About Annunciation Parish · Fox Lake, Wisconsin
Annunciation Parish is a Roman Catholic congregation in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Formed in 1998 through the merger of three historic parishes — St. Mary's of Fox Lake, St. Gabriel of Randolph, and St. Mary's of Lost Lake — the parish serves a wide rural service area across Dodge and Columbia counties, including Cambria. As of 2024 it is affiliated with five other Western Dodge County parishes (Holy Family in Reeseville, St. Columbkille in Elba, St. John the Baptist in Clyman, St. Joseph in Waupun, and St. Katharine Drexel in Beaver Dam), and is cared for by a three-priest pastoral team led by Fr. William Arnold as pastor.
- Established
- 1998
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name; patron of the merged community)
- Rector
- Rev. William Arnold
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Annunciation Parish offers a warm, small-town Catholic home in rural southeastern Wisconsin, with weekly Mass in English, regular Reconciliation, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. Parishioners are cared for by a three-priest team (a pastor and two associates) and supported by a faith-formation program led by a Director of Religious Education, an organist, and a musician. As a member of the Western Dodge County Catholic collaborative — linked with Holy Family, Reeseville; St. Columbkille, Elba; St. John the Baptist, Clyman; St. Joseph, Waupun; and St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam — the parish combines a tight-knit local congregation with the wider resources of six affiliated parishes.
Mass times at Annunciation Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday after 8:00 a.m. Mass (approx. 8:30 a.m.)
- Saturday 3:00–3:34 p.m. (before 4:00 p.m. Mass)
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 a.m. — on every fourth Friday of the month (Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction after Mass)
About Annunciation Parish
Annunciation Parish is a Roman Catholic congregation of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, located in the small city of Fox Lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin. The parish serves a wide rural service area covering Dodge and Columbia counties, including the communities of Cambria, Randolph, and Lost Lake. It is one of six affiliated parishes in Western Dodge County and is cared for by a pastoral team of three priests. The parish invites anyone interested in the Catholic faith or seeking to reconnect with the Church to call the office for information.
- Roman Catholic congregation of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Service area: Dodge County & Columbia County
- One of six affiliated parishes in Western Dodge County (as of 2024)
- Three-priest pastoral team
Parish History
Annunciation Parish was established in 1998 through the merger of three historic congregations: St. Mary's of Fox Lake, St. Gabriel's of Randolph, and St. Mary's of Lost Lake. Those three predecessor parishes traced their roots to immigrant Catholic families of the early and mid-nineteenth century who settled in rural Dodge and Columbia counties, bringing their faith and their desire to celebrate the Catholic tradition. Today the parish carries on that legacy through its stated mission of 'Word, Worship, Service and Stewardship.'
- Formed 1998 from merger of three historic parishes
- St. Mary's of Fox Lake — childhood parish of jazz legend Bunny Berigan
- St. Gabriel's of Randolph — its original stained-glass window is preserved in the current church
- St. Mary's of Lost Lake — third predecessor parish
- Mission: Word, Worship, Service and Stewardship
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish maintains an active Faith Formation / Religious Education program for parishioners, with a dedicated Director of Religious Education coordinating the work. The official website carries a 'Religious Education Schedule' page where families can find current year-level and meeting-time details.
- Director of Religious Education: Madeline VerHage
- Religious Education Schedule page on the parish website
Music & Liturgy
Music is a steady presence at Mass at Annunciation. The parish is served by an organist (Georgene Altos) and a musician (Dianne Bell), supporting the sung liturgy across the weekly schedule.
- Organist: Georgene Altos
- Musician: Dianne Bell
Pastoral Team & Staff
Annunciation is blessed with a three-priest pastoral team. Fr. William Arnold serves as Pastor. He is assisted by Fr. Thomas Naidu and Fr. Nicholas Dhein as Associate Priests. Fr. Thomas Naidu's biography on the parish site records that he was born in Chennai, India, was ordained in 2003, served in Brazil and the Dominican Republic/Haiti, and joined the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2015 before being assigned to the area. Parish staff also include the Director of Religious Education, musicians, and the parish office administrator.
- Pastor — Rev. William Arnold
- Associate — Rev. Thomas Naidu (ordained 2003, joined Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2015)
- Associate — Rev. Nicholas Dhein
- Director of Religious Education — Madeline VerHage
- Office staff — Judy Wolf
- Organist — Georgene Altos
- Musician — Dianne Bell
Parish Buildings & Capital Improvements
Through its participation in the 2022 Archdiocese of Milwaukee 'Love One Another' capital campaign, Annunciation funded major improvements to its worship and gathering spaces. The campaign raised $328,653 (against a $213,615 goal) directed at structural repairs, accessible entrances, stained-glass window preservation, and ventilation upgrades.
- Structural improvements ($50,000) — east-side stairs and ramp
- Ventilation system upgrade for church and reception hall ($50,000)
- Stained-glass window coverings and preservation ($25,000) — including original St. Gabriel's window
- Safety and security lighting upgrades ($3,169)
- Final campaign total pledged (as of 9/20/2024): $328,653
Western Dodge County Catholic Collaborative
As of 2024 Annunciation Parish is formally affiliated with five other parishes in Western Dodge County in a pastoral collaborative. Together the six parishes share clergy coverage and cooperate on regional Catholic life in the area west of the city of Beaver Dam.
- Holy Family, Reeseville
- St. Columbkille, Elba
- St. John the Baptist, Clyman
- St. Joseph, Waupun
- St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
- Annunciation, Fox Lake
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed at weekend and weekday liturgies. The parish office is open limited hours during the week, and staff are happy to help with questions about the Catholic faith, sacraments, faith formation enrollment, or after-hours appointments. The church is located on Green Street in Fox Lake, with accessible parking and a recently upgraded accessible entrance on the east side of the building.
- Office phone: (920) 928-3513
- Office hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]
- After-hours appointments by request
- Address: 305 W Green Street, Fox Lake, WI 53933