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🕊️ 1989–1990 | A Vision Is Born

Location: St. Mary Central High School, Menasha, WI
In the face of restructuring and declining enrollment, a visionary idea took root — to welcome international students and share a one-year Catholic high school experience rooted in faith, education, and service.
✨ First conceived as a way to market SMC internationally.

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🌎 1990 | The First Exchange

7 Students from Latin America, Japan, and Switzerland arrive at St. Mary Central.
Global Outreach’s story begins — an experiment in faith, culture, and friendship that will soon grow into a mission across continents.

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🌍 1991–1993 | From Central Europe With Faith

  • 1991: First students (6) from Czechoslovakia and Hungary attend SMC and Roncalli High School, Manitowoc, WI.

  • 1992: Catholic high schools in Nebraska join through the Notre Dame Sisters in Omaha.

  • 1993: Xavier High School, Appleton, WI, joins the mission.
    💬 Global Outreach becomes a bridge between East and West in a new era of religious freedom.

 

🕊️ 1994–1998 | Growing Across the Midwest

  • 1994: Incorporated as a non-profit; recognized under the Diocese of Green Bay.

    • First student from Latvia arrives.

    • Mary Piette becomes Executive Director.

  • 1995–1996: Students arrive from Slovakia and Lithuania.

    • New partner schools: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha), Edgewood (Madison), Marquette U.H.S., Newman (Wausau), Lourdes (Oshkosh), and Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul).

  • 1997–1998: Dominican High School (Whitefish Bay) and McDonell H.S. (Chippewa Falls) join.
    🎓 By decade’s end, GO connects hearts and homes across the Midwest.

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✝️ 2000s | Strengthening the Foundation​

  • 2004: Approved for CSIET certification; 23 students participate — a record high.

  • 2007: Fr. Larry Seidl joins as Spiritual Director.

  • 2008: Leadership transition — Barbara Tota-Boryczka becomes Executive Director.
    🕯️ First students born after the Velvet Revolution join the program, embodying hope and renewal.

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🌟 2010s | Expanding the Mission​

  • 2013: Columbus Catholic High School (Marshfield) joins.

  • 2014: First students from Poland arrive.
    🌿 Global Outreach continues forming servant leaders across generations.

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💻 2020–2021 | Faith Through Challenge​

  • 2020: COVID-19 pandemic reshapes the program.

    • Students participate virtually; summer camps canceled but reimagined locally.

  • 2021: Virtual Summer Camp unites students worldwide.

    • First student from Ukraine joins.

    • Record 80 applications received — the most in GO history!

    • Aquinas Catholic High School (La Crosse) joins the GO family.
      🙏 Even apart, the mission of connection and service thrives.

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❤️ 2022–2023 | Faith in Action​

  • 2022: Summer Camp held at Piarist High School, Hungary.

    • Despite the war in Ukraine, students like Victoriia and Valeriia continue their studies in Wisconsin.

    • GO launches a 2-Step Selection Process for future candidates.

  • 2023: Summer Camp in Šaštín, Slovakia; 23 students welcomed to the U.S.

    • Annychka, first GO student from Ukraine in the Diocese of Green Bay.

    • GO celebrates 30+ years of faith, friendship, and leadership.
      🌍 A moment to “reimagine the future” and renew the mission.

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✨ 2024-2025 | A Future Rooted in Hope​

  • Summer Camp: Siedlec, Poland

  • 22 new students welcomed to the U.S.

  • Annychka returns for her senior year — one of three Ukrainian students continuing despite war at home.

  • Wisconsin (21) and Nebraska (2) families host the 2024–2025 class.

  • Wisconsin

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2025 - GO Czech Republic welcomed GO Staff, 2024-2025 GO Alumni along with alumni from the prior years and potential future GO applicants to Summer Camp in Vranov, Czech Republic. Due to a temporary hold placed on the U.S. Embassies to conduct F-1 Student Visa interviews which then resulted in scheduling challenges when the hold was lifted, GO students began arriving in early August through mid-September and were welcomed directly into their host family homes.  Orientation was conducted during Summer Camp and a follow-up virtual mini-orientation was completed in September.  Nineteen students were welcome by Wisconsin host families; Nebraska host families welcomed two students.

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🕊️ Today and Beyond​

For over three decades, Global Outreach has united students, host families, schools, and parishes in one mission:

To form young Catholic servant leaders and build bridges of faith across the world.

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TOTAL NUMBER OF GLOBAL OUTREACH STUDENTS BY COUNTRY*

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Columbia (1)

Czech Republic (188) 

Germany (1)

Hungary (155)

Ukraine (5)

Latvia (19)

Lithuania (74)

Mexico (1)

Hungary/Ukraine (1)

Romania (1)

Slovakia (182)

Slovakia/Czech Republic (1)

Poland (51)

 

*As of September 30, 2025, Global Outreach has welcomed 680 unduplicated students.  2 of 5 students from Ukraine – due to the war - have returned for a 2nd year of high school.
 

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