In April, during an outreach meeting between parishioners of Holy Trinity and St. Gregory’s in the Diocese of Green Bay, the idea to assist the monks at Holy Resurrection Monastery was born. The meeting aimed to discuss the needs of parishioners and the surrounding community, but it became clear that helping the monks with upkeep at their monastery was a priority. Several St. Gregory’s parishioners had longstanding friendships with the monks and knew that maintaining the monastery grounds was a challenge. This connection provided an opportunity to offer meaningful support to the monks, who dedicate their lives to prayer for the local community.
When St. Gregory’s parishioners, introduced the idea, the response from parishioners was positive. They agreed that it was time to increase their support for the monks. After speaking with Abbot Moses at the Rural Life Day event, parishioners realized the importance of building a stronger relationship between the local parishes and the monastery. From that moment, plans to assist the monks began to take shape.
The planning process involved careful coordination. Parishioners familiar with the monks reached out to inquire about the types of assistance needed. With the monks’ prayer schedule and lack of machinery, it seemed like yard work should be the first project for the volunteers to tackle. Over the summer, they met with Abbot Moses to tour the property and discuss priorities for upkeep. The monks kindly offered to prepare lunch for the volunteers, and soon a flyer promoting the event was created. It was shared in the parish bulletin, on Facebook, and on the monastery’s website, making it clear that this event was not only for Holy Trinity and St. Gregory’s parishioners, but open to anyone willing to help.
On the day of the event, 22 volunteers arrived, including a family from Ss. Peter and Paul in Kiel, Wisconsin, who had seen the flyer on the monastery’s website. Additionally, a group of women from out of town participated after hearing about the cleanup day during a retreat at the monastery. The event truly brought together a diverse group of people, united by their desire to help the monks and strengthen the community.
The parishioners saw this project as a valuable opportunity to reinvigorate outreach efforts, which had slowed since 2020. Helping at the monastery provided a way to re-engage in service while expressing gratitude for the monks’ daily prayers for the world and local communities. The event also served as a reminder of the importance of collaboration and mutual support among brothers and sisters in Christ.
The monks at Holy Resurrection Monastery were excited about the project. Although they have lived in St. Nazianz for years, there has been some confusion among local parishes about whether they are in communion with Rome. Holy Resurrection Monastery is an Byzantine Catholic institution, one that is in union with Pope Francis but descends from the traditions and liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Church, utilizing Greek during their prayers and following a model of monasticism more closely resembling the first centuries of the Church in the east. This initiative helped clarify their standing and foster a stronger relationship with the Catholic community.
The cleanup day allowed parishioners and monks to deepen their relationships. Many volunteers had only met the monks briefly before this event, but the opportunity to work side by side—and share a meal prepared by Abbot Moses—led to meaningful conversations and new connections. Abbot Moses was trained as a chef in New Jersey before moving to Greece to cook, where he discovered his vocation to monastic life.The parish hopes to organize similar yard work days twice a year, in spring and fall, to continue helping the monks with large tasks. With parishioners having access to the necessary equipment, they can complete work more efficiently than the monks, who are limited by their prayer schedules and the number of men at the monastery.
During the cleanup day, much more was accomplished than expected. The volunteers removed three trees, pruned bushes and trees, cleared walking paths, raked leaves, and mulched the garden. They also brought a woodchipper to process the branches, hauled brush to the village recycling center, mowed the lawn, and weed whacked. One volunteer even bought flowers and pumpkins from a local stand to brighten the monastery’s entrance. By the end of the day, the property was transformed, exceeding the monks’ expectations.
Before this event, St. Gregory’s had a stronger relationship with the monastery due to its proximity, but Holy Trinity, a few miles away, had less interaction. Efforts were already underway to build connections between the parishes and the monastery, led by the previous pastor and the Religious Education Director. This yard work day helped further those connections, reminding parishioners that despite different expressions of Catholicism, they all share the same faith and commitment to service.
The success of this first yardwork day has inspired plans for future events. Organizers hope to involve even more volunteers from a variety of backgrounds at the next cleanup day in spring. By working together, parishioners and monks are strengthening their bond, sharing their love for Christ, and building a more unified community.
