About Holy Name of Jesus · Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Holy Name of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, belonging to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Its motto, "Carved in Stone — Nourished by Love," dates to the parish's 150th anniversary in 1995. The cornerstone of the present limestone church was laid in 1868, and the building was dedicated under the patronage of the Holy Name of Jesus by Bishop John Martin Henni in November 1872. Today the parish shares pastoral leadership with St. Clement and St. Dominic under the umbrella of the Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes and serves about 1,100 families.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Nick Baumgardner
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Holy Name of Jesus offers a downtown Sheboygan parish anchored in a striking 1872 limestone Gothic church whose motto — "Carved in Stone, Nourished by Love" — sums up a community that blends deep history with active ministry. The parish shares resources with St. Clement and St. Dominic under the Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes, giving members access to a full K–8 Catholic school (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), lifelong faith formation for adults and children, choir and music programs, Eucharistic ministry, prayer and worship ministries, and outreach such as the North Side Christian Food Pantry and Emmaus Meals.
Mass times at Holy Name of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (English)
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m. (Holy Name, as part of Reconciliation/Adoration)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m. (combined Reconciliation/Adoration at Holy Name)
History of Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name is the oldest Catholic parish in Sheboygan, with roots going back to August 24, 1845, when Fr. Casper Rehrl and ten Catholic families gathered around a dining-room altar in rural Sheboygan. Within two years they built a 30-by-20-foot wooden church (St. Mary Magdalene), and by 1860 the community had outgrown it. The current limestone Gothic church was designed by Fr. Michael Haider, an Austrian-born polymath who arrived in 1862, acquired the Pigeon River quarry with wagon-maker Jacob Jung's help, and dedicated the new building — built of wood and stone with no steel or metal — under the patronage of the Holy Name of Jesus in November 1872. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 1995 with the motto it still carries, and its 175th anniversary year culminated in a Mass with Auxiliary Bishop James T. Schuerman on August 22, 2021.
- 1845: parish founded by Fr. Casper Rehrl and ten families
- 1847: first wooden church (St. Mary Magdalene) built, 30 x 20 feet
- 1862: Fr. Michael Haider becomes pastor and begins planning a new church
- 1868: cornerstone of the present limestone church laid
- November 1872: Most Rev. John M. Henni dedicates the church as Holy Name of Jesus
- 1879: organ installed
- 1883: bells installed
- 1890s: basement excavated beneath the church
- 1950s–1960s: Narthex, church office, and ushers' room added
- 1995: 150th anniversary — motto "Carved in Stone — Nourished by Love" adopted
- 2017: joins with St. Clement and St. Dominic to form Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes
- 2021: 175th anniversary Mass celebrated August 22
The 1872 Limestone Church
The church building itself is a piece of Sheboygan history. Its limestone was quarried at 14th and Calumet Avenue from the Pigeon River Quarry, and the structure was built of wood and stone with no steel or metal, in the centuries-old medieval tradition. Local tradesmen August and Michael Manthey worked with lead carpenter Bernard Renzelmann, who persuaded Fr. Haider to build the towers fifteen feet shorter than the original plans to withstand the winds. The chair Bishop Henni sat on during the 1872 dedication remains in the church and is still used for special occasions.
- Limestone Gothic construction (1868–1872)
- Built with no steel or metal — medieval building tradition
- Stone from Pigeon River Quarry at 14th and Calumet Avenue
- Towers shortened 15 feet from original plans
- Original 1872 dedication chair still in use
- 1879 organ and 1883 bells installed
- 1950s–60s remodeling added Narthex, office, ushers' room
Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes
Since 2017 Holy Name of Jesus has been clustered with St. Clement and St. Dominic under one pastor, one associate pastor, and a provisional pastoral council with members from all three parishes. In 2018 the council voted to remain joined. Today the three parishes share administrative and formation staff and operate as a single collaborative ministry.
- Formed in 2017 with one pastor and one associate pastor
- Provisionally joined; formally voted to remain in 2018
- Holy Name: about 1,100 families
- St. Dominic: about 950 families
- St. Clement: about 650 families; hosts Spanish Masses and events
- Shared mission: "To know Jesus, to love Jesus, and to serve Jesus and our neighbor."
