What this means for the Catholics of the Diocese of Green Bay

By Roy Rasmussen | For On Mission

ORLANDO, FL — On June 11, 2026, Bishop David Ricken joined the U.S. bishops gathered in Orlando, Florida, to consecrate America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The historic gathering was convened in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops president Archbishop Paul Coakley presided over Mass and led the bishops in a solemn prayer of national consecration. Congressional representatives introduced a resolution recognizing the consecration, and the White House released a message of support. In preparation for the event, Bishop Ricken invited Green Bay Catholics to join in consecrating America to the Sacred Heart, sharing resources on how to participate through prayer, adoration and works of mercy.

Entrusting America to the Sacred Heart

Baltimore Archbishop William Lori delivered the homily. His homily stressed that consecration is an act of faith, hope and charity which entrusts the U.S. Catholic Church and the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In faith, we acknowledge the role God’s Providence has played in blessing our nation, showing mercy for our shortcomings and healing our wounds. In hope, we place our hopes and anxieties about the future in the merciful heart of Jesus. In love, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus and the mission of the Holy Spirit in sharing the Father’s love with our nation.

Joining our prayers with Catholics around the country

In preparation for the celebration, Bishop Ricken invited Green Bay Catholics to participate prayerfully in the consecration as an opportunity to help turn our nation back to Jesus. He emphasized the need for prayer to bring us to Jesus and the Divine Mercy found in his Sacred Heart.

Bishop Ricken placed this request in the context of his ongoing Adoration for the Nation initiative, in which local parishes participate in Holy Hours to promote a national Eucharistic revival. He asked for continued adoration at the parish level as well as consecration of individuals and families to the Sacred Heart. He provided resources to assist with this effort, including prayers to the Sacred Heart and links from the U.S. bishops inviting American Catholics to participate in 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy.

Setting America aside as holy

By joining the nation’s bishops in consecrating our nation to the Sacred Heart, we are asking God to make America holy and use our country for his purposes. To consecrate something is to set it aside for holy use. Just as the priest at Mass blesses ordinary bread and wine so that God can transform it into the Body and Blood of Jesus, we are asking God to transform our nation by bringing us closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The consecration of America to the Sacred Heart recalls Our Lady of Fatima’s request to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. This is no coincidence, for in 1846, the U.S. bishops proclaimed Mary the patroness of the United States under her title of the Immaculate Conception, and the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has been touring the country since 1947. The Immaculate Heart of Mary always points us to the Sacred Heart of her son Jesus, and just as Mary asked for prayers of reparation at Fatima, the prayers the U.S. bishops have composed for the consecration of America to the Sacred Heart include prayers of reparation for offenses against God and human dignity that have taken place in our nation. In turning the nation back to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we seek mercy and healing for our country to make us truly one nation under God.

How Green Bay Catholics can help consecrate America to the Sacred Heart

Catholics in the Diocese of Green Bay can participate in the consecration of our nation by honoring the Sacred Heart in a variety of ways, including:

• Consecrating yourself and your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

• Offering prayers and novenas to the Sacred Heart

• Participating in Holy Hours during the 250 Hours of Adoration

• Performing works of mercy in honor of the Sacred Heart to participate in the 250 Works of Mercy

Another special way to dedicate our nation’s 250th anniversary to the Sacred Heart is to visit the Catholic Saints of America exhibit on display at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion from July 1-9. This exhibit features displays and relics dedicated to 76 American saints and candidates for sainthood, including St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann. The display coincides with the anniversary of the death of Champion visionary Adele Brice, recently recognized as a Servant of God. Visit America’s saints in Champion and invoke their intercession through the Sacred Heart on behalf of our nation.

DE PERE, WI — At a time when many colleges across the country are facing mounting financial uncertainty, St. Norbert College ranks in the top quintile of 20 Wisconsin schools included in a new analysis after achieving two consecutive years of audited positive operating results and projecting a third consecutive year of positive operating results in FY26.

