Funeral Mass for Bob Harlan celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
GREEN BAY, WI — Bob Harlan, a faithful Catholic and the former Green Bay Packers president and CEO, died at Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center on March 5, 2026.
The funeral Mass for Harlan was celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral this Monday, March 23, 2026, after being postponed due to weather.
Fr. James Baraniak, O. Praem., the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in De Pere, was the main celebrant for the Mass, and Fr. Richard Getchel, a senior priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, and Fr. Ryan Krueger, the rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, concelebrated.
“As many of you know, Bob was incredibly faithful, an incredibly faithful man, a staunch believer in God and Jesus Christ, who worshipped Christ constantly and believed wholeheartedly in God’s promises to those who are faithful,” Fr. Baraniak said to those gathered.
During his homily, Fr. Baraniak shared a prayer that Harlan shared with him during Harlan’s last days at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center.
One of the lines of the prayer read: “God, you know that I’m proud to be a Catholic, and I hope that I’ve represented the Church as best as I could.”
Bishop David Ricken had planned to attend the funeral Mass, but was unable to after it was postponed, Fr. Baraniak said.
After the Mass, Fr. Baraniak read a letter from Bishop Ricken to the family, friends and members of the Green Bay Packers community gathered.
“I recall with great fondness the occasions I shared with Bob (Harlan),” read the letter from Bishop Ricken. “Like Vince Lombardi before him, Bob lived with a clear sense of priorities: faith first, then family, then football.”
A celebration of life event took place following the Mass at Lambeau Field Atrium.
Two international priests of the Diocese of Green Bay, along with 124 others, become U.S. citizens at Lambeau Field
GREEN BAY, WI — Fr. Celestine Byekwaso and Fr. Nonito Barra, two international priests currently in the Diocese of Green Bay, officially became citizens at the third annual naturalization ceremony at the Lambeau Field Atrium on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Fr. Byekwaso, originally from Uganda, is the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Marinette and has served as a temporary administrator at St. Anthony Parish, Niagara; St. Margaret Parish, Pembine; and Sacred Heart Parish, Aurora, since 2025.
Originally from Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines, Fr. Barra served for several years in different roles in the Archdiocese of Caceres before coming to the Diocese of Green Bay. He has served as the administrator of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah since 2022.
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 oath of allegiance to the United States of America, which all candidates took during the ceremony.
“Citizenship in this country is not a small thing to obtain,” said Woelfel during her address to the new citizens. “It takes time, perseverance and often great sacrifice.”
HSHS honors Wisconsin Market chief nursing officer, Isabelle Garibaldi, with prestigious DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
GREEN BAY, WI — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) announced that Isabelle Garibaldi, chief nursing officer for the HSHS Wisconsin Market, has been honored with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award, in a March 24, 2026, press release.
According to the release, the DAISY Award is a recognition program that celebrates and recognizes nurses by collecting nominations from patients, families and co-workers to thank nurses for the care and kindness they provide. The program has been adopted by thousands of health care organizations, including HSHS, in the U.S. and around the world.
The rare distinction of DAISY Lifetime Achievement recognizes nurses who have dedicated more than 25 years to the nursing profession, demonstrating a career-long commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate patient care.
Garibaldi joined HSHS in March 2024 as the chief administrative officer of HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay. Later that year, she was appointed chief nursing officer for the Wisconsin Market. In this role, she oversees nursing functions, best practices, and operational efficiencies across all HSHS hospitals in Northeast Wisconsin: St. Vincent Hospital, St. Vincent Children’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; and St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls.
“This recognition reflects a career defined by unwavering compassion, exceptional leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing nursing practice,” said Kelley Kostich, chief nursing executive of HSHS. “Her impact is felt not only in the outcomes we achieve, but in the countless nurses she has mentored and the lives she has touched. She truly exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, serve with heart, and inspire excellence across our ministry.”
Bob Erickson, president and CEO of the HSHS Wisconsin Market, noted that Garibaldi’s influence extends far beyond administrative duties.
“Isabelle is a true servant leader who has demonstrated a lifetime of excellence in leadership, clinical care, and making a positive impact in the lives of so many people,” Erickson said. “She always has the right priorities in putting the patient first and elevating the professional practice of nursing to build a culture of high reliability. She has humbly created a legacy that will never be forgotten and always appreciated.”