Two priests of the Diocese of Green Bay become naturalized U.S. citizens
By Nancy Barthel | For On Mission
GREEN BAY, WI — With the 250th celebration of the Declaration of Independence just a few months away, the Diocese of Green Bay had some historic news of its own on March 24, 2026, when two international priests serving here became naturalized U.S. citizens.
Fr. Celestine Byekwaso, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Marinette, and Fr. Nonito Barra, administrator of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah, were supported in their journeys by Laurie Martinez, immigration services manager for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay.
For the second year, the Lambeau Field Atrium was the site of the naturalization ceremony. A total of 124 people from 37 countries became naturalized U.S citizens that day.
The ceremony was hosted in partnership with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Tiffany Woelfel, a U.S. magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, presided over the ceremony and administered the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.
“Citizenship in this country is not a small thing to obtain,” Woelfel said to the new citizens. “It takes time, perseverance and often great sacrifice.”
With the ceremony now a few weeks past, Fr. Celestine and Fr. Barra reflected on the journeys that led each of them to become U.S. citizens.
Fr. Celestine’s journey
Fr. Celestine, who is from the Diocese of Kasana-Luweero in Uganda, arrived in the Diocese of Green Bay in 2005.
By age 10 or 11, Fr. Celestine said he knew he wanted to be a priest.
“One of my great uncles was a priest,” he said, recalling how his great uncle chanted in Latin while wearing his cassock. “I just wanted to be like him. That’s how my vocation started.”
After his ordination in 1982, Fr. Celestine taught for 10 years, then was sent to Europe to study spirituality, earning his licentiate in sacred theology.
He originally came to the United States for more education. The plan was to study at University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, then return home to teach.
“Then my bishop at the time, he asked me to come here to do some mission work, some fundraising for the diocese in Uganda. So we looked for dioceses who would take me in,” Fr. Celestine said.
Then-Green Bay Bishop David Zubik responded and Fr. Celestine met him for an interview. The two bishops agreed he would stay in the Diocese of Green Bay “on one condition,” he said, “that I would work in a parish so that the two dioceses would profit from my ministry.”
“During summer, I would concentrate on mission talks for the diocese in Uganda and, after the mission appeals, I would concentrate on mission work here,” Fr. Celestine said.
When it came to U.S. citizenship, “I thought about it, I prayed about it. After praying about it, I talked to some people,” he said, and then met with Martinez to explore citizenship.
Fr. Barra’s journey
Fr. Barra said he served for several years in different roles in the Archdiocese of Caceres, the Philippines, before coming to the Diocese of Green Bay in August 2014.
He said he continues to be “on loan” to the diocese.
“This is part of our mission program in our diocese,” Fr. Barra said, estimating there are about 40 priests from the Archdiocese of Caceres serving all over the world.
“It was a long process,” he said of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
“Before you become one, you need first to become a permanent resident of the United States for five years (with a green card) and then, after being here as a permanent resident for five years, you need to apply and then, of course, take the test, the interview,” Fr. Barra said.
“It was so good because I learned a lot of things about the United States of America, the history, the politics, the economy. It was a long process, but it was a good experience,” he said, adding, “It was fun.”
March 24 was a special day at the Lambeau Field Atrium, he said.
“It was so for me. It was a great experience, seeing a lot of people coming from other places and other countries, wanting to become part of this great nation,” Fr. Barra said.
Both priests said they were celebrated at school Masses after the naturalization ceremony.
‘It’s like a magical event’
Martinez described the naturalization ceremony as “magical.”
About 10 people who became naturalized U.S. citizens at the Lambeau ceremony were assisted by the Immigration Services of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay, she said.
For 22 years, Martinez has coordinated the detailed paperwork requirements for priests and religious who come from outside of the country to serve in the Diocese of Green Bay.
She said she was proud that her own daughter, Larissa Martinez, gave the introduction for the ceremony. She is the corporate giving coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
“Everybody’s had a different journey to get to this final step (of citizenship). It’s a happy day. Everybody’s so excited. … It’s a really good feeling. It’s like a magical event,” Martinez said.
The cost to begin the process for naturalization as a U.S. citizen is $760.
In September 2025, USCIS revamped its required civics test for naturalized U.S. citizens, increasing the number of questions from 100 to 128.
Have you ever wondered how you would do?
Find out at this link: uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/2025-Civics-Test-128-Questions-and-Answers.pdf.