New data from Forbes’ 2026 College Financial Grades, which evaluated more than 900 private colleges and universities, highlights the growing financial strength of St. Norbert College with a financial GPA of 3.28 (B) in 2026, up from 2.85 in 2025 and 1.88 in 2024. Nationally, nearly half of the institutions in the report received a C or worse, with 27 percent earning a D. 

The news comes amid a period of significant disruption in higher education. Colleges and universities across the country are navigating declining enrollment, increasing tuition discounts, loss of public confidence, and changing student interests and expectations.

“Advancing our inspiring mission requires financial strength, which does not happen by accident. It reflects the courageous choices an institution makes to ensure its mission continues in perpetuity,” said Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., president of St. Norbert College. “The financial progress the college has made is remarkable and results from the campus community’s unwavering commitment to advancing our mission and serving our students. Together we are building a more resilient future for St. Norbert College.” 

During the past three years, St. Norbert College has taken proactive steps to sustain its mission by adding new academic programs, expanding athletic offerings, deepening partnerships, aligning its staffing with student enrollment, and diversifying revenue streams while maintaining its commitment to academic excellence, student success, and communio.

The college’s national reputation, positive student outcomes, and impressive financial metrics demonstrate the resolve of the college’s leadership and community to adapt in a rapidly changing environment.

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center reaches major milestone in renovation, expansion efforts

GREEN BAY, WI — HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center is one step closer to a new six-story, state-of-the-art inpatient tower that will increase access to care on Green Bay’s west side. Demolition is now underway on the hospital’s North Building — the future site of the new tower — marking the latest milestone in HSHS’ historic $270 million capital investment to revitalize its Green Bay hospitals.

The North Building is separate from the main hospital building and has been a part of the St. Mary’s campus since 1958. In recent years, it was used for a range of clinic and administrative needs.

The new patient tower will significantly expand the hospital’s capacity to care for the community, with more than 100 new patient rooms for medical/surgical and intensive care. Most notably, capacity for intensive care patients at St. Mary’s will more than quadruple, growing from eight beds to 36. The tower will also include two new cardiovascular operating rooms and a cardiac procedural room. 

“We recognize the history held within these walls, and now our mission requires us to look forward at the needs of our community,” said Bob Erickson, president and CEO, HSHS Wisconsin Market. “We already see a demand for higher acuity care at St. Mary’s — for those navigating illnesses, surgical procedures or requiring intensive care — which will only continue as our population grows and ages. Adding this tower will ensure more patients have access to the care they need in a more modern environment that matches our clinical excellence.”

For the past several months, contractors have been dismantling the inside of the North Building piece by piece, taking a “surgical” approach to prepare the structure for demolition. Every step of the demolition and subsequent construction has been meticulously designed to ensure patient care is not interrupted and all services in the main hospital remain fully operational.

Work is also being done to revitalize the larger hospital campus, including the creation of a new main entrance, added parking and enhanced security features. New kitchen and dining are also part of the remodeling plans.

“While we work to transform our physical space, our commitment to providing exceptional care remains strong,” said Leah Bergstrom, chief administrative officer at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center. “Our main priority will always be to deliver the highest standard of care in the present, while we build new infrastructure to enhance it for the future.”

In alignment with the mission of The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, the order of Franciscan Sisters who founded HSHS, the ongoing demolition and expansion at St. Mary’s is being executed with a focus on environmental sustainability and community mindfulness.

When a different building on the campus was demolished in fall 2025 as part of the expansion project, HSHS utilized an innovative onsite recycling process. Rather than transporting waste to landfills, recyclable items were separated and concrete materials were crushed to be reused as foundational fill for the hospital’s new patient tower.

As work transitions to demolition of the North Building, HSHS remains committed to repurposing and recycling construction materials. Beyond structural recycling, medical equipment and furnishings from the now-vacant North Building have been donated to organizations like Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach — which distributes medical supplies to communities in need around the world — and the Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity — which supports local housing initiatives.

“By keeping these materials out of landfills and placing them back into the service of others, we are honoring our founding Sisters’ commitment to stewardship and the care of our environment,” Erickson said.

