6-Month Pastor’s Report: January 1 – June 30, 2025

Jenny Drzewiecki • July 20, 2025

Summer started about a month ago. I cannot believe the first half of the year is over. According to our little tradition, I would like to offer to you a basic report on some ministries, projects and activities at St. Martin of Tours which took place these pastfew months. I am convinced it was another good and meaningful time for our parish. We must be grateful to God and to you dear parishioners for making these six months of year successful and rewarding. I see a lot of progress and growth in our parish community. 


We are grateful for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, and Archbishop Jeffery Grob, who was born and grew up in Wisconsin. These are the right spiritual leaders for this time in the Church given to us by God. I believe they will significantly influence the spirit of our country and Archdiocese and significantly impact our pastoral work. We continue to pray for their well-being and leadership. 


Our first purpose as a religious community is to pray and worship. We had a meaningful and beautiful celebration of the Paschal Triduum and Easter. I was encouraged by your involvement, help, and large participation. I have never seen more people in our church than during Easter Masses this year. In this special way, I am grateful to our liturgy and worship committee, together with the lectors, sacristans, servers, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers for planning, organizing, and making our celebration possible and meaningful. I am also glad that we have more opportunities and occasions to pray and organize social gatherings at St. Martin of Tours. We are committed to continue these events and celebrations that strengthen us as one community of brothers and sisters in Christ. We are committed to organizing more events and opportunities to pray for our youth and young adults in the near future. 


Strategic Plan 

We completed our 5-year Vision and Mission statement more than one year ago and targeting completion of a more detailed implementation plan for the entire community of St. Martin of Tours. Our parish Staff, both Councils (Pastoral and Finance) and MAC (Mission Advancement Committee) have been working hard setting priorities and key 5-year goals for our parish community. We hope to complete the Strategic Plan for St. Martin of Tours Parish this year. 


ParishStaq 

I am excited about the new dynamics and changes in our parish these last few months. There are many new developments and growth of our community at St. Martin of Tours. One of the new initiatives, which was introduced recently, is the church management software, ParishStaq. With this program we are moving our communication, management, and interaction with people and various ministries on another level. One of the reasons to introduce the new system is to simplify the process of online donations. Hopefully it will encourage people to sign online, attract new donors, and eventually increasedonations. We need to increase our donations and weekly collection to be able to maintain our facilities and for new ministries, and I use this opportunity to ask you to consider doing so. However, the main and most important reason to introduce this project of ParishStaq is to attract new and young families to our parish with the updated look and ease of use as well as to allow volunteers to sign up for ministries and to help with events. We need them along with new resources and donations to grow our parish strong.


Helpful Numbers 

At this moment we are a community of 995 Active Families (2,483 Active members). We welcomed 13 new families who joined our parish in the first part of the year.. We had 15 baptisms and 6 weddings; 13 children received First Communion and first reconciliation.Ten students received Confirmation. We had 17 funerals. We provided catechism classes to 117 youth and children in the English and Vietnamese communities. We continue to host two Catholic homeschool groups with 125 children that use our facilities weekly. In short, we are alive and there are signs of growth. 

 

Some Maintenance and new Projects Updates 

The first phase of the stained-glass window project will be completed at the end of 2025. The second phase, the Rose Window, will be designed and completed next year. We received $53,088 in donations which covers about 92% of the cost of the first phase of the project. 

We had a couple larger expenses relating to the school building which are boiler servicing and inspection, and the twenty-year-old sprinkler headtesting. Maintenance in the church includes the bell tower project andfilling the cracks in the parking lot. Capital projects currently in progress include our LED sign, and replacement of some of the windows in the school building. Signage in our cemetery was repalced, thanks to the cemetery committee! Funds from the Cemetery ProjectFund’s faffle were used to cover some of the costs of this project. The flowers and landscaping were done by our Building and Grounds committee. I am very grateful to them and those who maintain and water them. 


Our Financial Situation 

We are stable financially and we are not carrying debt. We ended the fiscal year with a few thousand in deficit, and we foresee $28 deficit of the operating budget in this year. 

