Saint Willebrord Parish
209 South Adams Street, Green Bay WI. 54301. 

 

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Luis Ministers to the Spanish speaking inmates at the Brown County Jail. 
Read About it here.

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Dcn. Luis Sanchez

Luis is the first Hispanic Deacon of the Diocese of Green Bay.  He was ordained May 20, 2000.  Luis comes from a large family in Cuquio, Jalisco, Mexico.  His parents were always very active in the church and Luis followed their example.  In fact, Luis mentioned that he was considering priesthood but his parents did not have money to send him to the seminary.  When he came here almost 25 years ago he began working at Packerland Packing.  Since arriving here, he and his wife, Maria Carmen, had five children, Ricardo (Ricky), Oscar, Sonia, Monica, and Laura.  He soon became a leader in the Hispanic Community.  When they came to St. Willebrord Luis assumed a leadership role in the church.  After much prayer and then four difficult years of classes he was ordained. 

Luis visits with the Priest in Mexico during a visit to Cuquio Mexico  

In August 2002 Luis came on staff as a full time member.  He ministers principally to the Hispanic members of our community in many areas.  He is involved in both jail and prison ministry as well as ministry outside of the parish buildings.  Here at St Willebrord, he works in a variety of ministries including marriage, baptism preparation, liturgy, and doing numerous retreats for children, young adults, and people of all ages. He is a very hard worker and we are fortunate to have him on our staff.

 

Luis and his wife Carmen 
visit a disadvantaged family.   


Luis es el primer Diácono Hispano en la Diócesis de Green Bay. El se ordenó el 20 de Mayo de 2000. Luis viene de una familia numerosa de Cuquio, Jalisco, México. Sus padres siempre fueron personas activas en la iglesia y Luis siguió sus ejemplos. Luis mencionó que estuvo considerando ser sacerdote pero sus padres no tenían el dinero suficiente para enviarlo al seminario. Cuando él llegó aquí hace 25 años comenzó trabajando en Packerland Packing. Su esposa es Carmen y tienen 5 hijos; Ricky, Oscar, Sonia, Monica y Laura.  Ha sido reconocido como un lider en la comunidad hispana.

 

Sept 14, 2002 Independence Celebration in Green Bay


En Agosto pasado llegó a formar parte de nuestro equipo pastoral de tiempo completo.  Es ministro hispano en muchas áreas, como por ejemplo; visitando a los presos, matrimonios, bautismos, liturgias y en la contrucción del nuevo centro parroquial. El trabaja muy duro y nosotros somos muy afortunados de que forme parte de nuestro equipo.

In August 2002 Luis came on staff as a full time

Luis’ reflections on the beginnings of Hispanic membership at St. Willebrord Parish…

Becoming members of St. Willebrord Parish…this was the greatest thing that happened to the Hispanic community, and in many different ways!

In the mid 1980’s in Green Bay, we were “in the middle of nowhere” with so much faith, love and friendship to share.  But we were from a different culture, with little or no English. We were families with small children, looking for a place to worship. That was not easy because here, in northeast Wisconsin, there was so little available for Hispanics -- either in the local community or in the Catholic Church.

In 1985 we finally had the Mass offered in Spanish, thanks to a Norbertine priest, Fr. Harvey Toonen. That was a blessing for this small community.

Some times we would have an “outside priest” offer Mass for us. Fortunately we also had Monsignor Don Rose to help continue with the Spanish Mass when Fr. Toonen was not available.

And our faith kept us going. But we also had our difficulties. We began meeting at St. Norbert Abbey. Then we got moved to St. Joseph’s Church at St. Norbert College. Then we were moved to the diocesan chapel. But often, if the Latin Mass community had a wedding or other ceremony, we could not use the chapel and would need to gather in one of our homes.

Then in 1991, we were called by God to have one church, one “home”. We were blessed to be accepted by Fr. Ken De Groot and the community of St. Willebrord.  With great joy we learned that as of December 14, 1991 (the day we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the first Spanish Mass at the parish), we would be parishioners of St. Willebrord.  That experience was so special, that I hardly know how to explain it.  There were so many different feelings but the greatest was joy at knowing that as of the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, here we would be one church. Carrying the statue of the Virgen on the people’s shoulders, chanting “Viva la Virgen”…these were things we were not able to do since we came from Mexico.  We were able to tell the story of Our Lady’s appearance to an Aztec Indian, Juan Diego (who is now a saint of Mexico).

The motto of St. Willebrord is “open doors, open hearts”, and they have truly opened the doors to us. We are grateful for the opportunity because we also believe in serving the Lord and the community.  Our culture may be different and some of the ways we do things may seem strange, but we are all parts of the Body of Christ. This wonderful gift of hospitality has welcomed Spanish speaking Catholics living in Green Bay who come not only from Mexico but from Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela and other countries.  And we are now active in every part of parish life—liturgy, religious formation, prayer and study groups, sacramental  preparation.

Last but not least, we want everyone to know how hard Fr. Ken and Sr. Melanie are working here at St. Willebrord’s to make things happen and to encourage all of us to keep growing in our faith, love and service to all.

So thanks to all who have opened the doors with a smile and who keep those doors open!