Mission Trip Witness Story
March 19, 2026
A youth participant shares their story.
Hello, my name is Noah V. I am a freshman this year at Muskego High School. I was asked to speak again with all of you about the mission trip to the Catholic Heart Work Camp that took place in Britt Iowa this past July.
When I signed up for the mission trip last spring I knew that I was not going to know anyone. I was an 8th grader at the time and went here at St Leonards. Most of the kids already signed up for the trip were high schoolers, and that made me nervous about going. However, I didn’t want to miss out on what might have been a great experience so I signed up anyway.
Once I got to the camp, right away, I was invited to play cards with the other boys. I was able to become great friends with 5 boys from my youth group.
Not only did I make new friends, but I also had such a great time at the work camp.
The work camp was hosted by a local high school but run by the Catholic Heart Work Camp group which consisted of mostly college students. We slept in classrooms and ate in the cafeteria. Each day we would wake up and go to Mass, after Mass we would go to breakfast and then get assigned to a work area somewhere in the millions of corn fields of Iowa. My group consisted of 8 people. I got to know them very well throughout the week. Each day we prayed together, had fun and worked very hard.
Our first few days we were assigned to help a 93 year old woman with restaining a deck that her husband had built before he passed a few years prior. After we completed her deck we also helped her weed her garden and dugout stairs that had been covered with dirt over the past decade. We worked very hard and she was very grateful for all that was accomplished.
On a rainy day, my group was sent to the local YMCA to repaint the gym walls, the front lobby, the bathrooms and hallways. The painting was a nice change from working outside and we were happy to make the most of a rainy day.
In the evenings when we returned from our work sites, we would have dinner, and we got some free time to just hang out, take a nap, or play poker with fruit snacks as chips. Each night we had an evening program, a discussion, or games. One of the nights we had the opportunity to go to adoration and confession.
Throughout this experience I was able to bond deeply with God. I feel that this experience has personally changed me by making me more aware of the world and how people need help everywhere. We can all make a difference, whether it’s a whole group, or just one person.
If you were to ask me if I would go again, I would definitely say YES!
I hope that some of you would please consider supporting us in prayer and financially for our trip to Knoxville, Tennessee this June. It was a life changing experience for me and I know it can be for a lot of other people.
Thank you.
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After Mass this weekend, March 21 and 22, stop by the promotional table to purchase a "Saintly Services" stock certificate to make you part of the trip. Proceeds benefit the ability for our youth to travel and participate in the mission trip.
Knights of Columbus Council #6448 and St. Leonard's Christian Formation program are pleased to announce that they donated $4,525 in gift cards and 95 gift bags to St. Francis de Sales Seminary through their collection in November 2025. This beats the previous record value of $3,344 in 2024. We express our heart-filled gratitude to our entire faith community, as this collection was made possible by the generosity of St. Leonard parishioners and all other individuals who donated. The annual Sentiments for Seminarians Collection seeks to help local seminarians supplement some of their basic needs with gift cards. Knights of Columbus Council #6448 explains, "Since seminarians don’t get paid, have no jobs or vacations, it’s often hard for them to obtain many simple, needed items and travel when and where they need to," ( read more on the Knights of Columbus webpage ).
October is the month dedicated to the rosary in the Catholic Church. It is a meditative prayer that helps us engage with the mysteries of Christ ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2708). The Church’s devotion to Mary does not replace or compete with adoration of God, rather, leads us to Christ through her inspiration and intercession ( CCC #971). Our school gathered for an outdoor rosary led by the sixth grade class, Fr. Pat, and parishioner Mary Dibb. Did you know that our older students pair up with younger class “buddies” for Mass and other prayers? What a great way to integrate faith, cooperation and leadership!
We had a great time at our annual parish picnic! Thank you to the Pastoral Council for hosting the event. Thank you also to parishioner Wes Niemcek and another anonymous parishioner for the photos. We can't wait to celebrate our faith community again next year! Click the arrows to the left and right of the picture below to see our photo gallery.
We are pleased to report that our church building was not impacted by the flooding the weekend of August 9 and 10, 2025. We continue to pray for all those who were affected by the storms. In 2018 our church building flooded on Mother's Day. The Building & Grounds committee worked with an engineer to design and install mechanisms to prevent future flooding, including a gutter system to divert roof water to a retention pond on the Northeast corner of our property, a waterproof membrane along the West foundation wall and two new exterior sump pump crocks. We also excavated along the West wall to place gravel for a drainage trench. These improvements along with other repairs were made possible by many generous parishioners, including Pat Bartz, the Building & Grounds Committee– with special thanks to Bobby Schaefer, Len Roecker, Ray Jachimiec, Werner Holentunder, Bernie Cleppe, Phil Dibb and Charlie DuPont– and parishioners who contributed to the “Avoid The Ark” special collection.
