About Divine Mercy Catholic Community · South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Divine Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, formed in 2003 by the merger of four historic South Milwaukee parishes — St. Adalbert's, St. Mary's, St. John's, and St. Sylvester's. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and serves worshippers from South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Franklin, Cudahy, Milwaukee, and Racine. The parish operates from two South Milwaukee campuses — the main worship site at 800 Marquette Avenue and the parish office, school, and chapel campus at 695 College Avenue — and runs a K3–8 Catholic school, an early childhood center, and a wide range of faith formation, social, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- Divine Mercy (the Mercy of Jesus)
- Rector
- Fr. Joe Sebastian
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Divine Mercy offers the sacramental rhythm of three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil and a daily 8:30 a.m. Mass, along with a robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule including a First Friday 'Abide' holy hour, weekly Reconciliation on Saturdays and Sundays, and a weekly Wednesday chapel day. Parishioners find a place for every age and stage — a K3–8 parish school, family formation, RCIA and adult confirmation, men's and women's groups, Bible study, a vibrant Parish Life committee, and active outreach through the Human Concerns committee and Share Sunday. Coming here means joining a merged community rooted in four historic South Milwaukee parishes that takes seriously its call to encounter, be formed in, and proclaim Christ.
Mass times at Divine Mercy Catholic Community
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (800 Marquette Avenue)
- Sunday mornings following the 7:30 AM Mass (priest may leave if no one arrives for Confession)
- Every First Friday during ABIDE Holy Hour
- By appointment (call the parish office at 414-762-6810)
Adoration times
- Monday through Saturday: 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM (before each weekday Mass)
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 695 College Ave Chapel (Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM, Benediction at 4:00 PM)
- First Thursdays (September–May): 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 800 Marquette Avenue during All Committee Night meetings
- First Fridays: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM 'Abide Adoration & Prayer' at 800 Marquette Avenue
- Quarterly 24-hour Adoration held Friday noon to Saturday noon at the Marquette Avenue church during March, June, September, and December
Our Parish
Divine Mercy Parish serves the South Milwaukee Catholic community from two campuses. The main worship site at 800 Marquette Avenue hosts the weekend and most weekday Masses, while 695 College Avenue houses the parish office, Four Saints Chapel (used for weekday Mass — including all Wednesday Masses from September through May), the day school, the Early Childhood Center, and the parish Social Center/Gym. The parish's mission is rooted in daily prayer, the celebration of the Sacraments, continual Christian formation, and outreach to neighbors near and far. Parishioners come from South Milwaukee and the surrounding cities of Oak Creek, Franklin, Cudahy, Milwaukee, and Racine.
- Main Worship Site: 800 Marquette Avenue
- Parish Office / School / Chapel: 695 College Avenue
- Main Office: 414-762-6810
- Email: [email protected]
History
Divine Mercy Parish was formed in 2003 through the merger of the four Catholic parishes then serving the city of South Milwaukee: St. Adalbert's, St. Mary's, St. John's, and St. Sylvester's. That consolidation brought more than a century of South Milwaukee Catholic life under a single parish roof, with the predecessor community remembered through the name 'Four Saints Chapel' at the College Avenue campus. The parish has grown to serve worshippers from several neighboring cities and continues to be shaped by the Archdiocese's regional planning; in late 2025 the Archdiocese shared a letter about upcoming changes affecting parishes in the South Shore area, and Divine Mercy is part of the active collaboration among parishes in Milwaukee/Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy, and South Milwaukee.
- 2003 — Four South Milwaukee parishes (St. Adalbert's, St. Mary's, St. John's, St. Sylvester's) merged to form Divine Mercy Parish
- Four Saints Chapel at 695 College Avenue commemorates the founding parishes
- Active member of the South Shore parish collaboration
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Divine Mercy is lifelong, serving individuals of every age. Children and youth are reached through the Family Formation program (with adult sessions offered alongside), the parish school, and Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Adults can join the Dynamic Men's Group, the Women's Group, the Monday Bible Study, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), and Adult Confirmation preparation for Catholics over 18 who have not yet been confirmed.
- Family Faith Formation for all ages
- RCIA for adults and children age 7+ who are unbaptized or baptized in another tradition
- Adult Confirmation
- Monday Bible Study
- Dynamic Men's Group
- Women's Group
- Youth Ministry for grades 7–12 (service, fellowship, worship)
- Contact: Chris Mancheski, Director of Faith Formation — 414-762-6810 ext. 3212
Divine Mercy Catholic School
Divine Mercy Catholic School is a parish school serving K3 through 8th grade on the 695 College Avenue campus. The school 'strives to learn, teach, share, celebrate, and inspire each other to be disciples of Christ,' partnering with parents and the parish community to integrate Christian values and Catholic tradition into a strong academic curriculum. The school has earned a 5-star rating and serves families from South Milwaukee, Cudahy, St. Francis, and Franklin. The principal is Loreve Rucka.
- Grades K3–8
- Located at 695 College Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172
- Phone: 414-764-4360
- Principal: Loreve Rucka
- 5-star rated
- Enrollment approximately 252 students with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio
Parish Life and Community
The Parish Life Committee coordinates the social fabric of Divine Mercy, planning and supporting parish dinners, special events, and parish hospitality. Meeting on the first Thursday of the month in the Gathering Space at the 800 Marquette Avenue campus, the committee is chaired by parishioner Kathleen Mattke.
- Chairperson: Kathleen Mattke
- Meeting: First Thursday of the month
- Location: Divine Mercy Gathering Space, 800 Marquette Avenue
- Contact: 414-745-3902
- Areas: Parish Hospitality, Parish Dinners, Special Events
Parish Committees and Leadership
Parishioners help set the direction of Divine Mercy through several standing committees that feed into the Pastoral Council. The Pastoral Council is the policy-forming body of the parish and the pastor's primary advisory group; it meets on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM at 800 Marquette Avenue. Ex officio members include the pastoral team and the two lay trustees.
- Pastoral Council (Chairperson Cindy Semski; Vice Chairperson Dennis Irwin; Secretary Kathy Mattke)
- Prayer and Worship Committee
- Human Concerns Committee
- Life-Long Faith Formation Committee
- Stewardship Committee
- Building and Grounds Committee
- Finance Council
- Trustees: Ron Robinson and Mary Jean Kais
Staff and Key Contacts
Pastoral and operational leadership at Divine Mercy includes clergy, directors of parish ministry areas, and school faculty and staff. In addition to the pastor, the parish benefits from a Director of Liturgy and Music, a Director of Faith Formation, a Director of Operations, a Director of Administrative Services, and a school principal, with shared secretarial support.
- Fr. Joe Sebastian — Pastor
- Chris Sepersky — Director of Liturgy and Music
- Chris Mancheski — Director of Faith Formation
- Dave Wieland — Director of Operations
- Patty Bollis — Director of Administrative Services
- Loreve Rucka — School Principal
- Mary Wenger — Administrative Services (school-side)
Address, Location, and Visiting
The parish can be reached through the Main Office by phone at 414-762-6810 or by email at [email protected]. Worshippers are welcomed at the main worship site, 800 Marquette Avenue, while the school, chapel, and offices sit just down the road at 695 College Avenue — both in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Main Office: 414-762-6810
- Email: [email protected]
- Main Worship Site: 800 Marquette Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172
- Parish Office / School / Chapel: 695 College Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172