Groundbreaking on the new patient tower is expected to take place in late summer/early fall this year. The entire St. Mary’s revitalization project is anticipated for completion in 2028. For more information about the St. Mary’s project, please visit: stmarysgb.org/future.

By Fr. Edward Looney | For On Mission

One of the things I do as a pastor is listen. People stop me after Mass and share different events and stories with me. I love hearing how people have sensed that God was with them in a situation, or how a sign they saw confirmed what they should do.

In our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah might be experiencing a bit of spiritual desolation. He feels defeated. He senses people are seeking his demise. He believes they want him to stumble or fall so they can exploit it for their benefit. But Jeremiah has been a faithful servant. He has trusted in God and continues to do so. Even as he walks in this dark valley, he is able to acclaim, “The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion” (Jer 20:11). What a stalwart faith he had to witness evil people around him and still be able to say God is with him.

This is a spiritual truth that has helped me in so many ways throughout my ministry and life. I have experienced God with me in difficult situations. And I remind people of this so often — God is with us, he has not forgotten or abandoned you.

• He is with you and sends the Holy Spirit when you must have a difficult conversation with someone. 

• He is with you in the doctor’s office, awaiting a diagnosis. 

• He is with you in your grief when someone dies, reminding you of the many memories you had with the person and comforting you with the promise of everlasting life.

• He is with you when you are persecuted or hated by others because of your Christian beliefs.

• He is with you in whatever struggle you are facing. The Lord is encouraging you and giving you the grace you need in that moment.

The good news is that he is with us not only in difficult moments, but also in the ordinary ones, as we go about our days. Imagine how different we would live our lives if we called the presence of God to mind more readily.

Jeremiah was able to say that the Lord was with him in the stormy moments he faced. While it is true that the Lord is with us, we may not see his presence in the storm. It is only later, after further reflection, looking back, that we can see and believe that the Lord was with us as our helper and guide. Take some time today and notice how God has always been with you, in the good and in the bad.

The readings for Sunday, June 21, can be found at Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.

Fr. Edward Looney serves as the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawano. He is an author and podcaster, with a presence on various social media platforms under the handle @FrEdwardLooney.

The Mass was a part of the pre-summer camp open house all-day event

By William Van de Planque | On Mission 

SHAWANO, WI — This year, 2026, has been a year full of celebrations for Camp Tekakwitha. The first weekend of June, just before the first camp session of the summer began, was no different. 

As a kick-off to the 100th summer of camp, with the theme simply “celebrate,” Camp Tekakwitha held an open house and a Mass celebrated by Bishop David Ricken on June 6, 2026. 

The day began promptly with youth, parents, families, and alumni staff and campers from across the diocese participating in guided tours of the grounds, which have changed significantly over the years.

An important theme of the day’s activities, which included a history presentation in the middle of the day, a “history center” set up in the Thunderdome, and different sports and crafts activities, was looking back in time to celebrate the long history of the camp and emphasize the deep impact of the Camp Tekakwitha experience on every generation.

At the Mass, McKenna Runde, the camp director who is spending her 14th summer at camp, thanked everyone who came to support the camp and celebrate its history.

The spirituality and intercession of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the namesake of the camp and the first Native American saint, has been a staple of the camp experience since it was renamed from Catholic Girls Camp to Camp Tekakwitha in 1964. 

“We call upon St. Kateri’s intercession incessantly at Camp Tekakwitha as we share her love for Jesus and ecology,” reads a page on the Camp Tekakwitha website.

After the Mass, there was a special opportunity for the faithful to venerate and pray before a relic of St. Kateri, with which Bishop Ricken also blessed the those gathered.

During the closing blessing of the Mass, Bishop Ricken quoted a well-known saying from St. Kateri: “Let this place resound with the words of Kateri Tekakwitha: ‘I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love. I can have no other spouse but Jesus Christ. I have considered myself content to live in poverty and misery for his love.’”

The camp has already held many events this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary, with more scheduled, including the Family Camp Opportunity on July 25 and the Staff Reunion/Alumni Day on August 15.

To learn more, visit: camptekakwitha.org/welcome/100-year-history.

To read more about the impact of camp across generations, visit: onmiss.io/hundredyearsatcamp.

