Two Rivers' new parish names first pastor

Fr. William O'Brien has been named the pastor of the new merged Two Rivers Parish of St. Peter the Fisherman effective July 1. He is currently pastor at Most Holy Redeemer/Sacred Heart Parish, Two Rivers.

The merger is a combination of Most Holy Redeemer/Sacred Heart, St. Mark and St. Luke parishes in Two Rivers.

The parishes have been working on the merger for the last eight or nine years. Already, Most Holy Redeemer and Sacred Heart parishes have merged, and St. Mark and St. Luke share a pastor, Fr. Larry Seidl, who will move to a Green Bay parish in June.

A joint transition committee was formed in Two Rivers a year ago, and has worked out a combined staffing plan for the new parish.

The four worship sites will continue to be used for the present.

Under canon law, each church building has to retain its original name. However, since a newly formed community of people can be given a new name, the new parish community being formed will be called St. Peter the Fisherman.

Parishes in Two Rivers have a long history of cooperation and collaboration, due in large part to educational experiences such as religious education programs, youth ministry and adult education opportunities, as well as shared Catholic schooling under the Two Rivers Catholic Education System (TRCES).