About Holy Rosary · Darlington, Wisconsin
Holy Rosary Parish (formally the Church of Our Holy Lady of the Holy Rosary) is a Catholic parish in Darlington, Wisconsin, located at 104 East Harriet Street in Lafayette County. Founded in 1864 and long the spiritual home of Irish-settler Catholic families of the Darlington area, it is now grouped with surrounding country parishes under the Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate of the Diocese of Madison, sharing clergy with St. Matthew (Shullsburg), St. Philomena (Belmont), St. Joseph (Gratiot), St. John (South Wayne) and the mission churches at Calamine, Elk Grove, Seymour and Truman. The parish runs Holy Rosary School (PreK–4) on Wells Street, offers daily and Sunday Mass in English with a weekly Spanish Mass, and hosts adoration, regular confession and parish faith-formation ministries.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Gernetzke (parochial administrator, Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
Holy Rosary is a warm, long-standing parish in the heart of Darlington, serving Catholic families from the town and the surrounding Lafayette County countryside. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily and Sunday Mass in English, a weekly Sunday Spanish Mass, regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, and a parish elementary school (Holy Rosary School, PK–4) staffed by a dedicated principal and director of religious education. As one of six parishes in the Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate, it also connects visiting and new parishioners to a wider network of rural churches, schools and ministries across southwestern Wisconsin.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM – 5:05 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
- Thursday 4:45 PM – 5:05 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
- Sunday 9:45 AM – 10:05 AM
- Sunday 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM (Spanish)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
Parish History
Catholic life in Darlington began in the mid-1850s with Mass celebrated in the home of William McWilliams. After missionary priests (Fathers O'Neill, Stroker, McGowan and O'Connor) served the area from Willow Springs, the Rev. A. T. David was appointed in August 1864 as the first resident pastor and built the first church and rectory. The present stone church on Harriet Street was begun in 1867 and the cornerstone was laid in 1868 under Father E. M. McGinty. Subsequent pastors included the Rev. James Fitzgibbon (1871–c. 1876) and the Rev. M. Hannon, who liquidated the parish's long-standing debt. The parish celebrated its centennial in 1964.
- 1855–1857: First Masses celebrated in William McWilliams's home
- 1864: Parish established; Fr. A. T. David first resident pastor
- 1867–1868: Stone church designed by John W. Steinmann; cornerstone laid 1868
- 1871: Rev. James Fitzgibbon takes charge; serves five years
- 1902: Rounded apse added at rear of church
- 1905: Rectory built
- 1919: Convent constructed
- 1937: New floor, communion rail and rear exit installed
- 1948: Square three-story bell tower added at southeast corner
- 1964: Parish centennial celebrated
Building & Architecture
The 1868 stone church is an Early Gothic Revival design by architect John W. Steinmann. Its south facade is coursed, smooth dressed ashlar; the side elevations are coursed, rough-cut stone. Gothic features include pointed-arch stained-glass windows, a Gothic-arch doorway with plank double doors and transom, and a rose window in the gable peak. A rounded apse extends the sanctuary at the rear (1902), and a three-story rough-ashlar bell tower at the southeast corner (c. 1948) is connected to the church by a two-story wing. The parish complex — church, rectory, convent and school — occupies a city block bounded by East Mary Street, East Harriet Street, Wells Street and Main Street, and is a documented property in the Wisconsin Historical Society's historic preservation files.
- Architect: John W. Steinmann
- Style: Early Gothic Revival
- Wall material: Cut stone (dressed ashlar facade; rough-cut side elevations)
- Notable features: rose window, pointed-arch windows, Gothic-arch entrance
- Bell tower and two-story connecting wing added c. 1948
- Complex includes rectory (1905) and convent (1919, Neoclassical/Beaux-Arts)
Clergy & Staff
Holy Rosary is served as part of the Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate (Pastorate 3) of the Diocese of Madison. Three priests currently share pastoral ministry across the six parishes of the pastorate. Day-to-day parish administration is supported by a parish office staff, and the parish school has its own principal and director of religious education.