The annual event at St. Willebrord Parish is more than a parish festival

By Michael Cooney | For On Mission

GREEN BAY, WI — “Open doors, open hearts” is the motto at St. Willebrord Parish in downtown Green Bay, and according to its pastor, Fr. Andrew Cribben, O. Praem., the annual “St. Willy’s Jam” is one of the parish’s clearest expressions of that mission.

“For me, it’s community building,” Fr. Cribben said. “I love to introduce people to one another. People have told me, ‘We met each other at Willy’s Jam.’ That makes me very happy.”

The annual parish festival, formerly known as “St. Willy’s Bash,” drew more than 600 people June 14 to the streets surrounding the historic church, including about 400 worshipers for the outdoor Mass that opened the celebration.

Held outside St. Willebrord Church at 209 S. Adams St., the event featured live music, family games and an extensive selection of homemade foods representing the parish’s Hispanic communities alongside traditional American picnic fare.

Fr. Cribben, who has served as pastor for 15 years, said the festival has been part of parish life throughout his ministry there. Originally held on Labor Day weekend, it was later moved to the second weekend in June.

“It’s been wonderful and beautiful ever since,” he said.

The downtown parish has become known for serving a diverse Catholic community that includes longtime Green Bay families, Hispanic Catholics from across Latin America and an increasing number of bilingual young families.

“I would say we’re eclectic,” Fr. Cribben said. “We try to live our motto by inviting anybody who wants to come here.”

He noted that the parish’s Hispanic membership itself reflects many cultures and traditions.

Fr. Cribben regularly celebrates Mass and ministers in both English and Spanish. He said parishioners have encouraged him as he continues improving his fluency.

“They tell me it’s pretty good,” he said of his Spanish. “I feel like I’m still learning, and I stumble over my words sometimes, but I try to be humble, and the people are very gracious.”

The diversity was reflected in both the crowd and the food served throughout the afternoon.

“This is as authentic as it gets,” said Leo Castro, this year’s event coordinator.

Castro, who works testing cheese at a local factory, volunteered for the leadership role after attending an organizational meeting where no one stepped forward to coordinate the event.

“I kept waiting for somebody to raise their hand,” he said with a laugh. “Nobody did. After nobody did, I said, ‘Okay, if I’m going to do it, I guess let’s do it all the way.’”

The menu included Mexican, Colombian and Nicaraguan specialties, most of them homemade and donated by parish families.

“Everybody enjoys bringing the dishes they enjoy eating,” Castro said. “That’s what they bring for everybody to enjoy.”

The food also reflected regional styles within Hispanic culture, giving festival-goers an opportunity to experience traditions from different countries and regions.

Robyn Hallet, president of the parish council, said the event helps strengthen relationships within the parish’s multicultural community.

“The best part is the community and the way we can build bridges between the two main cultures here, the Hispanic culture and the Anglo culture,” Hallet said. “It doesn’t matter if you speak the same language. You can enjoy the same food and music and just enjoy being together.”

Children moved between game booths while families lingered over homemade meals and conversations in both English and Spanish.

For Castro, seeing the event come together after months of preparation was deeply rewarding.

“Before, it was all logistics — what do we need, where are we going to get it, when do we need it,” he said. “Now you can see everybody out there enjoying themselves.”

Parish leaders said the festival is more than a fundraiser. It is also part of the parish’s mission of hospitality, creating a place where newcomers feel welcomed and longtime parishioners remain connected to their faith community.

Although located within blocks of both St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, St. Willebrord Parish continues to attract parishioners from throughout the Green Bay area.

“There are not a lot of people who live downtown anymore,” Fr. Cribben said. “People choose to come here.”

For many Hispanic Catholics, he added, St. Willebrord remains especially significant.

“For the Hispanics, this is the mother church,” he said. “Even though they may live closer to other parishes now, they still love this place.”

Nearly a century after Norbertine priests first began serving St. Willebrord Parish in 1932, the parish continues to define itself through Fr. Cribben’s simple description: “We serve all people, all comers,” a mission reflected in a festival built around hospitality, culture and community.

