Welcome to St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish

A message from Father Tony dated May 12, 2020

A Blessed Easter to you!!

For almost 2 months already, we’ve been observing the following directives: Stay home-save lives, social distancing and stay healthy to combat the spread of this Covid 19 virus. This pandemic has created a shift in our spiritual lives preventing us to perform public worship even on Sundays in our Parish Church since March 22, 2020 until now. But by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we were able to find ways of deepening our prayer life by being together with our families. We made our homes as the sanctuary where we could gather in praise and thanksgiving to God our Father. We made use of live streaming in celebrating Mass so that we could witness virtually the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist. We kept this saying: “The family that prays together stays together.”

I want to take this opportunity to inform you that Bishop David through consultation with Priests Personnel Board has decided that I will be reassigned to the Quad Parishes in Green Bay – Annunciation Parish, St. Joseph Parish, St. Jude & St. Patrick. It is Bishop Ricken’s intent to assign a new priest to replace me as of August 3 of this year. Plans are being finalized for my replacement and I will inform you of the details as soon as they are ready.

Bishop David has asked that we, along with Oconto, Oconto Falls and Stiles engage in dialogue about possibly reworking the dynamics of the four parishes. The Diocese has learned that running three parishes and a Catholic School is a lot of work for one priest. In the coming days and weeks, myself, along with our parish leadership will work with the Diocese and the other three parishes to assess if there is a better way to care for the four parishes and re-link them accordingly. Our hope is to finalize any decision before I leave St. Max Kolbe on August 3^rd.

Journeying with you for the past 3 years was really an awesome experience. I have enjoyed my pastoral ministry with you. Your simplicity of life, your warm welcome and support, your generosity and concern have been my strong motivation to accompany you as Disciples on the Way.

I adopted the Franciscan spirit of St. Max Kolbe – to be an instrument of peace – & his famous motto from the saying of Jesus: “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” I shall carry these fruitful experiences with me in new assignment. By the way, I’ve learned to go hunting and fishing which I’ve never dreamed before. For all these, I’m so grateful to all of you.

Rest assured, we shall always be connected in our prayers and sacrifices doing everything for God’s greater glory.

Glory and praise to our God!
 
Fr. Tony