About Holy Spirit · Appleton, Wisconsin
Holy Spirit Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin, serving the communities of Kimberly and Darboy near Appleton. Formed on January 1, 2005 from the merger of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Kimberly and Holy Angels Parish in Darboy, Holy Spirit worships at two church sites (the Kimberly Church and the Darboy Church) and operates Holy Spirit School on County Road KK. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Green Bay and is pastored by Rev. Carl Schmitt, with weekend Mass celebrated in English at both sites and a live-streamed Sunday Mass from the Darboy Church.
- Established
- 1907 (as Holy Name of Jesus, Kimberly); re-formed 2005 as Holy Spirit Parish
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (the parish itself); its predecessor congregations were named for the Holy Name of Jesus and Holy Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Carl Schmitt
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Holy Spirit Parish offers a full Catholic life in the Fox Valley across two worship sites — the historic Kimberly Church on East Kimberly Avenue and the newer Darboy Church on County Road KK — with a Sunday Mass schedule that includes a live-streamed option for those at home. Families with children will find a complete Faith Formation program from kindergarten through Confirmation (Manna, Edge, Life Teen, plus Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), an elementary school (Holy Spirit School, the 'Knights'), an active Youth Ministry, and a Family Life Committee that organizes parish events. The parish also reaches outward through its well-known Sunday Supper community meals and a Family Life Committee, making it both a place to worship and a place to serve the wider Kimberly–Darboy community.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Kimberly Church
- Also by appointment (call 920-788-7640)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of the month, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, following the 8:15 AM Mass at Darboy Church
About Holy Spirit Parish
Holy Spirit Parish is a Catholic community of the Diocese of Green Bay, formed in 2005 from the merger of Holy Name of Jesus Parish (Kimberly) and Holy Angels Parish (Darboy). The parish worships at two church sites — the Kimberly Church and the Darboy Church — and is served by a pastor, a priest-celebrant, two deacons, and a full staff of parish and faith-formation ministers. Its mission is to accompany families across the Fox Valley in faith, formation, and service.
History of the Parish
The Kimberly side of the parish was organized in December 1906, when 45 families petitioned Bishop Joseph J. Fox of Green Bay. Fr. Luke Rasch celebrated the first Mass on January 1, 1907 in a lodge hall near the Kimberly paper mill nicknamed 'The Catacombs.' The community took the name Holy Name of Jesus and built a combined church-and-school in 1907. Over the following decades the parish added a rectory, convent, gym, and a new church building (dedicated 1962). In 2005, with the decline of the Kimberly paper mill and shifting demographics, Holy Name of Jesus merged with Holy Angels in Darboy to form Holy Spirit Parish.
- December 11, 1906 – families petition Bishop Fox for a parish
- January 1, 1907 – first Mass celebrated by Fr. Luke Rasch in 'The Catacombs' lodge hall
- September 1, 1907 – dedication of the first combined church-and-school
- August 9, 1957 – Fr. Vanden Borne and janitor John Vanden Berk die in a school gas explosion
- 1962 – new church building dedicated at Holy Name of Jesus
- January 1, 2005 – merger of Holy Name of Jesus (Kimberly) and Holy Angels (Darboy) into Holy Spirit Parish
- 2010 – Sunday Supper outreach program launched after mill closure
Parish Staff and Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Carl Schmitt as pastor, with Rev. David McElroy, O. Praem., serving as priest celebrant. Deacons C.F. Dedman and Dennis Bennin assist in pastoral ministry. A Faith Formation team and an office staff coordinate the parish's programs, schools, and outreach.
- Pastor: Rev. Carl Schmitt
- Priest Celebrant: Rev. David McElroy, O. Praem.
- Deacon: C.F. Dedman
- Deacon: Dennis Bennin
- Director of Child and Family Ministry (K–5) & Pastoral Care: Leah Ackley
- Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry: Sarah Elmer
- Assistant Youth Minister: Olivia Eickman
- Office Manager: Valerie DeCoster
- Administrative Assistant: Paula Roberts
- Liturgical Ministry Coordinator / Funerals: Margaret Franz
- Adult Evangelization Coordinator: Kristy Kendall
- Assistant Youth Minister & Music Coordinator: Aaron Mader
Pastoral Council and Governance
The Pastoral Council defines, prays, imagines, visions, and listens to God and the people of Holy Spirit Parish. Its task is not to do the work itself but to be in loving service and counsel to the pastor and parishioners, offering goals and helping shape the parish's mission. The Council meets monthly.
