Bishop Ricken blesses landmark Habitat for Humanity development in Green Bay
GREEN BAY, WI — On Friday, October 3, Bishop David Ricken blessed the site of Habitat Homestead, the largest housing development in the history of Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity. This $4 million project on Green Bay’s east side marks a major milestone, featuring 13 new homes — seven single-family houses and two three-unit townhomes — designed to address the area’s growing need for affordable housing.
The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay was also honored for its two-decade partnership with Habitat through the Affordable Housing Institute. The Affordable Housing Institute was established by the Darlene and Donald J. Long Sr. family to enhance the availability of affordable housing and home ownership in the greater Green Bay area.
“For more than 20 years, the Catholic Foundation, through the Affordable Housing Institute, has proudly supported the Faith Build initiative with Habitat,” said Josh Diedrich, executive director of Catholic Foundation. “Thanks to the Long family’s generosity, we continue to ensure safe, affordable housing for local families.”
Habitat Homestead offers individuals and families the opportunity to build strength and stability through homeownership, transforming lives and the community.
Equestrian Order promotes/awards members from Diocese of Green Bay
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem promoted two members of its Green Bay section and awarded a third member at the North Central Lieutenancy’s annual Investiture Weekend, held Sept. 12-15, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In a solemn ceremony held at the historic Gothic Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, Rev. James Thomas Baraniak, O. Praem., KCHS, was promoted to the rank of Knight Commander, and Dame Mary Anne Dollar, KC*HS, was promoted to the rank of Dame Commander with Star. The promotions, which are conferred upon members for their devoted service to the lieutenancy, the Equestrian Order and the Holy Land, were conferred by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Ronald A. Hicks, KC*HS, bishop of Joliet and the lieutenancy’s coadjutor prior. Fr. Baraniak is pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in De Pere, and Dame Mary Anne is a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay.
In the same ceremony, Bishop Hicks also conferred the award of the Gold Palm of Jerusalem upon Dame Ann Marie Vorpahl, DGCHS. Dame Ann, who recently retired after many years as the North Central Lieutenancy’s vice chancellor of membership, is a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. The Gold Palm is conferred by the Order’s cardinal grand master only upon persons of exemplary moral conduct and meritorious service on behalf of the Equestrian Order or the Holy Land.
A Memorial Mass of St. John Chrysostom followed the ceremonies at the Cathedral, which was celebrated by Bishop Hicks and concelebrated by archbishops, bishops and priests of the Equestrian Order.
The Equestrian Order is a Pontifical Order of Chivalry under the protection of the Holy See, with origins that can be traced back to 1099 A.D. and the First Crusade. Members make a lifelong commitment to live a life of the Equestrian Order’s spirituality and make a commitment to the Equestrian Order’s mission of service and support for Christians in the Holy Land. Today, the Equestrian Order numbers over 30,000 members worldwide. The North Central Lieutenancy is one of nine lieutenancies of the Equestrian Order in the United States and covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
WCC celebrates lives that will be saved due to pause in abortions
MADISON, WI — The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), the public policy voice of Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops, welcomed a September 25 announcement that Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will pause abortions. This pause began on October 1, 2025.
Planned Parenthood’s action is in response to the new federal tax law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), which imposes a one-year prohibition on federal funding to certain entities that receive Medicaid funding and provide abortions.
Tia Izzia, WCC associate director for human life and social concerns, noted that no one knows how long the pause will last, but that “it is undeniable that many human lives will be saved for as long as the pause is in effect.
“While we celebrate the lives saved, we must redouble our efforts to support both mother and child. The entire state — public and private entities and individuals — must ensure that pregnant women receive the care they need to bring their unborn children to term, and to help both mother and child thrive in the years to come. This is why Wisconsin’s bishops support Assembly Bill 97, which expands postpartum care for mothers who are on Medicaid. The bill’s companion has already passed the Senate. It is time for the Assembly to advance the bill.
“Let us come together to walk alongside every family. They are Wisconsin’s greatest hope.”