About Holy Name of Mary · Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Holy Name of Mary is a small Roman Catholic parish perched atop a hill in the unincorporated community of Maplewood, in southern Door County, Wisconsin — a 'classic country church on a hill' serving the Sturgeon Bay, WI mailing area (7491 County Road H). Part of the Diocese of Green Bay and currently linked pastorally with Corpus Christi Parish in Sturgeon Bay, the parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 8:45 a.m. plus Tuesday and Thursday morning Masses, with monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the first Tuesday and a robust set of lay ministries led by a part-time staff team. Its present brick church was dedicated in 1901 and stands on four acres donated by parishioner Joseph Zettel at what was long known as Zettel's Corner.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Holy Name of Mary (The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. William Brunner
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Holy Name of Mary offers a quiet, classic country-church-on-a-hill setting where parishioners genuinely know one another: weekly Sunday Mass at 8:45 a.m. and weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and a 'Together with God in loving and serving others' mission lived out through hands-on ministries — a parish-run Food Pantry, God's Closet Clothing Drive, Catholic Women's Altar Society, Music Ministry under director Rick and organist Clarice, Social Concerns Committee, Bake Sale supporting religious education, Building and Grounds Committee, and even a 'Remembrance Mass in November.' It's the kind of place where visiting Door County vacationers are warmly welcomed — and where local families find both a strong sacramental life and real ways to serve their neighbors in southern Door County.
Mass times at Holy Name of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (call the parish office at 920-856-6440); Penance services are also offered
Adoration times
- First Tuesday of every month, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome to Holy Name of Mary
The parish's front-page greeting introduces Holy Name of Mary as 'a spirit-filled classic country church on a hill' in Southern Door County, in the community of Maplewood. Visitors to Door County are explicitly invited to make the parish part of their vacation plans. The parish tagline is its mission statement: 'Together with God in loving and serving others!'
- Sunday Mass at 8:45 AM
- Daily Mass Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 AM
- Adoration 1st Tuesday 8:30–9:30 AM
- Pastor: Fr. William Brunner
- Retired priest in residence: Fr. Anthony Birdsall
Our Story: A Church Built by Its Community
The parish traces to the late 1850s and was officially established in 1871 as the Mission of the Holy Name of Mary. After outgrowing a wooden 1880 church, the congregation built the present brick edifice on a hilltop site chosen by Bishop Sebastian Messmer in 1901, funded by more than 60 parishioners pledging $5–$25 each. The cornerstone was laid July 2, 1901, blessed by the children's nickels and quarters; stained glass and a 1,023-pound Stuckstede bell arrived that fall; and the new church was dedicated December 17, 1901 — with services in Latin, English, and German. (Full narrative in the Door County Pulse feature 'Maplewood Catholic Church Grew Out of Community' and 'Transcript of Old Books, Holy Name of Mary Parish, Maplewood, Wisconsin' from the Diocese of Green Bay Archives.)
- Congregation dates to late 1850s (Keogh, Stoneman, Greeney families)
- Mission established 1871 by Fr. Ferdinand Stern of Algoma
- First wooden church blessed November 14, 1880 by Fr. Adalbert Cipin
- New brick church dedicated December 17, 1901
- Today serving as 'St. Mary Parish (Peninsula)' within the Diocese of Green Bay
Sacraments
Parents are encouraged to contact the parish office to schedule infant baptism. Parents of a first child are required to attend a baptism class ($10 stipend). Older children and adults seeking baptism receive private instruction with the pastor or deacon. 'Going to confession' is presented as 'a time when Jesus is made present in a loving way' for those needing forgiveness of serious sin or working on bad habits before they become serious.
- Baptism (infant and adult/older child)
- Reconciliation — by appointment; Reconciliation Room at back of church
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage (call parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick; Funeral Mass with Funeral Luncheon Helpers
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
The parish runs a deep bench of lay-led ministries organized around worship, service, formation, and parish life. Several committees meet on a rotating schedule of alternating months; the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee assists the Pastor in 'planning and providing for the Spiritual development of parish members through liturgical declarations, prayer experiences, and spiritual growth programs.'
- God's Closet Clothing Drive (1st full weekend of each month)
- Food Pantry (1st & 3rd Saturdays, 8–10 AM, church basement)
- Music Ministry — director Rick, organist Clarice
- Social Concerns Committee (meets 3rd Sunday at 10 AM)
- Catholic Women Altar Society
- Funeral Luncheon Helpers
- Worship and Spiritual Life Committee
- Finance Council & Parish Council
- Board of Education Committee
- Altar Decoration Committee
- Building and Grounds Committee
- Monthly Bake Sale (last Sunday, benefits Religious Education)
- Liturgical roles: Altar Server (grades 4–12), Lector, Eucharistic Minister (incl. homebound), Gift Bearers, Usher/Greeter
Outreach: God's Closet & Food Pantry
The parish's signature outreach efforts are God's Closet — a free clothing drive for all ages — and the Parish Food Pantry. Both are run by volunteers and accessible to anyone in the community, not just parishioners. Donations of clothing are accepted; pantry pickup happens in the church basement.
