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.


___



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.

Pew Refurbishment Will Begin Summer 2026

July 7, 2026
The project to refurbish the church pews will begin this Summer. It is expected to take several weeks to complete and to cost $190,000. This project was announced in 2023 and is funded as part of the Love One Another campaign . After reviewing the results of a survey given to parishioners in May of 2026 and further deliberation among parish leadership teams, alongside our pastor, we have decided that we will not add seat or back cushions to any of the pews at this time. Parish leadership vetted several contractors and hired A&A Finishes (based in Lyons, WI). This contractor came to us highly recommended by St. Mary and St. Charles parishes in Burlington. The contractor will determine the appropriate sequence in which to remove the pews, and will refurbish and reinstall one section of pews at a time. The pews will be transported to the contractor’s workshop to be cleaned, sanded and restained. Areas that are missing the laminate finish will be filled in. The pews will receive a clear coat before being returned and reinstalled. The kneelers will be stripped down and disassembled so that metal parts that are visible can be painted. New foam cushions for the kneelers will be applied and reupholstered. New tilting brackets will be installed and support brackets will be painted and repaired. While pews are out for refurbishment, additional seating will be made available in the Gathering Space. Due to safety considerations we will not be able to put chairs where the pews are normally located. We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of the members of our faith community, without whom this project would not be possible.

Being God’s Hands and Feet: Mission Trip to Knoxville, Tennessee

By Bethanne Maus-Schaefer • July 1, 2026
Our mission trip to Knoxville, Tennessee was an incredible week full of faith, friendship and serving others. Early in the morning of June 21, 2026, 10 adults and 45 teens and young adults headed out from St. Leonard and made the trip to Knoxville Catholic High School. From the moment we arrived we jumped right into the Catholic Heart Workcamp experience: serving others, growing in our faith and praising God together. Throughout the week, we teamed up with teens and adults from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Connecticut to serve the Knoxville community. Some of us volunteered with Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), helping in their clothing stores, food pantries and homeless shelters. Others worked with Operation Backyard painting homes, making minor repairs and building wheelchair ramps for people in need. We were also grateful for cooler-than-usual weather, which made the work a little easier. Each day started with Mass and prayer, helping us focus on the work ahead. We saw God's love in so many ways: through our team, the people we served and even the simple conversations we shared. It was a great reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. The week wasn't just about serving others; it was also a time for us to grow in our own faith. We learned to trust God in new ways, spent an evening in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, took part in a moving foot-washing service and shared many meaningful moments of prayer together. We're so thankful to everyone who supported this trip with prayers, donations and encouragement. Your generosity made this mission possible and gave us the opportunity to share Christ's love with the people of Knoxville. As we return home, we're bringing back more than great memories. We have a renewed commitment to keep serving right here in our own community. Mission work doesn't end when the trip is over, it continues every day as we look for ways to love our neighbors and share God's grace wherever we are. Please continue to pray for the ministries in Knoxville, the people we were blessed to serve, and for our youth as they continue living out the lessons God taught us during this unforgettable week.

Understanding the Divine Mercy Chaplet

By Gene Gospodarek • June 23, 2026
As many of you are aware we now pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet after every Mass on the fourth weekend of every month (a ten minute prayer). Are you also aware of why we say the prayer, and where it came from? Like the Our Father, this prayer came directly from Jesus himself in appearances to St. Faustina, who he commissioned to spread the prayer, image and devotion worldwide. Jesus asked St. Faustina to paint an image of himself as he appeared to her. This is the image that appears on the prayer cards and pictures we see today. In this Divine Mercy image the pale ray stands for the water which makes us righteous, and the red ray stands for the blood which is the life of souls. These two rays came from the very depth of his Mercy when his agonized heart was opened by a lance on the cross. He promised that those who venerate this image will not perish. 

Our Record-Breaking Turkey Trot in 2025

By Marejo Ramsey • June 23, 2026
As planning begins for the 15th Annual St. Leonard Turkey Trot, we’d like to celebrate the incredible success of last year’s race and thank everyone who made it possible.  A special thank you goes to Allen and Loretta Jorn. Through Allen’s leadership and dedication, the Turkey Trot has grown into one of our parish’s largest community events and most successful fundraisers. We are deeply grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement as race director. We also extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers whose time and talents make this event safe, welcoming and successful. If you’d like to join our volunteer team, contact the Parish Office. We’re always happy to welcome new helpers. Thanks to your participation and generosity, the 2025 Turkey Trot welcomed a record 1,916 participants and raised nearly $32,000 in net proceeds- more than 30% higher than our previous record. These funds will help support future parish capital projects and continue strengthening our parish community. Mark your calendars for the 15th Annual St. Leonard Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 at 9 a.m. Watch for registration announcements later this year. Thank you for your continued support, generosity and prayers. We look forward to seeing you at the starting line!