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Christopher Gernetzke
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Peter Lee
- Parochial Vicar (Spanish-language ministry): Rev. Cristian Valenzuela, SJS
- Parish Office: (608) 776-4059
- School Principal & Director of Religious Education: Diane Smith-Hole, (608) 776-3710
Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate
Holy Rosary Parish is grouped with five other rural parishes in Lafayette County under the Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate (Pastorate 3) of the Diocese of Madison. The pastorate shares priests and many ministries across its member churches, allowing for combined Mass schedules, faith formation and sacramental preparation.
- Holy Rosary, Darlington
- St. Michael, Calamine
- St. Peter, Elk Grove
- Our Lady of Hope, Seymour
- Immaculate Conception, Truman
- Parish school: Holy Rosary School, Darlington
Holy Rosary School
Holy Rosary School is the parish's Catholic elementary school, serving preschool through fourth grade at 744 Wells Street in Darlington (phone 608-776-3710). It is a small, family-oriented school with a low student-teacher ratio and is affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). The principal also serves as the parish Director of Religious Education, linking the school day with the broader faith-formation program of Holy Rosary.
- Grades: PreK–4
- Enrollment: approximately 45–51 students
- Student-teacher ratio: about 7.5:1
- Affiliation: Roman Catholic / National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Principal & Director of Religious Education: Diane Smith-Hole
Hispanic Ministry
Holy Rosary serves Spanish-speaking Catholics of Darlington and the surrounding area through a regular Sunday Spanish Mass celebrated at 2:30 PM, with confessions heard beforehand. The parish's pastorate vicar, Fr. Cristian Valenzuela, SJS, brings dedicated Spanish-language ministry to Holy Rosary and the other churches of the Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate.
- Sunday Spanish Mass: 2:30 PM
- Spanish confessions: Sundays 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
- Spanish-language chaplain for the pastorate: Fr. Cristian Valenzuela, SJS
Sacraments
Through the parish and the broader Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate, Holy Rosary prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments, with faith formation directed by the parish Director of Religious Education and sacramental preparation offered in coordination with the pastorate's other parishes.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adult initiation
Visiting Holy Rosary
The parish is easy to find in downtown Darlington — just one block off Highway 23 (Main Street) and kitty-corner from the Lafayette County Courthouse, at 104 East Harriet Street. Visitors are welcomed at weekend and weekday Masses and can arrange sacraments by calling the parish office at (608) 776-4059.
- Address: 104 East Harriet Street, Darlington, WI 53530
- One block off Hwy 23 (Main St)
- Kitty-corner from Lafayette County Courthouse
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Website: https://darlingtoncatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. O'Neillc. 1855–late 1850s
Missionary priest who first celebrated Mass for Darlington Catholics in the home of William McWilliams.
- Rev. Fathers Stroker, McGowan and O'Connorlate 1850s – 1864
Traveled from the Willow Springs mission to serve Darlington Catholics.
- Rev. A. T. DavidAugust 1864 – August 19, 1866
First resident pastor, appointed by Bishop (later Archbishop) J. M. Henni; built the parochial residence and first church.
- Rev. E. M. McGinty1866 – August 1, 1871
Succeeded by his twin brother Rev. D. V. McGinty (Oct 28, 1866); began construction of the present stone church and laid its cornerstone in 1868.
- Rev. James Fitzgibbon1871 – c. 1876
Served five years.
- Rev. M. Hannonc. 1876 –
Credited with liquidating the long-standing parish debt.
- Rev. Fr. Luke Sysethrough 2023 reassignment
Former pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Darlington); reassigned as parochial administrator of St. Luke (Plain) and St. John the Evangelist (Spring Green) in 2023.
- Rev. Fr. Randy Budnarprior to 2023
Listed as pastor on parish directory listings.
- Rev. Christopher Gernetzke2023 – present
Appointed parochial administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Pastorate in 2023.