We are pleased to report on the progress on our Summer construction projects. The new elementary library is complete:
Fr. Augustine Shwe is the Mission Coordinator representing the Diocese of Mawlamyine, Myanmar The Catholic Church in Myanmar (also known as Burma) is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. In 2020, there were approximately 700,000 Catholics in Burma- approximately 1.29% of the total population. The country is divided into sixteen dioceses including three archdioceses. Each of the archdioceses is also a metropolitan. There are over 1,000 priests and 2,000 nuns serving across 460 parishes. The Mawlamyin Diocese, established in 1993, covers the entire Taninthayi Region and southern Mon State, Myanmar with Bishop Raymond Saw Po Ray becoming its first residential bishop. Geographically, the diocese covers an area of 40,964 square kilometers and is home to a diverse population, including Burmese, Karen, Mon, Mawkin, Indians, Chinese, Siamese and Malays, practicing various religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and traditional beliefs. Between 1996 and 1998, military operations targeting insurgent groups affected much of the region, displacing many residents. This operation disrupted two-thirds of the villages, and resettlement efforts were slow, with some displaced people unable to return until 2011. After the diocese’s formation, several parishes were established and in 2008, the first diocesan synod was held during which the vision, mission, and planning for the future of the diocese were outlined. The synod focused on three main sectors: God, Social and Personal, emphasizing the importance of the three elements (3W)- the Word, Worship and Witness. The goal of our specific mission is re-strengthening the lives of our young people by providing integral education to promising students in the diocese. Since the military coup, Myanmar has been walking through darkness. So many lives have been broken, people have lost their homes, their work, their schools, their peace. Many now live as internally displaced persons (IDPs), without the security of a home or the comfort of stability. In this time of great pain, the Church is standing with the people not only praying for them but walking with them. One of the most urgent cries we hear is “Our children want to learn. But they have no way.” Many of our brightest and most gifted students can no longer study as their schools are closed and their families scattered. Their future, once full of promise, is now uncertain. It is heartbreaking to watch this happen. But we refuse to give up. That is why we are launching this important program. We want to bring education back into their hands and hope back into their hearts. We believe with all our hearts that youth are the hope of tomorrow. And we believe even more deeply that intelligent youth are the key to change. With the right education and formation, these young people can become leaders full of wisdom, courage and compassion, bringing peace where there is conflict, healing where there is pain, and faith where there is fear. They are the future of the Church, and they are the seeds of a new Myanmar. It is both a response to the urgent crisis and a strategic long-term plan to build a generation of strong, faithful and compassionate leaders. The goal of our program is to bring hope to displaced and conflict-affected youth by providing integral education and leadership formation, so they can rebuild their lives, serve their communities, and become the future leaders of the Church and nation. Our objectives To support the formal education of bright students affected by poverty, war, and displacement. To offer leadership and peacebuilding training to help them grow into responsible, wise, and confident leaders. To provide personal and spiritual formation, strengthening their values, faith, and compassion. To mentor and guide students with the help of Church leaders, teachers, and community members. To empower these youth as agents of change for peace, justice, and development in their own communities. Our main components of the program Educational Support: Tuition, school supplies, food, and basic needs for bright and struggling students. Leadership and Peacebuilding Formation: Training in leadership, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community organizing. Spiritual and Moral Growth: Retreats, formation days, and value-building sessions to nurture their faith and integrity. Mentoring and Community Engagement: Personal guidance from Church mentors and chances to serve their communities. Our expected impacts Displaced and poor students will have the chance to continue their education. A new generation of leaders with strong values will rise. These youth will become beacons of peace and development in broken communities. The Church will have faithful and capable leaders to serve with love and wisdom. Hope will return to the hearts of families and communities that now live in fear and loss. The current situation limits Diocesan pastoral works as the country remains in a state of political turmoil following a military coup in February, 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government. In the academic year 2024-2025, the diocese launched the “Good Shepherd” pre-Minor Seminary at the Diocesan Center, aiming to foster the development of local priests for the future of the church. The military regime continues to face widespread resistance from pro-democracy forces known as ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). Violent clashes persist across the country, with the military accused of severe human rights abuses, including mass killings and airstrikes on civilians. The economy is in crisis, and the humanitarian situation has worsened, with millions being displaced. Prospects for a peaceful transition to democracy remain bleak as the conflict escalates. We have great hope in these young people but know they cannot do this alone. This program is not only a response to today’s pain, but a vision for a better tomorrow. To support Fr. Augustine and his mission, envelopes are available in the kiosk in the Gathering Space or through their Giving Fuel website.
