Events

We will help the Kinship farm gather produce, do pest control, weed, and various other gardening endeavors! The Kinship Urban Farm helps feed the many members of our community who go to their Food Center for assistance.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please register at tinyurl.com/4f44cayb, and put “Family of Five Parishes” in the comments.

If you have any questions, or need more information, please email Chad Griesel at cgriesel@ffpmke.org.

We invite you to pray the rosary followed by adoration on Thursdays after the 12:05 pm Mass at Old St. Mary. Exposition at 12:30 pm with reposition at 1:30 pm.

The All Saints Meal Program serves nearly 150 of our brothers and sisters from the surrounding community in the inner city of Milwaukee every Tuesday and Thursday evening. All Saints parish members, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and businesses sponsor the meals and/or serve God’s children. Our Family of Five Parishes purchases, prepares and/or serves meals on the 2nd Thursday of the month to guests.

If you would like information or to get involved, please contact Chad Griesel at cgriesel@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6577. Thank you for your generosity and care for those in need.

Catholic men are invited to join the next Knights of Columbus meeting of the St. Francis de Sales Council on Thursday, October 9, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Old St. Mary’s Parish Center (835 N Milwaukee St).

Learn more about our local chapter of the Knights. We are focused on supporting the Family of Five parishes through charitable service, fundraising, and faith building among our members and the community. Contact Paul Wemlinger by phone or text at 414-202-9677 for more information.

Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend.

Tuesdays, September 30 – November 18 (no meeting 10/21 or 11/4)
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: Old St. Mary Parish Office, 835 N Milwaukee St
$20.00 for the cost of the workbook. Scholarships are available.

Grieving with Great Hope helps you navigate your way. Your guide is the Holy Spirit. You will be an active participant in this journey. You will be encouraged to pray. You will learn ways to redefine yourself and have an enduring relationship with your loved one. You will come to understand and accept your emotions but process them through.

In a grief support group, grievers can hear testimony from those who have “been there.” They will discover that others have suffered similar pains, fear, sadness, and anger. It is critical for a griever to know that it is okay to feel lonely, depressed or isolated, and to know with certainty that someday they will feel better.

A grief support group can offer hope. Let us walk this journey with you. If you have questions or wish to register, please contact Terri Balash, Director of Pastoral Care, at 414-469-6173 or tbalash@ffpmke.org. Registration is required so we can plan accordingly.

“On Awakening” is a contemplative painting experience. No skill is required, just a willingness to show up! Rooted in the spiritual rhythms of recovery and the Church, this five-week series, led by Jason Gonzalez of 4th Dimension Sobriety, offers a quiet space to reflect, to reconnect, to create and to receive. Each brushstroke becomes a step toward hope – a visual prayer that invites grace to do what we cannot do alone.

Sessions will be held in the Cathedral parish office second floor north room (831 N Van Buren St) beginning at 6:30 pm on September 23, 30, October 7, 14, and 21.

Each session will be centered on a different mystery of the Rosary. You are invited to attend one, two…or all five sessions! All materials will be provided.

To register or learn more, contact Idalia Nieves-Reyes at inievesreyes@ffpmke.org or 414-276-9814 x110.

UPLIFT Teens provides spiritual formation for all high school students from the parishes of Old St. Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence, SS. Peter and Paul, and Three Holy Women. UPLIFT Teens will encounter Jesus Christ and be in a peer community that supports a life of discipleship. Whether you are a junior or senior in high school preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation or an underclassman open to learning more about your Catholic faith, UPLIFT Teens is for you!

We strongly encourage at minimum two years of preparation for the sacrament of confirmation.  Exceptions will be given to those who are just joining as a junior or senior, however, it becomes much more crucial to attend, participate, and engage!

Our UPLIFT Teens format will meet twice a month for two hours at St. Rita Church (1617 N Cass St). Our time will consist of a dinner meal, prayer in the church, videos, small group discussion and games and community building throughout the night.

