Parish Twinning: St. Catherine — Bethlehem
In response to the Church’s call to global solidarity, St. Mary and St. Anthony Parishes are entering into a parish twinning partnership with St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Parish in Bethlehem.
I’ve had the incredible grace of celebrating Holy Mass at the Altar of the Nativity in the Basilica of the Nativity adjacent to the parish of St. Catherine’s numerous times. I’m excited that we are entering this parish twinning relationship in the place where “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
Please join us in supporting this effort through prayer, presence, and generosity as we live out the call to be one Church united in love and service.
—Msgr. Ross Shecterle
Twinning Background: Inspired by International Friendship
What started as a chance meeting in a freshman chemistry lab led to something extraordinary: Kolbe Schlosser, from Wisconsin, and Iskandar Salameh, from Bethlehem, found themselves seated next to each other during their first week at the University of Notre Dame. Their friendship grew quickly—and eventually inspired a twinning relationship between their home parishes: St. Mary + St. Anthony (WI) and St. Catherine (Bethlehem).
Kolbe, a distant nephew of Msgr. Dentinger (the first pastor of St. Mary), studies electrical engineering on a pre-med track with hopes of serving others through neuroscience. Iskandar, raised just a 20-minute walk from the birthplace of Jesus, studies civil engineering and hopes to help rebuild and unite communities.
Out of their friendship developed our parishes’ twinning. We now grow together in faith—across cultures and continents—as one body in Christ through shared prayer, music, Gospel reflection, and future plans for pilgrimages and student exchanges.
About St. Catherine
St. Catherine’s Parish, located beside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, stands as a living witness to Christ’s birthplace and the enduring presence of Christianity in the Holy Land. For over 70 years, local Christians have faced conflict, displacement, and economic hardship—yet the parish remains a beacon of faith, offering sacraments, spiritual support, and essential services like education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid.
Bethlehem in the News
Bethlehem Mayor meets Pope and appeals for hope and solidarity
Meet Iskander Salameh — St. Catherine Parishioner
Iskander Salameh delivered a powerful and heartfelt message about the dire situation facing the Christian community in Bethlehem during Masses the weekend of Sept. 28-29, emphasizing that they are under existential threat due to severe political and economic pressures.
Drawing from his personal experience as a native of Bethlehem, he painted a sobering picture of life in a city whose tourism-based economy has collapsed, largely due to the impacts of COVID-19 and ongoing conflict. This collapse has triggered a humanitarian crisis, leaving families unable to afford essentials like medicine, electricity, and school costs.
Iskander highlighted the alarming trend of a shrinking Christian population—now only 1–2% of the Holy Land—underscoring the urgency of the situation. Despite the hardship, he emphasized the enduring hope of the community, saying, “My family and friends are very much living the passion of Jesus. Still, we are a people of hope.” He appealed to the global Christian community to respond with solidarity—through both prayer and financial aid—calling this support essential for sustaining Bethlehem’s Christian families and preserving its legacy as a living faith community.
Our Partnership
Together, our parishes aim to deepen understanding of the universal Church and live the Gospel call to be “one body in Christ.” Through shared prayer intentions (see video at right!), student partnerships, choir exchanges, and occasional reflections or homilies from each parish, we hope to grow spiritually alongside our sisters and brothers in the Holy Land—especially during a time of humanitarian crisis in the West Bank.
The partnership includes opportunities for charitable giving, such as an annual Advent project and support for sustainable development. Future hopes include pilgrimages and cultural exchanges.
If you'd like to be informed about opportunities to get involved in our parish twinning relationship, please share your contact information below.
Mission Appeal Weekend
Each year, St. Anthony and St. Mary Parishes take part in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP), coordinated by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith (SPOF). This initiative allows us to connect with global missionary efforts and support the Church’s outreach to those most in need around the world. This year, we are supporting St. Catherine Parish through the the Mission Appeal.
You can make a donation online now using the button below
If you’d like to learn more about MCP, please visit the website: archmil.org/offices/world-mission/MCP.
