‘Our visitors often find that Mass is the best part of their vacation’
Story and photography by Lisa Haefs | For On Mission
The message of Hebrews 13:1-2 gains special significance during the summer in the Diocese of Green Bay, when the Northwoods welcomes thousands of vacationers and seasonal residents.
“Whether you are a mega-church or a small parish, the main thing is how you embrace others,” said Susan Hickey of SS. James & Stanislaus Parish in White Lake. “God wants every soul to enter a place of worship. How you are received can make the difference.”
Throughout the summer, parishes embrace visitors by adding Masses, getting out the extra chairs and hosting events, ranging from salad luncheons and church picnics to doughnut Sundays and special collections.
“Mass is a great way to connect with your community, especially if you are a visitor,” said Fr. Joel Sember, pastor of Antigo Area Catholic Churches. “We share common values, and Jesus is our mutual friend. Our visitors often find that Mass is the best part of their vacation.”
Fr. Sember, joined by Fr. Gamal Gopu, serves St. John Parish and SS. Mary & Hyacinth Parish in Antigo, as well as St. Wenceslaus Parish in Neva and SS. James & Stanislaus Parish in White Lake. With such far-flung responsibilities, the priests note that welcoming guests falls on the parishioners.
“I create an environment where people feel safe, while the parishes do a lot of the work,” Fr. Sember said. “They make sure the church feels like home.”
“I go to many churches, but this place is home,” said summertime resident Nancy Kiefer of SS. James & Stanislaus Parish. “You feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in these people.”
The welcoming atmosphere in the parish, which has about 40 families, begins in the narthex, where ushers and parishioners warmly greet guests.
“Everyone is acknowledged when they walk in the door,” Hickey said. “We are glad they are here because we are one in the Body of Christ. His Holy Spirit is the one who brings people here.”
SS. James & Stanislaus Parish also focuses on the visiting children, encouraging them to ring the church bell, assist the ushers and join Fr. Gopu for prayers.
“They feel embraced,” Hickey said. “Father says to the little ones, ‘You’re not just here with your parents, you are one of us.’”
In Elcho, Holy Family Parish adds a second Mass to accommodate summertime visitors.
“That added Mass is huge,” Sue Bowen said, stressing that the parish places a priority on welcoming visitors, including a prayer for safe travels at the conclusion of Mass and a blessing of visitors at summer’s end.
“It’s always exciting to have the summer people,” Bowen said. “It’s fun to see all the families. Many come back year after year. We see them grow up.”
St. Mary Parish in Pickerel also adds a second Mass, which is vital since the congregation sees the number of people attending services swell fourfold, from about 50 in the winter months to over 200 on a summer weekend.
The parish has responded with ingenuity, installing accordion doors between the sanctuary and the parish hall, where overflow seating is placed.
“What really welcomes people north is our environment here, with the forests and the lakes,” Nancy Killoren said. “It’s God’s creation and it’s very easy to worship in it.”
Generations of families have enjoyed vacationing in the Pickerel area, and it’s wonderful to see them return, participate in various church roles and enjoy the summertime events, she said.
“Our visitors do more for us than we do for them,” Killoren said. “They are always willing to help and pitch in. We couldn’t survive without our visitors contributing to our parish. We are so grateful to them.”
Overflow seating is also common at St. Mary of the Lakes Parish in Lakewood, where Lois Fischer estimated that attendance triples during the summer months.
“The narthex is always full of chairs,” she said. “Sometimes on the Fourth of July, there are people standing in the aisles.”
Linda Denz, who began coming to St. Mary of the Lakes Parish as a weekender, cited the connectedness
in the congregation.
“We are here to give thanks for this beautiful place, to share the love of nature and the love of God,” she said.
St. Mary of the Lakes Parish features a series of murals and stained glass designed by the late Fr. Leo Lessard that depict natural scenes from the area, including deer and fish.
The sense of family permeates throughout the congregation, especially at the summer Masses.
“You see generational people,” Lenz said. “We come here because, in doing so, we keep our family close.”
Church representatives agreed that, in the end, the key to creating a welcoming atmosphere and encouraging visitors to attend Mass is sharing the message of Christ.
“It’s the universal Church,” Bowen said. “I can walk into any Catholic church in the world and feel comfortable and at home. Sometimes you don’t need to do more than that.”