Every Parish Needs Builders

By Brian Weidner • June 4, 2026
Pastoral Council Nomination 2026

St. Leonard In the News: Spring 2026

May 28, 2026
It makes us happy to see our faith community being recognized for the ways our families are living our mission. St. Leonard was featured in two news outlets recently: Members of our Knights of Columbus Dynamic Men’s Group went on a walking pilgrimage from Holy Hill to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. The Milwaukee Catholic Herald featured them in an article sharing their route and experiences. You can read all about it here .

A Simpler, More Connected Parish Experience

May 27, 2026
Over the last few months we’ve been alluding to a new digital parish system. We are implementing a program called ParishStaq- a parish management platform that will integrate many of our services and communications- making it easier for parishioners and staff to stay connected, informed, and engaged. ParishStaq uses industry-leading security and encryption to keep your personal and financial information secure. With ParishStaq, you will be able to log into your own profile where you can: Stay more connected to your ministry groups Register for events and ministries more easily Access ministry schedules, volunteer opportunities and giving in one place Update family contact information conveniently Receive communications more consistently We are also excited to build our own mobile app for quick access to parish life and resources. This transition will help our parish staff and ministry leaders work more efficiently by reducing duplicate work, improving communication and streamlining administrative tasks. We will be able to focus more time and energy on our mission. As part of this process, our online giving platform has already transitioned to Pushpay (which is part of the ParishStaq system). We are grateful to everyone who has already made that change. As we continue to implement ParishStaq over the next few months, we will provide clear instructions and support. Thank you for your patience and support as we take this important step forward together.

Dcn. Nathan Budde's Priestly Ordination Information

May 11, 2026
Deacon Nathan Budde- one of our former parish seminarians visiting from the Diocese of Green Bay, WI- will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 30. You are invited to support Dcn. Nathan through prayer and by following along with the ordination and other celebrations surrounding this blessed occasion. Ordination & Other Masses Ordination | Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, WI The Ordination Mass is open to the public, with a light reception and opportunity to receive a blessing to follow. This Mass is also livestreamed . First Mass | Sunday, May 31, 2 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, De Pere, WI This Mass is open to the public with a light reception and opportunity to receive a blessing to follow. Masses of Thanksgiving at St. Leonard | Sunday, June 21, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Light refreshments to follow these two Masses only. Our 9 a.m. Mass is also livestreamed . These Masses are also opportunities to receive a Plenary Indulgence. Continue reading below to learn more about indulgences and how to prepare to receive it.

Lenten and Easter Collections 2026

April 9, 2026
The Human Concerns Committee's Lenten and Easter collections were a great success, thanks to the generosity of our faith community. Through the Lenten collections we helped 5 organizations: The HOPE Center , Community Smiles Dental , Kathy's House , The Women’s Center and Street Angels . In addition to the items sent directly to the organizations through their Amazon wish lists, we donated 30-45 packed boxes/bags each week. The organizations themselves also thank you, with comments including the following: “Thank you for coordinating this effort! We are so thankful for everything. It will definitely be put to good use in the house,” (Kathy’s House). “We want to say how grateful (and still surprised) we are! So many children and families will benefit from this. It truly is an amazing thing your congregation does to help the community,” (Community Smiles Dental). Through the Easter Food Collection, we were able to provide a wonderful Easter meal and other necessities to 19 families. We are over-joyed to share that an anonymous parishioner also assembled and donated Easter baskets for all of the children in each family that benefitted from Easter Food Collection. Our elementary Christian Formation students who participated in an enrichment program on "The Plight Of the Working Poor" donated food items for and assembled shelf-stable meal kits to add to the Easter food being donated. The meal kits included a handmade card and recipe instructions for the meals. The assembled recipes were taco soup, chicken parmesan and an Italian spaghetti dinner. Thank you, parishioners, for your incredible generosity! Thank you to the Human Concerns Committee for coordinating these efforts to help us live our mission and carry out the Lenten pillar of almsgiving.

Luck Of the Auction Results

March 30, 2026
On behalf of the Auction Committee, thank you so much for your generosity and support for this year’s auction fundraiser, Luck of the Auction. Due to your support, we have raised more than we ever have before! We have raised over $58,000 for Home & School and the Church to use for our school students to improve their educational experience as well as purchase much-needed playground equipment! This amount is a 25% increase over our proceeds from last year’s auction! We also had our highest auction attendance in recent years with 196 attendees! This fundraiser could not be successful without the support of our school staff, church staff, parishioners, and community supporters! Thank you for your donations, support, and hard work! Make sure you are on the lookout for “The Good, the Bad, and the Lucky,” our Wild West/Country themed auction for 2027!