Our weekly collections remain flat when compared to the same 6-month period last year. Jan-Jun in 2025 total $355,100 and Jan-Jun in 2024 total $354,400. 


Our parish fellowship dinners are a great way to connect with others in our community. While the intent is not a fundraiser, we received offerings of $4,000 that benefit our parish life. 

Total income received from the Archdiocese for the Love One Another campaign (LOA) totaled $58,529. This compares to $73,403 for the same period last year. LOA money is used for larger projects and maintenance. 

We distributed $15,000 from our needy fund to assist organizations and individuals in our community. 


The Main Activities for the Second Part of the Year: 

• July 13, 2025, Scally Brothers Concert – over 230 people attended 

• High School Summer Service Projects beginning in July; 

• High School Summer Small Group beginning in July; 

• August 21-24, Rummage Sale; 

• August 30 – September 1, Regular Labor Day Activities; 

• Monthly Parish Dinners begin in September; 

• Creating a team and launching OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program in Fall; 

• October 2 - Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion Shrine & St. Joseph Shrine;

• November 15 - St. Martin of Tours Feast and Fall Harvest Dinner Auction; 

I am grateful to many committees and groups for organizing these above events. 

Lastly, thank you for your prayers and support. I always appreciate your comments, suggestions and encouraging words but also criticism and complaints. Please do not hesitate to give me your feedback and thoughts not just about this report but also about our parish life. Our effort as parish Staff and administration makes only sense with your willingness to collaborate and your care. I am blessed and proud to be your pastor. 



Fr. Andrzej 

Filled with the Holy Spirit

By Jennifer Moscatello • May 21, 2026
This Sunday we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost – the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles gathered in prayer with Mary in the Upper Room. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the fearful disciples were transformed into courageous witnesses of Christ and went out to preach the Gospel with faith and joy. Today’s readings and liturgy reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not only a gift for the Apostles, but for all of us today. The Holy Spirit guides and strengthens us in our daily lives – in prayer, work, studies, decisions, conversations, and responsibilities. Every good inspiration, wise decision, and act of kindness comes through God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost also reminds us to pray more often to the Holy Spirit. A simple prayer, “Come, Holy Spirit,” can bring peace, wisdom, courage, and strength into our hearts. This Pentecost celebration is especially meaningful for our parish because our Religious Education students who completed their preparation year will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this Sunday. What a providential blessing that they will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the very feast of Pentecost! Just as the Apostles were strengthened and sent forth by the Holy Spirit, our young people will also be sealed with the gifts of the Spirit and called to live their Catholic faith with courage and conviction. The celebration will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Please keep our Confirmation students, their families, sponsors, and catechists in your prayers. These are the names of our Confirmation students: Jacob, Sean, Braeden, Carson, Stephen, Ashton, Kimty, Drake, Cecelia, Rockford, and Gabriella. May this sacrament deepen their relationship with Christ and strengthen them to become faithful disciples in today’s world. May this Pentecost renew all of us. Let us open our hearts once again to the Holy Spirit and pray with faith: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.” Happy Pentecost!  Fr. Andrzej

From Doubt to Mission

By Jennifer Moscatello • May 14, 2026
The Feast of the Ascension always speaks to me in a very personal way. It reminds me not only of Christ returning to His heavenly Father, but also of my own journey of faith and discipleship. Shortly after my ordination, when I was a young priest, my mother once asked me difficult questions about the Ascension of Jesus. She expressed some doubts about this mystery of our faith. I was surprised because she always had strong faith. She taught me how to pray, trust God, and love the Church. At that time, as a young priest, I thought I had many answers and very few doubts myself. Today, after thirty years of priesthood, I remember this conversation whenever I read the Gospel for the Feast of the Ascension. Saint Matthew tells us that when the disciples saw the Risen Lord, “they worshiped, but they doubted” (Matthew 28:17). These words bring me great consolation and encouragement. The disciples lived with Jesus for three years. They witnessed His miracles, listened to His teaching, and even encountered Him after the Resurrection. Yet some still struggled with doubts. And despite their doubts, Jesus still trusted them and sent them to proclaim the Gospel to the world. Over the years I have learned that doubts can sometimes help our faith grow. Honest doubts encourage us to ask questions, to pray more deeply, and to search for God with greater sincerity. Doubts brought to prayer do not destroy faith; very often they strengthen and mature it. The Ascension of the Lord is one of the central mysteries of our Catholic faith. Jesus conquered sin and death and returned to the glory of the Father. At the same time, He did not abandon us. He remains with us through the Holy Spirit, through the Eucharist, through His Word, and through the Church. The Feast of the Ascension reminds us that heaven is our true home. Yet it also reminds us that we will never fully understand the mystery of eternal life while we are here on earth. As Saint Paul beautifully writes: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). This feast fills us with hope. Jesus leads us to the Father, and heaven is our destiny when we continue to follow Him faithfully – even when we struggle, fail, or experience doubts along the way. As I remember my mother’s questions so many years ago, I realize now that faith is not about having every answer. Faith is about trusting Jesus enough to continue walking with Him, even when some mysteries remain beyond our understanding. Happy Feast of the Ascension! Fr. Andrzej 

