About Holy Family · Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, a north shore suburb of Milwaukee. Established July 29, 1949, it serves as one of the largest parishes on Milwaukee's north shore and is part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish shares its pastor with neighboring St. Robert Parish in Shorewood and is home to Holy Family Parish School, a K4–8 Catholic elementary school that opened in 1953. The parish's mission is 'Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples.' and it centers its community life on the Sacraments, prayer, service, and outreach.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Very Rev. J. Enrique Hernandez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Holy Family offers the full sacramental life of a thriving Catholic parish — daily and weekend Mass in English (with a Sunday Mass featuring French), Saturday confessions, 24-hour perpetual adoration in the parish chapel, and an active Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for those entering the Church. Its on-site K4–8 parish school, served from the beginning by the Sinsinawa Dominican sisters, has earned 'Exemplary' status from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and continues to form students in faith and academic excellence. Parishioners are invited into small groups like Walking with Purpose, Hospitality ministries, and service outreach — a lived expression of the parish's motto, 'Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples.'
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (English)
Adoration times
- 24-hour perpetual adoration in the parish chapel (open all hours, every day)
Parish Identity and Mission
Holy Family Parish in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, is a Roman Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee whose mission is summed up in three phrases: 'Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples.' The parish welcomes all who wish to encounter Christ through the Sacraments and follow in the footsteps of the Saints and Apostles through prayer, service, and outreach. The current pastor, Very Rev. J. Enrique Hernandez, joined by Associate Pastor Fr. Charles Luke, invites parishioners and visitors alike to a 'most blessed encounter with the Lord' at Holy Family.
- Mission: Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples.
- Patron: The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Feast day: December 30
History of Holy Family Parish
The parish was canonically established July 29, 1949, under founding pastor Rev. George H. Wollet, as the north shore village of Whitefish Bay boomed after World War II. About 600 families from St. Monica's and St. Robert's formed its initial membership. For its first three years, Masses were held in the lobby of Whitefish Bay High School and in the chapel of St. Monica. The school building, completed by the Meredith Brothers in 1953, then hosted Mass in its basement gymnasium-auditorium until the architect Henry Slaby designed the present brick Contemporary church and rectory, which opened in 1969. Fr. Robert McCormick became pastor in 1973, ushering in decades of growth for both parish and school.
- Founded July 29, 1949, by Rev. George H. Wollet
- Formed from about 600 families of St. Monica's and St. Robert's parishes
- School building completed by Meredith Brothers, 1953
- Current church opened 1969, designed by Henry Slaby, built by Michael Mravik
- Fr. Robert McCormick named pastor in 1973
Clergy and Staff
Holy Family Parish and neighboring St. Robert Parish in Shorewood share a pastorate. The current pastor is Very Rev. J. Enrique Hernandez, originally from Colombia, ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2012. Before coming to Whitefish Bay he served as associate pastor at St. Frances Cabrini and Immaculate Conception in West Bend, Vocation Promoter for the archdiocese, and Formation Advisor for international seminarians. Fr. Charles Luke, ordained in 2024, serves as associate pastor.
- Very Rev. J. Enrique Hernandez — Pastor (shared with St. Robert, Shorewood)
- Fr. Charles Luke — Associate Pastor (ordained 2024)
- Mrs. Elizabeth Flattery — Principal, Holy Family Parish School
Faith Formation and OCIA
Holy Family's faith formation programs accompany parishioners at every stage of life — children in Religious Education, teens in Youth Ministry, and adults exploring or deepening Catholic faith through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly known as RCIA). Small groups such as Walking with Purpose gather women for Scripture study and friendship. The parish encourages newcomers to reach out and get involved.
- Religious Education for children
- Youth Ministry
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Walking with Purpose women's small group
- Hospitality ministry
Holy Family Parish School
Holy Family Parish School is a Catholic K4–8 elementary school that has served the north shore since 1953. The school motto is 'Dream. Believe. Achieve. Lead.' With approximately 189 students and an average class size of 18, the school offers an environment of academic excellence grounded in Catholic values, accredited by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and WRISA, and recognized as 'Exemplary' by the archdiocese. The school has invested more than $2 million in facility improvements since 2013 and is known for welcoming students of all abilities.
- Opened September 1953 with 268 students in grades 1–6
- Originally staffed by Sinsinawa Dominican sisters; first principal Sister Marentia
- Kindergarten added in 1982 (today K4–8)
- Approx. 189 students, average class size 18
- Accredited by Archdiocese of Milwaukee and WRISA
- Principal: Mrs. Elizabeth Flattery
- School address: 4849 N. Wildwood Ave., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
- School phone: 414-332-8175
Sacraments and Sacramental Life
All seven Catholic Sacraments are celebrated at Holy Family, including daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday Reconciliation, Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick. The parish team invites parishioners to reach out to the parish office for preparation programs for Baptism, Marriage, and First Sacraments.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion / Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Saturday 3:30 PM)
Parish Roots and Community Today
Today Holy Family is one of the largest parishes on Milwaukee's north shore. The parish and school together form a 'vibrant expression of what it means to be a loving and praying community,' grounded in the Eucharist and sustained by generations of faithful families.
Love One Another Capital Campaign
Holy Family is participating in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's Love One Another capital campaign with a parish goal of about $1.14 million. The campaign supports exterior improvements (lot resurfacing and campus lighting), church facilities upgrades (tile, carpeting, sound system, entrance doors), and parish ministries including the school, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and OCIA.
- Parish goal: $1,144,545
- Exterior improvements: $400,000–$500,000
- Church facilities: $200,000–$250,000
- Parish ministries: $20,000–$60,000
Visit Holy Family
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at Holy Family, located at 4825 N. Wildwood Avenue in Whitefish Bay, just north of Milwaukee. The parish church, school, parish center (the former convent), and 24-hour adoration chapel form a single campus on Wildwood Avenue, easily reached from Milwaukee's north shore communities.
- Church address: 4825 N. Wildwood Avenue, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
- Parish phone: 414-332-9220
- School address: 4849 N. Wildwood Avenue, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
- School phone: 414-332-8175
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Associate pastor email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George H. Wollet1949–
Founding pastor of Holy Family Parish, named July 29, 1949.
- Rev. Robert McCormick1973–
Named pastor in 1973; oversaw period of school growth.
- Very Rev. J. Enrique Hernandez
Current shared pastor of Holy Family (Whitefish Bay) and St. Robert (Shorewood); ordained 2012 for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee; originally from Colombia.