Please register for UPLIFT Teens at tinyurl.com/upliftteen2026.

For more information on UPLIFT Teens, contact Nino Rebholz, Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at nrebholz@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6577.

Scheduled Dates:
September 23 – UPLIFT Teen AND Parent Orientation
September 30
October: 14 / 28
CONFIRMATION RETREAT: October 24 – 26
November: 11 / 25
December: 2 / 16
Mission Trip Fundraiser: January 8, 6:00 – 7:30 pm St. Rita, Dinner
January: 4 / 13 / 27
February: 10 / 24
March: 10 / 24
April: 7 / 21
May: 12 / 26
Mission Trip Fundraiser: May 23, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Holy Rosary Parking Lot, Car Wash
Confirmation: Wednesday, June 3, 7:00 pm at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

Dorothy Day writes, “The final word is love…To love we must know each other … and we know each other in the breaking of bread, and we are not alone any more…We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”

Despite the many challenges we face today, we believe in the power of love found in Communion and in community. Our parishes invite anyone who is interested in exploring the Catholic faith to consider the OCIA process. OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, is a place where adults of any or no faith tradition can explore questions of faith and prepare to join the Catholic Church.

This group meets weekly September through May, with sacraments being received at the Easter Vigil. If you or someone you know might be interested, contact our Pastoral Associate, Chad Griesel, at 414-271-6577 or cgriesel@ffpmke.org.

Our monthly Global Solidarity – Padibe, Uganda committee meetings are typically held the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:00 pm. We have partnered with our brothers and sisters in Uganda in the important work of education, medical care, and farming. If you’d like to participate in this ministry, please contact Idalia Nieves-Reyes inievesreyes@ffpmke.org. All Family of Five parishioners and friends are welcome!

We invite you to pray the rosary followed by adoration on Thursdays after the 12:05 pm Mass at Old St. Mary. Exposition at 12:30 pm with reposition at 1:30 pm.

Thursdays: August 28 – November 20 (no meeting September 11, October 9, 23, & 30, November 13)
6:30 – 8:45 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm – light dinner)
Old St. Mary Parish Center (enter doors off parking lot)
Cost: $20 includes workbook journal (scholarships are available)
Register at www.archmil.org/hwp/story or contact Terri Balash, Director of Pastoral Care, at tbalash@ffpmke.org.

Healing the Whole Person: Engaging Your Story is an 8-week series that provides the framework for understanding and receiving Christ’s healing and peace in the heart of the Catholic Church.

Using videos featuring Dr. Bob Schuchts & Sr. Miriam James Heidland presenting the John Paul II Healing Center’s Healing the Whole Person teachings, each session includes a guided prayer experience and a workbook journaling activity for private reflection and prayer. These sessions also include the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and to pray with a prayer team trained by the John Paul II Healing Center.

The goal of this video series is to facilitate a personal encounter with Jesus’ merciful love and healing truth in the areas where people have felt disconnected from love and bound by lies. We have witnessed God work powerfully in the lives of those who participate with an open heart. Wherever you find yourself now is not the end of your story. God is here. God has more for you. Engaging Your Story is time set aside for God to guide you through.

Family of Five Dads Group (formerly named Bacon Dads) is a community of men from a variety of faith experiences who share the common goal of developing a deeper faith through fellowship, conversation, and the occasional beer. The hope is to become better men, husbands, and fathers by sharing in each other’s wisdom and strength. Share the info below with any dads you might know!

During this Fall session, we will look at Pope Francis’s encyclical letter, “He Loved Us,” and learn more about the Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Books will be provided, but no at-home reading will be expected.

Dads Group meets Thursday evenings from 8:00 – 9:30 pm at the Family of Five Parishes Ministry Center (2479 N. Murray Ave.)

Meeting Dates:
October 2, 16, 30
November 13, 20

If you are interested in joining these fun and faith-filled dads please register here: Dads Group Registration.

Questions? Contact Jacob Riyeff at jacobriyeff@gmail.com or Andy Clausen at garnet888@gmail.com.