Lee Mayer, who had fought against abortion since 1978, died last October

By Anne Smith | For On Mission

GREEN BAY, WI — Lee Mayer’s life mission was to safeguard the lives of unborn babies at risk of abortion. And she faithfully carried out that mission until the day she died, on October 31 of last year. 

Mayer, co-founder of the Alexandrina Pregnancy Resource Center in Green Bay, began her mission in 1978. With her friend Dorothy O’Malley, she began praying the Shield of Roses nine-rosary novena each week, rain or shine, outside of a clinic in Grand Chute that performed abortions. 

In the 1980s, Mayer and O’Malley began taking phone calls from young women facing unplanned pregnancies, partnering with St. Vincent Hospital to conduct pregnancy tests, and distributing diapers and other items from their garages. 

When they determined they needed a dedicated space, friend Grace Skaletski joined their mission, and they found room at the Sisters of Charity convent, filing official incorporation papers with the state of Wisconsin in 1991.

Today, the Alexandrina Pregnancy Resource Center serves more than 300 families a month through the work of 55 volunteers. It offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, baby supplies, and referrals to other community resources like WIC and housing assistance. And the center gives out an impressive 20,000 diapers a month!

“Lee was a strong woman who relied on her faith. She saw a need in the community, and she rolled up her sleeves and got to work doing something about it,” said Genny Jones, the center’s volunteer coordinator and current board president. “After founding the center, Lee served as board president for many years and remained on the board until the day she died, never missing a meeting. She was the motivating factor behind this (center).”

The Alexandrina Pregnancy Resource Center is unique in that it is led and staffed solely by volunteers. Jones and Administrator Ann Shibler believe it may be the only volunteer-run women’s clinic in the nation. It is also 100 percent funded by private donations and named as a lay apostolate of the Diocese of Green Bay.

“What Lee and her two co-founders, Dorothy and Grace, did, without a strategy and without a plan, and what they built over the decades with all volunteers, is incredible. Notable leaders in the pro-life movement who visit have said they’ve never seen anything like it,” Shibler said. “This is Lee’s legacy, and it has been a labor of love. We offer love, compassion and kindness — and we help anyone who comes through our doors.”

According to Jones, the center recorded 3,200 total visits last year, representing 643 individual family units, and conducted 137 pregnancy tests. She said clients visit the center for many reasons. It could be an unplanned pregnancy, but it could also be that they can’t provide for their family. They see a fair number of transient women and children. And clients often seek emotional and spiritual support in addition to their material needs. 

“People come to our doors for a reason, and we walk side by side with them, wherever they are,” Jones said.

According to 20-year volunteer Ellen Tillman, the focus on human connection stems from Mayer’s love for others and her unwavering faith in God.

“Lee treated everyone with so much love that you felt you belonged here, you never wanted to leave,” Tillman said. “More than anything else, I learned about the power of prayer from Lee. When an issue arose, she said she would take it home in prayer, and she always reminded us to rely on God. She taught me to pray with clients, and that was a powerful thing. Today, clients often ask us to pray over their babies, and that is because of Lee’s impact.”

Shibler shared a similar sentiment. “I learned more from Lee about unconditional love than from anywhere else. And she always said, ‘God’s in charge.’ We would agonize over decisions, financial challenges, and the like, but she never did; she just had faith.”

In May of last year, the center completed a needed expansion and held an open house attended by Bishop David Ricken, Mayer, and many donors and friends of the center. At the event, leaders named the new space after Mayer and her late husband, calling it the Lee and Del Mayer Donation Center. Mayer’s passing on October 31 marked the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death. 

“Lee relied on her faith and believed God would provide, and God always did,” Jones said. “She led by example and had such an open heart and nonjudgmental way. She was a great role model.”

Fr. Nathan Budde becomes newest priest of the Diocese of Green Bay

By William Van de Planque | On Mission

GREEN BAY, WI — The newest priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, Fr. Nathan Budde, was ordained to the priesthood at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral this past Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Just over a year ago, Fr. Budde was ordained to the diaconate in the same place, and had been serving St. Leonard Parish in Muskego, Wisconsin, for his teaching parish assignment as a deacon, “where he learned much of the ins and outs of parish life,” said Bishop David Ricken, the principal celebrant at the ordination Mass.

