AWARD PRESENTATION: Sr. Francis Bangert, OSF, is the recipient of the 2024 Whatsoever You Do, Inc., Dorothy Day Award, recognizing her founding of Wellspring, a daytime resource center for women in Green Bay, as well as her service to women in restorative justice settings, prison and jails, and for advocating for women in human trafficking situations.
Tony Pichler, who founded Whatsoever You Do with Deacon Steve Meyer, presented the honor to Sr. Fran, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, at an “Evening of Prayer, Reflection, Song and Sharing” on Jan. 15 at the Whatsoever You Do House of Hospitality in Green Bay.
“I think of all the ways that Sr. Fran has loved broken people, particularly broken women,” said Pichler. “Helping them to come back together again, to come back together into a wholeness. … In so many ways to come back together to something more beautiful than when Sr. Fran initially encountered them.”
For more information about Whatsoever You Do, Inc., visit Whatsoever You Do, Inc.
HUMANE SOCIETY SUPPORT: The Sacred Heart School community in Shawano was challenged Dec. 2-18, 2024, with collecting at least 1,000 individual items for the Shawano Humane Society. If successful, the reward for students would be to turn their principal, Gary Cumberland, and Fr. Edward Looney, pastor, into “human ice cream sundaes.” The school community collected 1,003 items.
Photo: Abel Mathwich finishes pouring a sundae topping on the head of Fr. Edward Looney while Logan Frechette, far right, and Autumn Gee, back, director of admissions and development at Sacred Heart School, look on. Students turned Fr. Looney and principal Gary Cumberland into “human ice cream sundaes” on Dec. 20 in celebration of the school community collecting more than 1,000 items for the Shawano Humane Society. (Sacred Heart School Photo | Special to On Mission)
AUDITIONS: “All Rise! The Northeast Wisconsin Passion Play,” a dramatic musical based on the life of Christ, will be performed Thursday, April 10, through Sunday, April 13, at the Xavier Fine Arts Theatre, 1600 W. Prospect Ave., Appleton. Cast auditions will be held on Thursday evening, Jan. 30, and Saturday morning, Feb. 1, by appointment. Students in third grade and above and adults of all ages are invited to audition. To schedule an audition, visit ALL RISE! The Northeast Wisconsin Passion Play: Join Our Cast to fill out a cast application. People of all faiths are welcome. Auditions, rehearsals and performances are held at the Xavier Fine Arts Theatre.
WORSHIP SPACE SAFETY: The seventh annual Wisconsin House of Worship Safety and Security Symposium will be held Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, at Comfort Inn and Suites, 1951 Bond St., Green Bay. The symposium is designed for anyone responsible for the safety and security of their congregation and facilities. Breakout sessions will focus on practical, hands-on solutions to safety and security challenges. An early bird price of $99 is available through March 1. All registrations after that date are $125. To register or for more information, visit 7th Annual House of Worship Safety and Security Symposium | Corporate Training | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
SUMMER CAMP: Registration is officially open for the summer of 2025 at Camp Tekakwitha, located on Loon Lake in Shawano. Summer opportunities include day camp sessions, residential camp, leadership programs and family camp sessions. For more information on the diocesan camp, visit Camp Tekakwitha | Summer Camp.