Hope for the New Year!

December 9, 2025

Karmen Lemke, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay

As we near the end of this Jubilee Year of Hope, I am deeply grateful for the many blessings that Catholic Charities received this year.  Your prayers have made our mission possible, and I’m honored to share this year’s Catholic Charities' Community Report with you. 

Thanks to the help of many, our team served over 13,000 individuals through adoption and pregnancy support, mental health and financial wellness services, refugee and immigrant support, and outreach ministries.

We expanded our rural outreach in Manitowoc and Waupaca, raised awareness of human trafficking with Awaken Wisconsin during the NFL Draft, and responded to the pause in refugee resettlement by strengthening our integration services, including English and citizenship classes.

New wellness initiatives, like peer support and family resource coordination, helped address the rise in crisis calls and provide a bridge to long-term healing. In collaboration with the McGrath Institute, 85 parish leaders completed the FIAT program on faith and mental health and are better equipped to create communities of hope and belonging. 

We also launched a new three-year strategic plan, guiding us toward a future where we are seen as a compassionate, trusted leader in meeting urgent community needs.

At Catholic Charities, we are there in moments of crisis, in times of transition, and in the everyday challenges families face.  Every number in this report reflects a life touched, a burden lifted, and a family strengthened.  Our programs work together to create stability and hope for those we serve by offering a holistic approach to care.  The report highlights the breadth of our impact across the 16 counties of the Diocese of Green Bay – evidence that when our community needs us most, we are there.

May God continue to bless each of you and your families abundantly during this Advent Season!