Fr. Budde also assisted Fr. Dave Beaudry at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Newton for the past semester as he completed his preparation for his priestly ordination.

Principal concelebrants of the Mass included Abbot Bradley Vanden Branden, O. Praem., and Abbot Dane Radecki of St. Norbert Abbey, as well as priests of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, and St. Francis de Sales Seminary and Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Milwaukee, where Fr. Budde studied theology and received priestly formation, among others.

“As a priest, Deacon Nathan is most looking forward to hearing confessions and offering a word of counsel, as it has been a blessing for him to have received much beautiful counsel himself in this important sacrament over the years,” Bishop Ricken said in his homily.

“Deacon Nathan has been blessed to have many influential priests in his life, perhaps most importantly, Fr. Daniel Schuster,” Bishop Ricken said.

In an interview with On Mission, Fr. Schuster spoke about the importance of family life, closeness to the liturgy, and awe and wonder at the mysteries of God in Fr. Budde’s vocational discernment.

“The Budde family is a family that strove to live good, ordinary, holy lives,” Fr. Schuster said. “Family life was a very important catalyst for prayer and for discerning a vocation.”

He spoke about the benefit of proximity to the sacraments and different liturgies in practicing prayer and discernment early in life.

“I think the number one influence (was) regular participation in the liturgy and that, of course, it flows from there and into the home,” he said.

Fr. Schuster, who Budde also chose to be his confirmation sponsor, recognized the importance of respecting Budde’s freedom to discern the call and not simply acting as a recruiter when accompanying him as a spiritual guide.

“Part of my accompaniment was to completely respect his freedom, teach prayer, foster conversation, and just be there,” he said.

Fr. Schuster spoke about a theme in Budde’s journey toward the priesthood to which Bishop Ricken alluded during the Mass.

“From early on, Nathan had curiosity and awe and wonder for the presence of God,” Fr. Schuster said.

During his homily, Bishop Ricken told a story about a young Nathan Budde that was relayed to him by Fr. Schuster, who lived at St. Francis Xavier Rectory in De Pere and served as vocations director for the diocese at the time that Budde was in the seventh grade, attending Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School.

Bishop Ricken described a morning when an ambulance came to the home of a woman who lived across the street from the school that Fr. Budde attended. More than 100 students playing in the parking lot rushed to the fence to see what was happening.

By the time Fr. Schuster arrived on the scene and went into the home of the woman to offer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, all the students had lost interest, except for Budde, who stayed at the fence watching the work of a priest.

Fr. Schuster described the look on Budde’s face “as one of curiosity, wonder and awe,” Bishop Ricken said. “Although he was only in the seventh grade, it was the same look a good priest has when approaching the sacred mysteries.”

See more photos here: onmiss.io/buddepriesthoodphotos

MANITOWOC, WI — The Felician Village Board of Directors has officially approved plans for a new 20-bed assisted living unit, The Commons at Felician Village, further expanding its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of older adults in the Manitowoc area.

The Commons at Felician Village will be a state-licensed Community-Based Residential Facility (CBRF) and will be developed through the transformation of the organization’s former Next Step Rehabilitation unit. This strategic shift reflects both the growing demand for high-quality assisted living services and the continued evolution of senior care, where more individuals are seeking supportive, residential-style environments rather than traditional skilled nursing care. As part of the renovation, a movie theater and art studio will also be constructed in current office space in the Village Square. These amenities will be available to all Felician Village residents.

“The decision to move forward with The Commons represents an important step in aligning our life plan campus with the needs of today’s aging adults,” said Luke Schubert, president/CEO. “We are seeing a clear progression in how care is delivered, with greater emphasis on assisted living options that promote independence and quality of life.”

While this transition repurposes the existing rehabilitation space, Felician Village will continue to offer short-term rehabilitation services within St. Mary’s Nursing Home, ensuring that individuals in the community still have access to the post-acute care and therapy services they require.

