Door County: Lenten Outreach Destination

Paul Keggington

March 15, 2009

On March 14, 2009, a band of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity including Sister Chiara LaValley, novice and Pam Piesel, postulant, journeyed to Corpus Christi Parish, Sturgeon Bay, WI. This Door County community is where past members of the Franciscan Sisters historically helped open a parochial school in the basement of a church in September 1908.

The Franciscan troupe shared their gifts of music at the Saturday evening Eucharistic liturgy. Although “an American Religious Identification Survey, released this week, showed a 10 percentage point decline in the past 18 years in the number of Wisconsinites who identify themselves as Catholic”, this Door County water village parish was vibrant and the church full.

After Mass Father Carol Schmitt, current pastor, invited Father Tony Birdsall, former pastor, two special guests and the Sisters to dine at a local pizza place. All were filled with good food and light-hearted conversation.�

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