Ministries

Our Vision
 
The Catholic community in Wyoming is built upon the word of Christ and his directives to follow him and bring his message to others. The Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation provides those of Faith with the opportunity to make transformational gifts. With one Diocese serving the State, five-Catholic Schools, one University/Campus Ministry and all our parishes - our solidarity is a sign of God's love for us.
 
As we answer the call to be living stones, we will financially support this work and unite the parishes, ministries and Catholic entities.


Acts of Mercy

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John, 13:34.  

Catholic Charities of Wyoming
 

• Each human life is a gift from God and is sacred from conception to natural death. This is the cornerstone of our Catholic faith. We are called upon to defend the dignity of every person, without exception – regardless of their consciousness or physical condition. The right to life is the first and most fundamental right bestowed on us by God. We will continue to pray and advocate for a change in our world so that all people will respect human life and rejoice in the love Jesus has for each of us.

 

• Catholic Charities of Wyoming has served as an adoption service for many years, but across the state other organizations have emerged to fill this role. Recognizing other needs in our communities, Wyoming Catholic Charities will shift its ministry to serving the impoverished and vulnerable, promoting opportunity, advancing human dignity and bringing forth a more compassionate society.

 
Catholic Charities of Wyoming's Goals include:
 

• Case management and providing access to available services.
• In-home services to Senior Citizens.
• Advocacy on all matters involving human dignity and respect for life.
• Affordable Housing
• Immigration Services

 
St. Joseph’s Home for Children

St. Joseph's Childrens Home are working to address the health and saftey of children who are among the most vulnerable in our society.In 2019 there were  7,100 cases of child abuse and neglect reported to Wyoming Department of Family Services – an average of 20 per day. In the face of the opioid crisis and cuts to state funding, the likelihood of each complaint being promptly and thoroughly investigated is slim and the margin for error to great.

"Often these children are found with a young, unwed mother who has one or more boyfriends and anywhere from one to four small children, usually by a different father, all of whom have left.” Honorable Ed Grant, Retired Judge, Wyoming

St. Joseph's Children's Home provides psychiatric services through a residential treatment program and through outreach/outpatient programs. Providing family education, training and support for families in a faith based, compassionate way - the staff of St. Joseph's Childrens home strengthen the family unit and provide them with the skills and vision to create and maintain healthy relationships.
 

• Has room for approximately 60 children
• Provides Catholic Education for all receiving residential services and care
• Delivers behavioral health services and mental health care
• Teaches wholesome Family Life Skills to end the cycle of abuse and despair

Catholic Schools
 
“If we don't  teach our children to follow Christ, the world will  teach them not to, for the whole world lies in wickedness.” 1 John, 5:19

 

• Wyoming Catholic Schools are moving from a parish-based, pastoral administrative model to a structure where governance is the reposinbility of a school board and principal. In those settings where a school is affiliated with a parish, the pastor will serve as a member of the board but the administration and governance of the school and parish will be distinct and seperate. This model has been highly successful with Catholic schools throughout the country.

 

• The average cost of educating a student in our Catholic schools is $10,000, and despite fundraising programs the out-of-pocket costs for a family can exceed $5,000 per student for tuition. Many families simply cannot afford Catholic school. Declining enrollments create a perfect storm as schools are forced to raise tuition and press families to participate in various fundraising programs.

 

• Major gift fundraising efforts will focus on scholarships and efforts to reduce or eliminate tuition, enhancing educational opportunities for middle-income and low-income families.

 

• If we can greatly reduce or even eliminate tuition through a scholarship or endowment program our classrooms will be bursting at the seams. We would have more students fully aware of Christ’s love for them.

  Ministries Leadership Development  

“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” John, 15:5
 

• The annual Diocesan appeal has historically raised about $2 million each year. Annual fundraising efforts and donations at our parishes have generally not kept up with costs of supporting parishes. The Diocese provides training, educational opportunities, and administrative services such as human resources support and marketing/outreach to parishes and catholic ministries and is in desperate need of permanent funding to ensure this focus.

 

• As the Hispanic population continues to grow, it is important that our Parishes create opportunities to engage Spanish speaking families and provide inclusive opportunities for them to gather, worship and integrate within the Church. Many Parishes have launched effective outreach programs and are meeting these needs. The Diocese has established the Office of Hispanic Ministry and will establish continuity and consistency throughout our parishes.

 
 

• St. Paul’s Newman Center

 

• Despite national trends indicating lower church attendance and faith abandonment among the population between 20 and 30 years of age, college ministries in Wyoming are vibrant. St. Paul’s Newman Center in Laramie has outgrown their current facilities. Plans are being developed for a $25 million campaign to expand the facility as well as operational programs. St. Paul’s Newman Center serves youth from every parish in Wyoming and advancing the spiritual growth of our students will require statewide financial support.

 

• Seminarian Education and Vocations

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Matthew 9:37
 

• Over the past half century, the number of priests across the U.S. has dropped by about 38 percent. We see a recent drop from nearly 60,000 priests in 1970 to 37,192 in 2016.

 

• Our goal is to enlist 4 applicants each year into Seminarian Education and Vocations. Efforts are needed to expand recruitment and vocations, particularly in helping young men in Wyoming to answer the call to the Priesthood. Further funding is needed to defer the cost of education and enhance each Seminarian’s ability to focus on heeding God’s call and their ministry with Christ.

 

• It costs an average of $50,000 per year to attend a seminary, and Priestly Formation averages 5 years. Can we expect young men to commit to Christ, set their families, comforts and conveniences aside and expect them to go deep into debt?

 

• Priests and Sisters dedicate their lives to stand by us at the most joyous of times and in our deepest sorrow and despair. Through the sacraments they celebrate and heal. Investing in these vocations today provides countless returns for the future.

 

• St. Joseph’s Society

 

• Our priests give a lifetime of service to the Church, and even in their retirement they continue to serve and represent Christ and his church.They fill in when active priests take vacation, have health issues or attend training programs for extended periods of time. Our retired priests visit the elderly and the sick and provide spiritual guidance to thousands across the state.

 

• Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation is committed to caring for our retired priests, assisting them with the expenses of living and healthcare services.

 

• St. Joseph’s Society is an endowed fund that helps offset the costs and financial burdens they face. Our goal is to grow this fund and to be in a solid position to provide cost of living adjustments and additional needs our retired priests will face in the future.