About Blessed Trinity · Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Blessed Trinity Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, formed in 2001 through the merger of three historic Sheboygan County parishes — St. Mary's, St. George, and St. Rose of Lima — by decree of Archbishop Rembert Weakland of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish worships at 319 Giddings Avenue and shares ministry and staff with neighboring St. John Evangelist Parish in Kohler (BT/SJE). The current pastor, Father Michael Lawinger, was appointed on June 1, 2025, and leads a parish community that also reaches out to local nursing homes, runs a Catholic Life Center for faith formation, and maintains a year-round calendar of devotional and family programs.
- Established
- 2001
- Patron
- Blessed Trinity (the parish name honors the merger of three parishes — St. Mary's, St. George, and St. Rose — rather than the Holy Trinity itself, although the name 'Blessed Trinity' is the parish's titular designation)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Lawinger (appointed June 1, 2025; ordained 2021 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist; native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee (Metropolitan Archdiocese)
Why belong here
Blessed Trinity offers a tight-knit Catholic family rooted in three of Sheboygan County's oldest faith communities, where weekly Mass, the Rosary, and the Anointing of the Sick are all available on a regular schedule. The parish is paired with St. John Evangelist in Kohler (BT/SJE), giving parishioners access to a wider range of ministries than a small parish could sustain alone — including a Summer Religious Education program for grades K–11, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the Catholic Life Center's adult and family formation programs, and a young adult group called the Catholic Underground. Pastoral visits and Masses are also brought to residents of Pine Haven's Giddings and Haven campuses, reflecting a parish committed to bringing the Eucharist to those who cannot easily come to it.
Mass times at Blessed Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays at 12:40 pm (in the confessional on the left-hand side of the church)
- 1st, 3rd, & 5th Saturdays at 3:00 pm (in the confessional on the left-hand side of the church)
- Individual Reconciliation by appointment
Adoration times
- No Eucharistic Adoration is held at Blessed Trinity at this time
History of Blessed Trinity Parish
Blessed Trinity Parish was born in 2001 from the merger of St. Mary's, St. George, and St. Rose of Lima — three communities whose combined roots reach back to 1848. Archbishop Rembert Weakland of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee decreed the merger after years of dialogue on inter-parish ministry, the Renew program, and joint celebrations of a single Eucharist at the local high school auditorium. Fr. Eugene Neuman was named the parish's first pastor, and the former St. Mary's site on Giddings Avenue became the new parish center. St. Rose was permanently closed in March 2006 and St. George in 2007 as the unified community took shape. In 2013, the parish closed St. Mary School, and the former school building was converted into the Catholic Life Center, which now houses faith formation, youth ministry, adult programs, and family events shared with St. John Evangelist in Kohler.
- St. George — one of the first Catholic churches in Sheboygan County, established 1848; first church a log structure; 12 years without a resident pastor; present church built 1867 under Rev. Patrick Sebold; closed 2007.
- St. Rose of Lima — built spring 1861; first Mass October 12, 1861 by Rev. Schraudenbach; closed March 2006.
- St. Mary's, Sheboygan Falls — organized 1896 through efforts of George Brickner; first resident pastor Rev. Charles Keyser (1896–1903); remodeled 1920; new church dedicated April 16, 1967.
- St. Mary School — closed 2013; building converted to the Catholic Life Center.
Pastor's Greeting
Father Michael Lawinger, appointed by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on June 1, 2025, is the current pastor of Blessed Trinity and St. John Evangelist Parishes. A native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, he was ordained at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in 2021 and previously served as associate pastor at Christ King and St. Bernard in Wauwatosa. In his greeting to the parish, he invites newcomers and longtime members alike to grow in their love of Jesus and his Church, asking for the parish's prayers for his ministry and offering his own prayers for every family at Blessed Trinity.
- Fr. Michael Lawinger, BT/SJE Pastor — Office: 920-245-5665; Emergency: 920-550-1145.
Our Staff
Blessed Trinity and St. John Evangelist Parishes share a single staff team. In addition to the pastor and pastoral associate, the team includes a financial assistant, a parish administrative assistant (Sandy Jordan), a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd director, Catholic Life Center directors for adult and family ministry, a director of liturgy and music, a parish wedding coordinator, a maintenance coordinator, and custodians.
