Welcome to St. Thomas More Parish

My name is Lincoln Wood and I am excited to be serving St. Thomas More as your Pastoral Leader beginning in July. When I began to intentionally follow God’s call I never would have suspected that he would lead me to this wonderful community.

Born and raised in Pine Bluffs, WY, a town of 1000 people, I knew the church through weekly Mass, prayer with my family before meals, and CCD classes on Saturday morning. I had a childlike faith and believed in God and trusted my family and community. It was a great beginning, but the journey continued...

After graduating from High School, I moved on to study Chemistry at the University of Wyoming. As a young college student I became involved in St. Paul’s Newman Center, the campus’s parish and outreach to students. At the Newman Center I began to take ownership of my faith. I “grew up” as a Catholic. Through retreats, bible studies, service projects, and liturgy, developed a deep relationship with Jesus and the church, but the journey continued…

Fr. Roger Schmit, the Newman Center pastor, suggested that I discern a call to the priesthood. After a lot of prayer I decided to follow his counsel. I transferred from the University of Wyoming to Conception Seminary College in Northwest Missouri as a seminarian for the Diocese of Cheyenne. From the Benedictines at Conception I learned to pray and encountered the depth of the church’s tradition. After two years I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, but the journey continued…

The next step was studying theology as a seminarian at St. Paul Seminary at the University of St. Thomas. Here I earned a Master’s degree in theology and was formed pastorally, spiritually, and intellectually for ministry. One summer during my formation, I served as a hospital chaplain in Billings, MT. It was at this time, that I discerned that I was not called to the priesthood, but still called to serve the church. It is the summer that I met Jennifer, who is now my wife. But the journey continued…

After earning my Master’s degree, I have served as a Youth Minister at Transfiguration parish in Oakdale, MN (about 3000 families) for two years. Then I was able to move back to Wyoming and serve at the Newman Center as a Pastoral Associate for 10 years. I also taught several classes in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Wyoming. Now, in the Diocese of Green Bay, I have served as the Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry and most recently as the Pastoral Leader for St. Rose parish in Clintonville and St. Mary’s parish in Bear Creek for the last 10 years and have been ordained a deacon. I never would have dreamed when I began this journey that I would be blessed with so many people in such great communities. I didn’t even know what a Pastoral Leader was until 11 years ago. My ministry so far has been a gift, but the journey continues...

I look forward the next step in God’s plan and serving at St. Thomas More. I have learned that the Lord is always faithful and walks with us each step of our journey. For companions on the journey, I have been blessed with a wonderful family: Jennifer, my wife, and my children Maria (20), Gerald (18), Benedict (16), and Micah (13).

A one page introduction is a daunting task. If you have made it this far down the page you are a serious reader, but words can do only so much. I look forward to meeting you and walking together as the journey continues...

I look forward to meeting you at the Parish Annual Meeting on May 21!

Confirmation "Initial Interviews" for the 2019-2020 Confirmation class will be held in May.
Please sign up for a half-hour interview.  Candidates AND their sponsors attend the interview together.
Please read the information on the Sign Up Genius to make sure you bring everything to the interview that we need.
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.

You are invited to the Parish Annual Meeting!

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Come and meet Deacon Lincoln Wood

Tour the newly renovated Parish House

Enjoy a Pizza Party

Hear and Learn about the new budget

Upcoming capital projects

Commission activities

Parish Mission Planning

5:30 p.m. Open House at the Parish House (formerly Fr. Falk’s residence)

• Meet Deacon Lincoln Wood
• Tour the newly renovated house (1825 N McDonald St)
• Find out about the projects that were completed

6:00 p.m. Pizza Party begins in the Father Falk Fellowship Hall

6:30 p.m. Annual Meeting begins with prayer (Fellowship Hall)

• State of the Parish – Fr Jim
• Introduction of Deacon Lincoln Wood
• Presentation of the new budget – Finance Council
• Discussion of the past and future capital projects
• Council and Commission reports
• Parish Mission Planning – our future
• Questions and answer time – open discussion

8:00 p.m. Annual Meeting concludes with prayer

Come and participate in this very important transition moment in our parish history! I hope to see you here!