The pandemic has not made it easier for Catholic parishes like St. Mary’s in Luxemburg and Holy Trinity in Casco to worship together. After closing its doors for nearly three months due to the pandemic, both churches were able to open their doors to smaller capacities. Attendance had reached its peak shortly before Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay lifted dispensation for those not attending mass on Sunday. Soon after that Kewaunee County’s COVID-19 numbers started to spike, causing a drop in attendance and the dispensation to return just two weeks later. The church’s smaller groups like its CCD classes and Thursday morning teen bible study have been able to maintain with safe practices but unable to grow. Father Daniel Schuster says humans were not built for virtual connection.

In the weeks since, Schuster is happy to see attendance starting to slowly build up. For his parishioners that have not felt safe at in-person church gatherings, the churches have been able to offer their daily masses, funerals, weddings, and other functions on its Facebook pages.