The Commons at Felician Village is tentatively scheduled to open in fall 2026 and will provide residents with a welcoming community environment rooted in Felician Village’s longstanding mission and core values.

Community members are encouraged to follow progress updates and learn more about the project by visiting felicianvillage.org and following Felician Village on social media.

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach named as recipient of the 2026 Achievement Citation at Assembly 2026

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) has announced Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach (HSMO) as the recipient of the 2026 Achievement Citation at Assembly 2026. The organization was honored at the Assembly 2026 awards banquet on June 3.

HSMO addresses critical global needs by strengthening health systems, expanding access to medical care, and promoting sustainable development. As a Medical Supply and Equipment Recovery Organization, HSMO collects, refurbishes, and distributes quality medical supplies and equipment in low-resource countries. Beyond donations, HSMO provides technical biomedical support, empowering partner communities to build lasting health infrastructure, equip trained professionals, and create economic development. HSMO aims to ensure every donation is usable, repairable, and appropriate to the setting.

“Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach is honored to be selected for this prestigious award,” said Erica Smith, executive director of HSMO. “Our work is a collaborative effort that depends on many Catholic health systems around the nation for donations. Across the globe, each year Mission Outreach’s contributions support clinical healthcare access for 28 million people in low-resource areas. This recognition from CHA shows the impact that can be made when Catholic health entities work together to help people and communities in need.”

Each year, CHA’s Achievement Citation recognizes an outstanding program or service that exemplifies the ministry’s commitment to carry on Jesus’ mission of compassion and healing. 

The Achievement Citation is given to a CHA-member organization that is the creator and lead sponsor or partner in an original, bold, innovative program that delivers measurable results for the community served. Programs are selected because they are inspirational for the sponsoring organization, the people it serves, the community, and beyond, and they will be available for replication within CHA’s membership.

By Lyn Zahorik | For On Mission

I’ve always found the Gospel for this particular Sunday to be one of the delightfully subtle examples of Jesus’ sense of humor. He tells the disciples to pray for more workers … and then, as the amen is falling from the disciples’ lips, Jesus turns around and commissions them to do the job themselves. It makes you wonder if this is where the phrase “be careful what you pray for” got its start.

But beneath the humor lies something deeply personal — and a little unsettling. When Jesus looks at the crowd, he sees people who are troubled and adrift, and something in him aches. A real, gut-level compassion.

Out of that compassion, he starts gathering his “dream team.” He bypasses the seminaries of his day — the scribes and professional theologians — and instead calls fishermen, a tax collector nobody trusted, a political hothead, and several others whose biggest claim to fame is that we barely remember what they did at all. Their qualifications are uneven. Their personalities don’t mix particularly well. Their pasts are messy.

And yet — he sends them.

And this quietly dismantles one of our favorite excuses: “I’m not ready yet.” Every Christian — regardless of education, status, or confidence level — is drawn into Christ’s mission. 

The priest, the theologian, and the grandmother praying the Rosary are not competing for different tiers of usefulness. They are participating in the same mystery from different places: a life rooted in Christ and poured out for others. This is because mission doesn’t begin with what we know — it begins with love that listens, love that follows, love that remains in Jesus, the One we love.

Then comes the job description, which, frankly, sounds a little outrageous. Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Cleanse lepers. Cast out demons. Proclaim the Kingdom. It reads less like a parish sign-up sheet and more like a superhero contract. Maybe that’s exactly the point. The Church has always been a slightly improbable assembly of ordinary people asked to do extraordinary things — not by relying on their strength, but by trusting in his.

And then there’s one line that can feel a bit surprising: “Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:6). At first, it almost sounds like Jesus is narrowing the mission. What? Isn’t Jesus’ mission to reach out to everyone? 

Yes, but here Jesus is teaching something simple and profoundly human: mission begins close to home. You don’t start by saving the world. You start with your family, your parish, your neighbor, the person already placed in your path. Even Jesus begins there — rooted, local, personal — before the message spreads outward to all nations.