Join us for a 6-week men’s small group study of “Into His Likeness” by Edward Sri, a practical guide to living as true disciples of Jesus. Meeting every other week for just one hour, this group is designed for men in their 20s and 30s who want to grow in faith, build brotherhood, and find accountability. Together we’ll explore what it means to follow Christ in daily life—at work, in relationships, and in prayer—while encouraging one another to become the men God is calling us to be.

Register at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Od7S3qrex0CrxLWmYRIO-MU-pWH5dBJJnBQVtPrhMslUNFNZSERPWlBBVVFHWVZDWEtQRkFXTEpHRy4u

Please contact Nino Rebholz, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at nrebholz@ffpmke.org with questions.

Scheduled Dates:
September 28
October 5 & 19
November 2 & 16
December 7 & 21

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God remains forever.” Isaiah 40:8

On the first and third Mondays of each month, we invite individuals to share and reflect on the upcoming Sunday readings. In a small group setting, we break open God’s Word, allowing it to speak to our lives and to challenge us to grow in our understanding of who God is, who we are, and who God is calling us to be.

For further information contact Chad Griesel, Pastoral Associate, at cgriesel@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6577.

Our Moms Groups are the heart and soul of the Beacon Moms community – the small groups where we grow in faith together, support one another through life’s ups and downs, and truly build friendships. All women are welcome to join this group, so please sign up and bring a friend!

Our Fall session’s theme is: Feminine Identity in Christ: Woman, Daughter, Sister/Friend, Mother, Bride. God uniquely created us to reflect His glory. During our time together, we will be reading scripture, sharing stories, and reflecting on how God invites us to grow closer to him through each of these specific identities.

We are excited to be able to provide free and loving childcare for toddlers and preschoolers (1 year old and older) during our group.

– In-Person Tuesday Mornings 9:30 – 11:00 am at Family of Five Parishes Ministry Center (2479 N. Murray Ave.)
Facilitated by Darcy Lesniak and Mamie Riyeff
October 7 & 21, November 4 & 18, December 2
Childcare will be provided during these meetings

Please register at tinyurl.com/beaconoflove.

If you have any questions, please contact Mamie Riyeff at mriyeff@ffpmke.org.

Dates: Third Tuesday of the month
Location: St. Rita Church (1617 N Cass St)
Time: Gather at 2:45 pm, knit & crochet from 3:00-3:50 pm, conclude with Mass at 4:00 pm

When these prayer shawls are completed, they are blessed and given to those who need our prayers and support. This ministry has a beautiful spirit! These gifted individuals share their faith with the sick, lonely and heavy-hearted, and remind them of God’s love. Please join us.

Prayer shawl gift bags are always available to anyone. If you or someone you know needs a prayer shawl or you have questions, please contact Terri, our Director of Pastoral Care, at 469-6173 or tbalash@ffpmke.org.

Our meetings will be held the third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm online via Microsoft Teams. If you’d like to help guide the Family of Five Parishes in our prayer, education and action related to racial justice, please contact Idalia Nieves-Reyes at inievesreyes@ffpmke.org. All are welcome to participate in these important conversations!

“On Awakening” is a contemplative painting experience. No skill is required, just a willingness to show up! Rooted in the spiritual rhythms of recovery and the Church, this five-week series, led by Jason Gonzalez of 4th Dimension Sobriety, offers a quiet space to reflect, to reconnect, to create and to receive. Each brushstroke becomes a step toward hope – a visual prayer that invites grace to do what we cannot do alone.

Sessions will be held in the Cathedral parish office second floor north room (831 N Van Buren St) beginning at 6:30 pm on September 23, 30, October 7, 14, and 21.

Each session will be centered on a different mystery of the Rosary. You are invited to attend one, two…or all five sessions! All materials will be provided.

To register or learn more, contact Idalia Nieves-Reyes at inievesreyes@ffpmke.org or 414-276-9814 x110.