Former Green Bay, Wisconsin, church becomes new home for women and families in recovery
The former Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Green Bay, Wisconsin, will become the new home of Amanda’s House, where women in recovery and their families can find safe haven and support. Photo: Diocese of Wisconsin
[Diocese of Wisconsin] The Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin, in a demonstration of faith, community and transformation, has given a former church property in Green Bay to the Mandolin Foundation, creating a permanent home for Amanda’s House.
Amanda’s House is more than just a residence; it is a safe haven where women and their children can find the support they need to reclaim their lives, reconnect with their community and build new foundations for the future.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to see this space repurposed in a way that aligns so beautifully with our values,” Wisconsin Bishop Matthew Gunter said in a statement posted online. “This building, once filled with prayer and song, will now echo with the laughter of children, the warmth of family, and the resilience of women reclaiming their lives. It’s truly a space of transformation, and we’re delighted to open it up as a sanctuary of healing.”
The former Church of the Blessed Sacrament building dates to the early 1900s, when it was constructed to serve Belgian immigrants moving from southern Door County to Green Bay. For decades, the now-former Diocese of Fond du Lac supported these families and other migrant communities through mission churches, with Blessed Sacrament becoming a spiritual home where many gathered for life’s most significant moments — weddings, baptisms and funerals. The church closed in October 2021.
Now, as Amanda’s House, the building begins a new chapter, continuing as a gathering place for those needing comfort, care and support. Amanda’s House provides up to 12 months of housing, during which residents can focus on healing and growing while building vital life skills to help them thrive independently.
The diocese also has invited community members, including former parishioners of Blessed Sacrament, to volunteer at Amanda’s House. Whether through reading stories with children, cooking meals with residents, gardening or assisting with office tasks, volunteers have a unique opportunity to contribute to this work.
“Amanda’s House is a place where everyone — residents, volunteers, staff and supporters — plays a role in making hope a reality,” Gunter said. “We believe in the power of community to heal and uplift, and we encourage anyone moved by this mission to get involved.”
In support of this work, the diocese also contributed a Deacons Council Outreach Fund grant to the project. Mandolin Foundation is fundraising to pay for renovations.