God is Love

By Jennifer Moscatello • May 4, 2026
As we continue our journey through the Easter Season, we are gradually approaching the great feasts of the Ascension, Pentecost, and the Holy Trinity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples with tenderness, knowing that their hearts are troubled at the thought of His departure. His words are meant to console them and to strengthen their faith. Jesus assures them: they will not be left alone. He promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who will remain with them forever. In this promise, Jesus begins to reveal the mystery of the Holy Trinity. He speaks of His unity with the Father and of the Spirit who will dwell within them. This is not something distant or abstract. God desires to be close to us – so close that He makes His home in our hearts. At the center of this mystery is love. The Holy Trinity is a communion of perfect love – the Father loving the Son, the Son loving the Father, and the Holy Spirit as the bond of that love. This love is not closed in on itself. It reaches out to us and invites us to share in it. Jesus makes this very clear: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” His commandment is simple, yet demanding – to love one another. When we love with patience, kindness, and a willingness to sacrifice, we begin to reflect God’s own love. Every act of true love – selfless, faithful, and forgiving – makes God present in our lives. In this way, we come to experience that we are not alone. God is with us, guiding us, strengthening us, and walking with us each day. Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, this message becomes very concrete. A mother’s love – gentle, patient, and self-giving – is a beautiful reflection of God’s love. In her daily sacrifices, her care, and her constant presence, we can see a living image of the love that flows within the Holy Trinity. Let us give thanks for all mothers and for all those who have shown us such love. And let us open our hearts more deeply to the gift Jesus offers us – the gift of His abiding presence. We are not alone. We are loved, accompanied, and invited to live in that love every day. Fr. Andrzej 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life

By Jennifer Moscatello • April 30, 2026
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words that are both comforting and challenging: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” These words are not simply a statement – they are an invitation. Jesus invites us into a close and living relationship with Him. Our faith is not static; it is dynamic. We are people on the move, on a journey, walking a path that leads us to the Father. When Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” we can understand this in two important ways. First, He is the One who leads us to the Heavenly Father. He knows the way because He comes from the Father and returns to Him. If we follow Jesus closely – trusting His word, imitating His love – we will not be lost. Second, these words are an invitation to growth. To walk “the way” means that our lives are always in motion, always developing. To seek “the truth” means we never stop searching for deeper understanding and conversion of heart. To receive “the life” means we continually open ourselves to the grace that transforms us. Our life of faith only makes sense when we keep moving forward, when we do not become spiritually stagnant. Like a journey on a road, it has purpose only if we continue to grow. Today, our parish community celebrates a very special moment. Eight of our children from the religious education program will receive their First Holy Communion. This is a joyful and solemn day for them, for their parents, their teachers, and for all of us as a parish family. In the Eucharist, they will receive Jesus for the first time in such a profound way. The Eucharist is the food for our journey. It is the strength, encouragement, and sign of Christ’s presence as we follow Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. Without this spiritual nourishment, it is difficult to persevere on the path that leads to the Father. At every Holy Mass, Jesus gives Himself to us so that we may continue our journey with renewed faith and love. Let us pray in a special way for these children: Gunnar, Leila, Leo, Evan, Nora, Kinsley, Yuvan, Lucille, for their parents, and for their teachers who have prepared them for this beautiful moment. May this First Communion be the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all who contributed to preparing the children and organizing this celebration. Your dedication and care are a true witness of faith. May we all, nourished by the Eucharist, continue to walk with Jesus – growing in truth, deepening our relationship with Him, and moving ever closer to the Father.  Fr. Andrzej

