About Holy Trinity · Kiel, Wisconsin
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish is a small Roman Catholic congregation located at 11928 Marken Road in School Hill, a small unincorporated community in the Town of Meeme, just outside Kiel, Wisconsin. It belongs to the Diocese of Green Bay and is twinned in mission and ministry with neighboring St. Gregory Parish in St. Nazianz, sharing clergy, faith-formation programs, and a combined Mass schedule. The parish traces its roots to 32 German-Catholic farm families who built a log church here in 1871, and it continues today as a tight-knit rural faith community that worships in a brick church built in 1969 and serves families across the Kiel/School Hill countryside.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (the Most Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Rev. Josuva Arulanandu (Parish Administrator, shared with St. Gregory Parish)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Holy Trinity offers a small, family-sized Catholic community rooted in 150 years of faith in the School Hill countryside. Worshippers are welcomed into a brick church consecrated in 1969 and still served by an engaged lay community organized through a Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Liturgy Committee, Cemetery Committee, Christian Women, School Hill Athletic Club, and an active Perch Fry Committee. Families raising children in the faith can plug into parish-based religious education for grades K–11, Little Saints Sunday School for ages 2–6, OCIA for adults, a weekly Bible study, women's study, couples' nights, and adult speaker series. The parish also partners closely with neighboring St. Gregory in St. Nazianz, sharing clergy and formation, so members have the resources of two parishes while keeping the intimacy of one.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (at St. Gregory, shared with Holy Trinity)
- Sunday 6:00 p.m. (before the 7:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Trinity)
Our History
The parish was founded in 1871 by 32 German-Catholic families from the School Hill area and is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Manitowoc County countryside. The original log church was replaced in 1969 by the present brick church, and the congregation celebrated its 150th Jubilee in 2019 with Bishop David Ricken.
- 1869 – 32 families organize to build a church
- 1871 – Church blessed by Rev. Ambrose Oschwald; first school a log house
- 1883 – Congregation incorporated (Aug. 15)
- 1919 – Golden Jubilee with Bishop Rhode; three founders still living
- 1923 – 32 families, 180 members
- 1929 – English sermons added to German
- 1939 – 31 families, 244 members
- 1968 – Original church demolished
- 1969 – New brick church dedicated by Bishop Aloysius Wycislo; 100th Jubilee
- 2019 – 150th Jubilee celebrated with Bishop David Ricken
Worship & Mass
Holy Trinity shares its pastoral team and Mass schedule with St. Gregory Parish in St. Nazianz, so Mass is celebrated several days a week across both churches. The Rosary is prayed 30 minutes before every Mass, and during Lent the parish gathers for Vespers (Evening Prayer) on Thursday evenings before the 6 p.m. Mass.
- Sunday 8:00 a.m. – Holy Trinity
- Sunday 7:00 p.m. – Holy Trinity
- Tuesday 8:15 a.m. – Holy Trinity
- Wednesday 8:15 a.m. – Holy Trinity
- Rosary 30 minutes before each Mass
- Lent: Vespers Thursdays 5:30 p.m.
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by a Parish Administrator who also serves St. Gregory Parish, supported by a deacon, an administrative assistant, and a strong network of lay councils and committees.
- Rev. Josuva Arulanandu – Parish Administrator (920-200-6029, [email protected])
- Deacon Gary Wilhelm (920-905-3478, [email protected])
- Barb Hruby – Administrative Assistant / Parish Office (920-773-2380, [email protected])
- Pastoral Council – President Kraig Binversie
- Christian Women – President Danielle Faust
- School Hill Athletic Club – President Gary Mueller
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
Religious education for kindergarten through 11th grade is offered Wednesday evenings, September through April, with First Holy Communion typically in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 12th grade. Little Saints Sunday School offers a once-a-month program for children ages 2–6 during the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass.
- Grades K–10 – Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 p.m.
- Grade 11 – Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- First Holy Communion – 2nd grade
- Confirmation – 12th grade
- Little Saints Sunday School – ages 2–6, third Sunday at 8 a.m. Mass
- Coordinator: Patty Wilhelm ([email protected], 920-773-2511)
Adult Faith Formation
The parish offers a rich slate of adult formation opportunities, from OCIA for those seeking baptism or returning to the faith, to Bible study, women's study, couples nights, an annual day of prayer/retreat, and periodic speaker series evenings with dinner.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) – inquire at [email protected]
- Speaker Series – periodic Wednesday evenings with dinner, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
- Bible Study – weekly one-hour sessions
- Women's Study – Tuesday mornings 9:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity
- Couples Night – evenings with spouses and other couples (childcare available)
- Day of Prayer and Retreat – annual, held in October at St. Gregory
Councils, Committees & Lay Life
Lay leadership is organized through a Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Liturgy Committee, Building & Grounds Committee, Cemetery Committee, and a number of parish life committees that keep the rural community active and connected.
- Pastoral Council – meets monthly
- Finance Council
- Liturgy Committee (meets as needed)
- Building & Grounds Committee – Maintenance leads: Dennis Albright, Dennis Graf, Bob Salm
- Cemetery Committee
- Perch Fry Committee – annual parish fundraiser
- School Hill Athletic Club
Parish Life & Outreach
Christian Women gathers the first Sunday of each month from September to May (with a Christmas party in December and no meeting in January). The parish also supports a Prayer Line, brings Communion to the homebound and to those in nursing homes or assisted living, and partners with local food pantry efforts through the shared St. Gregory / Holy Trinity community.
- Christian Women – meets 1st Sunday of the month, Sept.–May
- Prayer Line – contact the parish office
- Homebound Communion – contact Dennis and Karen Graf (920-693-8700) or the parish office
- Annual Perch Fry – signature parish fundraiser
- Partnership with St. Gregory Food Pantry and Caring Hearts & Hands
Sacraments at Holy Trinity
The parish prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms and weddings are arranged through the parish office; First Communion is usually received in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 12th grade. The parish website's Sacraments page explains each rite and how to begin preparation.
- Baptism – call the Parish Office
- First Holy Eucharist – 2nd grade
- Confirmation – 12th grade
- Reconciliation – Saturday 3 p.m. (St. Gregory) and Sunday 6 p.m. (Holy Trinity)
- Anointing of the Sick – call the Parish Office
- Holy Matrimony – call the Parish Office
- Holy Orders – contact the Diocese of Green Bay
Visiting & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are invited to attend any Mass, sign up for faith-formation offerings, and become involved in any of the parish's councils, committees, or lay groups. The parish bulletin (posted weekly to the website) and the church Facebook page are the best ways to stay informed about events, volunteer opportunities, and the combined Holy Trinity / St. Gregory Mass and confession schedule.
- Mass times: see Worship & Mass section above
- Bulletins: holytrinityschoolhill.org/welcome/bulletins/
- Calendar: holytrinityschoolhill.org/welcome/calendar/
- Ministry Schedule: linked from the parish homepage
- Facebook: Holy Trinity Catholic Church – School Hill, WI