We are pleased to share another update on the construction projects taking place on campus this Summer.
I was born in Milwaukee and raised in New Berlin. My two brothers and one sister live in the area and have six children among them. Those so inclined come to my house on Sunday nights to play ping pong in the garage. Thanks to a propane heater we play all Winter. I graduated from Thomas More High School and spent the next ten years in college and graduate school in Cincinnati, Madison, and Chicago. I entered the seminary in 1994. During my studies I served a parish internship at St. Paul Parish in Genesee Depot and did Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at St. Luke Hospital in Milwaukee. I was the only priest ordained for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1999. When I served at St. Leonard 18 years ago I lived at Holy Assumption Parish in West Allis. Since 2015 I have lived in the house I grew up in. I got used to the 44-mile round trip between my house and St. Matthew Parish in Oak Creek, but I don’t mind that my new commute to St. Leonard is only 10 miles. I served as pastor of St. Matthew from 2008-2025 and as pastor of St. Mary by the Lake Parish, Racine from 2016-2024. Being responsible for two parishes kept me fairly busy. For five years I had a Saturday night and Sunday morning Mass at each parish every week. I usually got to the second parish with about 15 minutes to spare. I learned that I was coming to St. Leonard when I got a phone call in O’Hare Airport on my way home from Ireland. In the three months since then I have done a lot of packing and said hundreds of goodbyes. I’m getting too old for both. My main hobbies are reading and listening to Irish music. I play my guitars when I get the chance and speak as little as I can get away with. Those are the basics. Let me know if there is more you want to know!
We are excited to update our faith community on projects that will take place at our school this Summer. Construction will take place from June 2, 2025-August 29, 2025. We are grateful to have the sources of funding to make these important projects possible. Thank you to our parishioners who have contributed to our offertory and Love One Another campaign. We are also grateful to have received a Non-Profit Security Grant. As announced in the bulletin on February 16, 2025, St. Leonard was awarded a FEMA Non-Profit Security Grant in the amount of $150,000 for security enhancements at our school. After consultation and planning with Symphony Consultants, Catholic Mutual Group and Local Safety Professionals from within the Muskego Police Department, the following projects will be completed this Summer to upgrade the safety features of our school: Building of a secure, locking vestibule for guest screening Installation of additional surveillance cameras around the school building Utilizing security consulting services to update our Emergency Operating Procedures and related policies Installation of protective window coating/lamination Through parishioner donation and volunteer efforts, we installed a fence along the South property lot line to improve security. We will be completing a full renovation of the school bathrooms courtesy of Love One Another campaign funding and parishioner support. As stated in our Love One Another campaign case, the bathroom fixtures (except for the stall dividers and sinks) are over 60 years old and need complete replacement in order to be 100% ADA compliant. The bathrooms still use the original 1957 plumbing and cause many recurring problems. Also, after a major water leak and temporary repair, we are ready to do a full replacement of the maple wood gym floor . While these projects are underway, we are still here to serve your school needs, including enrollment and virtual tours! You can contact our Principal, Laura Bisher at 262-679-0451 ext. 29, and our school’s Administrative Assistant, Brianne Van Acker at 262-679-0451 ext. 28. Click here to contact us online . They will be working in the Parish Office throughout the Summer until construction is complete and are happy to help you with any questions you may have. July 7, 2025: See progress updates here
Three weekends in May, St. Leonard Catholic Church joyfully celebrates First Holy Communion with 44 young parishioners receiving the Blessed Sacrament for the first time. This marks a significant milestone in the lives of these children and their families, as they take an important step forward in their faith journeys. Months of preparation through school and religious education classes, retreats and family activities have helped the children understand the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the sacredness of this sacrament. The First Communion Masses are filled with reverence, beauty and joy. Family members, friends, catechists and parishioners gather to witness this holy moment. Communicants all have a role in the Masses and Father John Cella helps the children understand receiving the Eucharist is not just a one-time event but a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. His words serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing faith at home and in the broader parish community. Behind the scenes, much effort and dedication has gone into preparing for this special day. School teachers, catechists and volunteers worked diligently with the children, helping them grow in understanding and love for the Eucharist. Parents have played a vital role as the primary teachers of the faith, supporting their children through prayer, discussion and example. The entire parish community has contributed through prayer and support, making this event a true celebration of faith and unity. Our St. Leonard community rejoices with these young disciples and their families. These celebrations serve as a reminder of the central role of the Eucharist in Catholic life and the importance of ongoing faith formation. As these 44 children continue their spiritual journeys, the parish remains committed to nurturing their love for Christ and encouraging full participation in the sacramental life of the Church. Congratulations to all of our First Communicants this year!