So maybe the real question isn’t “Am I qualified?” Maybe the question is much simpler — and yet much harder: “Do I love him enough to let him send me anyway?” 

When that answer becomes “yes” — even a small, trembling yes — don’t be surprised if the next time Bishop David Ricken invites you to pray for missionary disciples to go out, you suddenly find yourself becoming part of the answer to your very own prayer.

The readings for Sunday, June 14, can be found at Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.

The separate Eucharistic processions of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, and St. Jude the Apostle Parish converged at Lourdes Academy

By Michael Cooney | For On Mission

OSHKOSH, WI — The Corpus Christi Eucharistic procession held Sunday in Oshkosh may have been unique not only within the Diocese of Green Bay, but perhaps nationally, with three Catholic parishes processing simultaneously from different parts of the city before arriving together at a common destination for Benediction and fellowship.

Participants from St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish at the St. Peter site and St. Jude the Apostle Parish at the Sacred Heart site each began separate Eucharistic processions from their respective churches before converging at Lourdes Academy. The gathering concluded with Benediction and a reception honoring departing parish and school leaders.

“This is the sixth year that we are doing this together,” said Fr. Tom Long, who described the event as “a prayerful walk.”

As the groups moved through Oshkosh neighborhoods, participants prayed quietly, recited the Rosary, and sang hymns while volunteer safety road guards from each parish helped guide the processions safely through intersections and along city streets.

The event was conducted on the Feast of Corpus Christi, formally known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, a Catholic feast day dating back to 1264 and long associated with public Eucharistic processions.

In a Eucharistic procession, the consecrated host is carried in a monstrance by a priest, while the faithful walk, pray, and sing together as a public witness of their faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Fr. Ben Pribbenow said the procession reflects an ancient Catholic tradition and serves as a visible expression of faith that remains relevant today.

“I think it shows our great devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist,” Fr. Pribbenow said. “We recognize that we walk with Jesus throughout our daily lives. We take particular time to literally walk with him in the holy Eucharist, so it’s a witness to the community of what we believe.”

“We’re not worshiping a piece of bread,” he said. “We’re worshiping Jesus, whom we know to be really present there. I think that’s timeless.”

Fr. Pribbenow, ordained three years ago, said he believes the coordinated Oshkosh event may be unlike any other in the diocese.

“I don’t think I’ve heard of anything else like it where you have all the parishes come to one central location for a Benediction,” he said. “So yeah, I think it is unique.”

The local procession also reflects a broader resurgence of Eucharistic devotion in the Catholic Church in the United States through the National Eucharistic Revival launched by the U.S. bishops in 2022.

Fr. Pribbenow said taking faith visibly into the public square requires courage.

“It definitely takes some guts to stand up for our faith,” he said. “I think in the United States in particular, Catholics are often a little sheepish and don’t want to share or say, ‘Yeah, I’m Catholic.’ But this is a situation where we’ve got a lot of people with strong faith here who are doing it.”

He said he hoped participants would leave strengthened not only in their faith, but also in their sense of Catholic community.

“The people here are blessed by being able to see fellow parishioners or parishioners from other parishes having that same devotion,” he said. “I pray that people come from here even more strengthened in their belief of Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist and feel more drawn into a relationship with him because of it.”

For many participants, the experience was deeply personal.

“I just love Jesus, love the Eucharist, and wanted to process with him and share him with all the folks in Oshkosh,” said Brent Jensen of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish.

Jensen described the experience of walking through the city streets behind the Blessed Sacrament as both joyful and peaceful.

“It was a beautiful day, much cooler than last year,” he said. “It was just wonderful to share him with everyone.”

Larry Heacock said he participated to demonstrate publicly that faith remains an important part of the Oshkosh community.

“To really just share the face of Christ with others in the Oshkosh community,” Heacock said. “To be that person to say that there is a faith community in Oshkosh and that we’re willing to share ourselves out there with others in our community.”

Several other participants expressed similar sentiments throughout the afternoon, with one common reaction repeated often along the route and at Lourdes Academy: “This is a really cool event, and I am so pleased they are doing it, and (that) we can be part of it.”