- Fr. Michael Lawinger — BT/SJE Pastor (920-245-5665; Emergency 920-550-1145)
- Justin Spaeth — BT/SJE Pastoral Associate (920-393-6486)
- Sandy Jordan — Parish Administrative Assistant (920-750-7840)
- BT/SJE Financial Assistant (920-750-7849)
- Kate Boyce — BT/SJE Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Director (920-467-4616)
- Mary Waitkus — BT/SJE Catholic Life Center Director, Adult Ministry (920-750-7843)
- BT/SJE Catholic Life Center Director, Family Ministry (920-393-6347)
- BT/SJE Director of Liturgy and Music (920-467-4616 or 920-452-9623)
- BT/SJE Parish Wedding Coordinator (920-207-3468)
- Maintenance Coordinator and Custodians (920-750-7968)
Religious Education
Blessed Trinity's Religious Education program is a Summer program serving students in Grades K–11. Classes are held in two one-week sessions, June 15–19 and June 22–26, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Parents are asked to use the free Band app to communicate with the program and to indicate weekly attendance. The parish's [email protected] email is the contact for questions and preregistration. The program is staffed by Justin Spaeth, BT/SJE Pastoral Associate.
- Summer RE sessions: June 15–19 and June 22–26, 8:30–11:30 am
- Grades K–11
- Contact: Justin Spaeth, BT/SJE Pastoral Associate — 920-393-6486; [email protected]
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based approach to the religious formation of children, offered at Blessed Trinity under the direction of Kate Boyce. The parish's CGS atrium gives children a hands-on, prayerful environment to encounter the liturgy, Scripture, and the life of Christ at their own pace.
- Director: Kate Boyce
- Contact: 920-467-4616
Catholic Life Center (CLC) Adult Ministry
The Catholic Life Center — housed in the former St. Mary School building — exists 'to engage and unite our intergenerational faith community in learning and fellowship.' The CLC's Adult Ministry, led by Mary Waitkus, offers adult faith formation, family activities, and senior programs, including a Walk the Walk health and wellness program in the Blessed Trinity Gym and a monthly Conversations Over Coffee with Fr. Michael. A Young Adult program also operates out of the CLC.
- Adult Faith Formation — book/video series and faith-building events
- Walk the Walk — Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30–8:30 am in the Blessed Trinity Gym (3rd floor, no elevator); September through May
- Conversations Over Coffee with Fr. Michael — once a month
- Young Adult program (see Catholic Underground under Social Media)
- Contact: Mary Waitkus, CLC Director-Adult Ministry — 920-750-7843
Becoming a Member
Parishioners are encouraged to register as members of Blessed Trinity by contacting Sandy Jordan, Parish Administrative Assistant, at 920-750-7840. In a letter quoted on the parish's website, Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee welcomes new members and asks them to share their gifts and talents with the faith community.
- Contact for registration: Sandy Jordan — 920-750-7840
- Welcome letter from Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee
I'm New Here
Visiting parishioners are warmly welcomed at Blessed Trinity. Visitors are not expected to put money in the offering — they're welcome to let it pass them by. The parish invites those who consider Blessed Trinity their church home to give weekly by check, cash, or online giving. Children are encouraged to attend and participate in Mass (per Father Michael). Parking is available in the parish lot or on the street, and assistive listening devices are available from the ushers for those with hearing difficulties.
- Address: 319 Giddings Avenue, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
- Parking: parish lot or street
- Assistive listening devices available from ushers
Social Media & Young Adults
Blessed Trinity and St. John Evangelist Parishes share a Joint Parish Facebook page at facebook.com/btsje, which focuses on creating a Catholic community living out the Eucharist in daily life through prayer, learning, service, and fellowship. The Catholic Underground, the parish's young adult group, also has its own Facebook page at facebook.com/sheboygancu and meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month for a free meal, socializing, and discussion of Catholic topics.
- Joint Parish Facebook: www.facebook.com/btsje
- Catholic Underground (young adults): www.facebook.com/sheboygancu — meets 1st and 3rd Mondays
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eugene Neuman2001 (founding)
First pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish, named at its creation in 2001 when Archbishop Weakland merged St. Mary's, St. George, and St. Rose.
- Fr. Joseph Dominic
Pastor of Blessed Trinity at the time of a Catholic Herald feature article on the parish; a native of India and a member of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines). Listed on the parish's social media page as a contact for parish social media guidelines.
- Rev. Michael Lawinger2025–present
Appointed pastor of Blessed Trinity and St. John Evangelist Parishes effective June 1, 2025, by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee; ordained 2021.