On the Way to Emmaus

By Jennifer Moscatello • April 13, 2026
On Easter Day, two disciples left Jerusalem and walked toward Emmaus, carrying sadness and confusion in their hearts. They had lost hope and, with it, their sense of purpose as disciples. Although Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. How often this happens in our own lives. The Lord walks beside us – in our struggles, doubts, and daily routines – yet we fail to see Him. Like the disciples, we may hear His Word and still remain deaf and unmoved. Yet Jesus never abandons us. With patience and love, He speaks to us, opens the Scriptures, and gently leads us forward. It was in the breaking of the bread that their eyes were opened, and they recognized the Risen Lord. This is a powerful reminder for us that in the Eucharist, Jesus reveals Himself in a real and personal way. Even when our faith feels weak or uncertain, the Eucharist strengthens us, opens our eyes, and deepens our belief. After encountering the Risen Christ, the disciples were transformed. Their sadness turned into joy, and their fear into courage. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to share the Good News and to be reunited with the other disciples. A true encounter with the Risen Lord always leads to conversion, transformation, and mission. We are called not only to recognize Him, but also to bear witness to Him in our daily lives. This weekend, we also celebrate our Volunteer Appreciation Weekend. We give thanks for all those who generously serve our parish community. Through their time, dedication, and love, they make Christ present among us. Their service is a living witness to the Risen Lord, who continues to work through His people. May God bless them abundantly, and may their example inspire each of us to serve with joyful and faithful hearts. On this meaningful and grace-filled weekend in our community, may we ask for the grace to recognize Jesus walking with us, especially in the Eucharist, and to become His faithful witnesses in the world.  Fr. Andrzej

Jesus I Trust in You

By Jennifer Moscatello • April 10, 2026
The Feast of Divine Mercy, celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, which is a relatively recent addition to the Church’s liturgical calendar, is rooted deeply into the Gospel itself. It was established for the universal Church by Saint John Paul II in the year 2000, during the canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska. Through her visions and spiritual diary, the Lord Jesus revealed His desire that the whole world come to know and trust in His mercy. This feast is not only a devotion but a reminder of the very heart of the Christian message: God’s love poured out for sinners. The purpose of this feast is to invite every person to trust in the mercy of God and to extend that mercy to others. In a world often marked by fear, judgment, and division, Divine Mercy calls us back to the truth that no sin is greater than God’s love, and no heart is beyond His healing grace. It is a day of hope, reconciliation, and renewed faith. It is deeply providential that this feast is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel recounts the encounter between the Risen Lord and Thomas the Apostle. Jesus appears to His disciples a second time, and this time especially for Thomas, who struggled to believe. The Lord does not reject him or condemn his doubt. Instead, He invites him to touch His wounds and to encounter directly His Heart, which is full of compassion and love. In this moment, we see clearly that Jesus’ mercy goes beyond human expectations. He meets us not in our perfection, but in our weakness, and transforms doubt into faith. This year, our celebration is made even more meaningful as we welcome a new image of the Merciful Jesus into our church. This sacred image, a faithful copy made and sent to us from the Divine Mercy Shrine in Łagiewniki, Poland, will be solemnly blessed and dedicated this weekend. After every Mass, we will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, entrusting ourselves and our intentions to the Lord’s infinite compassion. Soon, we also hope to receive a relic of Saint Faustina. Both the image and the relic will unite us more closely with the Shrine of Divine Mercy and with countless faithful around the world who venerate the mercy of God. They will serve as enduring invitations for us to deepen our trust and to live lives shaped by mercy. Let us be grateful for the gift of God’s mercy in our parish community and lives. May we trust in Jesus more deeply and share His mercy with others. Fr. Andrzej 
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