in God and are virtuous in their Catholic faith. If they find friends who believe, then they will believe. It is really that simple. 

Encourage them to find the Catholic campus ministry or Catholic students on social media before they get to college. Their Catholic faith can ground them through this transition. 

Many students are looking for someone to lead them. If your student finds someone who is a leader, then, over time, they will follow. As they grow as individuals, their faith will grow with them. Following the path of Jesus Christ will never lead them astray. 

Remind the often: God didn’t give them their gifts by accident. Those gifts ought to be used for His glory and honor. When offered back to Him in excellence and humility, they can become a powerful witness on campus and lead others to the truth, freedom, and hope that only God can give.

Fr. Weber is the director and chaplain of the Office of Campus Ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

By Fr. Edward Looney | For On Mission

In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus asks Peter the question that will forever shape the Church: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15). Peter’s response prompts Jesus to give him authority, forming what we know today as the papacy. But why does Jesus have to ask this question? Two weekends ago, after Peter walked on water and then sank and was saved, the Gospel ended stating those in the boat rendered him homage, acclaiming that “truly you are the son of God” (Mt 14:33). Peter was in the boat and, along with the others, had already made this declaration, so why now? Why again?

As Jesus was going about his public ministry, many people acknowledged him as Lord or Savior. They knew him as a teacher and a healer. The apostles all witnessed this. They heard the crowds acclaim him. And yet, Jesus asks the question anyway. Peter definitively declares who Jesus is, even though he would deny knowing him during the Passion.

Why the question? Jesus asks it knowing what Peter’s answer will be, so he asks to lay the groundwork for the Church after his death and Resurrection. But maybe there are a few other reasons. 

Peter will go on to deny Jesus three times during the Passion. Peter needs this moment when he makes this declaration, so in those moments of despair, he could return to knowing that Jesus knew what he believed and professed. His future denial does not mean he did not mean what he said previously; rather, it indicates how fear and weakness can overpower what we truly believe. After all, we tell the Lord we love him, and yet we still sin. We are like Peter, and like him, we rest in knowing that we do love the Lord, and because of who he is, we need him even more in our weakest moments. 

Jesus makes the question very personal, “Who do YOU say that I am?” This was also a moment for Peter to not just go along with the crowds but to make this personal statement of belief. Previously, they have acclaimed him as Lord in a moment of amazement and wonder. Having seen and witnessed the events of Jesus’ ministry, Peter now makes a personal profession of faith.

Jesus asks Peter this famous question so that he would not forget the answer. It is a question that resounds throughout all of time. And now, it’s a question posed to us. Like Peter, we know the answer. We’ve heard the answer in religious education classes or at Mass. But instead of going along with the crowds, today, we make a similar personal profession, so that we will always remember who Jesus is to us and be able to recall it in some of the most difficult moments of life.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

I hope you will be able to confidently proclaim with Peter that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.

The readings for Sunday, August 23, can be found at Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.

By Lyn Zahorik | For On Mission

In my closet hang my cotton “scripture” or “good thought” t‑shirts. They’re simple, soft, and a little mischievous. As I looked them over, I thought that my “Jesus loves you… but I am his favorite” shirt was perfect to support this Sunday’s Scriptures. Beneath the humor in that quote is a truth we all wrestle with – the temptation to believe we are the ones closest to God, that our group, our tradition, and our way of worship is the one Jesus prefers.

The readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time challenge that idea in a beautiful way. The prophet Isaiah instructs that the “foreigners who join themselves to the Lord … will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Is 56:6-7).

In the Gospel, Jesus meets a Canaanite woman — an outsider, someone who did not belong to the “chosen” people. She approaches him seeking, trusting, and believing that mercy is bigger than boundaries. It is in our own moments like this that remind us that God is not limited by our labels, and grace is not fenced in. Love is not rationed. God’s heart is far wider than any human-created category.

It is easy as Catholics to fall into the quiet assumption that we are the insiders, the favorites, the ones who “get it right.” However, I’ve met people who have never stepped inside a Catholic church, yet they still live with a generosity that humbles me. I’ve seen kindness in strangers that mirrors what we read in the Gospel. I’ve watched people of different faiths pray with sincerity that could move mountains. Their lives whisper the same truth the Canaanite woman shouted: “Lord, help me.” And God hears them.

As Catholics, though, one truth, one treasure – known to Catholicism alone – marks us in a most holy way. We have been given the Eucharist, our own consecrated, intimate encounter with Jesus truly present — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. This is the beating heart of our faith, the place where heaven touches earth. Growing in the Eucharist guides us to not claim God as if he were ours alone. It challenges us to reflect Jesus— to show his love, his mercy, and his welcome.

So, when I wear that t‑shirt — “Jesus loves you… but I am his favorite” — I think of it not as a claim of spiritual superiority, but as a reminder that every person is God’s favorite. Every person has been created by God. And every person is sought, cherished, and seen by God. If Jesus loves me, he certainly loves the person standing next to me, even if their path to him looks different from mine.

This Sunday invites us to hold two truths together: we treasure the Eucharist — our intimate, living encounter with Christ that shapes our very being, and, in that, we can respect the faith of all who seek God. Love is not a competition; in the Kingdom of God, favorites are everywhere.

The readings for Sunday, August 23, can be found at Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.

MANITOWOC, WI — Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a Franciscan jubilee year from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, to mark the 800^th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. This year is both a time for spiritual renewal and a call to live the Franciscan legacy of peace, holiness, and care for creation.

On June 18, 2026, Bishop David Ricken designated the St. Francis Chapel at Holy Family Convent in Manitowoc as a pilgrimage site for this commemorative year. The chapel is open to pilgrims and visitors seven days a week from 12:30-4:30 p.m. until January 10, 2027.

St. Francis Chapel was dedicated in 1890. Before electricity was installed in 1897, kerosene lamps provided light in the chapel. The 120-year-old stained-glass windows, which were imported from Munich, Germany, tell the stories of the Gospels, the joy of Mary, and special moments in the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare. John Falbissoner, a local artist, hand-carved the main altar from an oak tree which grew in the neighborhood near the convent. Although Falbissoner spent four years completing the altar, he never charged anyone for his work. 

In Bishop Ricken’s decree, we are reminded that at the St. Francis Chapel and all other Franciscan sites during this jubilee year, “the faithful may obtain special graces in the form of a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions through:

• Devout participation in Holy Mass
• Reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father
• Acts of charity, especially toward the poor.”

May all who come to visit St. Francis Chapel find it a special place of prayer and peace during this jubilee year, in commemoration of the 800^th anniversary of the death of St. Francis.

Visit the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity website for more information about St. Francis Chapel and the Franciscan community: fscc-calledtobe.org.