Mission Update: July 2021

Our parish mission roadmap is focused around 4 key areas: Evangelizaton & Discipleship, Liturgy & Encounter, Pastoral Outreach, & Parish Operations.  We have seen some great growth in all of these areas in the past few months, and are excited for the plans coming out of each area for the coming months. 

Evangelization & Discipleship 

including Discipleship Nights, Missionary Disciple Formation, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, RCIA, Sacramental Preparation, etc.

Our Missionary Discipleship Intensive is halfway through our year together!  We've been meeting twice a month to deepen our relationships with Christ and discover how to more fruitfully share Jesus and our faith with others.  

Our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) year finished in May and our Level 1 Atrium (ages 3-6) has been rewarding for both children and their families.  The team is being trained for Level 2 Atrium (ages 6-9 year olds) this summer. Stay tuned for more information on how to sign a child up for CGS in August. 

Liturgy & Encounter

including liturgical music & environment, liturgical ministers, hospitality, adoration, prayers & devotions, new encounter initiatives, etc

As many of you know, we have been looking for a Director of LIturgy and Encounter for well over a year.  This week, we are in the final stages of hiring that position.  We are hopeful to be able to make an announcement and introductions in the next week or so.  Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the hiring process.   

The primary responsibility of the new Director of Liturgy and Encounter will be to help to foster and support a prayerful and sacramental culture of encounter through the parish’s worship experiences. The Director will work with the pastor and the liturgy team to articulate, develop, and implement a vision and mission for liturgy and encounter that supports evangelization and discipleship.

We have seen our Mass attendance numbers increase steadily over the past year.  Now - one full year into having Mass available again in person - our attendance has leveled off.  Our current weekend Mass attendance is about 1/2 of where we were before the pandemic.  Bishop Ricken has not yet announced an official timeline for when he will lift the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.  

Pastoral Outreach 

including Care Ministry, ministry to the homebound, St. Anne Clinic, Warming Shelter, healing prayer ministry, and more! 

Our Parish Mission Center (in the St. Peter school building) is rapidly becoming a hub of missionary outreach in our local community including serving the St. Anne Clinic,  the Warming Shelter, Praise His Name with Dancing, the OASD WIT program, and numerous local support groups.  

Over the next few months, the Mission Center will undergo a massive cleaning, reorganization, and interior paint refresh to continue to develop this facility into an outward focused mission outreach in our community.  Teen Help Out Day.  We are currently planning to hold an Open House during the 2021-2022 school year to help our parish and local community see how the space is being and can be used to serve most effectively.  

Our Parish Outreach Team is also beginning the hiring process for the Relationship Coordinator (funded by the one by One Capital Campaign).  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to bring the right person to serve our parish mission in this particular way.  

Parish Operations

including buildings & grounds, communications, human resources, office management, etc

A Buildings & Grounds Committee is being formed and has started a building audit for all our parish facilities.  The committee is working on developing a list of all the capiial projects and repairs that are needed for our current facilities and will then work with the Finance Council and Father Jerry to prioritize those needs. 

Our new Trustees were elected in May.  The trustees, along with the Leadership Team, staff and Father Jerry have been working with the Diocesan office of Parish Operations on a functional alignment process.  This process will help us make sure we are making the best use of the gifts, talents, and personnel resources we currently have to serve our mission and keep the parish operations running smoothly.  

St Mary's Rectory to Become A House of Formation 

As many of you know, the St. Mary's Rectory has been offered as living quarters for parishioners in need since our parish was founded; however, it has been sitting empty for the past 5 years.  We are happy to announce that this space will no longer be empty! 

Fr. Zach, the Newman Center chaplain at UWO, will be using the Rectory space as a house of formation for male students from UWO.

What is A House of Formation?

A house of formation is a place where men support each other to grow in virtue and holiness as they discern their vocation in life. They will eat, pray, and clean together, and encourage one another as they grow in community.

How does this fit the MBS Mission?

The grounding in faith and rhythm of sacramental life will ensure that the men are intentionally encouraged and provided opportunities to Encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.  

As the University campus lies within our parish boundaries & mission field, this outreach becomes both a way that we are Living the Gospel example of how Jesus formed his disciples - in community with one another.  

Through the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, this house of formation will Bring Others to Christ by helping to foster vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and married life.

Next Steps

We are in the process of updating the electrical and plumbing so that the space is livable and safe again. The old carpeting has also been removed to get the house ready. 

Fr. Zach is hoping to have the house ready by this fall and will be hosting an open house to share the vision with our parish, the UWO Newman Center students, and the Catholic Community of Oshkosh. 

If you would like to contact Fr. Zach with any questions please do so via email at [email protected] or call the Newman Center at (920) 233-5555.