Green Bay Diocese, Catholic parish step in to shelter homeless people

Published: 2007-11-13

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CNS) -- With cold weather fast approaching, the Catholic Church stepped in to help shelter the chronically homeless of the Green Bay area when a popular overnight haven for them could not meet city zoning requirements to open. The Diocese of Green Bay announced it would back an effort to establish a shelter at St. John the Evangelist Parish. It opened Nov. 6 and two days later received preliminary approval for a zoning permit. Final zoning approval was needed by Nov. 15. "We feel very good about the opportunity to be where we are, especially with what the temperature is predicted to be," said Deacon Tim Reilly, Green Bay diocesan director of administration. The decision on the shelter came with the authorization of Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who was named administrator of the Green Bay Diocese after Bishop David A. Zubik was installed as Pittsburgh's new bishop Sept. 28.

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