Milwaukee northwest side Catholic parish ponders use of merger money

As problems facing urban parishes go, it's a good one to have: What to do with nearly $1.1 million suddenly thrust in your lap?

Two committees at St. Catherine Catholic Church at N. 51st and W. Center Streets are evaluating proposals for the money, which grew out of a series of parish closings and mergers over the years.

But the process has fueled a debate over how best to serve the poor in one of the most distressed area of the city, and it has strained relations among longtime allies on that front.

"The mission of the church is to serve the presence of Christ in those neighborhoods," said Bob Graf, who leads a group of advocates calling on St. Catherine to use the money to fund the Catholic social services agency St. Vincent de Paul and other ministries already in place at St. Catherine, All Saints and St. Martin de Porres parishes.

St. Catherine's pastor, Father John "Jack" Kern, and parish trustees say the proposal, outlined in an impassioned online plea at www.nonviolentworm.org, is one of several options being considered by the parish. Others include establishing an outreach center and partnering with organizations such as the House of Peace or Catholic Charities.

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