A virtual tour of the parish

A real visit to the parish
Annual visits/pilgrimages are usually scheduled for January. Other visits can be arranged. Contact Rosemary Huddleston, OP at (414) 769-3405 or huddlestonr@archmil.org

A virtual tour to one of the schools in the parish

For more information on visiting schools, contact Rosemary Huddleston, OP at (414) 769-3405 or huddlestonr@archmil.org

History and description of the parish and its programs

Financial needs of the parish and how you can participate

To donate to the support of the parish

History and Description
On April 20, 1981 Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, OSB, sent a letter to Bishop Ronald Connors indicating that that the Archdiocese of Milwaukee would send two priests to minister in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. In his letter Archbishop Weakland stated, “We do indeed want to be of help and I know that this is one area of the world where there is truly a need and where we can assist.” Thus, a relationship of ministry between the two dioceses was begun which, in over twenty years has developed into a relationship of Sharing Faith and Friendship, solidarity and on-going ministry. The agreement has been renewed on different occasions.

Over the years the following priests have ministered in La Sagrada Familia parish:

Richard Broach, Thomas Dempse, Ronald Gramza, Vincent Kobida, Dennis Dirkx, Robert Stiefvater, James Schuerman, Kevin Murphy, OSB, Donald Hying, Kenneth Clapp, Robert Wells, Jerome Thompson*, and lay missioners Christopher and Letzbia Laing-Martinez. As of August 2003, Father Marti Colom is pastor there assisted by members of the Missionary Society of St Paul the Apostle and Mary Mother of the Church.

The parish of Sagrada Familia is located in the province of Azua in the southwest corner of the Dominican Republic. (The Dominican Republic shares the Caribbean Island called Hispañola with Haiti.) Sabana Yegua is the largest town in the parish with a population of 25,000. This is where the parish center is located with the main church that seats 300, the parish hall, the sewing center, the pharmacy, laboratory, health clinic, children’s nutrition center and rectory. Sunday Mass is celebrated there every week.

Surrounding Sabana Yegua are smaller villages. Their number has grown from 17 to 25 in these twenty years. There are approximately 60,000 people throughout the parish. There is no industry or manufacturing. The people face the challenge of earning their “daily bread” through agriculture in a semi-arid area of the island. In spite of the hardship they manage to produce bananas, plantains, tomatoes and tobacco. Generally this does not provide sufficient income for even a low cost of living. Many live in wood or cement block housing without plumbing, drinkable water or consistent electricity.

To attend the many diverse needs of the parish usually two priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, join a pastoral staff, health care staff and a social worker all of whom are native to the Dominican Republic. In addition to addressing the physical needs of parishioners the staff strives to nurture the spiritual needs of the parish through evangelization, catechesis, sacraments, prayer groups, adult and youth formation and leadership training.

The majority of villages have their own chapel, catechists and church leaders. Mass is celebrated in most villages once a month. Most have a small dispensary for medicines, a project coordinated through the parish staff. All are working toward fulfilling their Diocesan Pastoral Plan which calls for local councils who are responsible for coordinating attention to the material as well spiritual needs of their community.

Besides providing some of the staff and financial support for the parish programs the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has developed relationships more broadly through annual pilgrimages with adults and immersion experiences with youth participating in the Global Youth Mission program. In addition in October of 2000 Bishop José Grullón the current Bishop of San Juan de la Maguana and two members of the parish joined us in Milwaukee for our Eucharistic Congress. Several individuals continue correspondence with people they met while visiting there as well as maintain a supportive relationship with one of the programs. St. Joseph parish in Grafton established a twinning relationship with the village of Los Toros where the parish first began. Other parishes are initiating similar relationships with villages and programs in the Sagrada Familia parish.

Participate in ministry with Sagrada Familia, our archdiocesan sister parish in the Dominican Republic through a financial gift. You may wish to donate directly or honor someone for a birthday, anniversary, holiday or condolance.

You can join in partnership by supporting:

• Missionary Priests
• The Children’s Nutrition Center
• The Native Doctor
• Building Chapels
• Food & Medication

Click here for more information on how you can become a partner in World Mission!

Partners in World Mission -coming soon!

Funding Opportunities
In addition to financial support for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s sister parish in the Dominican Republic, the annual collections for World Mission Sunday and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, there are other ways to help fund the international outreach of the Catholic Church in Southeastern Wisconsin. General donations to the Office for World Mission, a memory in your will or legacy is a way for you to continue your mission activity well into the future. In addition there are many groups throughout the world who seek your support. A list will be provided on this page in the near future.

For other suggestions please contact Sister Frances Cunningham, OSF at (414) 769-3404 or cunninghamf@archmil.org.

Summer 2002 Lay Missioners describe their experience A Music Mission in the Dominican Republic