Clergy & Staff
The parish and its cluster are served by a pastor, associate pastor, and deacon, supported by an office manager, administrative assistant, safeguarding/bookkeeping manager, and directors of faith formation, communications, music, and facilities.
- Fr. Nick Baumgardner — Pastor (ordained 2019; first assignment St. Charles, Hartland; transferred 2022 to St. Joseph, Grafton)
- Fr. Dennis Beltré — Associate Pastor (ordained 2024; native of the Dominican Republic)
- Dcn. Jim Hall — Deacon
- Mary Petrie — Pastoral & Administrative Assistant
- Andrea Thill — Office Manager
- Lori Woelfel — Manager/Bookkeeper/Safeguarding
- Kym Leibham — Director of Adult Faith Formation
- Maria "Lulu" Torres — Administrator for Faith Formation & Spanish Ministry
- Jennifer Branecky — Director of Child & Youth Discipleship
- Sarah Heard — ECHO Apprentice
- Lori Biebel — Director of Communication & Bulletin; Seton Secretary
- Ryan O'Keefe — Facilities Manager
- Frank Trcka & Julie Engman — Holy Name Co-Directors of Music Ministry
Faith Formation & School
Faith Formation across the North Side parishes is a collaborative effort. Adults are served through the Director of Adult Faith Formation, while children and youth are ministered to through the Director of Child & Youth Discipleship and the Administrator for Faith Formation & Spanish Ministry. The parishes operate an ECHO apprenticeship program for young adults. On the Holy Name grounds sits St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, the parish's K–8 school.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School (on parish grounds)
- Adult Faith Formation — Kym Leibham
- Child & Youth Discipleship — Jennifer Branecky
- Faith Formation & Spanish Ministry — Maria "Lulu" Torres
- ECHO Apostolate apprentice — Sarah Heard
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The Music Ministry's purpose is to enhance the experience of worship by heightening the Word of God with music and providing beauty to the liturgy. Holy Name's choir is the Main Choir, which rehearses Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and sings at three to four Masses each month, mainly the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, with no rehearsals or singing during the summer. The Prayer & Worship Ministry fosters active participation of the faithful in the Mass, sacraments, other services, and devotions, and includes Eucharistic Ministers of the Body and Blood of Christ.
- Main Choir (Holy Name) — Thursday 7:00 p.m. rehearsals
- Co-Directors of Music Ministry: Frank Trcka and Julie Engman
- Eucharistic Ministers of the Body and/or Blood
- Prayer & Worship Ministry
Outreach & Charity
The Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes operate several outreach ministries that Holy Name parishioners take part in and benefit from, including a community food pantry and a meal program.
- North Side Christian Food Pantry
- Emmaus Meals
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond Mass and Confession, the parish supports the seven sacraments through its office and offers a daily Rosary Monday through Friday, thirty minutes before each Mass. Mass Intentions, Sanctuary Light, and Hosts and Wine offerings can be arranged through the parish.
- Reconciliation — Saturday 9:30 a.m.
- Daily Rosary — Monday–Friday, 30 minutes before Mass
- Mass Intentions, Sanctuary Light, Hosts and Wine offerings
- Funerals coordinated through parish office
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick via parish office
Visit & Contact
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church is located at 818 Huron Avenue in Sheboygan, with the parish office and mailing address at 807 Superior Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53081. The parish office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached at 920-458-7721.
- Church: 818 Huron Ave., Sheboygan, WI 53081
- Office & Mailing: 807 Superior Ave., Sheboygan, WI 53081
- Phone: 920-458-7721
- Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Casper Rehrl1845–
Founded the original Catholic community in rural Sheboygan on August 24, 1845, and built the first 30x20-foot wooden church (St. Mary Magdalene) two years later.
- Fr. Michael Haider1862–1884
Austrian-born pastor who designed and oversaw construction of the present limestone Gothic church. Acquired the Pigeon River quarry with Jacob Jung's help; cornerstone laid 1868; church dedicated November 1872.
- Fr. Nick Baumgardnercurrent
Current Pastor of the Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes. Ordained at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in 2019; first assignment St. Charles Parish, Hartland; transferred 2022 to St. Joseph Parish and School, Grafton.
- Fr. Dennis Beltrécurrent
Current Associate Pastor; ordained in 2024. Native of the Dominican Republic; home parish La Sagrada Familia, sister parish to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.