FLORENCE, Wis. — The Florence Parish, a Christian ministry between Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Florence, is welcoming a new pastor, the Rev. Cathleen Morris.

Morris will arrive in Florence this week and will conduct her first worship services within the parish on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. First Presbyterian worships at 8 a.m. and Bethlehem Lutheran follows at 9:15 a.m. Coffee and refreshments will be served at each church following worship.

Morris is uniquely qualified to serve the Florence Parish. She was raised in the Presbyterian denomination and initially pursued a career in education. She received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and later earned a doctor of philosophy degree from Kent State in Ohio.

For 14 years, she worked as director of Carroll University Outreach Programs in Waukesha, Wis. Over time, Morris became interested in pursuing ministry as a second career and, following God’s call, she entered a Presbyterian college-McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, where she received her master of divinity degree.

She also studied at Wartburg Theological Seminary, a Lutheran college in Dubuque, Iowa, where she received a certificate in Lutheran studies. She is ordained as a Lutheran minister and has served in the La Crosse Area Synod, ELCA.

In a letter to the members of the Florence Parish, Morris stated, “Ecumenism was an important part of my discernment process while I was in seminary, as I sought to understand God’s call. Serving Bethlehem Lutheran Church and First Presbyterian Church through the Florence Parish is truly a gift to me and what I believe God wants me to do.”

Holy Week in the Florence Parish will also include Maundy Thursday worship at Bethlehem Lutheran at 6:30 p.m. that will be preceded by a soup supper at 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday services will be at 6:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian and Easter Sunday worship will be at 8 a.m. at First Presbyterian and 9:15 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran.

The parish also extends heartfelt thanks to the Rev. Lisa Ubbelohde, who has served as their interim pastor since June of 2020.

The parish has been blessed with her guidance of the Pastoral Search Committee and leadership in worship and pastoral contact with members and friends of the parish. She has now retired from active ministry and resides in Green Bay, Wis.