- Chair: Luke Pribbenow
- Secretary / Trustee: Steve Hamilton
- Members: Jean Klein, Kurt Van Thiel, Kathy Verstegen, Tommy Nelson
- Committee Members: Carly Grapengieser, Allison Geiger
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation team accompanies parish families as they teach their children the Gospel and the richness of the Catholic tradition. Programs run from kindergarten through 12th grade on Wednesday evenings, with a vision to deepen awareness of God's presence, mentor young disciples, and nurture personal and spiritual growth through prayer, Mass, and the sacraments. Beginning in the 2025–2026 year, the parish transitioned its 4K program into a Kindergarten model and moved Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–5) into an independent ministry.
- Manna — Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Edge — 6th through 8th grade
- Life Teen — 9th through 11th grade
- Confirmation — 12th grade
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — ages 3–5 (independent ministry)
- Catechists and Core Team (volunteer opportunities)
- Absentee call-in line: 920-788-7640 ext. 7
Holy Spirit School
Holy Spirit School is the parish's elementary school, located on County Road KK near the Darboy Church. The school is part of the parish's mission to form young people in faith and learning, and its students and staff are known as the 'Knights.'
- School address: W2796 County Rd KK, Appleton, WI 54915
- Phone: 920-733-2651
- Principal: Michael Zuleger
- Assistant Principal: Madelyn Stumpf
- Website: holyspiritknights.org
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry at Holy Spirit Parish supports middle-school, high-school, and young-adult parishioners through programs tied to Edge, Life Teen, and Confirmation preparation, along with retreats, service opportunities, and social gatherings.
- Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry: Sarah Elmer
- Assistant Youth Ministers: Olivia Eickman, Alex Moehn
- Assistant Youth Minister & Music Coordinator: Aaron Mader
- Programs: Edge (6–8), Life Teen (9–11), Confirmation (12), young-adult ministry
Family Life Committee
The Family Life Committee brings together parish staff and volunteers to plan events and programs that strengthen family life within the parish community.
- Leah Ackley — Director of Child and Family Ministry (K–5) & Pastoral Care
- Members: Ashley Schmitt, Bailey Pribbenow, Holly Rutchik, Kristy Kendall, Leah Dobrinska, Lori Schreiber, Maria McQuillan, Rachael Peterson, Traci Weiss
Sunday Supper Outreach
Sunday Suppers was started in 2010 by Holy Spirit Parish to support the Kimberly community after the paper mill closed. Begun with a $500 grant from the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Green Bay and originally held in the vacant former Holy Name school, the program now runs twice a month from September through May at the Darboy site, drawing roughly 250 guests per meal. It is funded entirely outside the parish budget through grants (including a renewable US Ventures grant since 2016) and sponsorships from parish families and local businesses.
- Founded 2010 in response to the Kimberly paper mill closure
- Run outside the parish operating budget
- Moved to the Darboy location in 2014
- Serves approximately 250 guests per supper
- Cost per meal averages about $2.50
- Supported by the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Green Bay, US Ventures, parish families, and local businesses
Visiting, Locations, and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at either of the parish's two worship sites. The parish office is at 620 E. Kimberly Ave., Kimberly, WI; the Kimberly Church is at 600 E. Kimberly Ave., and the Darboy Church is at W2806 County Rd KK, Appleton, WI. From Hwy. 441, take the Calumet/Hwy. KK exit one mile east to the Darboy Church. The parish can be reached by phone at (920) 788-7640 or by email at [email protected].
- Parish Office: 620 E. Kimberly Ave., Kimberly, WI 54136
- Kimberly Church: 600 E. Kimberly Ave., Kimberly, WI 54136
- Darboy Church: W2806 County Rd KK, Appleton, WI 54915
- Phone: (920) 788-7640
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.holyspirit-parish.org/