- God's Closet — 1st full weekend of each month, Fri/Sat/Sun 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (excludes holiday weekends)
- Food Pantry — 1st and 3rd Saturday, 8:00–10:00 AM
- Volunteers needed for clothing-drive setup (Thu) and teardown (Mon)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is overseen by the Board of Education Committee and supported entirely by the proceeds of the monthly Bake Sale (last Sunday of the month). The parish also offers parishioners a subscription to FORMED, the Augustine Institute's online Catholic content platform, with bulletins and inserts available on the parish website.
- Religious Education program
- Monthly Bake Sale (last Sunday) funds Religious Education
- FORMED online Catholic resource access
- RE contacts per 2023–24 Diocesan Directory: Sarah Gavin, June Gordon
Clergy, Staff & Diocesan Links
The parish's pastoral team and support staff are listed both on the parish website and in the Diocese of Green Bay directory. The 2023–24 directory records the parish as 'served from Corpus Christi Parish, Sturgeon Bay,' reflecting the working relationship between Maplewood and the larger Sturgeon Bay Catholic community.
- Pastor — Fr. William Brunner (current parish website)
- Senior Priest (Retired) — Fr. Anthony Birdsall
- Rev. Ryan Krueger (listed as pastor in the 2023–24 Diocese of Green Bay Directory)
- Deacon — Mark Hibbs (per diocesan directory)
- Administrative Assistant — Missy Massart (Missy Massart posts to the parish blog)
- Youth Minister — Sarah Gavin (per diocesan directory)
- Diocese — Diocese of Green Bay
St. Mary's Cemetery
St. Mary's Cemetery sits next to the church on the south side of County Road H. The name preserves the congregation's original 1884 title — 'St. Mary Catholic Church' was renamed Holy Name of Mary Church in 1884 when the parish moved to the Maplewood location, but the cemetery monument and name have remained. The cemetery is maintained by parish members, and the parish office shares the cemetery office building at the parish address.
- Location: NE corner NE¼ NW¼ Section 9, Town of Forestville
- 0.8 miles east of Maplewood off Highway 42 on County Trunk H
- Monument donated in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Schmelzer, Syl & Mary Schmelzer, Clayton & Doloris Junion
- Parish office hours (St. Mary's Cemetery office): Tue 8–2:30, Wed 8–2:30, Thu 9–2:30
Visit Us — Contact & Location
The parish sits on a hilltop along County Road H in the small community of Maplewood, between Forestville and the greater Sturgeon Bay area in Door County, Wisconsin. Visitors are warmly welcomed, especially during the busy Door County tourist season, and are encouraged to call ahead for sacraments or appointments.
- Address: 7491 County Road H, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
- Phone: (920) 856-6440
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://holynameofmary.church/
- Facebook: Holy Name of Mary Maplewood
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ferdinand Stern1871–
Pastor of Algoma who established the Mission of 'The Holy Name of Mary' in the Town of Forestville in 1871.
- Fr. Adalbert Cipin1880
Blessed the first wooden church on November 14, 1880, with permission of Most Rev. Bishop Francis H. Krautbauer.
- Fr. William Kraemerpre-1901
Algoma-based priest who secretly advocated to Bishop Messmer for the Maplewood hilltop site.
- Rev. Joseph Rohde1874
Pastored from Ahnapee; designed the original wood-frame church, built 1875, blessed 1880.
- Rev. Joseph Hammer (Hemmer)1901–1903
First resident pastor; built the brick parsonage and oversaw construction of the present brick church (dedicated 1901); procured all stained-glass windows.
- Rev. Joseph Schroeder1903–1905
Succeeded Father Hammer in November 1903; opened the parish school during his pastorate.
- Rev. L. Blum1905–1910
Took charge in December 1905.
- Rev. Francis L. Geier1910–
Took charge September 6, 1910; promoted the interests of the church energetically.
- Rev. Ryan Krueger2023–24 directory listing
Listed as pastor in the 2023–24 Diocese of Green Bay Directory; parish served from Corpus Christi Parish, Sturgeon Bay.
- Rev. William Brunnercurrent (per parish website)
Currently listed as Pastor on the parish's official website.