The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Phillips is closing its doors for the last time on Saturday, Dec. 7, after 16 years of providing the community with a local donation center and retail store.

Fr. Ron Serrao, pastor of St. Albert in Land O’ Lakes, St. Kunegunda in Sugar Camp, St. Mary in Phelps, St. Peter in Eagle River and St. Theresa in Three Lakes, recently celebrated Mass at the Vilas County Jail assisted by Dcn. Bob King from Holy Family Parish, Woodruff.

On Nov. 20, State Sen. Romaine Quinn, a 2005 graduate of St. Joseph School, Rice Lake, was honored with the School Safety Award from the Wisconsin Council of Religious & Independent Schools and the Wisconsin Chapter of the Council for American Private Education.

Over the past three years, Bishop James P. Powers has led our diocese in the launch of a culture-changing initiative called “Maintenance to Mission.”

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, St. Anne Catholic Church, Somerset, hosted a Mass of Remembrance and dinner to welcome parishioners and families who have lost loved ones over the past two years.

The Parish of St. Ann Catholic Church in Cornucopia collected baby supplies and handmade blankets for the Chequamegon Pregnancy Center in Ashland.

A food donation event took place at Holy Rosary Catholic School, Medford, on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

Public speaking comes naturally for Fr. Andrew Ricci, who grew up in Cumberland participating in forensics and giving speeches for organizations he was part of. It’s no surprise preaching is one of the favorite elements of his priestly ministry.

Bishop James P. Powers’ Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” encourages parishes and individuals to strengthen their relationship with God and urges them to “rally close to each other in genuine Christian community” (25).