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GREEN BAY — The Compass staff kicked off Catholic Press Month Feb. 5 with a Mass and reception at the diocesan offices. Bishop David Ricken celebrated Mass for the staff, diocesan employees and invited guests. About 100 people attended the Mass at St. Joseph Chapel and luncheon that followed at Bona Hall.

The event was held to celebrate the diocesan newspaper’s redesign as well as the redesign of its Web site, www.thecompassnews.org. The first issue featuring the new look — which is anchored by a new flag atop page one — went to press Feb. 3 and copies of the paper were available at the luncheon. Laptop computers linked to the Internet also displayed the newspaper’s new Web site.

Goal of this year’s campaign is $5.25 million

First in a series on the Bishop’s Appeal

ALLOUEZ — Inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of the Year of St. Paul, “Bringing Christ to All” is the theme for the 2009 Bishop’s Appeal.

“Being open to the Holy Spirit means having a heart and mind ready to do God’s work,” said Bishop David Ricken. “In the Year of St. Paul, we remember how Paul took Jesus’ message to the Gentiles. He was ‘Bringing Christ to All.'”

Frigo’s vision of helping poor continues at Paul’s Pantry

GREEN BAY — Twenty-five years ago, Leo Frigo put his faith into action by starting Paul’s Pantry to help feed the poor. At first, supermarkets and restaurants frowned on donating excess or outdated food to the pantry, so Frigo would rummage through grocery store dumpsters to find edible food.

Within one year, the retired president of Frigo Cheese had convinced associates in the Wisconsin Legislature to pass legislation protecting businesses that donate food (and charitable organizations that hand out food) from civil liability. Statute 895.51 cleared the way for large donations to Paul’s Pantry and resulted in a successful program that helps thousands of Brown County residents each year.

Two Rivers parish hosts Survivors of Suicide group

TWO RIVERS — “I was always looking for better, but better never came,” said Polly Ziniti. “It just got different. It still impacts you. It impacts you for life.”
In July, Ziniti will mark the 15th anniversary of the suicide death of her 17-year-old daughter, Karen Manna.

“We’re reaching the point where she is soon going to be dead as many years as she was alive,” said Ziniti. “I think about how I will be old and she will always be young in my mind, my memories. I still have periods that I cannot believe that this happened. Did we really go through all this?”

Notre Dame students visit Bay Settlement sisters to learn about life in the convent

GREEN BAY — The hills were alive in the Bay Settlement area, Saturday, Jan. 31, as cast members from Notre Dame Academy’s “The Sound of Music” visited the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross.

A melodious blend of sopranos and altos resonated off the chapel walls as 17 members of the show’s sisters’ chorus performed the powerful “Alleluia, Alleluia” from the famed musical. These stage-sisters also sang along with the real-life Franciscan sisters as they celebrated Mass together.

Calls fight against abortion ‘spiritual battle’

GREEN BAY — During his homily at the annual Respect for Life Mass Jan. 23 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Bishop David Ricken described what he sees as the challenges and hopes of the pro-life movement. He also encouraged people of faith to increase their efforts to end abortion.

In perhaps his most passionate address since becoming bishop of Green Bay last August, Bishop Ricken chastised abortion promoters for using “clever euphemisms and skilled artistry of persuasion” in their campaign to make abortion morally acceptable. His homily brought the crowd, estimated at about 500, to its feet for a 30-second standing ovation

Conversion of St. Paul serves as example for us today, says bishop

GREEN BAY – The importance of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Jan. 25, was heightened during this “Year of St. Paul,” June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009, as declared by Pope Benedict XVI.

Faithful of the Diocese of Green Bay gathered for Mass on Sunday afternoon at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral to honor this once opponent of the church who Jesus apprehended on the road to Damascus.

Hundreds turn out to support reform of immigration laws

GREEN BAY — About 300 area residents filled the Fr. Ken DeGroot Community Center at St. Willebrord Church Jan. 22 to hear religious and civic leaders call for reform of U.S. immigration laws and an end to immigration raids.

The event was sponsored by Justice Organization Sharing Hope & United for Action (JOSHUA), an interfaith social justice organization based in Green Bay. Ann McLean, chairperson of the event and a member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, said the meeting’s purpose was twofold.

MISHICOT — On a night when frigid temperatures forced most Wisconsin schools to cancel the following day’s classes, Marie Steeber decided to shave her head. She even invited 75 of her closest friends to watch.

Steeber’s hair-cutting exploit, held Jan. 14 at Holy Cross Religious Education Center, was the culmination of an Advent community service fund-raiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The foundation, named after a mythical mascot, raises funds to find cures for children’s cancer. To date, more than $50 million has been raised.

Fr. John Girotti hosts popular presentation at parishes around diocese

Editor’s note: Fr. John Girotti, pastor of parishes in Tigerton, Marion, Wittenberg and Leopolis, has been offering presentations on Catholic beliefs since 2002. The presentations, called “Know Your Faith,” serve to help Catholics respond to questions people — particularly evangelical Christians — have about the faith. Through funding from the Bishop’s Appeal, Fr. Girotti is offering his presentation at parishes around the diocese this year. His most recent stop was at St. Bernard Church in Green Bay Jan. 8, where he met with The Compass to discuss the success of Know Your Faith.