LOCAL: Milwaukee, WI

Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Patrick Parishes-Milwaukee. Parishioners in this Hispanic community have a rich mix of cultural backgrounds combining families from Puerto Rico, Mexico and South America.  Family relationships are very important and there is a strong faith in God and devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Both parishes meet monthly and work together to discuss how they can best leverage available resources to meet the needs of the community. Together they support parochial schools, a food and clothing disbursement area, retreat center, job enrichment activities and activities to provide citizenship status. SJN participates with our sister parish in prayer & activities including shared visits, plays, music and repair/refurbishment projects.

NATIONAL: Elkton, KY

St. Susan Parish –Elkton, KY. Is located in Todd County, one of the poorer regions of southwestern Kentucky. Served by Glenmary missionaries, who are very adept at nurturing the seeds of Faith, planted long ago, St. Susan’s is a thriving community of Believers. Catholics are a distinct minority in a region heavily populated with Baptist and Methodist congregations, but the parish has initiated ecumenical dialogue that has encouraged cooperation in matters of social justice.  The community supports the Helping Hands Health Clinic, providing health care to the uninsured and under-insured residents of the county. A clothing and food shelter is also supported. SJN has exchanged visits with members of St. Susan’s and worked cooperatively with them to on several projects.

INTERNATIONAL: Chiapas, Mexico

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Huitiupan, Chiapas, Mexico. Is in the Diocese of San Cristobal in the southern-most state of Mexico. The parish of 14,000 is scattered among 70 small, mountainous communities in an area about the size of Waukesha County. The people  are subsistence farmers growing corn and coffee.  The land is assigned by the government and is shared in common. The rugged terrain is traveled on foot or in pickup trucks. There is little medical care available, electricity is sporadic and water is not safe to drink. The parish is served by the Missionary Priests and Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, and the Missionary Sisters of Jesus. We have exchanged visits with the missionaries, and shared ideas, supplies, and money for the missionary work.