A Weekly Photo Journey
Across DioWis
October 30th, 2025
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Sweet Success: Our First Trunk-or-Treat!
📍 St. Thomas, Menasha
🎃 On October 29, St. Thomas hosted its very first Trunk or Treat — and wow, what a night! Nearly 150 kids came through in costume for candy, games, and plenty of spooky fun. 👻✨
Here are a few snapshots from the evening’s smiles, creativity, and community spirit! 📸🍬
📸 Submitted by Ashley Puga
🕯️🎃 St. Luke’s Bay View Joins the Neighborhood Trick-or-Treat!
📍 St Luke’s, Bay View
On Saturday, October 25th, our corner of Bay View transformed into a scene straight out of a storybook. The air was alive with the scent of incense and the glow of candles, as eerie organ music drifted through the night. Ghouls and goblins, fairies and superheroes—all found their way to our doors for an evening of delight and community.
Here are just a few glimpses of the incredible costumes and festive fun! 👻✨
See the full album on Facebook: facebook.com/StLukesChurchBayView/photos
📷Submitted by Susan M. Kainz
Crust Us, It Was Delicious!
Adding to the festive atmosphere, an organic produce stand—run by a parishioner and local farm owner—set up shop in the church parking lot, offering fresh vegetables grown with care. Inside, the church was filled with handcrafted items, from quilts to seasonal décor, all made by parish members. A new housewares section debuted this year, bringing a rummage-sale charm that quickly became a hit.
The highlight of the day was the quilt raffle, which raised an impressive $1,000 in ticket sales. In total, the bazaar has already brought in over $3,600, with final proceeds still being counted—every dollar supporting the ongoing ministries of St. John’s.
A particularly touching tradition continues each year as four daughters of long-time parishioners travel from out of town to join their mothers at the event, a testament to the sense of family and faith that defines St. John’s.
📷Submitted by Mother Kathleen Charles
📍 St. John’s, Sparta
On October 25, St. John’s in Sparta once again welcomed the community for its beloved Annual Fall Bazaar—a local tradition that blends handmade crafts, delicious food, and heartfelt connection. Enjoy a few photos from this year’s bazaar below—and don’t miss the before-and-after pie pictures that perfectly capture the day’s spirit!
This year’s event featured a beautiful variety of homemade soups, sandwiches, baked goods, and preserves, all lovingly prepared by the women of the church. From pies and cookies to breads and jellies, every treat was crafted by hand—and clearly enjoyed, as evidenced by one pair of “sober” and “silly” photos after a few too many pie samples! 🥧😄
Long Road to Sainthood
📍 Holy Communion Church, Lake Geneva
Holy Communion Church has started the process to get sainthood for our first priest, Father John McNamara (1821-1885). This involves venerating him on his death date (October 24, 1885). Parishioners walked to his gravesite in Pioneer Cemetery, Lake Geneva to venerate Fr. McNamara. The Diocese of Wisconsin must approve him first and then General Convention of the Episcopal Church must approve Fr. McNamara’s sainthood. The next convention is in 2027. The road to sainthood is long one.
A saint already from Wisconsin is Bishop Jackson Kemper who organized Holy Communion back in the 1840s and brought Father McNamara to Lake Geneva from New York City in 1850. As a foundational figure for the Episcopal Church in Wisconsin, Kemper is venerated as a saint. He was instrumental in organizing the church in the state, establishing the first diocese, and founding key institutions like Nashotah House, a seminary for training clergy. We have a very special and historical church!
Randy Lemcke, Holly Starck, Gloria Pankonin and Cathy Koch made the pilgrimage to Fr. McNamara’s gravesite. It’s in the middle of Pioneer Cemetery, Lake Geneva, under a maple tree and facing Dr. Philip Maxwell’s large monument. The flag is there on Fr. McNamara’s grave because he was a chaplain in the Civil War (G.A.R. Grand Army of the Republic)
📸 Submitted by Cathy Koch
Monsterous-ly Good 8th Sacrement
📍St. Luke’s, Bay View
At St. Luke's Bay View, we regularly celebrate the "8th sacrament" (church coffee hour) and this past week it was quite the sight to behold . We were served monster-like donuts, graveyard brownies, colorful veggie tray and pumpkin-shaped cheeseball.
St. Luke's - Bay View believes our time together serves to build our community, foster friendships, and provides spiritual support after worship.
📷Submitted by Susan Kainz
